War Office June 1^st 1790. I request you to examine into the merits of the enclosed petition of William Gould, praying that the half pay or commutation may be paid to him as the legal representative of his late father Doctor David Gould who was a Junior Surgeon in the Southern Hospital, and report the result to me. I am Sir Your most Obed^t. Servant Knox Joseph Howell Esq^r The Commissioner of Army Accounts upon the [undecipherable] of Doctor David Gould deceas'd referred to him by the Secretary of War respectfully Reports, That the prayer of the Petitioner is for a commutation of Half Pay of his deceas'd Father Doctor Gould as a Junior Surgeon of the Hospital — The Commissioner in examining into the merits or legality of the claim finds the following facts. That Congress resolved on the 6 Feb^y 1784 That Thomas Bond Jun^r Surveyor to the Gen^l Hospital be authoriz'd to settle the accounts for Salaries, and pay the officers of the Hospital, establish'd in Virginia under the Directions of Doctor Gould — This appears a proof that the Doctor was at that time in Service and no arrangement of the Department having taken place between that date and the period of the [strikethrough: the] his Doctor's death, the Commissioner is of opinion it may be fairly concluded that he died in Service of the United States and consequently not of the description of officers entitled by the laws of Congress to commutation [undecipherable]. The [undecipherable] complaint of the Petitioner of a refusal by the Commissioner of the Hospital Department to make him an allowance for payments made by his Father to Nurses &c the vouchers having fallen into the hands of Enemy and not now procurable — this is a grievance the redress of which does not depend upon the Commissioner of Army Accounts but solely rests with the Auditor of the United States to whom in the opinion of [undecipherable] the complaint should be preferred. All which is submitted. [initials] 2^nd June 1790 — The Honorable Sec^y at War