Dear Sir In Conformity to your Request and Agreement with me with Respect to the [undecipherable] Mail I would inform you that I [shold] the same as the [undecipherable] Expense [undecipherable] Myself hire [the] day at four Dollars [undecipherable] a day to a man to Assist me at twelve Shillings his pay the Aggregate being [undecipherable] by [undecipherable] Dollars [undecipherable] that is agreeable to Contract—— as you was the Person entred with Power to [Transact] the Business with me I know of no other person to Apply to for my [pay?] the money is to be drawn from the war Office at Philadelphia be [undecipherable] for [receiving] my pay I wish you to settle the Account forwarded as quick as possible that it may be [had] before the Mail. [I] need [undecipherable] it is necessary that the Amount should be [undecipherable] otherwise authenticated than what is here Expressed in order that the money should be drawn from the Office I [think] let me know the [form] [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] the business may be done and to the orders quick as has been commonly be [undecipherable] on your friend and Humble Serv^t [undecipherable] — James Cooke Doct^r [Mathias?] [Brechin?] Rome April 18^th 1[undecipherable] [undecipherable: probable reading — docket or address notation at top of address panel]