[Docket, page 1:] Secretary of War Trenton 14 [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] 20^th 1798 [undecipherable] 21 [Filing notation, upper right, page 2:] Z 1 War Department 15 Sept. 1798 Sir I have had the honour to receive your letters of the 3^d 4^th and 5^th of this month. It is somewhat difficult, I imagine to please the Governor of Georgia. I thought I had been attentive both to himself and the State. There has been ordered to Georgia, on the 3^d of May 2 brass 6 pounders; 2 brass [undecipherable] pounders with carriages and implements & 4 iron 24 pounders with a sufficient quantity of amunition. Also the 10^th of July, 500 stands of arms and accoutrements, and a comfortable quantity of musket cartridges. And upon the 23 of May 100 stands of arms with 25,000 musket cartridges. These are at Savannah and [undecipherable], generally, to future arrangements. Perhaps the Governor expected to have been vested with the more or less controul over them, or a power to have distributed them among the militia. Without special [undecipherable] such [undecipherable] there can be no doubt that muskets, in case of imminant danger, of invasion, will be applied to by the militia, and the disposition, aforesaid, to justify the procedure. Inclosed is a copy of a letter to the Governor, which was sent before [undecipherable] had the honour to receive his to you of the 8^th of April note. With respect to Brooks. I have [undecipherable] no other knowledge of or acquaintance with him than has been mentioned by you. I have never written to him, nor to any of his friends, but one letter, and that was to announce to him his being appointed. You have, I believe, all the information, before you, except Gen. Morgans letter, upon which I acted, and (for the letter from Mr. Stoddert, was received I think after his nomination;) you will consequently be able to appreciate duly the transactions, as far as I am concerned in it. You will see by the inclosed copy of a letter to Major Jackson of Charlestown, the employment that has been approved him for the present. Joussard has been sent to Rhode Island to draw a plan for the defence of the harbour & City of New Port, because I could not find a native of the corps equally well qualified to execute so important a purpose. It appears me, to be obliged to have recourse to other than natives, at this juncture; but, what am I to do? I find myself reduced to the alternative of spending large sums of money, upon the heads of men who know very little of the science of the Engineers, or trusting to foreigners, better informed, [Filing notation, upper right, page 4:] 1a and of more experience. The inclosed copy of a letter from Cap.ⁿ Littlefield, will intimate to you, my situation, and that of our artillery officers. It is some consolation that our prospects are improved as to futurity, respecting native Engineers. The late act of Congress, providing for 4 teachers to the artillery corps, when taken in conjunction, with former acts, will enable the President, to create, within our country a school from which we may expect to derive a succession of good officers. I sincerely hope and pray to hear of Mrs Adams's recovery, for whom no one of her admirers can have a higher esteem and respect. I have the honour to be with great respect Sir your more ob^t Se^r James McHenry John Adams, President of the United States.