[Postal notation: Phil] [Administrative endorsement: Dr John Wright — [undecipherable] / Rec: 17 Octob: 98 — / [undecipherable] letter to him of / the 15^th therefore not / necessary to answer this.] William Simmons, Esquire. War Office. [undecipherable,] Octob. 11^th 98. Sir. I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 9^th Instant. [As] to the [undecipherable] that the amount [of] the [pay] [undecipherable] due me, I [undecipherable] it necessary to show that it [has] my [undecipherable] for Mr [undecipherable] had been applied to [its proper] uses, or I [should] not have troubled you with an account of [its] [undecipherable]. This, I hope, will be a sufficient Apology for the [unnecessary] trouble I have [given] I have not been able to enlist a [Drummer or Fifer]. In this ca[se] I am as [undecipherable] by a letter from Mr Henry dated the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] at the wages allow[ed] 709 [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. This I have on 4 days The I [undecipherable] am obliged to give two Dol[lars] [per] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable]. The Certificate from the Co[m]ptroller I forwarded on the 10^th Inst[ant]. I have the honor to be, Sir, y[ou]r most Ob[edien]t [Servan]t John Wright William Simmons, Esquire.