[Private] [R 7] Mount Vernon 6^th Jan^y 1799 Dear Sir Your favor of the 28^th Ult^o I have duly received. — I have no wish that any sentiments of mine, handed to you officially, should be with held from Congress, or the Public. — All I should have desired, would have been, that such parts of my Report of the Proceedings which occupied the attention of the two Major Generals and myself in Philadelphia, and fit for legislative consideration; might have been communicated entire — with the reasons in support of the measures — Extracts, without these, do not always convey the sense, or the intention of the Reporter. — It is unnecessary I presume to add, that such other parts of the Report as depend upon Executive decision, ought not to be delayed — Many valuable is as evidence of the truth of the doctrine I advanced, that there was no dependence (except in a few instances) on the mode of obtaining information; for reasons which I detailed at the time. — The Papers you have asked for went off before your letter was received — and safe with you, I hope, 'ere this. — I ought to have taken your advice with respect to drawing three, instead of two months pay. — Not keeping the a/c of my expenditures to, from, and at Philadelphia — M^r Lear paying them out of the money he received there, on his own account — and not coming to the knowledge of their amount until after home, I presumed two months Pay &c. would have covered all my expences — but with the purchase of a few articles incidental to my journey, I find that the aggregate, amounts to $ 1115.= and the pay drawn, to 1039 ⁶⁵/100, without including in the first sum the preparatory [strikethrough: expence] of equipment, for the journey. * [* exclusive of about a suit of [undecipherable] and $300] This valuable Officers others have already been lost by it, — and if the arrangement is not announced soon, more will be so. — The Regulations with respect to the Uniform, and Army distinctions, should be announced at the same time (if approved) in clear and peremptory terms; to guard, in the first place, Officers against unnecessary expence — and in the second place, to prevent fantastic decorations at the whim of Corps. — I do not recollect whether it is so expressed, but it was the meaning, that all Officers who are not directed to be distinguished by feathers, are not to wear any; but if it is not forbidden at the time of the annunciation, to those who shall, the practice will still prevail in the lower grades, — such is the propensity in favor of it. — That those who applied for higher grades than they have been appointed to, sh^d decline accepting them, was, in many instances, apprehended — but to find among others, who were appointed, as worthy characters; is more surprising; although it is [strikethrough: advised] This communication is not intended by way of application for a further allowance — for I had rather sustain the loss, and the fatigues of the journey, than it should be thought I was aiming to draw an Iota from the Public, more than my declaration at the acceptance of my Commission would authorize [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] With very great esteem & regard I am Dear Sir Your Most Obed^t and Affectionate Serv G Washington James McHenry Esq^r [6 Jan^y 1799 from G^l Washington rec^d by [undecipherable]]