[Endorsement on back of document]: Recd [undecipherable] 1791 from J. H[undecipherable] on the Subject of [undecipherable] & [undecipherable] in the Army Recd & to be Noted [undecipherable signature] Joseph Howell Jr. Dear Sir, The Secretary of War requests that you would please to examine the enclosed letter, and report to him your observations thereon — Dec 13 1791 [undecipherable: James? Francis?] [undecipherable signature] To [undecipherable: Agreeably?] [undecipherable] I have made a strict search for the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to have been given by Captain [undecipherable: Lytle?] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] back [undecipherable: letters?] but without effect — on appealing to the several [undecipherable] for [undecipherable] more perfectly [undecipherable] for Cost [undecipherable] and his [undecipherable] it appears that Captain [undecipherable: Lytle?] generally [undecipherable] the Money from the payment [undecipherable: Journal?] for [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in one [undecipherable: instance?] where [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in the form of [undecipherable: twenty?] dollars in one month [undecipherable], this [undecipherable] is probably the money so [undecipherable: disputed?] and it is also [undecipherable: possible?] that [undecipherable] [undecipherable: Lytle?] gave the [undecipherable] — Jos. Howell [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] for this [undecipherable], [undecipherable] should be the [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] at the [undecipherable] of this [undecipherable] — [undecipherable signature] 3 Jan 1786 The Hon'ble Mr. [undecipherable]