Phil^a 25 April — 1797 Dear Sir Last letter I forward you that there were [undecipherable] Individuals who inform as the living costs [undecipherable] settled in it, receive presents by the State. This however the [undecipherable] is demanded to just the Settlement with [undecipherable] and their [undecipherable] and Therefore with receive but a trifling sum as her Balance but I am convinced of the fact That she has lived very largely, and also that the United States have nominally agreed to [undecipherable] for that part of their payments which shall be judged reasonable, and if she is denied what is obviously her due That it will have a tendency to make her discontent without enquiring into the cause of her accounts not being [undecipherable] the Union itself and as a partner to her withholding her supplies, which has caused me, to take a double [undecipherable] of our discretionary powers and to agree to allow the State the average cost of a ration to those Troops that we shall find to have been employed agreeable to the terms of the option, also such bounty and Clothing as they were entitled to, on the General principles that as the Men of Peace on the Muster, then at the highest [undecipherable] of their customs or [undecipherable] out it must as nothing and reasonable that they should [undecipherable] fed the [undecipherable] in that it must have been the case — that the remaining [undecipherable] was a demand as around and inasmuch greater sum. Than the higher allowances amount to and Therefore [undecipherable] there cannot overstrain him too much and that the Clothing of the Troops has been at a most enormous expense to the State, which will be [undecipherable] but very imperfectly by the formulas — As I have clear of the Capital objections I have formed against the accounts and the whole System which the Officers have laid on the State by their extravagances and imperfections on which I have reason to believe that this method will not only be safe to the United States but also just to both Parties I shall by this means also get the better of accomplished within a much shorter period than I possibly could otherwise for I have now no regard to the Officers [undecipherable] payments and [undecipherable] of monies and stores and saved from looking thro' a cart load of Papers — If I possibly can I shall complete the whole before I return, which will be very soon — I am at a loss between what method I shall take in the following cases in respect to the State Vouchers whether it will be my duty to require them [undecipherable] it will not be necessary for [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] them [undecipherable] in respect a [undecipherable] by the State to the Treasury [undecipherable] let the [undecipherable] furnish it [undecipherable] to one that must be I write I am a Commissioner to him appointed by [undecipherable] but have no known [undecipherable] for the United States than the others and armed with a [undecipherable] as a Commissioner to myself and to the [undecipherable] or refuse to sign the Report before they are handed to me — My next difficulty is whether [undecipherable] to sign the report without [undecipherable] Pittsfield account being first determined, this as it appears to me that I am anticipating what Congress have a right to demand, which is What the [undecipherable] is demanded previous to a Credit being given — The State you know will refuse to let the [undecipherable] be made by us, if she believes also refuse to let us make our report without it being done the business is at a very disagreeable juncture how much is left to the discretion of the commissioner — Ought the report to go into the hands of the State or be presented by us as Commissioners to the Treasury? your advice given me as soon as [undecipherable] possible, will be an especial act of friendship, as I am unwilling [undecipherable]