Office of Army Accounts New York July 24^th 1787 Sir, Agreably to your request of yesterday I have inclosed a Copy of the account exhibited by Major Edmund Howie N.B. and Secretary to the late Major General Greene for sundry advances made by him to Officers of the southern army I am with great esteem Jos. Nourse Esq^r. [signature] J. Howell Jr. Richmond July 25^th 1787 My Dear Sir, I am very unhappy to find by your letter the last of which I received by Mr. Swann, that your Lady continues so unwell; your situation is very disagreeable and I heartily with that the event may turn out different than you immagine, the disorder which she is seized with cannot be judged of with certainty and many persons who have been despaired of have ultimately recovered — I do not know how many additional Clerks will be necessary in my office; and whether any; If I should want one, I have no objection to Mr. Kirkpatrick and from the information you give of him, suppose his abilities would be an acquisition. at Present I do not think myself at liberty to engage him — I hope to return some time in August but fear not before the latter End of it — Sam^d S^r Jo. Pierce Doctor Bond has requested my attention to a Claim of Doctor Mc Guile. I find Guile is charged with $500 received by him from the State as Paymaster to the 2^d Virginia State Regiments in March 1777 and the same deducted from his accounts, the balance I have remitted to Doctor Bond in Bills of Exchange on Philadelphia; if he is not there well one inform Mr. Williams Esq^r. I wish you also to inform me if Guile ever received any money or settled any account as Paymaster, with the [undecipherable] — Of James Quarles who mended when has settled his accounts he says he has and that it was done at Middlesex if you can find his accounts correctly I will thank you for it by the return of the post — Sam^d Jo. Pierce Jos. Howell Esq^r.