In my letter of the 7th. I informed you that on consultation at Washington it had been concluded best to commit the whole business of flags to Capt Decatur. I now find that I had not recollected our conclusion correctly, and that it had been understood that the commanding officers, by land & water should have equal authority to license the sending & recieving flags: which is not only proper, but the more satisfactory, as I learn by the papers that mr Newton, of Congress is the commanding Major. will you be so good as to have him furnished with a copy of my letter (with a correction of the error) that he & Capt Decatur may govern themselves by the same rules. I salute you with great esteem & respect.