[from John Habersham November — 1794] [Collector's Office, Collector of Savannah [postal mark: 2] Joseph Howell, Esquire, Accountant to the Department of War, Philadelphia.] Custom House, Savannah November 17 1794 Sir, I this day received your letter dated the 19^th of September last, respecting a packet directed to John Mathews, esquire, Supervisor of the Revenue for this State, which was addressed to my care. On referring to my letter book I find, that I notified Captain Constant Freeman of the receipt of the above packet as early as the 18^th of June last, having been informed that it was to be forwarded to him by Mr. Mathews. This I learned from John Berrien, esqu^r. (Mr. Mathews's Deputy and Attorney here) to whom I delivered the packet, and who supposing it might contain some Official Forms that would not be wanted in the upper Country, opened it and found that it was pay for the Troops to the amount of nine thousand nine hundred and eleven dollars. He thereupon requested me to take it back and deposit it in the Custom House iron chest until Mr. Mathews should send for it, he not choosing as his Attorney to risque forwarding it without his special order. Mr. Berrien wrote to Mr. Mathews acquainting him of what had taken place, and I requested Colonel Gaither, who was going to his station on the Oconee river, to inform Captain Freeman of it, that he might communicate with Mr. Mathews on the same. What prevented one or the other of those Gentlemen from coming or sending sooner for the packet I do not know, as they were both assuredly informed that it was in my hands; but it was not until some time in August that Mr. Mathews came to Savannah, when I delivered it to him. The Pay Master of the Federal Troops has since been here, and I gave him specie for a considerable number of post notes the same I believe that were transmitted through Mr. Mathews. I am, Sir, very respectfully Your ob^t Servant, John Habersham, Cll^r. of the Customs for Sav. P.S. I have been and still am sick and confined to my room, therefore I should have forwarded my Accounts to the Department of War before this Joseph Howell, Esq., Accountant to the Department of War.