[Trenton 21 Sept. Sec at War recd.] [undecipherable] Augustus de Grasse. [undecipherable] Cutler [undecipherable] * War Department [undecipherable] Trenton 21 Septr. 1799. [undecipherable] Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge [undecipherable] the receipt of your letters, bearing date the 23° & 30th of Augt. also the 13th & 14th of Septr. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I find on recurring to the case of Augustus de Grasse, that he was left out of service for the [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] information [undecipherable] at his [undecipherable] the gaming & [undecipherable] he [undecipherable] not [undecipherable] on the governments [undecipherable]. Because he could not be made useful in the office of [undecipherable] for [undecipherable], he was paid. This [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] induced [undecipherable] his [undecipherable] discontinued. I [undecipherable] made some inquiries [undecipherable] him, & I cannot advise that he [undecipherable] be encouraged to expect an appointment in the corps of artillerists and Engineers. I believe I can explain the apparent wanderings of my letter dated the 4th of Augt. ults. which you inform me did not reach you before the 13th of Septr. [undecipherable]. The letter is entered in the books as if it had been written on the 4th of Septr. The misdate of course belongs to me, and so far ought to relieve the post office from suspicion of neglect. Lieutenant Ade Bird of the 6th Regiment of Infantry (North Carolina) has recommended; through Major General [undecipherable] a Doctor Roger Cutler as Surgeon to his Regiment. Inclosed is also a recommendation in favour of the Doctor by W^m B Grove. I request your orders relative to his appointment. I have the honour to be with the greatest respect Sir your most Ob^t & most H^ble [Serv^t] James McHenry John Adams President of the United States