[1762.] [undecipherable partial text at top of page] [undecipherable] Nov. 26^th 1799 My dear Sir, I [undecipherable] that I Shall appear [undecipherable] to write, but as you have done me the honour to communicate with me on the Subject of the [insu=]rection, I trust you will excuse me for troubling you again with one or two remarks on the means of [undecipherable: suppressing] it. I confess I Shudder at the Consequences which must [undecipherable] [undecipherable] this [undecipherable] with too Small a force. The people to be dealt with, [undecipherable] bigotted, morose, & [undecipherable]. Their [undecipherable: leaders] who [undecipherable] an undue influence over their minds, are committed to the full [undecipherable] of [undecipherable]. They are infused with an opinion that [undecipherable: insurrection] prevails every where, and that the government, threatened on every Side, cannot collect a force Sufficient to [undecipherable] them. The County [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable] containing at least three Thousand [undecipherable] men. [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] and the boldness of the [undecipherable], [undecipherable] with [undecipherable: rapidity]. Under these circumstances can it be wise to depend, even in the first instance, upon 240 horse, & a few companies of re= fuse [undecipherable: infantry], many of them [undecipherable] [undecipherable], and the whole a= mounting, in all probability, to not more than 250. a per= haps [undecipherable] now? Would it not be [undecipherable: wiser] & better, in every point of view, to put in motion immediately, the whole of the Vo= lunteers, and the [undecipherable: requisition] Cavalry? This [undecipherable] would be a force Sufficient to over awe the rebels, and probably, pre= vent [undecipherable]. Should no more [undecipherable] than have been mentioned, it seems very probable to me that [undecipherable] will take place; many valuable lives may be lost, and the worst Consequences [undecipherable: ensue]. The General, I know, is empowered to call out a greater force, if after he advances towards the [undecipherable: scene] of [undecipherable: insurrection], Circumstances Should Seem to require it. But of what effect must this [undecipherable] on the whole? When they see a Small force [undecipherable] against them, and that force held [undecipherable] a Sense of its own weakness, and [undecipherable] for [undecipherable: reinforcements] will they not be encouraged to [undecipherable: persevere], and be allowed time for [undecipherable: preparations]? Will it not appear to them as a proof of Weakness on the part of the Government, which must confirm their Audacity? [undecipherable] ought the [undecipherable: Direction], in a case of this kind, to [undecipherable] from the War Department to the Gen[era]l? ought he to be required to judge about the question of force? It is with you to decide, and I am persuaded that you will decide wisely, on these serious matters; but I Cannot help expressing, in the [undecipherable: strongest] & most decided manner, my conviction that every principle of sound po= licy requires the whole of the volunteers & requisition Cavalry to be put immediately in motion. Perhaps instead of marching the whole force to the [undecipherable: neighborhood] of [undecipherable: Bethlehem], [undecipherable], it might be Sufficient to advance about twenty miles to Some Convenient point, and then Send forward into the County a Detachment of horse & infantry. But I Should advise marching the whole to Bethlehem in the first instance. I am my dear Sir with great affect[undecipherable] that yours most sincerely [undecipherable: Rob. G. Harper] [undecipherable text — endorsements and docket on verso]