2. If these questions are determined in the affirmative, then whether, in making the selection of officers, the least exceptionable rule for determining the numbers to be taken from each State within the respective divisions aforesaid will not be by their relative number of inhabitants according to the census, whenever the application of this rule will not introduce the least worthy, to the exclusion of more meritorious characters.

According to this rule, the following table will exhibit pretty nearly the proportion of officers and men to be drawn from the respective States for the twelve regiments of infantry.

3. Whether, in the present state of things, it is expedient and proper to proceed immediately to the appointment of the officers, or to suspend their appointment until the meeting of Congress.

4. Whether, in the present state of our foreign relations, it is expedient and proper to proceed, immediately after the appointment of the officers, to recruit the whole of the twelve regiments of infantry, and six companies of cavalry. If inexpedient to recruit the whole, then what part thereof will it be proper to recruit, and in which district or districts of the Union?

5. Whether, if determined that a part only ought to be forthwith recruited, it will be expedient, notwithstanding, to appoint the whole of the officers; and whether it ought to be signified to them, that they are not to be entitled to pay, &c., previous to being called into actual service.

6. Will it be expedient and proper to withdraw any of the troops stationed upon the northwestern and southern frontiers, namely, on the Lakes, between the Lakes and the rivers Ohio and Mississippi, and on the Tennessee and Georgia frontier bounding on the Indians and the river St. Mary's, with a view to reinforce the troops on the seaboard frontier?

7. The stations of the before mentioned troops and their numbers will be seen by the annexed return and letters from Brigadier General Wilkinson. If inexpedient that any of these should be withdrawn, will it be proper to reinforce them with the two companies, directed by a late act of Congress to be added to each of the old regiments of infantry?

8. What distribution, under the present aspect of affairs, ought to be made of the troops and recruits now on our seaboard frontier, the description, places of rendezvous, stations, and numbers of which are exhibited in the annexed return?

9. What number of the troops to be raised ought to be stationed in the respective divisions aforesaid, and in what places?

10. Will it be best for the service and discipline, that the recruits should be supplied by contracts at the enlisting rendezvous, as now practised; or to allow to each recruit a fixed sum per diem in lieu of his ration, previous to his joining the general rendezvous or encampment within his division?

11. Ought the army when in the field to be supplied with rations by means of purchasing and issuing commissaries, or by contract, as at present?

12. What quantity and kinds of cannon, field-artillery, military stores, and other articles necessary to an operating army, such as may be raised, will it be proper to procure, in addition to what is exhibited as on hand, agreeably to the annexed return by the superintendent of military stores, and that may be expected to be procured in consequence of the annexed letter from the Secretary of the Treasury?

13. Our greatest deposits of artillery and military stores are at Springfield in Massachusetts, and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. We are besides forming magazines near Harper's Ferry, on the Potomac, in Virginia, and at Fayetteville, in North Carolina. Ought there to be any other places established for principal magazines than these four, and the subordinate deposits mentioned in the aforesaid return?

As it will be proper, in the course of your deliberations, to ascertain from the Secretary of the Treasury whether he can furnish the moneys necessary for the military service, I inclose an estimate made out some time since, showing the money which I thought would be required, and the periods at which it might be wanted, for the maintenance of the old and new army; and to provide certain military articles, for which appropriations have been made by late acts of Congress, and for clothing for the provisional army.

It may also be proper, that you should confer with the Secretary of State on the subject of our foreign relations, as well as the Secretary of the Treasury on the extent and reliance which may be placed on our resources and finances, to assist you to mature your opinion upon some of the points submitted. I need not add, that the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury will cheerfully give you every information, which you may think it necessary to request.

With the greatest respect,

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your most obedient and humble servant,

JAMES M'HENRY.

WASHINGTON TO HAMILTON AND PINCKNEY.

Queries propounded by the Commander-in-Chief to Majors General Hamilton and Pinckney.

PHILADELPHIA, November 10th, 1798.

1st. Is an invasion of the United States, by France, to be apprehended, whilst that power continues at war with Great Britain?

2d. In case such an invasion should take place, what part of the United States, in their opinion, is most likely to be first attacked?

3d. Is it probable that the French will, in the way of exchange, or by other means, become possessed of the Floridas and Louisiana?

4th. In case of such an event, what, probably, will be the consequences, as they relate to the United States? What measures will be best to counteract them? And can those measures be carried into effect promptly, by the Commander-in-Chief of the armies? Or, must they be previously submitted to the War Office? This question, it will be perceived, presupposes a force in existence.

5th. What can be done to supply our present deficiency of engineers? From whence and by what means are they to be obtained? Should a Frenchman be employed at any rate?

6th. Would not riflemen, in place of light infantry, be eligible as a component part of each regiment; and, in that case, would Ferguson's Rifles claim a preference?

7th. Under the idea that each grand division of the United States is to furnish four regiments of the augmented forces, and each State, according to the census, the population, or medium between the two, is to raise its proportion; how many places in each (its extent being considered), and where, ought to be assigned as rendezvouses, during the recruiting service? At what place ought the general rendezvous in each State to be fixed, during the said period? And at what place or places in the

United States ought the augmented force to assemble? If at more than one place, how many, where, and the number at each?

8th. Of how many pieces of ordnance, of what sorts, and of what calibre, ought the park of artillery to consist, independently of what is attached to brigades or regiments? And how many ought each of these to have?

9th. Would it be advisable (after an, adequate force is recruited) to withdraw the troops which at present occupy the posts on our northern and western frontiers, and replace them with new raised corps?

10th. Of how many ranks do the French form their line of battle generally? Do they make much use of pikes? And would it be an eligible weapon with which to arm part of our soldiery, as that is the nation with which we expect to contend? General Pinckney may, from personal observation, be enabled to solve these two questions?

Queries relative to smaller matters, but meriting consideration, as an army is now commencing more systematically than formerly; the rules, regulations, and distinctions in which, may give a tone to measures which may prevail hereafter.

1st. If the clothing of the regiments, and the fashion of their clothing, with distinctions between one regiment and another, are not already ordered by the proper authority, and in track of execution, what had they best be?

2d. Would not cotton or (still more so) flannel be advisable for shirting and linings for the soldiery?

3d. What had best be the distinctions in dress, in the badges, and other peculiarities, between the Commander-in-Chief and his suit, and the Majors General and their aids? Between the latter and the Brigadiers and theirs? And between these, again, and the regimental officers? Also among the regimental officers themselves, commissioned and non-commissioned? And whether the staff (not in the line of the army) of the different departments, both commissioned and warrant officers, ought not to be designated by their dress, or some appropriate mark or