[undecipherable] War Depar[undecipherable] Sir, I am dir[undecipherable] to advise your Excellency [undecipherable] lately occurred in this vicin[undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] be pro[undecipherable] [undecipherable] of one of the powers engaged in [undecipherable] another lying in the bay of Delaware [undecipherable] ition of the United States. Both dut[undecipherable] government [undecipherable] excuse the expression [undecipherable] Minister residing here of the power whose [undecipherable] aggression has very readily undertaken to h[undecipherable] edy may not be adapted to every case, and [undecipherable] some other is to be resorted to of more uni[undecipherable] [undecipherable] ture of Vessels being generally the [undecipherable] combat and that by an armed and [undecipherable] if committed within our territory, a m[undecipherable] repressed by the military force of the nati[undecipherable] er of the union is its Militia, and th[undecipherable] meet every violation of the national pro[undecipherable] r therefore as the head of the Militia of [undecipherable] esident of the United States confides the [undecipherable] ll cases of hostility committed bet[undecipherable] in the protection of your State; [undecipherable] pleased with the aid of your Mi[undecipherable] aggressing until you could comm[undecipherable] ident, with the evidences in writ[undecipherable] ids, for his ultimate decision the[undecipherable] inuing with all the dispatch I have the honor to be With great respect [undecipherable] Most Obed^t hum[undecipherable] Ser[undecipherable] H Knox