[XXXII-22-3058] [175] [undecipherable] Philadelphia 23 July 179[undecipherable] [undecipherable] My dear [undecipherable: Sir?] I have to acknowledge the receipt of your private favors of the [undecipherable] 20[th] 17[th?] [and?] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] [Montfort?] was [punished?] but [the?] although with rather too much leniency — Within but just [undecipherable] [an?] example[s?] since [introduced?] a proper and necessary spirit of discipline — I have ordered [undecipherable] [persons?] and [blunderings?] after your suggestion — I am mortified at your declining the high [office?] of Adjutant and [Inspector?] General — I think you and the public [interest?] was blended together in you [accepting?] [this?] it — I am interested had the hand [undecipherable] [Col.?] [commanded?] [here?] [undecipherable] the change [in that?] [service?] [undecipherable] to the corps [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — but it [seemed?] not [to have?] been [difficult?] — to have [made?] it [established?] the next [session?] I know not who will be [appointed?] your [successor?] — [from within?] [undecipherable] President upon this [subject?] — I have not applied [to?] [him?] [undecipherable] for [leave?] [for/from?] [Algiers?] [for you?] — [as?] [Governor?] [St. Clair?] [to?] [him?] — [I understand?] [the government?] write [he?] [undecipherable] to be relieved — I will write [to?] [Robeson?] upon that subject when [undecipherable: Ellipson?] the Governor [is?] [undecipherable] [whether?] [his?] [friend?] return[s?] [until?] [the?] fall — [he?] I hope he will [at?] [his?] [long?] [he?] will create disaffection [undecipherable] in [the?] minds [of?] [the?] poor people — [undecipherable: He should decline the?] [undecipherable] [place?] you may be appointed to you and [my?] [undecipherable] — I will cordially assist your views to [succeed?] him [and?] he has not [undecipherable] [or?] [accepted?] to [undecipherable] design to be — but [undecipherable] [undecipherable several lines] [undecipherable] of your [order?] [in?] the last campaign [exactly?] as you would [write?] — I know the [materially?] [you?] hard of [I knew?] the causes of [the?] [undecipherable] against you and have the [plan?] just [undecipherable] [the?] place for them as you [foresee?]. Many officers left New [undecipherable] on the [action?] of the 4[th] of November —, and none have been compensated [therefor?] on that account The Comptroller of the Treasury has decided that [the?] [defences?] for Congress [under?] that [fatigue?] [act?] to [late?] men do not [entitle?] [special?] application — [though?] [therefore?] be made to Congress on their [subject?] — [the?] next [session?] — but then [the?] [constitutionality?] whether any [compensation?] [will?] be made [your?] [forces?] "killed [or?] [in?] [action?]" [according?] to late [news?] — but so far I hope [that?] [it?] [established?] — [the?] [to?] [the?] probable [then?] [some?] [form?] will be made for [one?] [4(934)] Your pay as Adjutant General shall be placed in the next estimate, but it is questionable whether you can be allowed by the accounting officers, any further than during the time you performed the duty. But that is a point I cannot determine, it being to be settled by the accountant and Comptroller. If I can be of any service I shall be glad, and will perform it cheerfully if consistent with my duty. For your opinion of [Merges?], I thank you — He will not probably be the Adjutant General. Doctor Brown has every reason to be satisfied with his station; it would have been great injustice to have preferred him before any of the [former?] Appointed Surgeons. The report of the Committee of Congress, which you notice is full of injustice. I presume it will not be adopted. It was made the last day of the Session, and inaccurately printed. As to the letter, between you and [Gen.?] [Wilkinson?] upon the subject of the civil power having any cognizance of Military affairs, I shall lay it before the Attorney General and take his opinion thereon. But I conceive the civil power has nothing to do with military discipline. You will see by the papers that the [Devil?] is to pay in France. No subordination — all confusion. In New York they are all mad — part for Clinton — part for Jay — the [undecipherable] has run [undecipherable] [undecipherable] but it is to be hoped that is subsiding — The United States generally enjoy an [unexampled?] prosperity; even the Indian War, [undecipherable], all [would?] be well. This affair has been the cause of much unmerited reproach to me. But I shall surmount it all. I am my dear Sir, your Col. [Winthrop?] Sargent Affectionately [undecipherable]