[180.] in Virginia and I was myself absent from the Office when your letter arrived which has occasioned the delay in answering it. I am &^c Oliver Wolcott J^r Esq^r J Knox J^r New York July 11^th 1787 Dear Sir Inclosed you will receive the papers of M^r Bradfields with the Report of one of the Clerks ofument rejecting his Claim — The objection you will find is founded on a want of a Certificate from the Commissary who received the Cattle, as also a probability that the public have paid the persons who issued the same as it was the practice custom in the Army, unless M^r Bradfields can produce the proof required by the Clerks I am fully of opinion that he will not be able to get any compensation for his loss I find it is not in my power to be of any service to him as the Resolutions of Congress establish the practice and settle the mode of those settlements and which must be strictly adherd to —— I am with great respect &^c J Knox M^r John Greenfield