[Phila 6^th July] [Sec at War] [rec 12 July] [Ans 13] [General [undecipherable] 1799] [T [undecipherable]] War Department 6 July 1799. Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of two letters of the 24^th and one of the 28^th of June ults, and two of the 1 July Inst. Inclosed are lists of names of candidates recommended to free vacancies in the 9^th. 10^th. 14. & 15^th. Regiments of Infantry, as others are respectfully submitted. You will perceive that M^r. Benjamin Shaw of Marblehead is being named in the proposed appointments for L^t. Col. Nece's Regiment. I think it necessary to observe, respecting this gentleman, that I have not a sufficient recollection of his services in the Revolutionary army to say any thing of them, that the recommendations of [undecipherable: probable reading "associate"] militia Officers cannot always be depended upon; that they are silent with respect to his sobriety, morals or attachment to the government; that therefore it may be expedient to postpone announcing to him his appointment, in case he is approved, until a more particular knowledge can be obtained of his character. It may also be proper to mention, that his pretensions were submitted to the board of General officers convened at Philadelphia. Perhaps under all these circumstances you may think it adviseable to let him sleep for the present. M^r. Sedgwick has repeatedly mentioned to me M^r. Samuel Mackay as highly deserving of a company. He was nominated at the close of the late [session?] of Congress to a Lieutenancy, and negatived by the Senate, at the instance of M^r. Sedgwick who considered him intitled to a higher grade, and that he would not accept of that proposed. I have the honour to be with the greatest respect Sir your most Ob^t Ser^vt James McHenry John Adams President of the United States --- List of Persons recommended to fill vacancies in the Army 15 Regiment commanded by Col. [undecipherable] Edu. [undecipherable] . . . Captain . . . vice Phelps declined Daniel [Knox?] . . . 1 Lieut. . . . ditto . . . vice Swan Paymaster Thomas [undecipherable] . . . ditto . . . vice [Butler?] Quarter Master [undecipherable] [undecipherable] . . . ditto . . . vice Pay. Adjutant[undecipherable] Nathan Birks . . . 2 Lieut. . . . vice [Hall?] declined 14. Regiment commanded by Colonel Rice Samuel Mackay . . . Captain . . . vice [Pense?] declined Benjamin Shaw. } or } John Hastings . . . Captain . . . vice [Litgon?] declined Benjamin [Heale?] } [Henry?] [Sargent?] . . . 1. Lieut. . . . vice [Heale?] declined Francis [Booker?] . . . ditto . . . vice Soley ditto William Gardner . . . ditto . . . vice [Ackman?] ditto Rufus [Skell?] . . . ditto . . . 2. vice [Duncan?] Paymaster Dayton Gay . . . 2 ditto . . . vice Bates declined Thomas [Bale?] . . . ditto . . . vice Ingraham declined [Webster?] Hubbell . . . ditto . . . [a first?] Vacancy 10 Regiment commanded by Col. [Moore?] John Hay . . . 2 Lieut. . . . vice Porter, from whom no Account has been received Robert [Fox? Beebe?] ditto . . . vice Knox . . . ditto Henry [Heall?] . . . Surgeon. George [William?] . . . Surgeon Mate James [Seurrie?] . . . . . . ditto Ninth Regiment commanded by Col. [Ball?] Richard Earle . . . Captain vice Nicholson declined William Craig or in case he declines John Thompson . . . 1. Lieut. . . . vice [Pinckney?] [Paymaster?] Robert Gover . . . ditto . . . vice Howard [declined?] George Peter . . . 2. Lieut. vice Hughes [undecipherable] Joseph Bentley . . . ditto . . . vice Ford declined Benj. Rowland Michael [Nuser?] } Robert Bigham } . . . ditto . . . vice Cooper 2. M[aster?] Marmaduke Tilden } or Thomas Hewitt } In case of the nonacceptance of any of the persons appointed to Lieutenancies, the remaining Candidates to fill the vacancies or any other vacancies of Lieutenants in the said regiments. It is conjectured that Lieut. [Jarvin?], Hillary, and [Wanen?] of the [said?] Regiment will not serve as no information has been received from them—in case they are not heard from soon their vacancies to be filled by such of the above candidates as may not at present be appointed. Cavalry Archibald Lee . . . 2. Lieut. vice [Warfield?]. [3 This company is on the Georgia frontier]