sation for extra services and expenses in the execution of his office, the sum of fifty dollars per month, and that he shall be allowed a secretary, to be appointed by himself, with the pay and emoluments of a captain.

Approved, March 3, 1799.

HAMILTON TO

1799.

You are already apprised that the contractors are to furnish the means of transportation by land and water. If you find this plan marked with a spirit of economy, you must recollect that a strict attention to economy is not less necessary to the true interests of the officers than to that of the country. So great is the unavoidable expense of every military establishment (greater in proportion in our country than any other), that unless all the savings are made which can consist with propriety, it will be impossible for the government to maintain the force requisite for security, or to make and continue those provisions which are really essential to the comfort and respectability of the army. These ideas are so important, that they cannot be too deeply impressed upon the minds of officers.

Yet, if any thing more than is contemplated by this letter shall be necessary to a reasonable accommodation of the troops, suggestions to that end will be received and carefully examined.

HAMILTON TO PINCKNEY.

NEW-YORK, March 7, 1799.

SIR:

The Secretary at War has informed you that the general superintendence of the recruiting service is confided to me, as an incident to the inspectorship.

As a preliminary to this, it is requisite to distribute the States respectively into districts and sub-districts; the latter to correspond with the number of companies to be raised in each State, assigning one company to each sub-district; and the former to be proportioned to the number of field-officers.

I request the favor of you, as speedily as may be, to make the distribution for the States of Georgia and the two Carolinas, and to communicate to me the result.

I have been told that the commencement of the recruiting service depended on the completion of an adequate supply of clothing, and I ought to calculate that this is nearly ready.

Perhaps it may promote expedition to transmit me successively the arrangement for each State as it shall be completed.

HAMILTON TO WASHINGTON.

NEW-YORK, March 14th, 1799.

SIR:

I have the honor to send you the extract of a letter of the 8th instant (received two days since) from the Secretary of War, together with the section of the act to which it relates.

I am entirely of opinion with him as to the expediency of causing the Paymaster-General to reside at the seat of government; but, as the measure is of importance, and especially as the act expressly refers the point to the "Commander-in-Chief," I did not think myself at liberty to act without your previous decision.

I request instruction on the point as soon as shall be convenient, unless you shall think it proper to give yourself the necessary orders to the Paymaster-General.

With perfect respect and attachment, &c.

SIR:

HAMILTON TO M'HENRY.

NEW-YORK, March 15, 1799.

I have digested some alterations in and additions to the recruiting instructions, which I now send for consideration and decision.

The nature of each will announce its motive, so as to render little comment necesssary.

A few remarks will be seen in the margin of some of the clauses.

I shall be glad of a determination as soon as may be, in order to the transmission of the instructions, that they may be considered and understood; so that the officers may be ready to act the moment orders shall be given to begin to recruit.

P. S. I agree entirely in the opinion expressed in your letter of the 8th instant (which was delayed in its transmission), respecting the residence of the Paymaster-General; but, as the act expressly requires the intervention of the "Commander-in-Chief," I have thought it right to ask the orders of General Washington. I hope this will appear to you in the same light.

HAMILTON TO M HENRY.

NEW-YORK, March 16, 1799.

SIR:

Though I have not as yet complete materials for arranging all the States into districts and sub-districts, I now submit to you an arrangement of some of them, in order that the recruiting service may begin in these when you deem other things sufficiently mature to commence it. There occurs no important reason why it should not be successively undertaken. On the

contrary, so far as I have the means of judging, I should conclude that it would be expedient to begin partially, and extend as the provision of supplies extends. An arrangement will now be submitted for the States of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. But, if necessary, I am prepared to offer what may answer the end for the other States, except the three most southern, and Kentucky and Tennessee. A plan for the two Carolinas and Georgia has been asked of General Pinckney, but there has not been time to obtain his reply. If the business were otherwise prepared, there could be no inconvenience in referring it to him to make the distribution definitively. The arrangement for Tennessee and Kentucky may also be referred to persons on the spot.

MCHENRY TO HAMILTON.

March 18th, 1799.

SIR:

I have received your letter of the 15th instant, with alterations and additions proposed to be made to the recruiting instructions. These have been considered, generally adopted, and with some further alterations will be put into the hands of a printer to-day, and a sufficient number of copies sent you as soon as they shall be printed.

HAMILTON TO MCHENRY.

(PRIVATE.)

NEW-YORK, March 18, 1799.

Beware, my dear sir, of magnifying a riot into an insurrection, by employing in the first instance an inadequate force. 'Tis better far to err on the other side. Whenever the govern

ment appears in arms, it ought to appear like a Hercules, and inspire respect by the display of strength. The consideration of expense is of no moment compared with the advantages of energy. "Tis true, this is always a relative question, but 'tis always important to make no mistake. I only offer a principle and a caution.

A large corps of auxiliary cavalry may be had in Jersey, NewYork, Delaware, Maryland, without interfering with farming pursuits.

Will it be inexpedient to put under marching orders a large force provisionally as an eventual support of the corps to be employed to awe the disaffected? Let all be well considered. Yours truly.

DEAR SIR:

HAMILTON TO M'HENRY.

(PRIVATE.)

NEW-YORK, March 19th, 1799.

I understand that the officers for Connecticut have been appointed and their names published, but I have seen no paper containing them. If so, be so good as to send me the list, and if there have been other appointments since the lists transmitted to me, pray let them be added.

Pursuant to your very proper idea of having at the seat of government the chief of different departments, it seems to me advisable that you should have some agent for the commissariat or provision branch, to whom applications may be addressed, and from whom orders may issue to the different contractors or subagents.

Did those provisions of the "act for organizing," &c., which declare that the Adjutant-General shall be ex officio Deputy Inspector-General, and which allow the Inspector-General a secretary, continue in the bill when passed? Is there any arrange