War-Office Dec^s. 5. 1795. Sir, — I inclose a letter from Capt. Bissell who commands the garrison of federal troops at Presqu' Isle, to request your opinion on the case of Col^o. Reed, who is there without licence selling liquor to the soldiers and taking their cloaths in pledge or as pay. Reed is an abandoned character. The good of the service absolutely requires that he should be restrained or driven off. He can have no property in the land where he has erected a hut or tent. — I inclose also the rules and articles of war; will Reed's case fall within the 23^d article, in the 13^th section? or of any other? — Or must some other course be pursued? And what effectual and legal measures to remedy the evil (which is a serious one) would you advise? I am very respectfully your ob^t. serv^t. T. Pickering William Rawle Esq^r. [War Office] [Dec 5. 1795 / Timothy Pickering / to / William Rawle] [undecipherable filing notations — Presqu' Isle]