Philadelphia 7^th March 1799 Sir. You request me to endeavour to recollect and state on paper the substance of a conversation that passed some time last Summer in my appartment at the war office, between you, [undecipherable: myself], and M^r Lee the Attorney General. [undecipherable] with my recollection of all the persons present at the time. In compliance I state, that some time last Summer while Congress were yet in Session, you in company with another member of the Senate came into my appartment, where you found M^r Lee and myself, and I think no other person. That soon after your entrance you observed the Senate had been engaged upon the subject of military appointments and had committed some of the nominations, that M^r Mason had stated objections to a M^r Blackburn of a very serious nature, and then you enquired [undecipherable] had had recommended M^r Blackburn. To this inquiry I replied pleasantly, to your [undecipherable] I am bound to shew to the Senate all [undecipherable] sent to me, recommending gentlemen [undecipherable] office? That you answered to this [undecipherable] the Senate did not think me bound [undecipherable], and hoped, [undecipherable] an air of [undecipherable] would not consider you as intending [undecipherable] thing improper, that the Senate were [undecipherable] particular about promotions, but [undecipherable] to make inquiries when original appoint[undecipherable] were before [undecipherable], and that your desire [undecipherable] know who [undecipherable] recommended this particular gentleman, [undecipherable] occasioned by M^r [undecipherable] the Senate, describing him (M^r [undecipherable]) as a very [undecipherable] bad tempered [undecipherable] man, [undecipherable] unfit for an appoint[undecipherable] in the army — that not recollecting the names of all the gentlemen who [undecipherable] recommended M^r Blackburn, I called to a Clerk to bring the Registry in which s[undecipherable] particulars, [undecipherable] on referring [undecipherable] the register I found [undecipherable] [undecipherable] recommended [undecipherable] the Attorney [undecipherable] and Bushrod Washington [undecipherable], and turned to [undecipherable] who had [undecipherable] been [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] is no [undecipherable], [undecipherable] I leave it to you. [undecipherable] M^r Lee [undecipherable], it seems [undecipherable] he had [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable], and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] but [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that he was a high [undecipherable] [undecipherable]; [undecipherable] he [undecipherable] been engaged [undecipherable] private [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] become and [undecipherable] that a conversation [undecipherable] took place between you and M^r Lee relative to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] by M^r Mason, the particulars [undecipherable], but I remember [undecipherable] asked M^r Lee, whether he [undecipherable] questions [undecipherable] present, [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] at Bath in Virginia, which so nearly [undecipherable] his brother. The above are all the particulars my memory retains relative to the conversation & your [undecipherable] my statement of. I have the honour to be & with very great respect &c. Your Ob^t & [undecipherable] Serv^t [undecipherable] [A. [undecipherable] — M. Tracy]