[17] Philas. 19^th Aug^t 1797. My dear Sir, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Altho' I have often experienced how much better it would have been for me that you had remained here, I yield nevertheless to personal considerations when I reflect on the circumstances that carried and detains you where you are. What you are doing here, you will long remember, when what you might have done here would have been soon forgotten by the public; beside I do not imagine that your department has suffered materially by your absence no points of difficulty or magnitude having occurred. I have reason to believe that the arrangements I have made on the frontiers, has served to keep the Indians quiet and attached, and that the projects to disturb that quarter will be totally shipwrecked. The town is considerably alarmed and the appearance of a contagious fever I have sent to provide a retreat for my family about 40 miles on the Lancaster road, but I flatter myself that there will be no occasion to use it. yours sincerely & affy James McHenry