[228] called upon to decide in your case as well as several others but without effect — It was proper that your account should be entered on my Books and no alternative remained but either to stop the regular column or direct the sum you had recieved on that had to be refunded or [undecipherable] from your subsequent Pay, untill a decision could be had. This measure I also waived, untill it would accelerate a decision by the Secretary, and be the means of establishing the [undecipherable] he was entitled — I trust therefore that you will no longer consider that I have acted in any manner intentionally to injure your feelings — but that I was actuated by my duty to take the steps I did & which are universally taken on all similar occasions. No communication has been yet made to me by the Secretary of War, on the subject of his decision, should he [undecipherable] favorable to your claim — Payment will immediately be [undecipherable]. Any errors which may have been made in the Statement to which you allude shall be duly corrected. I dont [undecipherable] that any necessity exists for a Certificate from Major [undecipherable] of the parties to which he paid you, as your statement [undecipherable] seems sufficient — Joshua Orne Esq^r Accountants Office Marblehead, M^s. August 21 1800 Sir Your account & receipts for disbursements of the month of March last on account of the fortification of Marblehead [undecipherable] have been examined [undecipherable] the Sum of five hundred thirty eight dollars [undecipherable] to your Credit on the Books of this Office, leaving a balance of one thousand eight hundred sixty one dollars & [undecipherable]/100 due from you to