Commissioners Office Philadelphia 9^th March 1788 Dear Sir In addition to my former trouble I request your application at the Board of Treasury to examine M^r Stelle Register for a Certificate issued by him N^o 2348 to Samuel Becker dated Pennsylvania November 6^th 1784 & to let me know the amount — the original is in the hands of a Gentleman in Maryland & it is apprehended a fraud has been committed by altering the Sum from what it was first issued for — I am with Respect Dear Sir Your very hble humble servant Signed Jo^s Dawson Joseph Howell Esquire New York March 10^th 1788 [P^s] Sir I find M^r Hughes living here has been to continue in this City much longer than he at first expected has occasioned an additional Expence which he is unable to discharge without the assistance of a friend — M^r Pierce has obligingly advanced him 148 dollars in Specie for which he has taken M^r Hughes Note & which you will find inclosed — M^r Pierce requests you will retain this Sum from M^r Hughes depreciation