[Private] General Hamilton New York [endorsement, inverted: Sep. 24. 1798 / Go: Washington] [Private] Mount Vernon 24 Sep. 1798. (81) My dear Sir, [left margin: The Corres pond[ence] of Pres[iden]t / may, as to Relative Rank: / tially only, their to obtain it / location, but [undecipherable] it / ous titles.] I have seen the correspon- dence between the President of the United States & Secretary of War on the subject of the Relative Rank of the three Major Gene- rals first appointed. — But as it was gi- ven in confidence, unaccompanied with an Official letter, I had no ground on which I could proceed, without betraying that confidence. — I have therefore written for [strikethrough: undecipherable] an Official accoun- t of the President's determination, as the foundation of the representation I pro- pose to offer him on this occasion. — Until the result of this is known, I hope you will suspend a final decision, and let matters remain in Statu quo til you hear again from Your affectionate Go: Washington Gen Hamilton