[the following is a Copy] [*undecipherable* 2 or 3 lines at top, partially obscured by stamp/seal] ...by the Board of Justices and our respective appointments to procure to the final adjustment of the accounts before us without injuring the due consideration of the parties is a duty by our determinations; yet I think that the respect in which we ought to pay to a solemn resolution of the Legislature of this State forbidding us in our proceedings hind us. Pending the further Adjustment of the accounts must cause us to comply with the same so far as to not yield any further process in the business until the State can have made her wished for communications to the Congress on the subject — In^s Pierce Richmond Jan^y 12^th 1788. The following reasons which influenced me to adopt this line of conduct I beg leave to submit to the consideration of your Board, and I sincerely hope that they will meet with your approbation. — That had I [strikethrough: formerly myself] proceeded to make our report in direct opposition to their act and without the concurrence of the Commissioners on the part of the State, The State would never consent that this report should be final and would on the mean time catch at any form we found due and where the authority stop so much on of the liquidation or obtain satisfaction some other way which would oblige the United States to a payment so far as that at the same time relieving the State from a releasing in her further demands. That a delay in the settlement of this account must be more to the inconvenience of the State than Congress, for after refusing the acceptance of the elections of a Board one of whom was appointed by herself and another nominated by her Delegation in Congress, the delay with which the business must necessarily be attended and of [strikethrough: concurrence] course the payment she must consider as the consequence of her own conduct. That should any accident or the consent of the parties remove the present Board of Commissioners the principles adopted by us I consider as much more favorable to the State than than that called to be admitted