War Department 11^th November 1799. Sir, I have the honor to transmit to you, a copy of a letter, dated the 10^th instant, addressed to Lieut. General Washington, being the same which I communicated to you, on the 11^th, detailing the objects for which, his presence has been required at Philadelphia. It would appear, by a letter, which I received from him last night, that he is desirous that the information, delivered in the two concluding paragraphs of the letter above referred to, as necessary to come from you, and the Secretary of the Treasury, touching certain points submitted should be in writing; he says, "I observe by the two closing paragraphs of your letter of the 10^th instant, that you contemplate conferences between the Secretaries of State and of the Treasury, under myself, for the purpose of obtaining auxiliary information from the Departments. Several of the Questions, which you state, seem indeed to require such information. But on reflexion, it has occurred to me, as more regular, that you should settle with the officers, what it may be reciprocally deemed necessary and proper to communicate; to the end that they may themselves bring forward, either through you or directly to me, as may be agreed upon, but without any previous application from me, such communications as the case shall be supposed to require." I shall therefore take this this request into consideration, in order to make such communications, and in order to be made, as in your judgments may appear proper. The estimate of the monies wanted for the Military Service, alluded to, in the last paragraph but one, of my letter of the 10^th instant, to General Washington, is a copy of one, transmitted to me [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] letter dated the 5^th September last, with the exception of some blanks, being since filled up. I am Sir with great respects your obedient humble servant James McHenry [Duplicate to the Secretary [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] The Secretary of State.