[Private] No. [undecipherable] 19^th Dec. 1789 My dear Doughty The instructions which you will herewith receive are truly important — My knowledge of your abilities and [strikethrough: enterprize] enterprise gives me the most unqualified confidence that you will fullfell the expectations of the President of the United States on the occasion It will be of the highest importance that your report should be received at as early a period as possible — and that it should be full and compleat — [strikethrough: I recommend you to you go.] Your friends are all well excepting aunt Ludlow of whose death I presume you may have heard Burbecks [strikethrough: and during] Company [strikethrough: detained] from [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] the loss of [strikethrough: above] men — both his & [strikethrough: Savages] companies are [undecipherable] as their lines have nearly [strikethrough: lapsed] — They are now actually [strikethrough: lapsed] — as is Cap^t Smith — I hope the companies untill he completed by the [undecipherable] of more [undecipherable] — I am your Sincere & affectionate friend. [signature — obscured by binding] [Major Doughty —]