L 36 War Department Philadelphia 19 Nov. 1798 Dear Sir There is a very great desire among a number of citizens & gentlemen composing the volunteer companies & city militia, to know as near as may be the day and hour at which you may be expected to arrive here. As I think it would not be right to disappoint their laudable zeal, I pray you to be so obliging as to drop me a line from New York to enable me to satisfy their inquiries, and afford them an opportunity of giving a proof of their attachment to your person. with sincere respect I have the honour to be [undecipherable] Your obt James McHenry John Adams Esq President of the United States