Newark, New Jersey, Oct.^r 11. 1798. Dear Sir, A Master of a Salem fishing Vessel was so good as to give me an American Gazette a few leagues on this side the Banks of Newfoundland. Among the advertisements by authority therein detailed, I saw my name in the list of Majors General. Be so obliging as to make my acknowledgements to the President for this mark of his attention and acquaint him of my readiness to accept the Commission. [undecipherable] ... time since I have been at home, I shall be very glad, if the service will admit of it, to have permission to attend my Wife and Daughter to Carolina. I will return as soon afterwards as shall be required, or not desire to go if the Service requires my immediate presence. Permit me in the nominations that are making to fill commissions to request one for my late Secretary Major Henry Middleton Rutledge. He has been attentive when at the Hague to the exercises and manœuvres of the former Dutch and German Troops which were there quartered, and applied himself in his hours of leisure from the duties of his Office to studying military Authors. Being young (now about 22.) he was not old enough in the last War to see actual Service. But for two years preceding my departure for Europe, he used to attend me as one of my extra aids in the Reviews which I was accustomed regularly to make of the Regiments in my division. I heard from our friend M^r Murray a few days before I left Bordeaux; he and M^rs Murray were well. — I remain with great regard and esteem Your most ob^t. able. Servant, signed Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. [Col. McHenry Secretary of War]