(Copy) Office of Army Accounts New York April 7th 1788 [both lines within a right-margin bracket] Sir The abstract of wages and mileage of Capt Towns company, which you did me the honor to enclose this morning is foreclosed from being admitted as a claim against the United States, by the Resolve of Novem-ber 2nd 1785, but if this had not been the case I should have doubted the propriety of paying it to Capt. Town because it ought to have been presented and paid at the time of his service performed, and when the other companies of the Regiment drew money for the same purpose; it being at this time out of my power to be informed of the propriety of the demands or whether it has not already been settled, and because the principal part of this money was the property of the men, and a payment to the Captain would be probably a perquisite to him only, as it does not appear that he has paid them or that he is now in a situation in which he could find them for that purpose. I am Sir with respect Gen. (Signed) Jn[?] Pierce Honble Secty at War.