Gentlemen! Your letter addressed to me of the 2^d January in behalf of the Citizens of Sullivan County I received in due time, but the necessary attention to be paid to two Gentlemen on their way to Philadelphia who had business with me of a Public nature prevented my giving you an earlier answer. Those meritorious Citizens then complain of not receiving compensation for their services performed in the Military line in 1793 and under Col Scott and Sevier out in the absence of the Governor by General Smith, has been stated, and represented to the Department of Government to which it should be before, and if they have called for their [strikethrough: pay and been] pay and been as often refused, it was because Monies were not appropriated for that purpose, and which was held back under the idea of these Services being connected with General Sevier's expedition of that year and which expedition [underline: of the general Government] I was informed were not approved of. I shall enclose and forward your letter and my answer to the honorable Secretary of War, being well assured he will treat the Citizens of this Territory with the justice and attention they are entitled to. I am Gentlemen Respectfully Your Hum Serv Knox 2 July 1796—