[E. L. / [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] 22 [undecipherable] / 1793] Boston Dec^r. 22. 1793 my dear Harry [undecipherable] No letters from you this week except one under cover, to your Son — I have called on M^r Higginson several times respecting the Bill, but he declines accepting it, however will see him again and for his final determination — your Note to me for three hundred dollars at 60 days became due yesterday, and was taken up — By the last post Col° [undecipherable] forwarded you the papers concerning his custom Tour, he will write you again respecting the conduct of some persons on the patent and the manner they are wasting and destroying your property, if you have no objections I shall allow Col° [undecipherable] [underline: two dollars] & day for his Services, that is one hundred & four dollars — he was absent 52 days. I believe he earned that sum, and I doubt whether you could have obtained any one to have been more faithful — I think you must be perfectly satisfied with his address & and management of the business — By the President's Speech and the debates in Congress it appears they are bringing forward a New Militia Law — if there are any appointments you think I am equal to, and are objects for my acceptance I should wish you to bring me to view — I am desirous of being in a permanent & respectable situation of five hundred or a thousand dollars a year — I am moderate in my views, a little will suffice — To have the Militia properly Organised, the Federal Government must divide the whole Militia into four Grand Divisions, to appoint a Major General and a D. A. General to each — the D. I. G. with the Rank of B. General as the rank they now hold in the Militia — also to appoint an Ad^t General to reside at the seat of Government — the Ad^t General and Major Generals to have a Salary of at least fifteen hundred dollars and the the D A Generals twelve hundred dollars a year, — with a proper allowance of rations & forage when in the field — these great Officers to be appointed by the President, and paid by the Continent, and only accountable to them — but the subordinate Officers to be appointed and paid by their respective States — Some such plan as this will give a respectable and efficient Militia — the present is only a rope of Sand — Your Affectionate [undecipherable]