Philadelphia, February 19, 1782.

    Dear Sir: Yesterdays Post brought me your two Letters of the 8th. and 23th. Instant with a note of General Pattersons inclosed.

    The operation of the resolve for allowing an extra ration to certain Officers, ceases under the new System, the inclosed regulation of the Secretary at War will shew what number of rations an Officer of every Rank is entitled to; with respect to allowing an additional Subsistence to the Officers who command on the Lines, and at Kings ferry, it does not lay with me to give any Orders on this matter, but I am of opinion, that to comply with the request would be attended with bad consequences as it would open a door to continual applications of this nature from every Officer who may be detached from his Corps and as to the burthen falling unequally, this may be prevented by relieving from time to time the Officers who command at such Posts.

    Colo. Pickering informs me he has written for the returns of Cattle kept by the French Army, and will forward them so soon as they arrive.

    As the Auditors have ceased to act, their Certificates must be dispensed with, and those of the Regimental Paymasters and Deputy Pay Mr. Genl., must be sufficient to entitle an Officer to his Discharge.

    I am fully of opinion with you that a Brigade Court Martial had no right to deviate from the Law of the State, nor ought Gilchrist ⁶ to be dischargcd 'till he has served the full time prescribed by that Law.

[Note:Charles Gilchrist, a Massachusetts soldier. ]

    With respect to the Rhode Island Hutts, if you are of Opinion that they will not be wanting when the recruits come in, I think the proprietor might be permitted to take them at the Appraisement, for I should suppose that a scarcity of Wood in their Environs will render them useless for any future Cantonment.

    I thank you for your attention in removing the Arms to Fishkill, they were, I believe, carried on by the Secy at War and intended to be Stored in the Vicinity of West Point. I have informed General Knox of their arrival and he will give the necessary directions in that matter.

    I am pleased also with what you have done respecting the laying up Magazines for the Posts in the Northern District, how so essential a provision came to be neglected in the Contract I cannot say, it was a matter I mentioned as necessary at the time the making the Contracts were forming.