Richmond Virginia July 14^th 1796 Dear Sir, Some time since, with motives purely to oblige the parties, concerned as I presumed, I sent to the Office of the Accountant of the War Department, an Order from Alexander Scott in favor of Daniel Brodhead for the pay due the said Scott from the United States — this order had been for some time received before any return or answer was made to the application, at length, the Certificates among others similarly circumstanced were sent on to me by Col. Carrington, upon the receipt of which I made public Advertisement thereof and in every case but ones have delivered the Certificates so received to the respective proprietors or their orders — Alex^t. Scott's was given to the said Brodhead and his receipt taken for the same — A person by the name of W^m Wedderburns now comes forward and demands of me a formal Power of Attorney from his Alex^t Scott in justification for what I have done, and threatens me with a prosecution — Will you therefore be so obliging as to send me a Copy of the Order upon which the proper Officer of the Department issued the Certificates — It is an unpleasant thing to be now troubled, and exposed to the expense of Law suits, particularly when I reflect on the purity of my motives — and, this case may not be the only one, for if a precedent be set, I may be exposed to perpetual law squabbles, let me lived as long as I may — I anticipate your ready disposition to serve any person, and will therefore only add, that a compliance with much obliges — Your Ob^t Serv^t [signature: J. Dunscomb] P.S. if you will please to add your sentiments upon the sufficiency of the Order in the view of the proper Officer at the time who directed the department — [initials: J.D.] William Simmons Esquire