Quincy August 1[5], 179[8?] Sir I have received, this morning your Letter of the 4^th of this month. Its contents are [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. I desire [undecipherable] will inform [undecipherable] Washington that [undecipherable] consider him in the public [undecipherable] from the [undecipherable] 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 [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to appoint his aids and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] when he shall think fit. One Secretary at least is indispensible immediately and he ought to be allowed his pay and rations. Calling any other general [undecipherable] 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 [undecipherable] [Aug.] [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] may call him into [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] you please. The consequence [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that Pinckney must rank [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [Undecipherable] shall be resented that the Rank [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Pinckney and Hamilton, you may call the [undecipherable] too into immediate [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Plan and decision long [undecipherable] not [undecipherable] [undecipherable] you may depend upon it the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] States will not patiently submit to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that has been meditated for them. If North [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] prepared, to appoint another and [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. I am, Sir your most [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Servant John Adams James McHenry Esq^r Secretary at War