[Free.] Oct. 15. The Hon^ble James McHenry Secretary at War Philadelphia [Oct^r. 15 1796 [undecipherable] Henderson] Bellfield Oct^r 15^th 1796 My dear McHenry [undecipherable] That I have been remiss in not writing you before, I do admit, I have frequently determin'd it, & have been as often prevented. I presume You have heard the Issue of the Election between M^r Wright and Myself, I had a Majority in the District of 698, (a Majority) in Talbot & Caroline, He was 45 Votes a Head in Queen Anne, where I am convinc'd He was fairly beaten, as one of his Men had the Effrontry to declare, that He had voted five Times for M^r Wright under different Names. — My Friend M^r Edw^d. Wright voted for Me, the only One of that Name; this has increased my Sollicitude for his obtaining some satisfactory Office, & I must beg You not to forget Him. — I am afraid M^rs. Sedgwick & Goodhue's Successors are not found Men. — I find We are on the Point of loosing that best of Men, our amiable President, a Loss never to be repaired, I wish not to anticipate Evil, I cannot however help dreading the Consequence — God send Us a Federal Successor. — I sincerely pray that little Swanwick [undecipherable] be overthrown — I lament much that Murray declin'd; it is however said that almost every Man in his District is Federal, if so, We must have a good Man — M^r Bernis who was in the House of Delegates I hear is his Successor. — I have not heard whether Christie is reelected, I hope his Defeat much at [undecipherable] — I [have] been confin'd for nearly four Weeks with the Bilious Ague & Fever — [undecipherable] Y^rs Sincerely &c [undecipherable] Henderson