Governors Island Feb. 9^th 1797 John Lane my waiter having two months pay due him for a considerable time owing to his being sent from the Point with me, I herewith send [undecipherable] Truman's letter to me on the subject, his mode of applying has not been complied with by me, as I supposed it most proper to apply in this way, as I am [undecipherable] present commanding officer of [undecipherable] [Your obed^t hum^ble Serv^t] [undecipherable signature] [H.A.d.E. or similar] M^r. Simmons Esq^re [undecipherable] D.A.E. [address panel: M^r. [William?] Simmons [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] / Philadelphia] [postal notation: [undecipherable] Cap.^t 10 [undecipherable]] --- West Point, January 6^th 179[undecipherable] Sir, I beg to apologize for [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] Lane by the disagreeable [circumstances?] in which I found my family on my arrival in November from New York. On an examination of pay rolls I find his pay was remitted to [Capt?] [undecipherable] for May 1796 and afterwards had in a [balance?] of account to [undecipherable] the payment for [undecipherable] on which I [undecipherable] John Lane [undecipherable] [sum?] was made by [Captain?] [undecipherable] [West?] Point [before?] his [undecipherable] [undecipherable] him on the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [Governors?] Island, for the two months [arrears?] of pay. [undecipherable] yesterday. [undecipherable] [Your obedient humble Servant?] Lane [Esq^re?]