[The Hon^ble James McHenry Secretary at War Philadelphia [undecipherable: probable reading: received 12 inst] [undecipherable] 11] [undecipherable: probable reading: Fort McHenry] June 10. 1797 Sir Received this morning your note of the 8 inst relative to furnishing Doctor Lynch with quarters— As it is a second order to perform the same duty I should have expected to have found it expressed in more severe language— I feel myself strongly obligated to you for the lenity exhibited in this as well as in [one?] other instance where you have been led either by misrepresentation or suspicious circumstances to entertain an opinion that I paid no attention to your orders or obstinately refused to obey them— I would not trouble you in your multiplicity of business with this attempt at exculpation did I not conceive my character to suffer materially, in your opinion. This your unfavorable opinion may have originated from causes of which I am not aware— The [causes?] I allude to are my opposition to the constituted authority & [during?] my continuance at [undecipherable] my not writing during that period my [undecipherable] a Soldier at Baltimore & [undecipherable] on his post my subsequent conduct on that occasion— & my neglecting to furnish Doctor Lynch with quarters when expressly ordered by you to do it— The embarrassing situation in which I was placed relative to returning the Salute of Barnes Brigade you will doubtless recollect the people were divided in opinion as to my conduct I earnestly solicited your opinion on the subject in hopes of obtaining it before I left that country— I waited several days more than I otherwise should have done— during this period the unusually inclement season commenced. A violent rheumatism attacked me which in addition to a dislocated ankle rendered me unable to travel by land— all communication by water to Phila & Baltimore was suspended by the ice at different times— I engaged my passages in three different vessels— [but?] was [undecipherable: probable reading: prevented] from embarking by information that the navigation was entirely obstructed by ice— In this state of suspense I [undecipherable] not think it necessary to write especially as I had [undecipherable] to you my extreme anxiety to be [undecipherable] early in the winter.— If Sir, you will do me the justice to peruse the record of the late Court Martial held here for [the?] trial [of?] the men [undecipherable] you will [undecipherable] me [undecipherable] from [undecipherable] upon [his?] post— that I ordered him relieved from guard & that he had passed the [undecipherable] bottle into the guard house when he rec'd the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I discovered no symptoms of intoxication a vice to which those on [undecipherable]— I am as little addicted as any officer of any rank in any department— In leaving Baltimore [undecipherable] & the advice of Gen'l Smith an experienced Officer.— I cannot conceive the object of Doctor Lynch in reporting his complaints to you— Some few days after my arrival here he asked if he would be furnished with Quarters I replied—yes— he intimated his [undecipherable] for a [undecipherable] reason— This I refused [undecipherable] giving as my reason that [undecipherable] [the?] company and could not [undecipherable] inasmuch as he has never [undecipherable] to me on the subject & [the?] Phar rec'd two orders from You I [undecipherable] at his request— he told my Subaltern M^r [undecipherable] that he had no intention of removing here— that [his?] [undecipherable] was too [undecipherable] for his family— [undecipherable] hope you will honor me with a visit & see the little improvements I have made since you were last [undecipherable]— I have the honor to be Sir— very respectfully Your Obed Gen'l [undecipherable] McHenry — Donald [undecipherable]