My opinion is that Doctr. Shield should be sent immediately back to York Town, & Colo. Gibson reprimanded for having permitted him to come to this place before leave had been obtained for him to go into New York—Unless Gibson has some appointment unknown to me he can only be considered in the light of a private person having resigned the command of (the Virga. State Regimt) which he formerly had sometime ago.

I should conceive that an application from the Doctr to Genl Clinton (who is now about to send out money for the Prisoners at Frederick Town and a letter would answer all the public purposes of his going to New York. I am very sincerely yrs