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I have been [duly forward?] with youe letters of the 11th, 19th and 21st of last month with their inclosures.

Deferring to my letter of the 13^th [?] for the reasons which [undecipherable] my having a personal knowledge of such Characters in Virginia, as may [undecipherable] to be selected for Officers in the [undecipherable] or provisional Army -- and leaving [undecipherable] therein the difficulties which would arise from the extent of this State --  and that, in order to obtain the [necessary?] information, I must solicit the aid of others in whom confidence could be placed, [undecipherable] as [undecipherable] from a letter.  I have received from General Marshall, and of one from General Lee, in answer to letters I had written to them on this subject.  From there you will see that I have but little hope of aid from those quarters.  and as in your letter of the 19 [undecipherable], you have stated the objections to a public official advertisement for bringing [undecipherable] forward such Characters as might wish to obtain Commissions, [undecipherable] shall still pursue the object in such a manner as I conceive, best calculated to answer the [undecipherable], notwithstanding the delicacy of the task, which, as I [undecipherable] to you in my [undecipherable] abovementioned, I should be obliged to [implore?] on others, as well as the unpleasant situation into which I may myself be brought, by raising expectations which may not be realized.