Pitts Burgh 26^th Dec. 1800 Dear Sir, [undecipherable] the compliments, I proceed to acknowledge & to thank you for your favours of the 4^th. & 12^th. Inst; as you have not purchased the Glasp[e]s for M^r. W. I beg you to waive the execution of that commission, as in the changes of there & things which seem to be at Hand, my own destination is uncertain — but if your attentions have preceded this revocation, I shall be well satisfied as they will bring the coat here — I am in great need here of a circumferenter & chain, and a good Theodolite, to instruct the Officers in the taking of distances, altitudes &c — will you be so good as to purchase & forward those Articles; and since [I?] con-tinue & transmit to you the justifying order from the Sec. of War — The Belly Boxes are found on experience to be highly incommode & they actually deform the press of a Soldier — hence the application for white & Belts — I cannot promote this Article of Band. The double — seamed cotton breeching serve two years, it is [undecipherable: prob. "now"] pro[bably] — in the Interval, measures may adopted to procure the proper of Elk or Caraboo Skin, who [undecipherable] takes the [undecipherable] & preserves appearance — Having authorized you draw on me I do not remit the [undecipherable] for the Books, but [am?] — to pay it here or in Philadelphia, as may be most agreeable to [you] — will [you] have the good ness to procure & send me, as soon as may be [sent?] by [Mails?] may be [but?] the District requisitions for the Infantry — I learn [undecipherable] that which I had, [those?] expectations for the formation, discipline, & exercise of the District — from the positions without Access to the superior evolutions of the Colonel or Line, are thus [undecipherable] attired, & come not under the patronage of the Duke of York — I inclose [you] a Sample of the Cotton [we] being referred to, which was wove by some [undecipherable] in [the?] latter [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] it is [undecipherable] wide enough or sufficiently strong — [Pay?] your attention to this Object — to the [Epaulettons?] — & the [Colors?] for the 3^d Reg^t. 3^d Reg^t — I wish [to] consider your position, [undecipherable] buttons, for the Artillery; and more thank [you] for your favor of these applications — this from immediately [undecipherable], close in Detail [undecipherable], & is not [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] the construction of the other. otherwise [you] have always been opinion that said Artillery has been properly applied, where[ver?] from [undecipherable] and routine, done & [undecipherable] to the Duties of Infantry, [their?] proper Arms as Sam[undecipherable] — & [in?] opinion, that the Troops [those?] he blended for the dispose of [it?] — to obtrude the [superfine?] Arms [undecipherable] be entrusted to [their?] proper Duty — [I] — [undecipherable] you again the Artillery, & who [undecipherable] an Infantry there — [undecipherable] this hearty [undecipherable] — with respectful [undecipherable] James [undecipherable: prob. Wilkinson] [Received [undecipherable] State Nov. 2[undecipherable] B.P.O. 40[undecipherable]310]