Philadelphia Jan^y 29^th 1796— [Gentlemen] I hope that my letter of the 17^th instant has come to your hands in which I [undecipherable] myself the Honor to [undecipherable] the Board the Reasons that caused me to [consent?] that [undecipherable] [undecipherable] was [undecipherable] in should be [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] the Board that [Sentence?] in a short time to have Virginia on my way to New York. I have accordingly [undecipherable] my Journey but [undecipherable] are [expected?] to have left this City to morrow — but some [business?] of a by considerable consequence to me has unfortunately [turned?] up and requires my attention, I am therefore to request the [indulgence?] of the Board to be absent about a fortnight more to remain in this City — unless I receive the commands of the Board to the contrary. I left Col. [undecipherable] in charge of the [Illinois?] [Papers?] which he intends to [undecipherable] it was in his power to lodge in a place of [undecipherable: fifty?] [undecipherable] to [redeliver?] it to his or any other persons [undecipherable] appoint as a Commissioner in his place — he is now [completing?] a Copy of our Journals for Congress after which he will [come?] on to New York. Ira Pierce The Honorable The Board of Treasury