Philadelphia 25 July 1798 Dear Sir I have your letter of the 18^th instant. It [undecipherable: will] give me great pleasure for many [undecipherable] not to [undecipherable] young Mr Carroll one of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] aide, and to forward his wish as far as in my power. I do not think that the General will make any appointments for some time. I took occasion when I had the [undecipherable: pleasure] of seeing him at his seat, to mention to him the anxious desire of a gentleman of abilities and high [undecipherable] [undecipherable] observation, to be one of his aides, and found that he had determined to come to no [undecipherable] or conclusion as to his [undecipherable], [undecipherable] [undecipherable] time as it would [undecipherable] incumbent upon him to prepare the take the field. In his present situation, they could be of little service to him the only [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] he may [undecipherable] in need being a [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] letters I shall write to the [undecipherable: General] in [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] young Mr Carroll, and my desire to [undecipherable: gratify] the wish of his estimable father for whom I have always entertained the most sincere [undecipherable: respect] and esteem. I am Dr Sir Your ob^t S^t James McHenry Richard Caloun Esq^r [Docket on back of letter: No. [undecipherable] 28 July 1798; remainder of text undecipherable due to crosswise writing]