Letter not found: from Maj. John Clark, Jr., 3 Aug. 1778. On 14 Aug., GW’s secretary Robert Hanson Harrison wrote Clark: “The multiplicity of business in which his Excellency has been engaged, would not permit him to take the subject of your Letter of the 3d Inst. into consideration before to day. It seems but reasonable that the public should have the emoluments arising from desertion or the death of Soldiers in preference to Officers; yet there is no Article of War or Resolution of Congress known here that will directly authorize the order you request. The General is desirous to give the Auditors every countenance in his power to promote the purposes of their appointment & when Opportunity will admit of your absence, he requests you to call at Head Qrs, that you & I may talk more fully upon the matter you have in view” (DLC:GW).