[Private] Trenton 20 Octo: 1798 (129) My dear Comrade. I recd your [strikethrough: private] confidential letter dated the 26^th of Sep^tr. ult., last Saturday evening. I now return the copy of your letter to the President which I expect will [strikethrough: get them] to him a [strikethrough: favorably] and produce a happy effect, not only upon the question it particularly [strikethrough: respects,] refers to, [strikethrough: but as a bearing at the requisite] [strikethrough: in the Post Office at present] I had a letter from here dated the 26 [strikethrough: this morning] last [undecipherable]. but no notice of the subject of either [undecipherable] letter or minute of the 21^st. The latter however may not have reached him. My expectation is that the [strikethrough: L] [strikethrough: affairs] [strikethrough: business] will terminate happily. As it may be necessary to begin our investments immediately, as soon as [undecipherable] to the Southward it will best forward the [undecipherable] business provided [strikethrough: if you can send me] as good a list as you have been able to form [strikethrough: of them] [strikethrough: the fittest] best qualified for [strikethrough: them of] persons [strikethrough: fitting for] [strikethrough: appointment as] [strikethrough: officers] for the four regiments proposed to be officered & raised in that quarter. I am greatly at a loss for a commandant [strikethrough: for] [strikethrough: the] 2 corps of Artillery & Engineers. You know the talents and acquirements necessary for a Lt. Colonelcy and perhaps can help me to one or two [strikethrough: full] [undecipherable] characters. I have sent the advertisements to the news-papers noticing clothing for the additional regiments and companies of Cavalry — but [strikethrough: I have not been it] by reason I have not been able to do any thing [strikethrough: satisfying] occasions to contracts for [strikethrough: the said] men subscriptions. The means are always presented as an obstacle. [Papers / (to the Commandant) is past] Gen. W. Pinckney [strikethrough: receiving] [strikethrough: had] arrived at New York and [strikethrough: had been referred to] W. Pickering — M^r Gerry in England [strikethrough: [undecipherable] has [undecipherable] his apprehensions [undecipherable] drove him [undecipherable] [undecipherable] view of war [undecipherable] [undecipherable] M^r Pickering [undecipherable] [undecipherable] every thing [undecipherable] so [undecipherable] duped [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] hatred of the French [undecipherable] disclos[undecipherable] M^r Pinckney [undecipherable] as [undecipherable] as] M^r Pinckney relates as if [undecipherable] M^r Gerry felt [undecipherable] alarm [undecipherable] M^r Pinckney was at [undecipherable] wanting for a [strikethrough: passage] [undecipherable] the enclosure had destroyed. The letters from M^r King are no later than the 5^th of [undecipherable] Aug^t. The Emperor [strikethrough: of Germany] & King of Naples he informs have certainly [strikethrough: concluded] entered into a defensive alliance, to make a common cause in case either is attacked by France and if France attacks Naples on account of supplying the Turkish fleet as [undecipherable] fodders: Our conduct seems to have inspired Europe with fresh hopes & fresh courage, and of course raised very often the American character. I am my dear [undecipherable] yours & Geo Washington [docket: [undecipherable] 2 Octo: [undecipherable] 1798. Geo. Washington]