[Copy of War Secretary of War 19 March 1799] Carlisle March 19^th 1799 - Sir Your letter of the [undecipherable]^th instant [strikethrough: came] addressed to my son Cap^t Irvine came to his hands by yesterdays post at two o'Clock in the afternoon - he is so ill as not to be able to write, but has requested me to do it for him on this occasion - he sent instantly for Lieutenant Wolstonecraft on receipt of your letter, who thinks they will be able to march tomorrow morning, he assures me he will make every possible exertion, it will depend on two things - first, attention of the Contractor, who by the by, can not be much relied on, it is difficult to get supplies from him on ordinary occasions, of course much dependance is not to be put in him on extraordinary ones, in short he is totally unfit for the business - the second is - four or five of the men are in prison for offences against the civil authority, which may require some hours per-haps a day to get them released - these embarrasments however the Lieutenant says shall not delay his march long - He has one man confined for mutiny, I have advised him to take him along as he may possibly be more conveniently tried at Reading than here, or he will be easier taken to a place where it can be done - There are two young men, now acting as Serjeants with the Company, who Captain Irvine recommended to you for Cadets I understand they continue to behave with great propriety, they will doubtless do all they can to assist the Lieutenant, but you know want of rank will always lessen authority - I therefore take the liberty to suggest to you that it might be necessary to order another Officer to join them at Reading, if sickness or other accident should happen to M^r Wolstonecraft the Company will go to rack - they are fine able bodied young men generally, but since the Captains illness they have been rather turbulent - he desires me to add that they have every necessary equipment, except about twenty vests which he requests may be forwarded for them to Reading I have the honor to be Sir your Ob^dt Servant W^m Irvine [d. R.] The agent or Storekeeper here M^r Barber is very unwell - his Stock is in no wise in danger [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of these men [Copy] James McHenry Esq^r Secretary at War As M^r Wolstoncraft has had charge of the Company a considerable time it, may seem hard to send another Lieutenant, but if a Captain should be thought of, that would be no ground of complaint - excuse this haste