[Mar. 28, 1798] Phila^d. Mar; 28 1798 Sir I received your letter of 4^th February [strikethrough: undecipherable] under the Surgm^at Granting me permission to go to [strikethrough: undecipherable] to serve the [undecipherable] at [undecipherable] [Second?] [strikethrough: undecipherable] some [undecipherable] [undecipherable] this [undecipherable] is to beg that [the] time may be extended; at least to July or August, as it is not in my power, to tran- -act the [persons] in question [sooner]; I [undecipherable] that is my [expectation]. I mentioned a [short] time, but did not [conceive] that one month would be deemed [strikethrough: undecipherable] was [not] a [thorough] adequate— [I am] conscious that, [undecipherable] is not the right at any [undecipherable], as [I?] [undecipherable] in my [hand] [I] mean on [every] day, being [undecipherable], [for] [ten] years, without relaxation; [the] [undecipherable] [service?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [afford?] [I am] Your [undecipherable] The Secretary [of War]