best it slipted out of my mind — I now refer you to the inclosed [undecipherable] — M^rs [undecipherable]s letter is returned to [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] on this day be [undecipherable] would be an answer to your letter — Joseph Howell Esq^r I remain with and sincerity Yours sincerely [undecipherable] Staats Philadelphia June 13^th 1797 Dear Sir, As I have no hope of letters wrote you I cannot tell whether your letter [undecipherable] inst has been acknowledged if not, I must request your attention to mine, to M^r Gillis as that of importance to my Brother. I wish you to see him on the subject and inform me as soon as possible his answer, by your letter of the 4^th Instant I in my concluding that the business of this office can at present be conducted without one — I wish this may be the case as M^rs Howell appears much better and the Physicians have desired me to convey her into the Country as soon as she may be able for the journey, they particularly recommend the air of Long Island, but her present weakness will not admit of so long a journey. I shall therefore move her [hope?] in a few days some small distance from this City and as the time draws nigh for the [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] person who [undecipherable] the Counterfeit I could [undecipherable] to be [undecipherable] with a continuance with M^rs Howell untill she may be able to move to New York or to fix a place that may restore her to health and the arms of her friends, I have therefore to request you to wait on M^r Osgood at his House with the letter to him from him of the inclosed from [Picker?] that I should attend this [undecipherable] you will find M^r [Pences?] letter to me on the subject among mine — [undecipherable] it describes you may then [wait?] [undecipherable] Osgood — and that you will be able to transact the business of the Office — the [undecipherable] comes on the 2^nd July or [3^rd?] of [undecipherable]. I [undecipherable] to be called to [undecipherable] in the course of one week I [undecipherable] have only to return in one more from this circumstance I presume the [undecipherable] will admit my absence really too absolute necessity requires my [undecipherable] — While you are best able to judge of — Tuesday 14^th June 1797 — Your of the 13^th Instant with the enclosures came to hand this morning — how to comply with M^r [Pences?] request in respect to your leaving me I know not — I wish to oblige M^r [Pim?] yet if you leave the office I am left without assistance and in his request must be complied with in respect to attending this [undecipherable] the Office will be left without any one to transact the business — pray write me, by [undecipherable] post as I shall most anxiously wait for a letter the contents of which must determine [undecipherable]