[Mr Pierce health — I am extremely anxious to hear particularly of him.] Portland Casco Bay July 19^th 1788 Sir I have now an Opportunity Esquire Thatcher a Member of Congress to write you on the following subject which I hope to be favored with your answer by the return of the same Gentleman unless you have a good opportunity before — viz — I should be glad to be informed if there is an absolute Necessity of my coming to your Office at New York or Philadelphia to make a settlement for the last three Months payment in Specie received for the Officers and Soldiers of the late 2^d Massachusetts Regiment Commanded by L^t Col Commandant S Sprout viz — the Months of Feb^y March & April 1783 — if you recollect most of the Soldiers who had entered for the War went home, previous to that payment being received, also many of the Officers, Consequently the Wages due was received, and was nor would not be paid in Camp, and was thought by yourself & several of the Agents that it would be in the Officers & Soldiers Benefit who wish to serve with as little inconvenience to them as was possible, to advertise on our return home, the place and time in the public Newspapers, where they might apply for said wages together with the Army Notes &c due them, and make the settlement with you at some future time; and not receive our Commutation untill such Settlement was made, on such reasoning that the Officers & Soldiers could not come at their pay without very great inconveniences, I as one acquiesced in the proposal, which I think is & will operate to my disadvantage — because I am obliged to lay out of my Commutation from which I might have some benefit untill those accounts is settled with the United States, and obliging me to go more than three Hundred miles distance — and as I must settle them personally without any provision being made for my time & expenses by the public — on settlement of which I acknowledge there is a balance due to the public; but it would not pay for my time and expenses to go such a distance; to make it appear that a balance is due them — therefore it appears very injurious that individuals should [underline: be obliged to Sacrifice] their time and Money to the Public without even having a prospect of having it refunded again — this being the case and which is a very great Hardship — I think Sir you will join me in Sentiment I sincerely repent that I ever did receive this money which was due to the then absentees, at such an expence and trouble to myself and obliged to lay out of my Commutation which my Service then entitled me to receive — only to Oblige the faithfull servants of the public (Officers & Soldiers) in which respect I did cheerfully serve, could those Accounts be settled in the State without so much expence and trouble, I should be glad — in that case would make a settlement immediately, and if any thing appears due to the United States shall be ready and willing to be the Ballance, I heartily wish some method may be adopted to have those accounts settled in the state — I suppose I am not the only one who has his accounts of this kind unsettled — should think Congress ought to make provision to defray such expensive Business — as to the Army notes received on final settlements of Accounts with United States for the Officers & Soldiers have paid and settled with the State agreeable to a resolve of Congress and of the State for the same — I hope you will take the subject into serious consideration and favor me with your kind sentiments and particular advice in the Matter how this Business must be compleated and the manner of obtaining my Commutation and how it is paid — this will be Esteemed a particular favor by one who has the greatest respect & esteem W. &c Ebenezer Storer Late pay Master & Agent to the 2^d Massachusetts Reg.^t John Pierce Esq.^r