Enclosed is a copy of a letter which I have just received from Colonel Ogden—Your attention has been heretofore called to the subject of it, but I ⟨—⟩ think it proper again to submit to you my ideas—

When vacancies happen the Officers next in order are entitled to fill them—Delay in promoting such Officers is a violation of their right—It is calculated also to impress upon their minds a most very unfavorable idea of the government—They consider themselves injured, and resolve the injury they sustain suffer into the operation of a parsimonious spirit upon the public con⟨cern⟩ the operation of a spirit too little to be reputable.