I cannot at this time ⟨(h⟩aving many People round me, & ⟨Lett⟩ers by the Southern Post to read) go fully in⟨to⟩ the cont⟨ents⟩ of yours of this date, ⟨but⟩ with ⟨ the ⟩ same truth I have ever done, I still ass⟨ur⟩e you, that you retain the same hold of my affections that I have professed to allow you—With equal truth I can, and do assure you⟨,⟩ that I have ever been happy in your friendship, & have no scruples in declar⟨ing⟩, that I think myself indebted to your Abilities, honour, and candor—to your attachment to me, and your faithf⟨ul⟩ Services to the Public, in every capacity you have served it since we have been together in the army—But my dear Sir, these must not debar me the priviledges of a friend (for it was the voice of friendship that spoke to you) when I complained of Neglect—I was four or five days without seeing a single person in your department, and at a time when I wished for you in two capacities, having business of the utmost importance to settle wi⟨th⟩ th⟨e⟩ Count de Estaign (which made it ⟨neces⟩sary for me to see you as Qr Mr Genl &) wch kept me closely engaged at Have⟨r⟩straw till the mom⟨ent⟩ I crossed the No. ⟨R.⟩—But let me beseech you my dear Sir—not to harbor any distrusts of my friendship, or conceive that I meant to wound the feelings of a Person who⟨m⟩ I greatly este⟨em⟩ & regard—I speak to you freely—I speak the language of sincerety, & should be sorry if any Jealousy should be entertained, as I shall ever say more (in matters of this kind) to you, than to others of you, being very truely Yr Obedt & Affecte