I wrote yesterday to Mr. Nicholson in Pursuance of your Advice. His answer is that he cannot with Propriety interfere or give his Opinion to Council until asked—the Business not being before him as Matter of Account—in which he is right—my general Account is not settled till the Close of the Year in December and the Custom has constantly been to advance me £50 every Quarter on Account of Salary, and at the End of the Year I state an account, charging £500 for Salary and crediting for these Advances and for all Fees accrued. The Comptroller General examines? these Credits and reports upon the Ballance. Till then, he has nothing to do with it as Matter of Account. And if Council stop the usual advance under an Idea that the Law of March last has taken away my salary, no more Accounts of mine As Judge of Admiralty will ever come under his Inspection.

This is a poor Attempt of an Enemy I have in Council whom I never offended in Word or Deed—who is under the entire Influence of Judges Bryan and McKean—and has, by their Instigation, been for three Years labouring in the Assembly to deprive me of my office, and in the Council to obstruct my Quarterly Payments.

I hope my injoying your Friendship, which I highly prize, will not put me in a worse Situation in a Claim of common Justice than if I had not that Honour to boost of. My present Application is to the President of Council—who I am sure will not deviate from the Line of Truth in favour of a Friend or to the Prejudice of an Enemy. I send herewith an official address on the Subject.

I am truly sorry to be this troublesome to you, but the matter is of too much Importance to me to be at all neglected. I am, dear sir, with all Sincerity Your ever affectionate