[Timothy Pickering. [underline: Aug 21. 22 & 23] 1798] [[undecipherable] 5] Trenton Aug^t. 23. 1798. M^r. M^cHenry has just handed to M^r. Wolcott & me his letter to the President on the subject of calling you and Gen^l. Knox into immediate service, together with General Knox's letter to him in answer to the one inclosing his commission. Gen^l. Knox's letter, claiming the first rank, I see has been transmitted to you, and I was glad to see you, in your answer to the Sec^y. of War, tenacious of the station in which the Commander in Chief, the President & Senate, and the public voice have placed you. I did not know till now that Gen^l. Washington had so explicitly written you respecting your taking rank of Gen^l. Knox, whom he loved. altho' I had formed the [undecipherable: probable reading "same"] conclusion from his silence concerning him in his letter to me – which I now inclose, and which M^r. Wolcott only of my colleagues has seen. The original letter from Gen^l. W. to you, M^r. Henry, now informs us, was by him shown to the President – notwithstanding which you have seen where you would have been placed. M^r. Henry said also, that Gen^l. W. made your appointment the sine qua non of his accepting the chief command. The weight of these facts seem to have escaped the President's recollection – or he would not desire that Gen^l. Knox [should] take his place — of you. Gen^l. K. has conversed with him – refer'd to the rule of the former war, to determine the relative rank of officers of the same grade appointed on the same day, and the President has thence concluded that Gen^l. K. is "legally" entitled to the precedence. But, as I yesterday informed you, the change proposed to gratify Gen^l. Knox and the President, is by the latter put on General Washington's "opinion and consent;" and such consent surely can never be given, after the General's letter to you in which, as M^r. Henry says, he explicitly told you that he passed by Knox (whom he loved,) to give you the priority of rank. Upon the principle mentioned by Gen^l. Knox, Hand must clearly precede you, as well as Knox & Pinckney. Lee I presume must follow you, as he was only a captain of horse when you, as aid to the Commander in chief, had the rank of Lieut. colonel. — I see in your letter to M^r. Henry you refer to the public voice in your favour — and justly, as I yesterday mentioned. Yet the President imagines that the "fine New England States" would be offended at your preceding Knox. But he is most egregiously mistaken — it was among New England members of Congress that I heard you, and you only, mentioned as the Commander in Chief — until Gen^l. Washington was nominated: and I dare to say, that if among th[e New England] delegates a vote were taken, nine [undecipherable] the whole, would place you before Knox. M^r. Henry is to write you to-day on the subject. He is utterly uninformed of my correspondence with General Washington and you concerning it. The reference of the matter to General W. is suspended: you will consider whether it should not be made; for he must decide in your favour. M^r. Henry had thought of not so referring it; but of taking the course which he said he would state to you to-day — that is, to propose to General Knox to accept, with a reservation of his claim under the old rule appealed to by him — at the same time M^r. Henry says that rule is not now in force, nor ought to govern. Why then urge Gen^l. Knox's acceptance on that ground? — It would be a delusive proposition to Gen^l. Knox; — and if it did not eventually prove so to him, you would be in a predicament [strikethrough: undecipherable] to excite the extreme regret of the great body of your fellow citizens, who would the more deeply deplore the arrangement from the very possible fall or, inevitable [undecipherable: probable reading "fall"] of the present commander in chief. Very truly yours Pickering. A. Hamilton Esq^r.