[Brown, Mathew / [undecipherable] / 1796] [French Brown] [undecipherable] James [undecipherable] [Post Office] Rome April 1^st 1797 — W^m Simonson E^sq Sir I send you dispatches last fall for the western troops in due season — with them I dispatched an express to Oswego a distance of about seventy miles — You wrote me the express would be paid by the Commanding Officer at the garrison in being about the express was not paid — I have been about this matter on my return I rec^d the enclosed — I will not say any thing as to the charge — but to do justice to the express I must say he undertook the voige when no other person would — it was that inclement season of the year when it [undecipherable] to venture one person alone thro' the wood at that inclement season of the year, the snow being deep & they obliged to go on snow-shoes the whole distance is nearly, it was a dangerous & fatiguing tour — to induce him to go I told him he would be liberally rewarded — the [undecipherable: probable reading "inclosure"] was delivered safe as you have probably heard before this — I shall be obliged to you for your answer on the subject with what you may think proper to give him as he is pressing me every day on the subject. I am I am with respect your Ob^t & very humble S^t Matthew Brown L^t [undecipherable] Dear Sir in Conformity to your Request and Agreement with me with Respect to the [undecipherable] Mail I would inform you that I [undecipherable] did the same the following Expence (viz) My self twelve days at four Dollars per Day a man to Assist me at twelve shillings his Pay the Aggregate being [undecipherable] Dollars [undecipherable] is agreeable to Contract — as you was the Person entrusted with Powers to transact the Business with me I know of no other Person to apply to for my Receipt the money is to be drawn from the war Office at Philadelphia [undecipherable] for Receiving may I wish you to settle the Account forwarded as quick as possible that it may be had [undecipherable] the Mail I noted to you if it is necessary that the Account should be any otherwise authenticated than what it is here Explained in order that the money should be drawn from the Office I think let me know the particular[s] so that [undecipherable] the business may be done [undecipherable] the order as quick as [undecipherable] conveniently be I then on your friend and Humble Ser^vt — James [undecipherable] D^r Matthew Brown Rome April 18^th [1797]