Mendham 13.^th Decem.^t 1787. Dear Sir Yours of the 26^th Ult^o has come to hand for which I return you my most hearty thanks — But find you do not [strikethrough: exactly] understand what I yet want from M^r Phillips — The securities which you mentioned being settled by M^r Wolcott were allowed to me when I was in New York last — what I want of him is a sheet of Paper whereon are a number of names who signed orders for him to receive their securities which securities I gave him which orders I now want as my voucher for the delivery of them to him and which by inattention I left in his hands after I had delivered him all the securities and which he now wickedly detains — in my letter which you received are the names of the Persons the securities belonged to, which by comparing with the account of M^r Wolcott you will find to be all different persons — Now what I want you to do is to write to him and put him in mind that he has received such a number of securities which he must account for and that he is liable to an arrest from the public if he does not do it — It seems that he has not delivered them all to the owners, but if he will deliver up the Paper I mention'd it will be sufficient for me — you mentioned Major Painter he signed the order I have a Letter from him wherein he mentions signing the order — It is only a foolish wicked, ungenerouse obstanacy that prevents him from delivering up the orders, and I have sufficient authority to say he is encouraged in it by his Father — as I have had it from his own lips — But if any way can be devised to give him some alarm and obtain it I shall be exceeding glad — in my bundle in your Office is a copy of the writing with the names drawn by the old Gentlemen you mentioned some delivered Cap^t. Patton to which I have to observe that when I received the Securities Cap. Patton was present he told me the he wished to have some to take with him immediately to Boston for some of his Company who were waiting for him to bring them so I replied to M^r Pierce who told me I might let him have what he pleased of his own Company — I did so and have his receipt for them — But the Public may say they do not know that he has delivered them to the owners but the presumption is so great that I think I ought not to be questioned concerning them, they were all men who had left the service only a few weeks & none of them have ever in Person or otherwise called on me — I shall be glad to know if you do any thing in the matter or if you do not — But if you do not I know not what I shall do — I have spent so much money already in getting the accounts of the Regiment settled and getting nothing that I really have got no more to spend and M^r Pierce told me I shall get none when these matters are settled — But I must stop, or you will think by my present & former Letters that I never know when to stop when I begin to write — I am with much Respect &c Cap. Howell Joseph King