[Endorsement: Fort Washington / Received [undecipherable] 20. 1793 / from [undecipherable]] Fort Washington November 20. 1793. Sir Having come to this place from th[e] [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable] branch of the miami, about 75 or 80 miles advanced from the Ohio, in order to try to get out my heavy papers, I embrace the moment to acknowledge the receipt of your favours of the 14, 15, & 16 October ult: which were put into my hands on my arrival from Camp at this place - in answer to which I can only observe briefly that I will do all in my power to assist Colonel Hamtramck in the settlement of his Account I hazarded the experiment of making a [undecipherable: possibly "stop"] on this occasion from those officers within my power; but it has, as I expected, drawn on me the odium of all concerned, except Colonel Hamtramck - he Voluntarily offered it. I might as well be [strikethrough: damn'd at once] as to make stoppages from the officers while they remain at such a distance that it is impossible to settle their accounts with you. And they regard the mode of delivering their account to me, without receiving the balance (which in Sundry little instances are due to them for recruiting expences) as a [undecipherable] of Grievance. I applied by letter as long ago as September 1792 and should now be glad to know, if officers Claims for Supplies or advances to men who are dead or deserted, are admissable - there is much said about it; and I have promised to obtain some decisive rule to be governed by in the Case. It would be my desire, not to have any thing to do with it; but to make returns of it to your office; I want however to receive some pointed instruction on the Subject which I wish may be given to me as soon as as possible. The deranged State of the public [undecipherable] [undecipherable] me to apprehend a long lapse of time before I [undecipherable] obtain the legion for 1793. Poor Horleman who brought out the pay for April, died here on the 8. October - Since I come in from the woods I have obtained his Watch and the duplicate receipts I had given to him, I now enclose to you the receipts, also his private papers - his Watch, of no great value, I will give to his Wife, if he had [strikethrough: any] one; or deliver it to her order. he had no other effects except 20 dollars, which were absorbed in the expenses of his attendance [undecipherable] and there are yet Claims unsatisfied which I shall pay. I am Sir Very respectfully Your ob^t Serv^t [undecipherable] Pay master Troops of the U. States. Jos. Howell Esq^r.