[undecipherable] Knoxville 18^th of Sep. 1798 [1 A 103] Your favor of 23 March with two [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — to Dexter & [undecipherable] came to hand only on the 15^th instant, in a like letter came forward in [undecipherable] time, I should have done myself the honour [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] in due season, — This long Since well known, that the Executive of the State of Tennessee have taken [undecipherable] him [undecipherable] of the intended [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] And [undecipherable] not discern any attention to [undecipherable] the Muscle Shoals, unless permitted by government, And it is scarcely [undecipherable: supposable] that [undecipherable] could be [undecipherable] on [undecipherable] to hazard such an [undecipherable] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] — I expected it [undecipherable] Sufficient, when [undecipherable] denouncing to Col. [undecipherable] that Cox nor his adherants Would not [undecipherable] countenanced in [undecipherable] any such Settlement, unless permitted by the Genral Government. It is again that an Application was made for permission [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] with Cox's large [undecipherable] or [undecipherable] Vessel [undecipherable] [undecipherable] was well evinced they had no intention to strike any Stand until Arrived within [undecipherable] of Kentucky, Near the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the permission was refused, but [undecipherable] also — might [strikethrough: [undecipherable: cyoted]] might be [undecipherable] on the embarkation of the Boat — [undecipherable] it is [undecipherable] for me to [undecipherable], [undecipherable] it is [undecipherable] for any opinion to be [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] official conduct Would or in any Measure countenance a [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] So Materially effect and [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of the General Government. [undecipherable] May be [undecipherable] I shall at all times be Watchfull of [undecipherable] interest, Honor & [undecipherable] With great respect I have the honor to be Sir James McHenry Esquire Your obedient Servant Secretary of the War Department John Sevier [endorsement, largely undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] letter [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] three or four Months