Your Excellency having been pleased to order me in the General Orders of 22d Instant to resume my Office of Inspector General & make my Arrangements accordingly, I beg leave to refer you to my letter of 17th June on the subject of the Inspection & to your kind Answer of 18th in which you granted me permission to go to York Town & desired me to lay before Congress such a Plan as would be most likely to obviate all the difficulties I was acquainted with & comprehend all the essential duties of my Office. The final determination of Congress which appeared to me at that time highly necessary seems at present indispensable before I can resume with satisfaction to myself & benefit to the Army the functions of my Office I foresee some difficulties in the way particularly with regard to the Inspector appointed by Congress to General Gates Army; that Gentleman declared to me long since, that he was by no means subject to my Orders or controul in the exercise of his Office;1 In short as I am willing to avoid every difficulty & to labour unmolested for the good of the Service; I beg your Excellency to postpone my entering into the Office of Inspector General untill Congress have after your Opinion & directions about the matter finally pronounced. In the mean time with your Excellen⟨cys⟩ permission I will take this Opportunity of making a tour to Philadelphia to see my Friends—I shall have the honour of waiting on you tomorrow morning to receive your Commands & remain with the greatest respect Your Excellencys most Obedient humble servant