W.D. Accountants Office August 8^th 1794 Sir In answer to the queries contained in your letter of this day relative to the claim of M^r Ben Howell late a Captain in the Invy line — I have to observe in the first instance that the claim was made to me in January last, by himself and by an account current of Stoppages made by M^r Lowry and M^r Trumbull for those Months that I have reported on — in February following he produced the receipts and other vouchers which accompanied that report. to the second I beg leave to refer you to the resolve of Congress of the 6^th of September 1777 which resolve has been extended to those Troops who served in the Northern department; so far as application was made — It may be presumed there was some resolution either of Congress or the Committee of the Treasury relative to this business long before the resolution passed, as early as 1777. Col De Haas who nam-