[Rotated postal notation, top right:] Sent / May 23 1800 N° M^r Isaac Craig & Pittsburgh [postal seal] Abstract --- Sir Philadelphia 23 May 1800 I have received your letter of the [undecipherable]^th instant Colonel Pickering survived the Secretary of War but a few days, he refused to resign, of course was [underline: discharged] we have in the present lost a great and good Man but mark the event — He is not dead, but sleepeth to arise more Glorious — No talk of General Knox — a [undecipherable] more sincerely there was — A M^r Dexter of the Senate is appointed Secretary of War, but as he is gone to Boston, we cannot know whether he accepts the appointment — or has say nor — I shall be glad to receive the Return by the next Post, as we are on the Wing, and know not how soon we may remove — I have heard nothing from Colonel [undecipherable] It will be in vain now to attempt to call the attention of the Secretary to your claim — it must come before his successor — I am Sir your Most Obedient Servant Major Isaac Craig — Samuel Hodgdon