[21^el Sep^t= 1798 Gen. Washington. inform him what I had written to the President respecting the [undecipherable] en- [undecipherable]] [Confidential] Trenton 21 Sep^t= 1798 (126) y Dear Sir. I rec your letter of the 16^th instant, [strikethrough: yesterday] evening. I thought it of consequence [strikethrough: another effort and acquaint] to make the President [strikethrough: acquainted] with a [strikethrough: out of its contents] [strikethrough: and to was read of] [strikethrough: misrepresentation] [strikethrough: a hand this afternoon] in aid of [strikethrough: the letter] secondly [strikethrough: on] M^r. Wolcott, and to loose no time in managing it to him. Inclosed is a copy of [what] I have written [strikethrough: which] you [are] pleased to return. I rejected on consideration, that [part while I have] croped, 1^st because it was only a repetition, and elucedation of [strikethrough: what] my [position] before submitted to him, and [strikethrough: & rejected] [because] I am of opinion [strikethrough: that ought to support] [strikethrough: decisively to directly] [undecipherable] your arrangements [strikethrough: annuncialure, as] [undecipherable] against Gen. Knox's pretensions I began yesterday a long letter which I do not believe I shall be able to finish to-day. It will explain the causes which have delayed the public service, and the [undecipherable] particulars required by your letter of the 14^th. I shall also send you a copy of the letter written [strikethrough: to] by me to the President from Mount Vernon, and copy of his instructions to me. [strikethrough: I hope met] [I have men] with [strikethrough: which] to [strikethrough: the] Representation [strikethrough: promised] & it was concluded as the President had expressed restrictions which might [either M^r Pickering or myself or both] affect [strikethrough: one or other or all the officers of] the department, [strikethrough: to a me and] that it [strikethrough: might] have a better effect [copying] M^r. [strikethrough: Wolcott] [alone] Wolcott who had been absent from the seat of Government during the greatest part of the time [strikethrough: when] to which the suspicion of intrigue could apply. It was accordingly [strikethrough: seconded only by him only.] [undecipherable] it twice [undecipherable] to send me in a distinct letter [undecipherable] of yours of the 16^th inst. [undecipherable] I have quoted? [undecipherable] he should take it into [undecipherable] to care for [undecipherable]. I still count upon the Presidents acting wisely and the [yielding] he has shewn great obstinacy, but I think he cannot resist the display of facts which have been [laid] before him in the representation aided as they will be by your letter. M^r Pickering I believe intends to transmit to you its substance. If he does not I shall [obtain] a copy of it and forward it. Yours ever & affectionately Gen Washington