Now I have all 12 pages. Pages 1–4 are the primary document; pages 5–12 are the "Other Copies" separator and three additional copies used for decipherment. I'll transcribe the primary letter (pages 2–4) with the wrapper endorsement from page 1, using the copies to resolve unclear passages. [Wrapper endorsement, written diagonally at lower right:] [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] [Oct.?] [22?] [1798?] [undecipherable] To [his?] of [15] [Oct.?] Quincy Oct. 22. 1798. Sir I recd on Saturday your favour of the 15.^th When I dated the Commissions of the Major Generals on the same day, I had made up my mind, that if an acquiescence by amicable Agreement, in the opinion of General Washington should not take place, I would conform his Judgment whatever it might be. If I could have been at Philadelphia to receive him, I should have invited General Washington to that City long ago. — I cannot go to that City nor to Trenton, very soon. Mrs Adams's health is so low and her life so precarious, that it will be impossible for me to force myself away from her, till the last moment. The last has been the most gloomy summer of my life, and the Prospect of a Winter is more dismal still — for if I should not have a more melancholy Separation to endure before I set out for the Southward, I must then leave my family here and pass a dreary Winter alone at the seat of Government. At all Events however I must be at the opening of Congress or give up. Nothing shall wait for me, that you send me here. If you and the Generals judge it necessary to appoint the officers of Battalions before we can have opportunity to nominate them to the Senate, you may fill up the Commissions with the Blanks you have or if you have not enough, send new ones by the Post as is every day done from the office of State, of Treasury and of the Navy, and I will sign them without loss of time. As to the Recruiting Service — I wonder whether there has been any Enthusiasm which would induce Men of common Sense to enlist for [undecipherable: five?] dollars a month, who could have fifteen when they pleased by Sea, or for common Work at Land? I have no attachments to one more than another of the Candidates for appointment — The General Officers are so well acquainted with the Characters, that I shall have no hesitation to appoint such as you and they recommend. It may be well however, to let the Secretaries of State & Treasury [& undecipherable: Navy & Attorney General of government?] see the List, that if they have any Objections they may mention it, or any Idea to suggest they may propose it. There has been no rational Plan that I have seen as yet formed for the Maintenance of the Army. One thing I know, that Regiments are costly Articles every where and more so in this Country than any other [under the Sun?]. If this Nation sees a great Army to maintain without an Enemy to fight, there may arise an Enthusiasm, that seems to be little foreseen. — At present there is no more prospect of seeing a French Army here than there is in Heaven. I am Sir, your most Obedient John Adams James McHenry Secretary of War