prisoner from the United States and probably a [undecipherable] will be dear you — Joseph Howell Capt John Thatcher --- Office of Army Accounts New York 19 Sept 1788 The Commissioner of army accounts to whom was referred the petition of Joseph Kiley on behalf of Absalom Baird, late Surgeon to Col Wellens Regiment of [undecipherable] — Begs leave to lay before Congress the report of the late Commissioner of army accounts on a former petition of Doctor Baird praying that the commutation of half pay during life might be granted him — See M^r Pierce's report of the 25 Aug, 1786. Your Commissioner conceives it unnecessary to enlarge on this report, and is of opinion that he is not authorized to grant the commutation prayed for, without the express direction of Congress — all which is humbly submitted J Howell Office of Army Accounts New York September 22^d 1789 Dear Sir — Your letter of the 12 Instant with the order of William Coad subjoined came to hand on saturday last — on examining the accounts of the first Regiment of New York I find that five Certificates have been issued for Coad's pay and clothing from the 1^st of June 1782 amounting to two hundred & twenty five [undecipherable] all which certificates were given the Agent M^r Van Rensselaer of Albany, this gentleman has not Settled his account with the State, which prevents me from arriving at the knowledge whether the certificates are still in his hands, or have been [undecipherable] to the Order of Coad; however I have engaged Capt Connolly (the other Agent) to write M^r Van Rensselaer on the subject & to send the Certificates if they are Still in being — this depreciation has not been settled, I fear it is too late as the accounts of this State are already lodged with me & the office I believe is closed — I will make further inquiry — The quantity of land granted to each soldier of this State is 600 acres, which includes the Continental bounty of 100, a treaty is now forming with the Indians for the purpose of purchasing a quantity of lands for the Officers & soldiers therefore nothing can yet be done on that head — In your letter of the 1 April 1785, you say "I have received the several papers entrusted to the care of M^r Green," those papers if I mistake not were your accounts as pay master & which I settled in the year 1786 — I wish you to inform me if you have those accounts still in your possession, if so I will thank you to send them with the papers of the State, I do not find them in the Office, which induces me to suppose you have them — I shall pay every attention to your recommendation & if it is in my power to serve M^r Wright be assured I shall take pleasure in doing it — I thank you for your good wishes, am happy to inform you that in addition to that of Commissioner, I have the [undecipherable]