[undecipherable] War Department 26 May 1800 Sir, [undecipherable] finding [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] many of [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable] and of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] have received a Report or information [undecipherable] [undecipherable] on authorising me [undecipherable] a Commissary [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] - [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] to be [undecipherable] Major [undecipherable] to be [undecipherable] - [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Lieutenant Colonel Commandant [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] United States [undecipherable] [undecipherable] respectfully to present - [undecipherable] as [undecipherable] in - [undecipherable] [undecipherable] with the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] all [undecipherable] - [undecipherable] appoint [undecipherable] could [undecipherable] - The Office was [undecipherable] John [undecipherable] was appointed [undecipherable] mentioned [undecipherable] were appointed ed it while the Senate was in Session on the [undecipherable] absolutely declined it [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] before the adjournment of Congress - [undecipherable] on be true that [undecipherable] do never [undecipherable] - [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] and C. [undecipherable] appointments [undecipherable] the Constitutional [undecipherable] consent of the Senate - [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] un- vision [undecipherable] supply to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] - [undecipherable] M'[undecipherable] [undecipherable] appointments - [undecipherable] corrected - [undecipherable] filling of the Office at the he declined [undecipherable] - [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] the receipt of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] his non attendance however - was trans- mitted and received [undecipherable] during [undecipherable] of Senate - and [undecipherable] it [undecipherable] as a vacancy [undecipherable] [undecipherable] not [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] it was not as the recess of Senate - [undecipherable] [undecipherable] With respect to appointing this Office - the [undecipherable] persons are [undecipherable] to be interested as [undecipherable] - [undecipherable] doubtedly [undecipherable] [undecipherable] - if not [undecipherable] admission [undecipherable] - this cannot be done - This commanding [undecipherable] Office never filled - The provision for it is found in the 9^th Section of an Act to augment the army of the United States and for other purposes - in there words - 'That there shall be appointed an Inspector of the Artillery' - but no [undecipherable] or [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to make the ap- pointment - [undecipherable] [undecipherable] it is presumed must take the initial constitutional course of nomination to the Senate. At the same time - [undecipherable] [undecipherable] absurdly to make [undecipherable] my opinions [undecipherable] my unfeigned regret - that the [undecipherable] issue [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] - [undecipherable] ob- [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the President's [undecipherable] and the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of a nomination [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I have the honour - to be with most [undecipherable] consideration [undecipherable] John Adams President of the U[nited] S[tates]