To George Washington from Henry Knox, 25 July 1794
From Henry Knox
War department July 25. 1794
Sir,
The case of the late Captain Perrit has been referred to me by the house of representatives with instructions to report thereon to the next session of Congress—It is therefore under consideration.1
Upon reconsidering the subject Mr Howell will have no objection of showing to Mr Blanchard, the decisions upon the cases which he mentions and of delivering to me for the use of Congress and to enable me to judge upon the case, copies of such decisions. But it is conceived that Copies ought not otherwise to be furnished—In all cases a Claimant or his Agent may have a copy of his own account but not the Copies of the accounts of other persons.2 I have the honor to be with perfect respect Your obedient Servant
H. Knox secy of war
LS, DLC:GW.
1. Knox was here responding to GW’s request for a report on James Blanchard’s letter to GW of 23 July concerning the claim of Peter Perit for Revolutionary War pay and emoluments. Perit had submitted a memorial on the subject to Congress on 3 Feb., and Knox subsequently had reported to Congress on sixty petitions, including Perit’s. However, after Perit’s claim was separated out and referred to a new committee, the House of Representatives on 6 June voted to refer his memorial to Knox again (U.S. House Journal, Washington Administration, 6:108, 195, 289, 420). For Knox’s report of 24 Nov., see , 129-33. Knox’s report was referred to the committee on claims, which reported in January 1795, but no further action was taken (U.S. House Journal, Washington Administration, 7:40, 44, 138).
2. In his letter to GW, Blanchard asked to "see the settlements made" with eight officers whose cases he considered similar to Perit’s. On 6 Nov., Joseph Howell, Jr., supplied to Knox copies of accounts for five of those officers (, 131-33).