Office of the Army Accts New York Decem. 17th 1787. Sir Your letter of the 12th Inst was duly received. I am sorry it is not in my power to give you any further satisfaction relative to the accounts of your late father as the same objection to the closing of them still continues as when I wrote you the 14th November last. If congress should think proper to pay the accounts as they are now stated the the Estate will be exonerated from the several charges which now appear against it, on the Contrary if the whole of the expenditures are not allowed / & which I have my doubts as receipts for large sums of money are wanting which cannot with Propriety be charged the officers without their consult then a considerable balance will be due the U. States The Certificate from Mr. Nicholson is received. I am Sir J Howell Jr Mr. Jno P. DeHaas