[OHi] Philad^a. March 31^st 1792 Sir, [undecipherable] I have had the honour to receive your letter of the twenty eight instant. While I lament that circumstances prevent an Investigation of my conduct by a Court of Enquiry, I cannot but acquiesce in the Reasons you have assigned why it cannot take place; and [undecipherable] to present my thanks for the desire to have gratified me upon this business, had it been practicable, which you have been pleased to manifest. In my Letter of the Twenty Eighth, I [undecipherable] expressed my Intention of retiring from the Army when the Enquiry should be over. — The only Reason I had for wishing to [undecipherable] retiring my Commission until that time was, that [undecipherable] if any misconduct should [undecipherable] appear, I might be amenable to a Court Martial, which [undecipherable: a Resignation] would would have precluded. — The House of Representatives, Sir, have directed an Enquiry [undecipherable: to be made] into the Causes of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable: to be made] [undecipherable] by a [undecipherable: Committee] of [undecipherable] own Body. — [undecipherable] The same Reason that influenced [undecipherable] when a Court of Enquiry was contemplated, it may [undecipherable] be [undecipherable] proper that I should still retain my Commission — But as it will [undecipherable] as the [undecipherable] of the new Army [undecipherable] be requisite that some Person should be at the Head of the [undecipherable] Army who is to continue to command it, it is [undecipherable] necessary that I should inform You explicitly, which [undecipherable] Resolution of my [undecipherable] to resign [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] removed. [undecipherable] pleased, Sir, to observe that — my sole Object is to give effect to public Justice, in the usual Way by a Court Martial, should it appear that, in [underline: any manner whatsoever] the Misfortunes of the late Campaign can be attributed to me; and it is this [undecipherable] I believe the only Tribunal where military Crimes of misconduct can be enjoined into and punished; or where an Officers Reputation, essentially dearer than Life, can be vindicated vindicated. — Should the public Service, however, require that another Officer of the same Rank [undecipherable] be appointed immediately, I am ready to make the Resignation forthwith, notwithstanding that it may seem to proceed, and, at a distance, must be supposed to [undecipherable] from a sense that the Volume of Calumny, invented by Malice and [undecipherable: Defamation] [undecipherable] which is daily pouring from the Press into the public Ear has too much foundation for me to meet it, [undecipherable] but [undecipherable] shrink from it and chuse to shelter myself on a private Station. I am ready, Sir, upon [undecipherable] Occasion as I have ever been upon all others, to sacrifice every private and personal feeling and consideration to the public Good. I have the Honor to be Sir [undecipherable: A. St. Clair?] The President of the united States