[Archival notation written perpendicular to address:] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] 1796 The Hon^ble James McHenry Esq^r &c c Secy [undecipherable] 113 South third Philad. 9. Oct. 96. Cambridge. Hindman is elected — considering the state of parties this is an important thing.— W. beat him 45. in 2. 2.— 2 above him in [undecipherable] — 27.— In Tall. [undecipherable]— so he beat him hollow.— Christie I hear will be ousted too— This will be pleasant to you and W. M[undecipherable] I know.— One [undecipherable] in this county is [undecipherable] I know not how the report got about but [undecipherable] is common when his [undecipherable] is mentioned [undecipherable] in debt to the [undecipherable] lawyers. Of the state of parties Eastern [undecipherable] South[undecipherable] — I hear nothing — no one hears of such things except at Phila. D. — as I have no [undecipherable] there who [undecipherable] in the world — indeed [undecipherable] be [undecipherable] no service — [undecipherable] any — [undecipherable] if I had it [undecipherable] more than it [undecipherable] be to a man [undecipherable] in a hogshead — [undecipherable] hogshead might be light enough — but it could not extend its light [undecipherable] — By the bye — you will find some judicious remarks on bringing [undecipherable] officer to a court martial at the call of an [undecipherable] — in the Encyclop— article, [undecipherable: probable reading "Keppel"] — against the practice. I thank you for the Presidents address — I had [undecipherable] in a [undecipherable]. Affectionately dear Sir [undecipherable] H. L. [undecipherable]