[Address panel: Mr Semmons / accountant / in the War office / Philadelphia] [Docketed: John Edwards / Rec^d 8 March / Adm E / N^o 14] Sheltersby 11^th Novembr 1797 Mr Semmons accountant to the war office Sir A few days past reed your favour requesting me to make a settlement for the [Mone]ys paid on accounts of Militia Services done in this Country as I informed you once before General [Monroe] paid this money into my hand to pay off for those Services the Several Individuals to whom money was due at the Same time gave me Instructions to advertise in the [Kentucky] papers which I did a good number of the persons came in a few weeks and reed their money others being more scattered [some] Having Left the State came in but slowly but as I kept an office open in Bourbon they continued to come & receive their money as usual until I reed Instructions from your department to discontinue the payment [and] forward the papers for settlement I took them on to you with the Second Clerk that had Superintended the [business] [you] did not think yourself authorised to allow the Expense [I had] given to Clerks to do the business altho General [Monroe] had assured me that the fullest compensation would be allowed if I would undertake the [undecipherable: papers] and that any money remaining in my hands Should not be returned at my risque but deliver the [pay master] in this country — the first Clerk died who paid the larger sums and a number of the vouchers in his hands could not be found I have Inclosed you a copy of payments he sent me to Philadelphia to convince [you] that considerable loss will accrue to me [on account of] the loose careless manner in which he Conducted the business in my absence — I do also remind you that two Certificates have been presented for payment Signed by way of order to me Since my return from Philadelphia these I have taken up and I believe almost all the remaining [ones] unpaid would have been discharged long before this had I not been ordered to discontinue the payments — the reason is rather unpleasant to travel to your city to settle abeyance at my own Expense I never was Interested in it and at all times ready to render the Ballance that may remain in my hands when called on agreeable to [the laws] Congress may prescribe and have the Honour to be with Greats Respect your Humblest John Edwards