George Washington Papers

To George Washington from James McHenry, 14 October 1796

From James McHenry

War Office 14 Octbr 1796.

Sir

I have just I believe got finished in time for the mail. I recd the enclosed last night and here they are. Should I write three lines more you would not read the contents till next mail.1 Yurs most respectfully & affectionately

James McHenry

ALS, MHi: Adams Papers.

1The enclosures have not been identified.

GW replied to McHenry from Mount Vernon in a letter of 19 Oct. marked “Private”: “Your letter of the 14th came duly to hand. On the contents of the enclosure, I shall make no comments ’till I see you; which, probably, will be on, or about, the first of next month.

“Let me remind you of what I have before requested—namely, to have noted against my arrival, all those things which will be fit and proper subjects for my communication to Congress (in the Speech) at the opening of the Session; that I may have time to consider & digest such of them as are proper for that occasion, before the meeting of it” (ALS [photocopy], ViMtvL). For GW’s return to Philadelphia on 31 Oct., see his letter to Alexander Hamilton, 2 Nov., and n.1. GW’s “Speech” refers to his annual message to Congress, which he delivered on 7 December. GW had requested input from his cabinet secretaries about possible topics to be included in that speech (see GW to McHenry, 17 Oct., and n.2; see also GW to Hamilton, 12 Nov., and n.2; and GW to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 7 Dec., and the source note to that document).

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