[Copy] Albany Oct[undecipherable] 1799 Dear Sir As it seems of importance to [undecipherable] Community, that military officers shou[ld], as much as pofsible, be selected from that clafs of citizens, whose property renders the[m] intrested in, and attaihed to the publi[c] weal, If in that clafs, competent chara[c]-tors can be found, under this imprefsi[on] I deem it a public duty, respectfully t[o] -tion to Government, one, wh[o] and in the estimation [undecipherable] -[undecipherable] Captain Solomon Van[undecipherable] the eldest Captain of Dra[goons] of the United States, and who wi[shes to] continue in the service, hoping that from his standing in that Corps, he may with propriety, solicits promotion to the rank of Major therein, of his military charector, government is probably well advised, his civil one, is marked with prudence, sobriety, integrity, and patriotism as it will afford much Satisfaction, h[im] and in many of your frien[ds] Government, to see its [undecipherable] [undecipherable] ny young gentleman, f[riends] -ntritats your countenance in his [undecipherable] with our worthy [undecipherable]-[undecipherable] I am dear Sir with great regard and esteem your obedient [Servant] Ph: Schuyler James McHenry Esq^re