Previous to the disbanding the Army, an event, which it is to be wished, may take place with as much ease and satisfaction as circumstances will admit, Congress have directed that a compleat settlement & liquidation of all their Accounts shall be made, To effect this the Pay Master Genl is arrived, with full Instructions to enter immediately upon the settlement, and to compleat it as soon as possible, In performing this duty, he informs me that recourse must be had to the several States, for their Accounts (if they have any) against their respective Lines, This requisition probably may have been, or will be, made by Mr Morris, but as I consider it of the utmost Importance both for the ease & quiet of the Army, as well as in point Oconomy to the Public, that this business should be effected with all the dispatch that it is possible to give it, I have procured from the Pay Master Genl, the inclosed minutes of what he judges necessary to obtain from the States, as part of the ground of his settlement; which I take the liberty to transmit to your Excellency, with my most earnest request, that you will be pleased to give directions that the earliest attention may be given to forward, without the least delay, to Mr Pierce, the Pay Master Genl, whatever Information, Accounts or papers, shall on examination of his Minutes, be found necessary, together with any other papers or documents which may be thought proper from your State to effect the settlement purposed.

I have taken this liberty the rather, as it is judged, that, on supposition of the utmost dispatch in the States, the greatest delay compleating this very important settlement, will most probably arise from the time necessary to obtain their accounts. I have the honor [to be] Your Excellency’s Most Obedient Servt