[The Hon[orable] Ja[s] McHenry Esq[t] Sec[y] at War Trenton] State of New York Greenburgh 22^d Oct; 179[undecipherable] — Dear Sir A desire to gratify the Wishes of one of the most honorable & most Worthy men of the Age, and to promote as far as depends on me the Interests of his Son must be my apology for troubling you with this letter and the enclosed Extracts, to which I beg your particular Attention, and that you will consider them as confidential. I should have Written to you former[ly] but I wished and expected long before this day to have had the pleasure of seeing you, and to have Communicated in person the Wishes of my much respected friend Mr Izard — The progress however of Fort Pinckney & the approach of the time when a Garrison will be Sent into it Obliges me now to write least I Should be too late. Mr Izard's letters express his feelings in a language as strong as I could use & his extreme anxiety on the Subject of his Son and I shall only add that any thing you can do to gratify this good Gentleman will be Considered by me as a personal Obligation Conferred on Myself — I am With great Esteem and Regard Sir, Your most Obed[ient] Humb[le] Serv[ant] The Honble: Jas: McHenry Sec[y]: at War Jacob Read Extract of a Letter dated 16^th July 179[undecipherable] From The Hon[oura]ble Ralph Izard Esq[t] to J Read "My Son George has Intimated to me that he Should be glad to be Commandant of that Fort (Fort Pinckney), and this I communicate to you in friendly Confidence, requesting that you will be so good as to exert yourself in having his Wishes accomplished. If he Should be placed there, I hope it will be done in Such a manner as not to Subject him to be Commanded by any of the New appointed Captains of the Second Regiment of Artillery. [undecipherable] also [undecipherable] Should the Fort be attacked Some Militia Officer of Inferiour grade to himself may be Sent thither, and of Course he would be under his Command. You will be So good therefore as to Consider whether a Special Commission of Commandant might not be proper for him to have to prevent him from being subjected to Such an Inconvenience — There Would not be I hope any Impropriety in Such an Appointment" Extract Extract of a Letter dated the 25^th Sep[t] 179[undecipherable] From The Hon[oura]ble Ralph Izard Esq[t] to JRead "I expressed a Wish to you Some time ago that my Son might have the Command of the Fort. He has [undecipherable] at Shutes Folley which is now Called Fort Pinckney — Mr Frances Huger, now Captain Huger told my Son Some time ago that he was in hopes the Secretary at War Would give him the Command of that Fort. After what has happened this may also happen; both if it Should I verily believe I Should be Distracted." Confidentially communicated to the Sec[y] at War by his most Obed[ient] Serv[ant] Read 22^d [undecipherable] 179[undecipherable]