[Private] New York Mar^ch 26.^th 1800 D^r Sir After ready the enclosed confideg — hat letter you will please return it. I remember what the general states. The idea was that the relationposition between first and Second Majors in the interior of the Regiment should be fixed & selection was made with this view — Similar inconvenienu will attend the 15^th Regiment. Major Walker was intended to be first — By the Same construction he will be Second. On both it would have been better — If the distinction of first and Second Major had been [undecipherable] equivalent to a difference of Grade & the general rules applied among first Majors exclusively of all Second Majors. [undecipherable] to them any remedy. Yrs [signed] A.H. [address leaf:] [(Private)] James McHenry E^sq [undecipherable: f.] Philadelphia [docketed:] 26 March Gen. Hamilton 1 1 8 [undecipherable]