[(119) See also McHenry for another letter — referred was 119 — out Day 29] Quincy Aug. 14. 1798 Sir I have rec'd only this morning your letter of the 4^th of this month. It contains one of much importance. I desire that you would inform General Washington, that I consider him in the public service from the date of his appointment and entitled to all the emoluments of it. He is at liberty to receive all or any part at his discretion: and is fully authorised to appoint his aids, and secretaries, when he shall think fit. one Secretary at least is indispensable immediately and he ought to be allowed his pay & rations. Calling any other General officers into service at present will be attended with difficulty, unless the rank were settled. In my opinion, as the matter now stands, General Knox, is legally entitled to rank next to General Washington, and no other arrangement will give satisfaction. If General Washington is of this opinion and will consent to it, you may call him into actual service as soon as you please. The consequence of this will be that Pinkney must rank before Hamilton. If it shall be consented, that the rank shall be Knox Pinkney & Hamilton, you may call the latter too into immediate service when you please. Any other plan will occasion long delay and much confusion. You may depend upon it, the five New England States will not patiently submit to the humiliation that has been moderated for them. If North declines the Adjutancy, I am prepared, to appoint another and a better one. I am Sir your most ob^t Serv^t second. John Adams James McHenry Esq Sec^y of War Quincy Aug^t. 29 1798. Sir. I have received your letter of Aug^t. 20^th. I believe the No is obscure. Gen. Knox is gone to the eastward as I understand, to return in ten or fifteen days. But if he were in Boston I could not send him either your official or private letter as neither contains sentiments that I can approve. My opinion is and always has been clear, that as the law now stands, the order of nomination or of recording has no weight or effect, but that officers appointed on the same day, in whatever order, have a right to rank according to antecedent services: I made the nomination, according to the list presented to me by you, from Gen. Washington, in hopes that rank might be settled among them by agreement, or acquiescence, and I [undecipherable] believing at the same time, & expressing to you that I believed that the nomination and appointment would give Hamilton no command at all nor any rank before any Major General. This is my opinion still. I am willing to settle all difficulty at present and have no fear of the consequences, by dating the commissions Knox on the first day, Pinkney on the 2^d. Hamilton on the third. If this course is not taken & the commissions are all made on the same day & [undecipherable] you my opinion is I fear that Hamilton will legally rank after [undecipherable] and fear even after [undecipherable]. You should write me of the expediency of attempting an alteration in the rank of the gentlemen in question. You know, Sir that no rank has ever been settled by me. You know my opinion has always been as it is now; that the order of names in the nomination and [undecipherable] record as [undecipherable] of no consequence. Gen. Washington has through the [undecipherable] conducted with perfect honour & consistency. I can and I am now, if I could assign him the office of President I would do it immediately and with the highest pleasure, but I never said I would hold the office & be responsible for its exercise, while he should execute it. He has always said in all his letters that these points must ultimately depend upon the President. [M-1232 c] The power and authority [undecipherable] is in the President. I am willing to exert this authority at this moment & to be responsible for the exercise of it. all difficulties will in this way be avoided. But if it is to be referred to Gen. Washington as to mutual & amicable accommodation among the gentlemen themselves, I foresee it will come to me at last, after much altercation and exasperation of passions & I shall then determine it exactly as I should now — Knox Pinkney & Hamilton. Much has been too much intreague in this business both with General Washington & me. If I shall be ultimately be thus duped of it, I am much mistaken in myself. I can sympathise with you in your ill health & the sickness of your family. My dear Mrs. Adams has been at the point of death and altho' a little revived, is still extremely weak and low. I am Sir your most ob^t & hble Serv^t second John Adams M^r McHenry Sec^y of War [Copies of two letters from the President. Dated 14 & 29 Aug^t 1798]