Page 9 is an "Other Copies" divider — the remaining pages are duplicate copies and not the primary document. I have all I need from pages 1–8. Here is the complete transcription: --- Mount Vernon 22 July 1798. Dear Sir, Your favour of the 18^th was brought by the Post of yesterday. — The nominations, according to your list, will be agreeable to me; although I entertain the opinion that [strikethrough: undecipherable] Col. Smith is better calculated for a command in the line, than for a just General: — But what have been done respecting the Quarter Master General, &a I hope, and trust, it is not intended to Overlook the character heretofore recommended in pointed terms; than whom, I will confidently add, one more adequate is not to be found in the United States, if the Operations of the Army be in what quarter it will; nor so fit, if they be the States South of Maryland; as he is known, and is known by, every one in those Regions; being the Deputy Quarter Master General under General Greene, in all his active movements; and is trusted & esteemed as he is extensively known. — In a word, if this appointment does not take place after my explanations, (which I was careful to have well understood, respecting this Officer,) and after it was given specifically in charge to you, to consult me here &c, I shall feel very much hurt on the general ground I took; and more so, by [strikethrough: undecipherable] comparing with the contrariety that that Officer, for the reasons I assign, should be made agreeable to me, I write to Col.° Carrington & received the answer herewith enclosed; which may be returned after the proper use is made of it. I desire it may be understood that my predilection for this Gentleman proceeds from no other cause than a full conviction of his fitness to fill the Office to which he was assigned in my mind; for being separated from the main army, he is infinitely better known to me by character, than from personal acquaintance (which in fact is slight); and from the steady & firm support he has given to the Government. Government ever since. — Such his character, with his Military knowledge, intelligence and experience in the duties of Quarter Master, would render him an acquisition to any Army; and the only [undecipherable: probable reading "fear"] I had was, that he would decline accepting it. — The present Quarter Master Helkins, (I think his name is,) may be adequate to the civil duties of that Office, & while the present Troops are doing garrison duty in the Western Country, little more is necessary; but bring him to an assembled & moving Army in the field, where a great many thousand Militia [undecipherable] duties would be thrown upon him, and he would be found altogether incompetent, from an entire unacquaintedness with the scenes. — By what circumstance did you come at Stevens; in the Wilderness? — He may be an estimable character, for ought I know; but from the impression I have of him, he is better qualified to cut off Indians, than to discipline an Army and lead a Brigade, the mouths of of Cannon. — But as I may have mistaken his character, I shall halt here, in my strictures on it. Also enclosed, you will receive a letter from John Taylor Esq. to me; who, you must know by character, being the brother of Mr. Lloyd & brother-in-law to Mr. Ogle of Annapolis. — He is among the most wealthy & respectable men in this State; — active, zealous & attentive to whatever he undertakes. — On the Western expedition, against the Insurgents, he commanded a Troop of horse, and (I believe, but am not sure) was Aid to the Commander in Chief. — What he looks to now, beyond the expression of his letter, I know not. — With respect to the more definite part of it, I have one answer and that has, & will be given to every application (unless some very particular one should come forward) — namely, that until I take the field, or am in a situation to require Aids, I shall hold myself perfectly disengaged, and free; as in the choice of my (established ones) there are many considerations, besides the mere indulgence of my wishes, to combat. — In addition to this, I have informed M^r. Taylor that I would transmit his letter to you; to be laid before the President; not doubting but that it would give him as it had done me, pleasure to find a Gentleman in his situation, and independent fortune, stepping forward at such a Crisis with a tender of his Services. — I presume, he would prefer an Appointment in the Cavalry; and I have no doubt that he could raise a very fine Troop; — but whether he would be satisfied with that, or whether more could be offered with due attention to the old Cavalry Officers of known and acknowledged celebrity, I am not prepared to decide. — Possibly; such an appointment, with the privilege of chusing his own Lieutenant & Cornet, might induce his acceptance. — And here I will take the liberty of giving it as my opinion once once for all, that when the President has fixed upon Officers of established character to command Companies — Gentlemen who prize their own honour, and the reputation of their Company, that it would be good policy to let them chuse, or at least to recommend their own Subalterns; — It would facilitate recruiting; — contribute much to the harmony of the Company; — and if the Captain himself is properly chosen, it may be relied on that he will be cautious not to hazard his own and the reputation of his company with bad Officers if known or even suspected to be unfit for his purpose. I do not recollect enough of the present Officers in the Cavalry, or of those who have been disbanded, to say with decision which of them is best entitled to the Command of that Corps; — but I have no hesitation in declaring it as my opinion, that Major Talmadge (formerly of Sheldon's horse) would not disgrace it, [&] is to be prepared to [undecipherable]. In furnishing the list I gave you, when here, from whom Field Officers might be be selected for the Corps to be raised, I omitted (not seeing how he came enrolled) Major Ragsdale of the Artillery. — His character in that Corps, I am told, is very high. — How it has happened that he is yet in the back ground, whether from choice, or because he has been overlooked, I am unable to say. — He is of this State, as Talmadge is of New York. [undecipherable] Hardteller (at present of the Troop of Horse in Alexandria) has been recommended to me as a man worthy, and desirous of an Appointment in the Army, about to be raised. — A Doct. Payson — son of a very worthy man; and brother to two of the best Officers in Lee's Corps of Horse during the Revolution War, has also applied for a berth in the Medical line. — I have answered, that appointments are not with me; that recommendations accompanying my letters, [them] go to the President direct, or through the Secretary of War. — Possibly you may see [these]. — They must speak for themselves. — The [marginalia, written vertically in left margin: undecipherable] The first is well spoken of as an Officer and Gentleman. — He was in the corps on the Western Expedition, and by accident received a wound. — The other (Doct. Payson) is but lately returned from an absence of five years, in Europe, I believe in the Study of Physick. — I have also been told that the Cap^t. (Young) of the Alexandria Troop is desirous of employment; but as his application has never been direct, I but barely mention the fact. — Doct. Craik did say something or two, respecting his Son who was in my family & passes on the army; but as nothing definite passed I shall say nothing more on the Subject. His Son in Law Nash (Major in one of the Uniform Corps) is desirous in case the Provisional Army is raised, of obtaining an Appointment therein. — And now, having laid before you every thing that occurred to me, I shall add no more at present, than that I am Your Obed^t & Affect^e Servant James McHenry Esq^r Secretary of War G^o Washington