Dear Sir:
Having laid before you my instructions from his Excellency, General Washington, relative to the Court of enquiry ordered by the honorable the Congress, and being directed by him to suspend the whole business if the move should not be to your liking, before I proceed to take the opinion of the General and other officers respecting the practicability of holding the Court under our present circumstances I wish to know your Sentiments in the matter, and whether the evidences you will want introduced upon the occasion can be had in any short time.
If the mode for holding the Court is disagreeable, or you cannot command the evidence necessary for your justification, it will supercede the necessity of taking the opinion of the officers; therefore I wish to be satisfied on these heads before I take any farther steps in the business.