[Private] Alexandria July 16^th 1798 Yesterday I had the pleasure of receiving your letter from Geo. town mentioning the Patriotic intention of Miss Custis to present our troop with a Standard, which I am satisfied will be accepted with that lively sense of respect ful gratitude which the Gift & the charming giver of it Merit. We will determine upon the Uniform we are to wear in two or three days which shall be immediately communicated to you. While writing I beg leave to remind you, to make enquiry for a letter written to you about three Weeks ago respecting a Ship in the Stocks here. If it cannot be found by you well be pleased to signify it, I will forward another description of her to you. I am Dear Sir with sincere respect & Esteem y^r mo: Obed Servant John Fitzgerald [Address leaf: Alex^r 16 July — [undecipherable] — James McHenry Esq^r / Secretary at War / Philadelphia] [Marginal notation, sideways: July 11 1798 [undecipherable]]