Rich^d July 25 – 1787 [undecipherable] last letter I informed you that it was like that [undecipherable] should soon return as the business could [undecipherable] presented by the State. I find however that the State is determined to push the Settlement notwithstanding their disadvantages, and therefore will receive but a trifling sum as her balance, but I am convinced of the fact that She has paid very largely, and also that the United States have solemnly agreed to refund her that part of these payments which shall be judged reasonable, that if she is denied what is obviously her due that it will have a tendency to make her discontented without enquiring into the cause of her accounts not being closed with the Union itself and as a pretence to her withholding her supplies, which has caused me to take advantage 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 agreeably to the terms of the Legion, also such bounty and Clothing as they were entitled to, on the General principles that as the Men appear on the Musters, their is the highest evidence of their existence as Soldiers, and it being as necessary and reasonable that they should be fed the reasons for that it must have been the case – that the recruiting money was advanced on account and to a much greater sum than the [undecipherable] allowances amount to and therefore the Union cannot reimburse her too much and that the Clothing of the Troops has been at a most enormous expense to the State which will be covered but very imperfectly by this principle – As I steer clear of the Capital objections I have found against the account and the whole burden which the Officers have laid on the State by [underline: their] extravagance and improper drafts on Pollock, 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 business accomplished within a much shorter period than I possibly could otherwise, for I have now no regard to the Officers numerous payments and recitals 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 however what method I shall take in the following cases, in respect to the State Vouchers whether it will be my duty to require them of the State or will it not be more proper to refer them to our report as presented by the State to the Treasury for credit, the latter prevails as the one that must be pursued, for I am a Commissioner to be appointed by Congress but have no powers to act for the United States than the others and cannot with a good face as a Commissioner, by myself, ask for the Vouchers or refuse to sign the Report before they are handed to me — My next difficulty is whether I ought to sign the report, without O. Pollocks account being first deducted, here again it appears to me that I am anticipating what Congress have a right to ask and expect which is that the same be discounted previous to a Credit being given – the State you know will refuse to let the discount be made by us, if the Commission also refuses to let us make our report without its being done the business is at a very disagreeable predicament & too much is left to the decision of the umpire – Ought the report to go into the hands of the State, or be presented by us as Commissioners to the Treasury? your advice given to me as soon as possible will be an essential act of friendship, as I am unwilling to run the hazard of an improper conduct on so important an occasion. [Pierce] Mr Osgood Richmond July 30^th 1787 Gentlemen A person this day from Charleston, informs me that Russell, who it is said had the money placed in his hands which was left with Mr. Alexander, was lately in Charleston that he has sold all the money to different People, and that he lives at or near Augusta in Georgia. It appears to me very possible, from the conversation I had with this man, that he is in possession of a considerable part of it which he purchased from Russell and has now come on to make his sale and is to repay him on his return — I have paid my attention to find out the persons holding this money before it was too late, and now I fear unless some quick & alarming measures are taken with them that it will altogether be lost — If Alexander could be found an immediate attachment of him, would be the most effectual way to bring the money back but I hear he is also in Georgia, a place so lawless that compulsory measures I fear will not be of consequence