[undecipherable] [2368 no[undecipherable] 134] [c. i. Lincoln] Boston Feb^y 12 1790 My dear Sir I have attentively read over and over again your proposed System for regulating the militia of the United States I am now [sincerely] to give you [underline: my opinion] on the subject I think it has in it great merit and it will at once evince your close application and strength of mind and that if cor-dially embraced it would make ours the strongest militia in the world. — The people will not however [undecipherable] adopt it [undecipherable]. I know Massachusetts. The expense, pay of officers, no pay of men, the burden on Masters, calling the youth indiscriminately, disqualifyed for a time in certain cases, officers excluded from actual service, [undecipherable] obligation to a [undecipherable]t for a service of [undecipherable], [undecipherable] will be magnified [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] this bill — I think there could be no moment more unfortunate than this to bring forward a thing of this nature. We shall have an other general Court before any thing of the kind can make its appearance and among us men may think differently [undecipherable] from the present I am your dear friend with the warmest affection [undecipherable] General [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [signature] B. Lincoln Gen Knox