War Office, April 28^th 1790 Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 17^th instant. It is not surprizing that you are at a loss to know by what means such omissions & mistakes have been made in the Massachusetts returns, certain it is that no names have been returned to you but those previously transmitted to me. It is to be hoped however that the lists are now nearly right or will be so by a few more corrections which will arise from the future payments. I take the liberty of cautioning against any payments, but those for which you shall have my warrants, as the same will be required of you as a Voucher at the Treasury I am sensible that there are inequalities in the Pensions granted by the different States — that some ought to be higher & others lower — but the difficulty is how shall a perfect arrangement be made upon this subject — [strikethrough: more] more men must be employed to make the inspections, subject to all weaknesses of men — some Pensions would probably be [undecipherable: vastly] increased, whilst others perhaps might be unjustly decreased, clamor and complaints would arise — for who could ascertain the opinion each Invalid has of his own sufferings and incapacity? My opinion was strongly in favor of a new inspection, and I urged it for — a Bill was draughted and debated in the House the last Session, and upon a pretty considerable investigation it was conceived on the whole that to take the Invalids Pensions as fixed by the respective States was the mode which would be the least liable to exceptions — and I believe the sense of the Legislature is pretty well fixed upon this subject, and the more so as numerous petitions have been presented from Invalids either praying for to be admitted after failing of sufficient proofs in their respective States, or praying for an increase of pension. I feel myself indebted to you for the observations you favored me with on this subject, and I have stated to you the objections which exist against a new inspection. I am Sir With great respect Your most obedient humble servant Knox [The Honorable Benjamin Lincoln]