War Department 20^th May 1799 Sir, I have received your letter dated at Castle William the 14^th instant, acknowledging that you had received your warrant of appointment, to serve as a Cadet in the 2^d Regiment of Artillerists, given at the War Office, Philadelphia, the 1^st day of January 1799. The Letter on mention from Major [undecipherable] to the President of the United States, in relation to your appointment, has been transmitted to me, and I have given full [undecipherable]. The subject in a letter I sometime since wrote to the [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] past, your appointment was on [undecipherable], not justified by Captain [undecipherable: probable reading "Dutii's"] [undecipherable] however consider, the appointment [undecipherable] at never can be confirmed, by any construction of acquiescence in the Secretary of War, by reason of his silence, or not answering letters written to him, that it can only be ratified, by a direct official act, most properly by Warrant. If injury has accrued to you, by an informal appointment, you must attribute it to [undecipherable] in others, not in me. That however you may be incommoded as little as possible, [undecipherable: probable reading "supposing"] from your representation, that you have done duty as a Cadet, from the 26^th July 179[undecipherable], the date of Captain [undecipherable: probable reading "Dutii's"] certificate, I shall give directions That you be denom- ination a Cadet, from that date, or at least the date you first entered upon duty. I cannot however think I would be justified, in [undecipherable] your pay to commence prior to the date of the Warrant received from this Office. I am your obedient servant James McHenry [address:] M^r. Pearson Titcomb Cadet — 2^d. Reg^t Artillerists [undecipherable] Castle William near Boston Massachusetts