[undecipherable] [Page 1 is marked as Illegible Text by the repository: some or all pages are wholly or in part illegible.] [Page 2 is severely damaged by ink blotting and staining, rendering the text undecipherable. A partial date reading "3 Dec 179[undecipherable]" is visible at the top.] [Page 3 is marked as Missing Page/s by the repository: some or all pages are wholly or in part missing.] in an act of [undecipherable] brothers — it will be proper also, to seize his papers, whic[h] you are immediately to seal and transmit, not by express but the mail to the Secretary of war; and it is ex-plicitly enjoined, that if [undecipherable] get possession of his papers, you will take effectual measures to prevent [undecipherable] contents from being known to any person but your self — in order that the government may not be emb[undecipherable], or the country agitated, by a[n] [undecipherable], premature or unnecessary [undecipherable]tion. I have the honour to be with great respect & esteem — Your [undecipherable] ob[edien]t Serv[an]t [undecipherable: probable reading: James McHenry] [Brig]^t Gen[era]l [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]