[draft] Philad. 12 May 1798 My dear Hamilton. I shall in a short time be able to get to sea, one or two of our frigates, and perhaps in the [strikethrough: course of eight] [interlinear: less than six or seven] days, Cap^t Dale, in the Ganges, a lately purchased vessel, [strikethrough: which is undergoing very slight repairs]. Can you give an hours [strikethrough: consideration] [interlinear: to or two to help me to] to the instructions that it will be proper to give to their Captains in [strikethrough: the present state of things]. Our ships of war it is probable will meet with French privateers who may be in possession of our merchantment; or with our merchant vessels [strikethrough: in possession of] [interlinear: with having] French prize masters; [interlinear: upon our on board] or with French privateers cruising [strikethrough: within our] coast [strikethrough: to capture American vessels, within our indisputed jurisdictional limits]. They may also when acting as convoys be obliged to [strikethrough: use] employ force to protect them [strikethrough: convoy] and may even be obliged to board a vessel to terminate [strikethrough: the] control and insure its safety. What instructions ought to be given [strikethrough: multitudinous cases,] or to enable them to afford competent protection to our merchantmen, and preserve the Executive from [strikethrough: any] factious accusation of having by its [strikethrough: orders the] orders involved the country in a war. I foresee these instructions will fall to my lot, there being no [undecipherable] [strikethrough: with the] [strikethrough: have a strong] or reliance from the responsibility attending [strikethrough: it, as more] subject to me, on any other [undecipherable]. [You would easily] conceive [how more] [undecipherable] the same to [undecipherable] them, [being more] necessary it is, it should be assisted with your ideas and a to give me your ideas on the subject or a sketch of the [undecipherable] of such instructions as in your opinion will comport with the existing state of things and the profound reasons of Concern. Your sincere & affectionate friend James McHenry. [endorsement: Alex^r. H[amilton] 12 May 1798]