[Archival notice: Some or all of the pages of this file are wholly or in part illegible. We have not been able either to locate a better copy of the document, or to enhance its legibility electronically.] [undecipherable] Philad 12 May 1800 De Sir Mr Pusy [I presume] is known to you by an introduction [undecipherable] from the Marquess La Fayette of course he needs none from me. I mention him [undecipherable: name] for the purpose only of bringing him to your recollection [undecipherable] the most [undecipherable] the best informed & best [undecipherable] Engineers in the U.S. and highly qualified by his attainments and actual experience to give the [undecipherable] I believe to the [undecipherable] the nature of [undecipherable]. I advise you to think of him. [undecipherable] that I shall retire on or perhaps a little before 1 June, from [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] to take any agency in the business of the [undecipherable: probable reading fortifications] of [undecipherable] I have informed [undecipherable] — an [undecipherable: probable reading McHenry] Hamilton James [undecipherable] or