[Draft] Philas 10 Aug. 1799 I am fully satisfied my dear d'Hamilton, from what you say, that you had no intention to insinuate in the general order any thing that could affect my character in the eye of the public or army, and I am no longer uneasy. Upon the other point, let me assure you, that the cases of [strikethrough: departures from] the military rules of which I have stated from us in some instances in correspondence, relative to General Wilkinson, [strikethrough: has not happened through] did not take place [strikethrough: ignorance] or without substantive cause. I am in possession of my justifications were it necessary to [strikethrough: otherwise] stir the subject. There may however be particular cases where I have erred through inattention. And who is it would not? with so much business to attend to as I have? [strikethrough: undecipherable] nay, such errors had better be overlooked [than] become the subject of public animadversion. I recommended to you some time since to send to England for the officers manual in the field or a series of military plans representing the principal operations of a campaign." I now transmit you a copy, for which you need be pleased to return me a receipt. The book has merit. of its kind, but as Aristotles [strikethrough: only] rules never produced a good [strikethrough: trag] by, [strikethrough: neither will any military] neither will I believe [the] best books on the [strikethrough: military subject] never [yet] has produced a great general. Both are formed by the energies of genius not [strikethrough: of] by imitation. yours sincerely & aff[ectionately] J McH[enry] [Majr Genl Hamilton]