The day after I wrote to you I was informed that a Mr Davidson of this place was setting out for Philadelphia & woud take charge of a box to you.¹ I thought it most advisable to send it tho I had not had it in my power to examine the second copy, or to correct the first. There is a part about which I wish you to be particularly attentive, as, on reading it over I had designed to change it, but the opportunity of sending it was so sudden that I have omitted to make the corrections I intended. It is in that chapter which states the loss of Ticonderoga, after which there are a series of observations on miscellaneous subjects some of which appeard to me when reading them to be improper repetitions of what had before been said in other places. I had intended to compare that chapter with the prior passages on the same subjects & to make the necessary corrections but have not been able to do so without foregoing an opportunity of sending you the books which perhaps might not offer again in a short time.

The maps constitute a subject of great interest to which I also request your particular attention. I have sent several but they are not perhaps exactly as they ought to be engraved, & may I presume very easily receive some valuable alterations. I have sent a map of Boston & its environs to be inserted in the first volume where the siege of this town is stated. Gordons history of the war contains also a very excellent plan of the town & of the position of the armies. It will be well to compare them & make any improvements in that sent which the other may suggest.

I have also sent a plan of the country about Brooklyn, which should be inserted a little before the battle of Long island. Of this too there is a very excellent engraving in Gordon & it will be well to compare them.

It will be proper to have a map of the island of New York representing forts Washington & Lee, & the adjacent country on the east side of the Hudson up to Croton rivers representing the portions taken by the two armies till fort Washington was stormed. I have sent such charts in two or three parts. Perhaps two maps shoud be made of the whole, the one laying down York island at large with a glance of the adjoining country & the other, & the other describing the adjoining country & showing its connection with New York.

There shoud also be a plan of that part of New Jersey adjoining the Hudson laying down the country & rivers as far as Brunswick, and another plan laying down the Delaware from Philadelphia for a considerable distance above Trenton with all the towns upon it & the positions of the armies. This plan shoud also comprehend Allenstown & Princeton & I think Morristown.

I have sent plans such as those described & they may very probably be improved by maps of the country. I should also think it worth while to lay down the country occupied by both armies in January & february 1777 including Morristown, Middlebrook bound brook, Bonhamtown quibbletown & Brunswic & Amboy.

If I could see Mr Wayne & converse with him on this subject it woud be gratifying to me, but this is certainly impossible: I hope; & have no doubt of it; that he will be extremely attentive to the correctness of the work, & that he will advert to any apparent inaccuracies which may escape you as well as me in the hurried examination we are both obliged to be content with. I flatter myself we shall see you in may & that you will then give a very deliberate reading to so much of the 3d vol. as shall be finished by that time.

I beleive I mentiond to you that Mr Morgans copy has not yet been examined & compared with the other.

Mr Davidson who puts up at Hardy's will leave town probably about the time this reaches Philadelphia, I therefore wrote to Mr Wayne yesterday requesting him, if you should not be in town to call on Mr Davidson & receive the box, to be kept unopened till your arrival. Your