Springfield May the 2. 1796 Sir, I now do my self the honour to inclose you a muster roll pay roll and [undecipherable], also a return & abstract received expended and on hand for the month of April. Having been deprived of the satisfaction of receiving any answer to my letters of the [undecipherable] ultimo in which it mentioned my want of Money and not knowing but his capacity has prevented your receiving them would now take the liberty to mention that the fifth month is now going on from the first of January from which time the whole of pay due the workmen & those whom I have had [them?] from on Public faith is now due— and to a great disappointment to those who depended on having there pay the first of April which was the time it became due— & to them [undecipherable] them they should have it according to [undecipherable] no argument I should be happy to forbear urging a matter of this nature but when [it] is considered as a part of the great whole your honour will be pleased to see that such delays will destroy the public Credit and prevent my [keeping?] the hands & [undecipherable] taken answered papers to them and to attain those in those rooms as any [undecipherable] that my want on the terms that a Quarterly punctuality would [undecipherable]. The trouble of borrowing [undecipherable] such [forms?] as are constantly [undecipherable] with [undecipherable] to be attained from me & which I want to let you will be pleased to find on the [forms?] due on the Affirmative for March and which I earnestly hope will be attended to with all [undecipherable] next dispatch. I have the honour to be with Esteem P.S. I have [proposed?] to run to Philadelphia with [undecipherable] about the 19 of this month if I hear of no objection from you, nor receive no money before then— your most [obed't?] very humble Servant David Ames The Honourable Secretary at War— [Springfield 2 May 1796 / David Ames / No 6 May 9]