[M. 1048] [Endorsed: 15 May 1799 / James McHenry] Philad. 15 May 1799. My dear Meade. I received your letter in relative favour to M^r. Butler and will apperedly attend to your recommendation. I cannot forget your antient probity, and will know, you must first be deceived, before you should take any step that might lead me into error. You may presume therefore that the chances are on the side of M^r. Butler, should M^r. Morgan not accept of his appointment, of which I have as yet had no official notice. I never despaired of Virginia. Possessing as she does such a body of in:dependent farmers and planters, and so vast a fund of good sense, the danger she [saw herself] exposed to and, the [undecipherable: pernicious?] union, could not [rouse] [undecipherable] her citizens, [could] not have [failed] to act upon [it] so as to produce the happy results exhibited in her late elections. I find that [undecipherable] and our old [undecipherable] the field upon [their?] solemn and interesting occasion. Adieu my dear Meade. affy— James McHenry [Rich^d R. Meade Esq^r]