War department, 17^th October 1798. Dear Sir, I received your letter dated Newark the 14^th instant this morning, and sincerely congratulate you upon your safe arrival. The readiness you have expressed to accept of your appointment, after so long an absence from home and your private affairs, is extremely satisfactory, and will I am sure be justly estimated by the President and your Country. I enclose your Commission of Major General in the Army of the United States, and flatter myself, I shall soon have the pleasure of seeing you here, when we can talk over some points upon which your opinion will be required, and the propriety of a short delay, or your immediately proceeding home agreeably to your desire. The relative rank of the Major Generals of the Army (as you have collected from the order of appointment, as announced in the News-paper referred to) is as follows. viz, Major General Alexander Hamilton, Major General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and Major General Henry Knox. With sincere regard I am D^r Sir, Your most hbl^e Servant signed James McHenry. Major General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. [PHOTOCOPIED FROM ORIGINAL IN WILLIAM L. CLEMENTS LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. PERMISSION OF LIBRARY DIRECTOR REQUIRED FOR REPRODUCTION, USE, OR PUBLICATION. DEPOSIT OF THIS COPY IN OTHER INSTITUTIONS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.] [Page 6 BRM06]