Editor’s NoteEditor’s Note1957To John White14 March 1808 (Aet 60)

Sir

Having about the year 1794 received from the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury a sum of money as part of my expences in relation to the then intended Penitentiary House, and having now lately been called upon by the Commissioners for the auditing of the public accounts, to render an account concerning the expenditure of the sums, on which pg 478occasion it became necessary for me to insert an item respecting the £50 paid to you, I am called upon by an Inspector General of Accounts under their direction to produce a receipt from you to me by way of voucher:

Not finding any such receipt among my papers, I write this to request the favour of you to cause to be written, on the stamp herewith inclosed, with your signature, a receipt to the effect of the form also herewith inclosed:² in which form you will have the goodness to cause to be filled up such blanks as I have not been enabled tofill up, and to correct such inaccuracies if any, as may happen to be found in it.

I am sorry tofind myself at this distance of time obliged to occasion you any such unexpected trouble. But the Commissioners have power for examining persons upon oath: and it must be a satisfaction to both of us tofind that an operation so much less burthensome as this of writing a receipt will be sufficient for the purpose.

• I am, Sir, Your most obedient and
•     humble Servant
• Jeremy Bentham

John White Esqr