[draft] New York 21 July 1787 Dear Sir [struck: As] I presume you have in quality of your office of President of the Cincinnati of the State of South Carolina received the proceedings of the [struck: last] late Genl Meeting of the Cincinnati held in Philadelphia [struck: in] [inserted: during the month of] May [struck: last]. In those proceedings there is a report [inserted and struck: [In] what I beg leave to you] touching the case of Major L'Enfant whose claims the meeting conceived were necessary to be settled on the most liberal terms - a reference to the report [struck: [what will [show] the spirit which [actuated] the meeting on the occasion - That they were more concerned to [strikeout] preserve immaculate the reputation of the Society than to save their money. This conduct was considered as essential as the general [inserted and struck: credit] [struck: credit] [inserted: character] [2] of our country does not stand well in Europe we were therefore [strikeout] [inserted: anxious] [inserted and struck: into] [inserted: that] that our foreign members should not suffer a Clash on account of the Cincinnati Only part of the sums voted by Major LEnfant could have been legally substantiated - The others however were connected by a train of implications amounting on the whole to an obligation in the minds of people of delicate principles. But one consideration remitted the obligation - Major LEnfant would have been utterly ruined - rumour would have said the [strikeout] of the Cincinnati were the cause - our Enemies would have favored it & we should have suffered with some appearance of justice - To avert [imputions] so foreign from our conduct, we voted money - and we hope the [strikeout] judgment [struck: of the] & actions of State Society [3] will justify [strikeout] the appeal we have made to their magnanimity But independent of the sums voted by Major LEnfant I am [illegible] to write to you, concerning a transaction of some of the Gentlemen of your Society with a Captain Wm Thompson - The general meeting were well aware that every Gentleman who subscribed the paper of which the enclosed is a true copy from the original now possessed of Major LEnfant, paid their money to Mr Thompson - But they appeared to be of opinion that Mr. Thompson was the Agent [inserted: of a Subscriber] - That he received the Eagles from Major LEnfant on their credit - & that whatever might have been Mr Thompsons conduct, the parties were still responsible to Major LEnfant I am persuaded [4] [inserted: persuaded] [strikeout] as the sum to each individual [illegible] is not great that the Gentlemen who signed the paper may think proper to remit the amount to Major LEnfant in New York. [strikeout] As it is said that he [struck: stays] continues in this country only [to lett] his accounts with the Cincinnati be settled, it is to be hoped that the gentlemen concerned would as [illegible] soon as possible accomodate the matter, on principles [advancing] the [struck: generosity] dignity of the Society - As soon as you [strikeout] the Gentlemen whom it may concern has come to any conclusion on the subject herein stated I shall hope for the honor of being informed thereof I have the honor to be Sir with very great respect & esteem your most Obedient humble sv The honourable Genl Moultrie President of the Cincinnati South Carolina