instead of encouraging the complaints of their men on the occasions to which you refer, ought to endeavor to satisfy them that the article complained of, for some good reason, could not be otherwise." I have inculcated this doctrine in different instances, and shall make it a subject of a circular instruction.

You add that nothing is more common among officers, than complaints about every thing furnished by the public. I am inclined to believe with you, that the spirit of complaining is apt to be carried to an excess. But it is important, when it is observed to prevail, to inquire with candor and calmness whether it has not been produced in whole or in part from real causes of complaint. If it has, it is then essential that any defects in the public plan which may have occasioned them, should be corrected.

This is essential for two reasons; one that justice, the success of the service and the public good require that right should be done to the troops; the other, that the doing of it will most certainly and effectually remedy the evil.

In a new army especially, the force of discipline can hardly be expected to stifle complaint if material ground for it truly exist. To be frank on this point is a duty. Viewing the matter from a variety of positions in which I have stood, it is an opinion of some standing with me, that the supply of the army, except in the article of provisions, has been most commonly so defective as to render a considerable degree of discontent a natural consequence. In some instances the quality of articles, in others their form or workmanship, have been faulty; in others they have been supplied too irregularly and too much by retail.

These things, amidst a revolution, will be acquiesced in. In the first essays of a new government, this will be tolerated; but in a more mature state of its affairs, as that of ours at present, a government should not stand in need of indulgence from its armies. In strict justice to them, it should lay the foundation. of an absolute claim to their strict obedience and rigid compliance with every duty.

In recurring to ideas of this sort, I only embrace an occasion which seems to call for the expression of them. I well know

your disposition to ameliorate our plan. I count upon the suc cess of your efforts, but till the amelioration has been exemplified, you are not to wonder if murmurs continue, and it will not be my fault if they are not as moderate as possible.

HAMILTON TO MCHENRY.

NEW-YORK, Sept. 2d, 1799.

SIR:

A rule respecting the allowance of barracks and quarters is wanting. I submit to your consideration the following scale: To a major-general, for himself, four rooms; for each aid, one room and a kitchen.

To a brigadier-general, for himself, four rooms; for his aid, one room and a kitchen.

To the inspector-general, in addition to his allowance as major-general, two rooms for offices, and one for his secretary.

To the quartermaster-general, in addition to his allowance as major-general, two rooms for offices, and one for each assistant or clerk.

To the adjutant-general and each principal deputy with a separate army, the additional allowance of two rooms for offices.

To each field-officer, two rooms; to each captain, one; to each of the regimental staff, one; to two subalterns, one; to every mess of eight officers, two.

To every inspector or quartermaster of a division or brigade, one additional room for an office.

To every twelve persons, other than commissioned and staffofficers, a room of the dimensions of and so in

proportion when rooms shall be greater or smaller.

To the commander-in-chief, or general commanding in a separate department or district, the allowance may be exceeded, according to circumstances, of which he must judge upon his responsibility for any abuse of the discretion.

The allowance of fuel to general officers requires also to be regulated. The following scale is submitted:-From the first of October to the first of April in every year,-To a major-general, two cords and a half cord per month. To a brigadier-general, the same quantity. To the inspector-general, the additional allowance of a cord per month. To the adjutant-general, and each principal deputy with a separate army, the additional allowance of a cord per month. To the quartermaster-general the additional allowance of one cord per month, or such quantity as the commanding general shall approve. To each inspector or quartermaster of a division or brigade, the additional allowance of half a cord per month.

From the first day of April to the first of October in every year, one third of the foregoing allowances.

The commanding general, under special circumstances, may, by orders in writing, enlarge or diminish the foregoing allowances in cases not provided for.

No compensation in money to be paid or received in lieu of allowances of fuel.

HAMILTON TO TOUSSARD.

NEW-YORK, Sept. 6th, 1799.

SIR:

It has been represented that the fort at Portsmouth wants a new magazine, new platforms, embrazures; that the walls require to be repaired, and the cannon to be mounted.

It is my wish that the state of this post be surveyed, and specific report made to me of what may be indispensable, towards putting the fort in a state fit for service, with an estimate of the probable expense.

You will judge whether this service must necessarily be performed by yourself, or whether you can assign to it another officer, and you will take measures accordingly.

This object is not to be preferred to one more important.

CIRCULAR.

SIR:

NEW-YORK, September 7th, 1799.

It has been suggested to me that particular officers, in some instances, have incautiously indulged remarks in the presence of their men, respecting the bad qualities of articles furnished, which were of a nature to foster discontent in the minds of the soldiery. Instances of this sort, I am persuaded, must have been very rare, as the impropriety of the thing is too glaring to escape an officer of the least reflection; and I am convinced it is only necessary to mention the matter to you, to engage your endeavors to prevent a similar imprudence. If any articles of supply are exceptionable, the proper course is to represent it to me, in order that the remedy, if in my power, may be applied; if not, that it may be sought through the Secretary of War. Of my constant exertions to place the army on a comfortable and respectable footing, no doubt can be entertained.

Desultory observations have from time to time been made to me, respecting particular articles. I am desirous of having a special and very accurate report from the commandant of each regiment, of the quantity and quality of all the articles which have been received for its use, viz., arms, accoutrements, clothing, tents, and camp utensils. You will as soon as possible transmit it to me. Any suggestions of improvements in any of the articles which are supplied will be acceptable.

HAMILTON TO WASHINGTON.

(PRIVATE.)

NEW-YORK, September 9th, 1799.

DEAR SIR:

Two days since I received from General Wilkinson a report of which I now send you the original. You will find it

intelligent and interesting. Perhaps on the score of intrinsic propriety, it deserves to be adopted to a larger extent than some collateral and extraneous considerations may permit.

I had previously thought of the subject, but had purposely limited myself to a few very general ideas, that I might examine with the less prepossession the plan of an officer, who, possessing talents to judge, has for years had his mind occupied with the scene to which he refers. Since the receipt of his plan, I have assiduously contemplated it with the aid of a full personal explanation; and my judgment has formed a result, though not definitive, but liable to revision. I adopt several of the leading ideas of the General, but I vary in some particulars; as well because I think the change might be too strong with reference to its influence on public opinion, and the feelings of the parts of the country immediately concerned, as because it seems to me that motives of real weight dictate a modification of his plan.

Premising that one complete regiment of infantry should be left for Tennessee and the frontiers of Georgia, I would propose the following disposition for the remaining three of the old regiments, and for the battalion of artillerists and the two troops of dragoons allowed for the western army. It is taken for granted that the plan must contemplate only the four old regiments of infantry, (with those portions of artillerists and dragoons,) inasmuch as these are the only infantry regarded by our system as permanent. The twelve additional regiments will dissolve, of course, as to the non-commissioned officers and privates, by the simple fact of the settlement of our dispute with France.

Let these troops be disposed as follows, viz.:

A Battalion of Infantry and a Company and a half of Artillery. Niagara. Two companies of infantry and a half company of artillery.

Detroit.-Three companies of infantry and one company of artillery, to furnish a detachment for

Michilimackinac, of a subaltern, two sergeants, and twenty-four rank and file infantry, and a sergeant and twelve artillerists.