1. McHenry enclosed a copy of his letter dated 5 July to Secretary of State Timothy Pickering, in which he presented GW’s request for opinions about the course to pursue with regard to Gen. James Wilkinson’s charges against Gen. Anthony Wayne. McHenry’s letter continued: “I submit to you in conformity with this order the letters and papers it refers to and request to be favoured as soon as convenient with your opinion.

“When you have read the documents I beg they may be given to the Secretary of the Treasury for his perusal; my Clerks being too much engaged to make copies” (DLC:GW; see also GW’s first letter to McHenry, 1 July).

GW wrote McHenry from Mount Vernon on 11 July: “Your letter of the 6th instant, with copies of other letters to the Secretaries of State, and Treasury; respecting the charges exhibited by Brigadier Wilkinson against General Wayne, has been received; and when an opinion is formed thereon, I shall expect to receive it.

“I know of nothing, at present, that will prevent my being in Philadelphia between the 15th of August and first of September: As then, there will be abundant time between that period and the 31st of October (when the new Military Establishment is to take place) to arrange the Officers to the several Corps; and as much information may be obtained, & many things cast up between this and then to lessen the difficulty, and obtain relief from the disagreeable task of deranging Officers I am induced to postpone a final decision in this case ’till I return to the Seat of Government, unless there are causes which do not occur to me, to require it sooner; of which you will not fail to inform me” (LS [retained copy], DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW; see also McHenry to GW, 18 July and 10 Oct., the last in DLC:GW). GW’s second paragraph responds to an issue McHenry raised when he wrote GW on 5 July.

2. McHenry evidently is referring to subjects raised in GW’s second letter of 1 July.