N^o 5 22 Aug^t. 1798 To the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] 21 [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [Left margin, written vertically:] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] War Department 22 Aug^t. 1798 [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] you. After [undecipherable] on the 21^st inst. After that I had [undecipherable] with, and the concolutions of General Washington, respecting the relative grades of Gen[undecipherable] Hamilton, [undecipherable] Knox, the order observed by the President in pre-senting their names to the Senate, and by the Senate in advising to the appointments, I can not help ap-prehending some disagreeable consequences to the public [undecipherable] oc[c]asioned a different relative [undecipherable] grade one now known to be decisively [undecipherable]. In submitting this suggestion to your [undecipherable] consideration, it is indispensible I should observe, that as [undecipherable] the choice of these gentlemen, as their [undecipherable] their military rank, proceeded originally and [undecipherable] from General Washington, and that I had no agency direct or indirect before, or whilst at Mount Vernon in deciding his mind, either to the choice or the arrangement of the rank of those selected. I informed you that he made the right to name the [undecipherable] & [undecipherable] to all a condition of his acceptance and wanted upon accordingly be had on my return. When he communicated his choice and arrange-ment: I was aware that it might be objected to. But [undecipherable] had difficulties to [undecipherable], and [undecipherable]ing impressions to remove, nothing from his obtaining coun[sel] previous to his nomination I did not think it prudent to contest the ground he had [undecipherable], or indeed, that I should gain any thing by any effort of mine to persuade him out of his opinions. I only therefore mentioned to him what I [undecipherable] found he incorporated in his letter to [undecipherable] Hamilton, on that I concurred in his selection of officers, but [undecipherable] respecting the persons named by him, and their relative rank must finally rest with the President. The circumstances I have detailed seem to require, that I should submit to your serious deliberation, whether it [undecipherable] and expedient to alter the [undecipherable] arrangement in the rank of the gentlemen in question; and [undecipherable] them, whether such a [undecipherable] as is in[di]cated in the inclosed letters to General Knox would not be preferable to a direct [undecipherable] from [undecipherable] General Washington, at this time, sanctioned by your authority and perhaps his [undecipherable] to the feelings of [undecipherable]. If you decide upon this mode, [undecipherable] will be pleased to give orders for transmitting [undecipherable] letters to Gen. Knox. If [undecipherable], I am prepared to exert my best endeavours to execute your commands. My eldest child is extremely ill, and [undecipherable] from being in health, two circumstances, there added to the multiplicity of attending [undecipherable] disturb and oppress me beyond expression. With more sincere attachment I have the honour to be Sir your faithfull [undecipherable] obedient James McHenry [John Adams President of the United States]