Philadelphia Jan^y 29^th 1798. Gentlemen I hope that my letter of the 18^th instant has come to your hands in which I [avail] myself the Honor to inform the Board the Reasons that caused me to request that M^r. [undecipherable] was [undecipherable] in which to be examined and he informed the Board that Sentinels in a short time I have Virginia on my way to NewYork. I have accordingly [undecipherable] my Journey that for am expected to have left this City to morrow but from having [undecipherable] of a considerable consequence to me has unfortunately turned up and requires my attention, I have therefore to request the indulgence of the Board to be absent about a fortnight more to remain in this City until I receive the commands of the Board to the contrary. I left Col. Nevily in charge of the Illinois Papers which he intends to [undecipherable] it was in his power to lodge in a place of safety & to re-deliver them to his or any other persons here appointed 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. Jno. Pierce The Honorable The Board of Treasury New York, February 20^th 1795. Dear Sir Your Letter of the 17^th of October last arrived at this place during my absence in Virginia, which I now take the earliest opportunity to answer. The reasons which induced the Board of Treasury to call on you for the money, are that you were the Officer to whom it was directed and who have acknowledged the receipt of it. That you have intrusted it with such hands as the Board on enquiry find unable to refund it, and who have in a great degree disposed of it for their own use. The Board thinks that you are held in Law in consequence of your own acknowledgement of actually receiving the Money, and that in equity you ought to be responsible for paying it, and for so doing that no farther [undecipherable] can ever be drawn on [undecipherable] to never give you much trouble on this occasion. As to the money was told to be lost for after a most diligent search thro' the United States for Alexander & Belfield the [latter] was found last summer, allowing the money in Charleston and it appeared that he had no character for honesty or probity in which was called on by the Board, as the money and excused myself from refunding it by your letter and [undecipherable] acknowledging the receipt of it, and was directed forthwith to demand it of you. I have the pleasure however to inform you, that it appears from a letter received from the [undecipherable] Officers at Charleston that W. Belfield has [undecipherable] retained to him 27[undecipherable] Dollars of this money for which you are to be credited. Belfield has deposited a large sum also with a Merchant in Charleston for a final quantity of goods which I hope the Board will also obtain possession of. I am of opinion notwithstanding that you are actually holden to the balance, that it would be better that you, M^r. Belfield & Alexander to return the money to the United States or give good security for it, which I suppose would cause the Treasury to discharge you from any further responsibility. The Treasury Board sent immediately to find out both Alexander & Belfield immediately on the information being communicated to them that the money was in their hands but until last January when Belfield [undecipherable] got it & Charleston neither of them could be [undecipherable] heard of. I am much pleased that you have written this money also perfect that your letter produced the same I have herein mentioned as being received. I think he ought to [undecipherable] compel security to his Bills, that the money is kept in so [undecipherable] the money into a place and is a sufficient reason for building a fast against him immediately for the whole balance. To Joseph Clay Esquire Jno. Pierce