Now I have all four pages. Let me transcribe the complete document. [(119) See also McHenry for another letter — referred our 119 — out Day 29] Quincy Augt. 14. 1798 Sir I have rec'd only this morning your letter of the 4^th of this month. It contains one of the [undecipherable] 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 Pincknay must rank before Hamilton. If it shall be consented, that the rank shall be Knox Pincknay & Hamilton, you may call the latter two into immediate service when you please. Any other plan will occasion long delay and much confusion. You may depend upon it, the fine New England States will not patiently submit to the humiliation that has been [undecipherable: probable reading "meditated"] 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 Secy at War --- Quincy Augt. 29 1798. Sir. I have received your letter of Augt 20^th. I believe the No 6 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, 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...] believing at the same time, & expressing to you that [I be]lieved, 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, Pincknay on the 2^d. Hamilton on the third. If this course is not taken & the commissions are all made [?] on the same day & [I tell] you my opinion is clear that Hamilton will legally rank after Knox and Pincknay and I fear even after [Lee]. You should [advise] me of the [opinion 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 the record are 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. 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 Pincknay & Hamilton. Much has been too much intrigue in this business both with General Washington & me. If I shall ultimately be the dupe of it, I am much mistaken in myself. I can sympathize 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 & hbl Serv^t second. John Adams M^r McHenry Secy of War [Copies of two letters from the President. dated [undecipherable] 29 Augt 1798]