[30 Octo - 1798] [To. Geo. Washington] War Department 30 Octo 1798 D^r Sir I had the honour to receive your [strikethrough: I send last more your] letter of the 23^d inst. I send a letter this morning, from the President, by which I find, that [strikethrough: the state] is so low, and her [strikethrough: life] [strikethrough: illness's], health [strikethrough: made not] [strikethrough: is] so precarious, that it will be impossible for [strikethrough: as long as present] [undecipherable] we [undecipherable] him to leave his [undecipherable]. his last [strikethrough: moment] [strikethrough: that oblige at the time [undecipherable]] [strikethrough: spare a] tile it becomes absolutely necessary [strikethrough: for the meeting of the Major Generals] for him to meet Congress. I regret extremely [strikethrough: impracticable] this circumstance, as well on account of the [strikethrough: being deprived] cause, as [strikethrough: the best] of his [undecipherable] But that no delay to many opinions [strikethrough: see] arrangements of [undecipherable] between [undecipherable] opinions to [undecipherable] between his [undecipherable] authorised me [undecipherable] if I and [strikethrough: the] to [strikethrough: prevent any] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] at the same time, in case [strikethrough: I with the Generals should] [strikethrough: the necessary expedient] and I should judge it [strikethrough: necessary] to appoint— [strikethrough: should be authorised] that the officers of battalions [strikethrough: before they] the meeting of Congress, to [strikethrough: fill up the do so] fill up [strikethrough: the] Commissions out of the blanks I have in my possession. General Pinckney who is here for a few days, I expect [will] give his attendance on the 16^th of next month, [strikethrough: soon] at which time I also expect General Hamilton. [strikethrough: [undecipherable] attend] [strikethrough: Below] Inclosed is a copy of a letter from General Knox, declining [strikethrough: the] appointment of the third Major General so that we cannot count upon his aid or assistance. Having disclosed to you the objects [strikethrough: design] [strikethrough: I had in view in] this conference in my letter dated the inst. I [strikethrough: hope] it will be in your power to give your attendance on or about the [strikethrough: of November next] 20^th [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] at this City or Philade[lphia] as the case may be; and that you will bring with you the letters and recommendations respecting candidates from the Southern district, [strikethrough: as] and, [strikethrough: all such] [strikethrough: letters] papers as may be useful; as well as the inclosed list of officers who continued in [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] to the end of our revolutionary war.