Fort Mifflin May 28^th 1798 Sir Some Difficulties have happened between M^r Mentges and myself with respect to the functions attributed to him as an Agent, and those Duties which I am to perform as commandant of this Fort and engineer charged of the erection of its Fortification. I beg leave respectfully to intrude for a moment upon your time, which perhaps might be better employed, and request you to fix positively the line to which he must confine himself, with respect to my Work, and how far I must let him assume the controul of them. When I commanded at West point and charged of repairing its Fortifications, Major Fleming, a man whose talents and abilities are not questioned was the Agent, as M^r Mentges is at this place. We each other understood perfectly our respective Dutys and no misunderstanding has ever taken place between us — From M^r Mentges's letter of yesterday it appears that he is fully convinced of what he says every where else, and more particularly at this place, of his being charged with erection of Mud Island Fortifications, and consequently answerable for the Durability of them. He informs me that he acts entirely under your direction, but never exhibited to me any order or instruction which authorizes him to order and Controul Masons and Labourers work, which I was some times forced to oppose him from doing. As Agent I must give him credit for his readiness in complying immediately with requisitions, and say with truth that his activity has much forwarded the Works. But, Sir, it remains with you to determine, whether not being himself an Engineer, he has over me any controul in my acting as such. Whether not being himself a Commissioned Officer in the Army, he may assume the right in a fort of which you give me the Command, of sending persons to visit the Works, Without any Special Order, which is quite in opposition with the rules and regulations, relative to Maritime and frontier ports, or fortified places of the 20^th of march 1797 received at this garrison the 2^d Aug. 1797 — When M^r Mentges comes to this garrison as Muster Master, his duty being fixed by General Knox's instructions which I had in communication (these instructions gave him no rank in the Army) I know well how to act with him, but am entirely at a loss, when a person (whom I was far from thinking an Engineer, whom I thought charged only with the providing of Materials, and the payment of the same, and of the Labourers) writes to me that he has your verbal instructions to appoint Masons and Bricklayers to inspect the Works &c. In all this, Sir, I hope you will forgive the trouble I give you, and that you will make some allowance for the feelings of an Antient Officer; I am full of respect for your orders and ready to obey them, but in the mean time I feel jealous of exercising & preserving in all its purity the rights of the place which you have intrusted to me, and in which I would not be deserving your Confidence, should I obey any person coming to me with a verbal instruction, from you more especially at such a Crisis. He orders and controulds the works which I direct to be done, but never in my presence, because he knows well that I would not suffer him to do so, he therefore places the workmen in the situation of not knowing whose order they are to obey, and either ridiculing him when he acts so, or losing the confidence and respect they ought to preserve for Ingenieur charged to trace them the daily work and the commandant charged to keep them in order — Till now I may say with candour that in my exertions I have been supported by a sincere attachment to the United States and the utmost desire of deserving your confidence —