New York. May 26. 1800 Dear Sir Were I to be silent on the subject of your letter to me of the 2[undecipherable]^th instant, received this day, I should be doing injustice to your character, and an injury to my own feelings. Your conduct towards me, as Secretary of War, while I had the honor of exercising the duties of Chief Clerk in the War office, was such as merited my esteem. The indulgence [undecipherable], I [undecipherable] confiding [undecipherable] on many occasions, [undecipherable] during a long & unavoidable absence, [undecipherable] testimony of your friendly — [undecipherable] and, I do not hesitate to declare, no [undecipherable], or [undecipherable] yours, in any [undecipherable] whatever, [undecipherable] cause [undecipherable]. The [undecipherable] correspondence [undecipherable] on that occasion, will explain [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] measures. My [undecipherable] however of this [undecipherable], [undecipherable] it a [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] other employment, for the [undecipherable] of myself and family, as the [undecipherable] would [undecipherable] view, [it] might have conveyed a different idea [undecipherable] and, I [undecipherable] venture to say, [undecipherable] public. I am Dear Sir, Sincerely and Respectfully &c [undecipherable]. Signed Jno. Stagg Jr. [Philadelphia]