[Address: Hnos. McHenry Esq^r / Secretary War / Philadelphia] [Left margin notation: Elean[undecipherable] [undecipherable]] [Top portion of letter largely illegible due to damage] ...from whence this letter comes, as it is not [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to begin a correspondence however as I have [undecipherable] the pleasure of your acquaintance some years, and consider you as one of my old Friends, I [undecipherable] all general rules, & will [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] in this my Epistle to the Secretary of the War Department. I hope you arrived in Philadelphia without accident, & found [undecipherable] well. Be[undecipherable] you [undecipherable] regretted [undecipherable] departure, but indulge the hope that you will again favor us with a visit, & bring with you, M^rs. McHenry and your young Family. I shall now take the liberty of troubling you in regard to the [undecipherable] now for a Standard which you were kind enough to undertake for me. One of the Volunteer Dragoons dined with us today, & mentioned that the Company had a colour Staff which [undecipherable] its antiquity [undecipherable] by the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] which [undecipherable] [undecipherable: papa?] was in either the Late War, or the French War — [undecipherable] which they [undecipherable] highly, and intended to honour my gift by placing it on that Staff. If they send you the Staff for that purpose, will you [undecipherable] [undecipherable] on the top of it. The American Eagle, handsomely [undecipherable: carved?], and gilt in the best manner [undecipherable] be one taken, and [undecipherable] in the other, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] And also to have [undecipherable] M[undecipherable] [undecipherable] or Dec- oration of gold on the Standard, which America is represented [as] [un]veiling to their [undecipherable: gaze?]. The uniform I suppose you have been informing — My Company will I think be very respectable; there- for I [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to in the [undecipherable: handsomest?] [undecipherable] seen in America. The Antique Staff is not sent, will you have one [undecipherable: handsomely?] made with the [undecipherable] [undecipherable: above mentioned?]. I hope you will excuse me for [undecipherable] to your [undecipherable: manifold?] [undecipherable: duties?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable]. I must not too [undecipherable] you on a [undecipherable: favourite?] [undecipherable: charge?] [undecipherable] by an other [undecipherable] of [undecipherable: conferring?] favors. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] as [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to your [undecipherable: office?] [undecipherable] you with [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] with your [undecipherable], yet and a [undecipherable: good?] Hat. Be pleased to transmit my [undecipherable: affectionate?] regards to M^rs. McHenry & your children & to write with them [undecipherable: of my regards to all?] The Lord wishes you Health [undecipherable: Happiness?] & [undecipherable] with a [undecipherable] from— have the pleasure to [undecipherable] [undecipherable], — Eleanor [undecipherable: Parke?] Custis