Now I have all seven pages. Let me produce the transcription. [James McHenry 4 June. 1799] Philadelphia 4^th June 1799 I have just received your favour of the 26^th of May ulto. [undecipherable] You will see by the Law for raising the eventual army (which is inclosed) that there is an express prohibition against allowing any pay to its officers till called into actual service [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the propriety of the measure of selecting fit characters at this juncture, and [undecipherable] previous to any overt or declared change in [undecipherable] the intentions of France towards the U.S. upon such grounds as the following [undecipherable] [undecipherable] 1^st. I consider the preservation of internal peace, and a due respect to our rights, [undecipherable] to be so inseparably connected with the [undecipherable] military force which may be kept up by the U.S. Without a force competent [undecipherable] will neither be able to secure what we possess, to prevent what we have just reason to apprehend, and still less, to obtain in the way of negotiation what we may want. When a foreign nation views this Country, as relative to the designs, which it may have upon it, or the good will it may intend towards it, will it not attentively estimate our military force, and such resources to support it. If the first is found to be insignificant, good intentions will not be much encouraged nor hostility much deterred by the most prosperous appearances of the Latter. The consequences then of the U.S. will be measured by France and other nations, by the strength of our regular army, and the state of its discipline. Do you think the essential [undecipherable] added to the existing army, need form the great expense for the U.S. to maintain in the field during the continuance of that dreadful state of things which exists in Europe? These two, according to the present establishment, would not, were [undecipherable] much exceed 30,000 effectives? [undecipherable] It is demonstrable that we cannot depend upon our navy to guard our coasts and prevent invasions for a long time to come, consequently [undecipherable] us to be strong and respectable [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that we may feel secure against [undecipherable], and give stability to our government [undecipherable] [undecipherable] These are not times [undecipherable] the militia, or [undecipherable] army. Rome [undecipherable] Carthage [undecipherable] in the conquest of Macedonia; and Macedonia to aid her in the conquest of Asia. Can we flatter ourselves, whatev[er] may be the professions of France, while [undecipherable] her pursuing with inflexible perseverance [undecipherable] safe from her projects by armies on paper? 2^d. Next to the having [undecipherable] respectable army in the field, as relative to the impressions [undecipherable] from it, on foreign nations, and [undecipherable] preservation of internal tranquility, is having all the appointments made, and arrangements [undecipherable] prepared and [undecipherable] necessary to [undecipherable] mediate existence [undecipherable] of government. If no appointments are made, no organizations decided on, no stores to be prepared for such an army, [undecipherable] declaring that it may be resorted to will produce equally [undecipherable] any good effects whatever? 3^d. What would be the opinion of the [undecipherable] disposed and reflecting part of the community, should the events take place contemplated by the Law, and it should then appear, that an indispensable preparatory measure had been totally neglected by the Executive.? [undecipherable] render our government a problem by keeping it in a constant state of debility or weakness. It is [undecipherable: probable reading 'proved'] [undecipherable] fact, that to this hour I have not been able to procure the materials from some of the Southern States for their proportion of the Officers of the 12 Regiments of Infantry. How would it do to postpone the selection for the eventual army till war or imminent danger of invasion should occur? Upon the whole it appears to me, that this step was necessary, and that certain forced objections, or slight personal considerations, were not of sufficient magnitude to be put in opposition, to the good to be expected from the measure in question. I am my dear Sir with more respect and esteem [undecipherable] James McHenry Hn^ble. Theodore Sedgwick