[marginal notation: pur] Sir. Pay Office of the U. States New York 7 June 1790 By direction of the Honorable the Sec'y for the War department I enclose the first of exchange of this date, drawn on you, by Samuel Merdith Treasurer of the United States in my favor at sight, dated this day for five hundred and sixty five dollars & Twenty four Cents, which you will please to pay to the Order of Joseph Montfort [Esq?] appointed a Captain under the Act of Congress of the 30. April last to raise a Company in the State of North Carolina in addition to those now in Service, under the Proviso that [strikethrough: the] Captain Montfort accepts the said appointment, [strikethrough: but in case he declines, you will then pay the [undecipherable]] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] if you will [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] take triplicate of the next Senior Officer who may accept [strikethrough: receipts] [undecipherable] taking triplicate Receipts agreeably to the enclosed form which you will please to forward and them to me by different Posts, but should Captain Montfort decline the appointment [to?] you will then please to hold the Bill subject to my Order and give me the earliest information The Sec'y of War in his letter has directed Cap't. Montfort [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] by care of [accepting?] to [undecipherable] may apply to you for the Money I am with great Esteem Sir Your Obed^t Serv^t Joseph Howell Jr. I certify that I saw Joseph Howell Jr. [PMG?] Inclose the above mentioned Bill of Exchange in a Letter to Jⁿ Dawes Esq^t.— [date and signature: undecipherable] John Dawes Esq. Collector for the Port of Newbern N. Carolina