[BATT AI ·] M^r William Simmons accountant of the War Departm^t Philadelphia [upper right corner notation, rotated:] [undecipherable] [undecipherable: Brigadic] [undecipherable] — Baltimore 6^th April 1798 Sir I would beg the favor of you, should M^r Gross late Lieutenant of the Constitution draw on you, in favor of any other person but myself for the amount of his Wages & Rations, not to pay his order — a few days ago, he was arrested in two instances for Debt, & very probably would have gone to Jail, had I not become his Security, which I did on his solemn promise, to let as much of his Pay remain in my hands as would indemnify me, or until he found other Security to my Satisfaction — He has since behaved so ill, that Cap^t Truncation was yesterday obliged to discharge him, & as I fear he may give an order to some other person, you will particularly oblige me by attending to this Request — I am, Sir with Respect Your humb^d s^t [signed] Ralph H. [undecipherable: Izell] M^r Simmons late accountant of the War Department