[Endorsed: March 1, 1796] [paid [undecipherable]] [answ^d March 8] William Simmons Esquire Philadelphia Springfield, March the 1, 1796 Sir I received yours of the 28 Ultino in which you [undecipherable] me Williams' Amount which I am highly obliged to you for, I'd now inclose you my account and vouchers for the Month of Novem^ber and Decem^ber and an Account current that a Settlement may take place to the [undecipherable] of the past [undecipherable] I cannot [undecipherable] the copy of the pay Roll in my [hands?] for the reason you mention of the over payment to m^r Packard, he commenced the 19 of Aug^t [&] labored 6 days in September of [undecipherable], for which I had him 29 dollars [&] 35 cents, and had his pay been continued to the 19 of Sept^ember and again taken up the first of Sept^ember, I [should] have paid him 16 dollar [&] 35 Cents, instead of 29 dollars [&] 35 cents- which left in the [undecipherable] due for his 30 days works on both Rol[ls] before it would make the pay rolls according to your [undecipherable] to confine the matter [undecipherable] 16 dollars and 93 cents larger than they now are. this is all I can say on the matter [&] I have made a mistake am writing to [undecipherable: Ridley?] [undecipherable] states I have to much on my hands for the most part of the time that I [hard?] have to look over and correct my accounts as I [would] wish to do - and [if] there is no impropriety in it when you furnish me with a statement of my accounts which I hope will be [undecipherable] and in which I [other] cases can be no [undecipherable] attention, that I may Receive a copy of the roll that the mistake is in [N^ote: to the captain and] [William Simmons [undecipherable] Packard I am] [a [undecipherable] about [undecipherable]] [and [undecipherable] once [undecipherable] officer [undecipherable]] [and [undecipherable] this all every time] [on occasions] Most respectfully your [obedient?] and very humble Servant David Ames William Simmons Esquire