[draft] Burlington, 16 May 1782. my dear Sir I have [struck: found him] [inserted: experienced from your] Joseph ready attention, to my recommendations that I am really pained to be under the necessity to bring before you again the case of the Laboratory officers. Mr. Frothingham will [struck: tell you] inform you the [struck: reasons] ostensible reasons which operated [inserted: at the office of Invoice to prevent the compliance with your request. If Mr Morris [struck: had the most] had but one hundreth part of these impressions I have with respect to the importance, of these peoples services, he would readily (if in his power [inserted: to give the money]) get now the [strikeout] rule of the Generals signing the Warrant, especially as it is upon the same principle exactly as the men who have work'd in the laboratory & with the Artificers seen how the money has been drawn. These officers exigencies are great indeed, and a little money now would be of much more service than a great deal in future, in short [inserted: as] half a loaf [struck: would be] [inserted: better] better than no bread, a part would be better than none. [Struck sentence] excuse me my dear sir from being this Imposing, their necessities are such as to have [2]no law of civility. The field Commissary and Conductors [inserted: of Military Stores] have informed me they have not been permitted to receive the notes which have been assured by the Paymaster General payable on the [1st] Augt next. The reason that have been given them is that Congress have under consideration a plan to reform the department. [Illegible] I conceive this reason not be good. For these people have earned their pay with as much fidelity as any part of the Army, and by their Care & attention have saved to the public much more than their full pay can possibly amount to, and if the [dissension] of the greater part of them should take place Immediately, still they will have [both] arrearges of pay due [struck: to them] But certainly all will not be dispensed and it is [struck: a gr] an intolerable hardship on them to be obliged to take the field under so great a disimilarity of circumstances as those of the other officers. I beg you my dear sir to interest yourself that they may receive the notes as the rest of Military have done. [3] I beg you to be so good as to send by the bearer Mr Frothingham the [General] return of Military Stores which [struck: you were so good as to] [inserted: you] offered me on Tuesday last I am Dear Sir Your Hble Servt HKnox General Lincoln [docket] To Gen. Lincoln 16 May 1782.