[Private] Philadelphia 24 July 1792 My dear friend I have received several letters from you wishing to appointments for young men in the army. They generally came too late, but they have not been rejected for better consideration — there were some hundred more applicants than there were offices, of course many disappointments. The officers have been apportioned to each, according to the number of troops to be raised in each State respectively. And the 2 rifle companies have generally raised themselves. Territories constrained to keep the officers in the militia [undecipherable] to be [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] you wrote for the papers concerning [undecipherable] as you learn a degree by a considerable majority passed an act in favor of the State. It was then judged expedient not again to excite the attention of the public to the object. The Indian War, and the failure of the last expedition, combined with a partial aversion to government — excited much ill humor during the last Session. It was thought proper by a party to level some thrusts at me. An extraordinary report was produced in the house of representatives on the last day of the Session, and it was incautiously, not to say injuriously published. I flatter myself that materials are the [undecipherable] important parts of it, as the [undecipherable] department and that the justice of the house will hereafter respect the report — Parties will rule in free governments, and party prejudice is proverbially blind. Pray how does the machine of the general government work in Virginia? I will venture to assert that from the greater part of this State to the extreme case, the most unexampled [strikethrough: fit] symptoms of prosperity are exhibited [strikethrough: that ever] was presented to the human view. And yet there are a set of malignant beings who say we are going headlong to ruin. In France all are mad — and in New York there have been symptoms of the same disorder — but what are sufficing [undecipherable] it would seem had a majority of votes — But Clinton is Governor in fact — every body defect of form which merited a special [undecipherable] having risen from some omission in the [strikethrough: vote] of the legal appointment — the people in this instance are indeed nugatory — The chance of republicanism is done away — if a man can perpetuate himself in office by a minority — the degree of [undecipherable] is immaterial provided he possesses an influence power to avert or overawe the majority — My family are all at Boston — they received the heats of a summer in Philadelphia — I regret that my official duties prevent my [undecipherable] I am my dear Sir Your [undecipherable] affectionate [undecipherable] Colonel Dearned Currington [undecipherable]