[To the Hon^ble Joseph [undecipherable] by one of the Committee of Arrangements Camp—] [undecipherable text in lower right corner] 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^d Richard Varick Esq^r for an allowance of bounty lands from the United States as a lieutenant in the late Army — and respectfully Report That on the 18 Septem^r 1776 Congress made provision for granting Lands to the Officers & Soldiers who should engage in the [undecipherable] 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 29^th September 1776 M^r Varick was appointed [undecipherable: Deputy?] Muster Master [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] Army, and the 10 Septem^r 1777 he was elected one of the [undecipherable] Muster Mas[ter] Gen^l with the Rank of [undecipherable: Colonel?] in the Army of the United States. That on the 12^th Jan^y 1780, Congress resolved That the Musterring Department must be discontinued and the Officers thereof discharged and under certain restrictions they should be allowed one Years pay of [their respective?] Grades— That on the 12^th October 1781 Congress recommended to the executives of the State of Massachusetts to settle with the late Musterring department within that State in the same manner than they had settled with their Troops and to allow the [undecipherable] advance as [undecipherable] officers at the time [it was] [undecipherable] became deed— 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 [undecipherable] Richard Varick, by allowing him what his arrears of pay, and year advance as Deputy Muster Master Gen^l or nearly to the [undecipherable] at the time they respectively were — [undecipherable] the same to the United States, [undecipherable] of opinion that other [undecipherable] from the Act of the 16^th April 1777, That by [giving?] back to the Muster Master Gen^l [the?] [undecipherable] they [were?] [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] should extend to giving them a command in the field; or any command over any Office of inferior Rank, in the Army, [a] but that it was granted with a View to make the Department [more?] respectable and to cover any [casualty?] which might happen in the [undecipherable] being made prisoners; but [I] [or when?] I consider the Act of the 12^th Jan^y 80, allowing the Officers in the Muster Masters department one years 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— 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] as [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] Department— [strikethrough: That I do not consider myself] therefore [submit?] by leave to submit the forgoing State of Facts to your final Decision — J Howell Sect^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 most humble Serv^t [undecipherable signature] [undecipherable: acting?] Joseph Howell Esq^r