Expense of Musical Instruments

Rice addressed the current situation in Oxford as, "not dissimilar to our primitive New England fast days. I feel for many of my officers, they left lucrative & honorable employment. They can now neither return to them, nor place themselves in situations equally as eligible." Not believing in the orders to disband, he purchased a complete set of musical instruments. Now that his unit has been disbanded he has been told he is responsible for the cost of the instruments. He asks for advice on how to resolve this situation.