[Docket notation, left margin, rotated]: [undecipherable] letter / [undecipherable] Aug / 29. [undecipherable] / [17]98 / [undecipherable] [Cover address, center]: [undecipherable: "Genl"] Washington / [undecipherable: "Genl"] [Center, lower]: [undecipherable: "henry Brewer"] Philadelphia [date obscured] my Dear Sir — Your letter of the 14^th inst[undecipherable] not reach me till after the appointments mention[undecipherable] it were made. I [undecipherable] clearly in what has done a new mark of your confidence, which value as I ou[undecipherable] to do — [undecipherable] regard to the delicate [undecipherable] of the relative rank of the Major Generals, it very natural for me to be a partial judge, it is not v[undecipherable]y ea[undecipherable]y for me to Speak upon it — I know myself however, this at least I may [undecipherable] that were I conv[undecipherable] of injustice being done to o[undecipherable] in my favour, I should not hesitate to [undecipherable] a correction of it, as far as my consent could avail. But in a case like this, am I not to take [undecipherable] opinion of others as my guide? If I am, the conclusion is that the Gentlemen concerned ought to acquiesce. It is a fact, of which there is [undecipherable] of evidence that a great majority of lead[undecipherable] [undecipherable]ederal men were of opinion that in the event [undecipherable] your declining the command of the army, it ou[undecipherable] to devolve upon me, and that in case of your acceptance which every body ardently desired, [undecipherable] of second in command ought to be m[undecipherable]. It is not for me to examine the justness [undecipherable] this opinion. The illusions of self-love m[undecipherable] [undecipherable]fected too easily to give it credit with [undecipherable]. But finding it to exist, am I at lib[undecipherable] to [undecipherable]st to post-[undecipherable] [undecipherable]self to others, o[undecipherable] [undecipherable]ands, according to that opinion, the p[undecipherable] interests would be less well [undecipherable]? Such are the reflections what would have determined me to let the business take its course. My own opinion, at the same time, is that of the two Gentlemen post[undecipherable] to me, the cause of complaint, if any, applies emphatically to General Knox — this rank in the army was much higher than that either of Pinckney or myself. Pinckneys pretensions on the score of real [undecipherable] are not extensive — those of Knox [undecipherable] greater. Pinckney has no doubt studied tactics with great care and assiduity. But it is not presumable [undecipherable] he is as well versed in the [undecipherable] of a General as [underline: Knox]. Pinckney's rank at the close of the War was, only nominally nearer than mine. It was indeed of more recent [undecipherable] — But when in the year 1[undecipherable] the Regiments of Artillery were multiplied, I had good reason to expect that the command of [undecipherable] of them would have fallen to me had I not changed my situation; and this in all probability would have led further. I am aware at the same time that there were accidental impediments to Pinckneys progress in preferment, but an accide[undecipherable] [undecipherable] that on the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] superiority on his part is not strongly [undecipherable]. — As to military [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that the general understanding of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] would allow a cons[undecipherable] [undecipherable] to me. As to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I am extremely mistaken [undecipherable] in the minds of [undecipherable] men there is any comparison between us. The [undecipherable] of the moment, it is true, give him a certain [underline: eclat]; but judicious men [undecipherable] the merit the two points of [undecipherable] and the [underline: firmness] not to sacrifice his country by base compliance. In all this, it is very far from my inclination to detract from General Pinckney — I have a sincere regard for him and hold him [undecipherable] highest estimation. At the same time, endeav[undecipherable] [undecipherable] to view the matter with [undecipherable] all the impartial[undecipherable] [undecipherable] my situation permits, I must conclude tha[undecipherable] General Pinckney, on a fair estimate of circum[undecipherable] [undecipherable] ought to be well [undecipherable] with the arrangement. After saying thus much, I [undecipherable] add that regard to the public interest is ever predominant with me — that of the Gentlemen [undecipherable] [undecipherable] dissatisfied & the service likely to [undecipherable] by the preference given to me — I stand read[undecipherable] to submit our relative pretensions to an impartial [undecipherable] and to wave the preference. I shall [undecipherable] never be [undecipherable], on [undecipherable] any color of truth, that my ambition or interest has stood in the way of the public good. Thus, Sir, have I opened [undecipherable] heart to you with as little res[undecipherable], as if to my[undecipherable]; willing rather that its weaknesses [undecipherable] appear than that I should be deficient in frankness. I will only add that I do not [undecipherable] think it necessary to make public bef[undecipherable] the ultimate intention I have now developed [undecipherable] is [undecipherable] the difficulties anticipated may not [undecipherable] But, My Dear [undecipherable] there is a matter of far greater moment than all these which I must [undecipherable] to my friend[undecipherable] [undecipherable] to you; but of [undecipherable] it is [undecipherable] upon [undecipherable] should be apprised. It is that my friend, [underline: undecipherable] is wholly insufficient in his place, with the additional misfortune of not having himself the least suspicion of the fact! This generally will not surprise you, when you take into [undecipherable] the large scale upon which he is now to act. But you perhaps may not be aware of the whole extent of the insufficiency. It is so great as to leave no probability that the business of the [undecipherable] can make any tolerable progress in his hands — This has been long observed; [undecipherable]; and has been more than once mentioned to the President by members of Congress. It is not [undecipherable] insensible, I [undecipherable] that the execution of the department does not produce the expected results; but the case is of course delicate and embarrassing. My real friend[undecipherable] for [underline: undecipherable] concurring with my zeal for the service predisposed me to aid him in all that he could properly throw upon me. And I thought that he would have been glad in the organization of the army and in the conduct of the recruiting Service, to make me useful to him. With this view I came to this City & I previously opened the way, as far as I could with the least decency — But the idea has been thus far very partially embraced and tomorrow [undecipherable] next day I shall return to New York without much fruit of my journey; I mention this purely to apprise you of the [undecipherable] [Missing Page/s — Some or all of the pages of this file are wholly or in part missing, and we have not been able to locate a more complete copy of the document.]