[Copy of a letter to N. Jones on my appointing a chief Clerk.] War Office 28 Nov. 1797 Sir I apprise you with the utmost candour that your punctuality in attending the office, and the knowledge you have at all times shewn of its current business has given me much satisfaction. I add also with pleasure, that I have had no reason from any part of your conduct which has fallen under my observation to distrust your honour or fidelity. These circumstances added to your standing in the office would have fixed my attention upon you as a successor to the late chief clerk has I not conceived it essential to the public interest to place in his stead a person of legal knowledge and experience — I flatter myself you are fully sensible of the advantage the public may derive from my being able to command at all times the services of such a character, and that his introduction into the office [strikethrough: and at once] is not to be considered as derogating in the slightest degree from my sense of your superiours, or the merits of any of the gentlemen in it, all of whom I esteem, because they have each deserved my approbation by their sober and orderly conduct and the manner in which they have discharged the duties respectively [undecipherable: probable reading "assigned"] them. I am with esteem &