[to] The Hon.^ble Joseph Reed Esq One of the Committee of Arrangement b[y] Camp — [endorsement, lower right:] [undecipherable] Pay Office October 10, 1791 Sir In pursuance of your request communicated this day by [the?] Staff, I have, into the claim of the Hon.^ble Richard Varick Esq. for an allow ance of bounty lands from the United States as a Lieutenant Colonel in the late Army — and respectfully Report That on the 18 September 1776 Congress made provision for granting Lands to the Officers & Soldiers who should engage in the [service?] [therein?] to the close of the War, or unless discharged by Congress, and to the Representatives of such Officers & Soldiers as should be slain by the Enemy. That on the 25. September 1776 M^r Varick was appointed [Deputy?] Muster Master [General?] to the [line?] Army, and the [10] Sept^r 1777 he was elected one of the [Deputy?] Muster Master Gen.^l with the rank of [Colonel?] in the Army of the United States. That on the 12^th Jan^y 1780, Congress resolved That the Mustering Department must be discontinued and the Officers thereof discharged and under certain restrictions they should be assured one year's pay of [their?] respective Grades. That on the 30^th October 1783 Congress resolved "That it be recommended to the executives of the State of New york, to settle with and pay [Lieutenant?] [Colonel?] [Richard?] Varick, by allowing him what his arrears of pay, and [year's?] advance as [Deputy?] Muster Master Gen[era]l on [were?] to be given at the time they respectively [served?] and charge the same to the United States. [I am?] of opinion that [under?] other [circumstances?] the Act of the [10^th?] April 1777. That by [every?] [look?] to the Muster Master Gen.^l [the?] [Deputy?] they [were?] led [to?] understand that [they themselves?] should [extend?] to granting them a command in the field, or any command over any Office of inferior Rank, in the Army but that it was granted with a View to make the Department more respectable and to cover any casualty which might happen in the [parties?] being [made?] prisoners; but [I or?] when I consider the Act of the 12^th Jan^y [17]80, allowing the Officers in the Muster Masters department one year's pay in the same manner as was allowed to Officers who became Supernumerary, and also the subsequent Acts allowing them depreciation, notwithstanding the Act of the 10^th April 1780 and I am led to believe that Congress considered the Officers in this department in a different point of View from the other Staff of the Army, yet Sir if Congress had meant to grant them the emoluments of Supernumerary Officers in every Respect I presume they would have [expressed?] it as [undecipherable] [strikethrough: That I do not consider myself] therefore [submit?] by "leave to submit the foregoing State of Facts to your final decision — J.Howell Sec.^y of War War department, Oct 11^th 1791 Sir, The Secretary of War has directed me to transmit you, the enclosed application of Richard Varick Esq^r. claiming an allowance of bounty lands from the United States as a lieutenant colonel in the late army, requesting that you will examine the same, and report your opinion with all convenient speed. I am Sir, Most respectfully, Your mo^st humble Serv^t [undecipherable] Joseph Howell Esq^r