[stamp: PRESENTED BY A. PIERPOINT MORGAN FUND COLLECTION] New York 28 February 1797 My dear Henry Your favor of the 18^th [undecipherable] I am [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. H[undecipherable] M^cLean [undecipherable] from their [undecipherable] [undecipherable] with very bad news but the weather became very cold and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] last night [undecipherable] the roads have [undecipherable] been hard and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] paid. Their [undecipherable] probably reach Boston on [undecipherable] as [undecipherable] next — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Major N[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to my words [undecipherable] presented in reaching Boston at the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. I have ordered Humphreys [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] to about one hundred & [undecipherable] — at the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] from whom I have [undecipherable] [undecipherable] at the 1^st from [undecipherable]. His [undecipherable] [undecipherable] is on a miles [undecipherable] for the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] there is a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] been marching [undecipherable] here [undecipherable] to be of the [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] mention the idea of Congress offering the [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the government of [undecipherable: Massachusetts] — This is [undecipherable] as it might [undecipherable] no interference of Congress in the internal government of the State. But one [undecipherable] to apply for the federal troops on the [undecipherable] of the States clothing and paying them while [undecipherable] in their [undecipherable] as [undecipherable] their [undecipherable] would readily [undecipherable] — you see, it is [undecipherable] ¶ [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] for any great [undecipherable] to you, in [undecipherable] [undecipherable] your [undecipherable] by the [undecipherable]. I have mentioned this affair also by [undecipherable] [undecipherable] my utmost [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the board of [undecipherable] to take some efficient arrangements on the [undecipherable] — The [undecipherable: Contracts] remain as when [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to you. I mention the matter confidentially — I do not believe they will take [undecipherable] — In the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] I see the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] but I [undecipherable] they will not [undecipherable] in [undecipherable], but [undecipherable] other [undecipherable] — I have obtained orders for the [undecipherable] and some little pay for Humphreys men, on the State of Connecticut — These orders have been [undecipherable] [undecipherable] by the [undecipherable] of Col^o Wadsworth and others — I see no [undecipherable] of this kind can be found [undecipherable] [undecipherable: Massachusetts] Major North. Major North, who was now acquainted with the [undecipherable] of certain gentlemen respecting the continuance of the troops, will be able to give you some [undecipherable] information — although their wishes on the [undecipherable] may not be carried into [undecipherable] [undecipherable] yet the [undecipherable] is not [undecipherable] certain that an [undecipherable] opinion can be given at [undecipherable] — Colonel Wadsworth is now [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and, as soon as he does, it is [undecipherable] that the [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] be [undecipherable] — I [undecipherable] from the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable], and [undecipherable] (in a [undecipherable] of way) [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] but that he is [undecipherable] that he has [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable: Plymouth] claim to the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable], he [undecipherable] that he [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of the committee — We [undecipherable] to have [undecipherable] miles [undecipherable], and all the [undecipherable] within three miles — The eastern, [undecipherable] and western boundaries were given, [undecipherable] — and it was provided that it should not [undecipherable] with any [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — In this case then of interference on the Tennessee Claim, the Committee will not [undecipherable] to order [undecipherable] Stone, or some other person to [undecipherable] the patent [underline: not only] [undecipherable] it [undecipherable] the thirty miles [undecipherable: square] — The [undecipherable: Winslows] are [undecipherable] of so little energy and [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] matter that I have reason to be [undecipherable]. Will you be so good as to [undecipherable] of the Committee and let me know the [undecipherable]. Whether they will [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] on the Tennessee claim, to be [undecipherable] out at the [undecipherable] of the patent agreeable to the [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] by the [undecipherable: Legislature] — They [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] to do so [undecipherable], and I am [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the inclination — I [undecipherable] be hard indeed if we [undecipherable] again be [undecipherable] to have recourse to the Legislature — I am my dear Henry Your [undecipherable: affectionate] [undecipherable: Knox] [undecipherable] H. Jackson