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all occasions, to communicate interesting occurrences with your opinions thereon (in the manner you have designated) with the utmost unreservedness, to me.

If the augmented force was not intended as an interroram measure, the delay in Recruiting it, is unaccountable; and baffles all conjecture on reasonable grounds. The zeal and enthusiasm which were excited by the Publication of the Dispatches from our Commissioners at Paris (which gave birth to the Law authorising the raising of twelve Regiments &ca) are evaporated. It is now no more. And if this dull season, when men are idle from want of employment, and from that cause might be induced to enlist, is suffered to pass away also, we shall, by and by, when the business of Agriculture and other avocations call for the labour of them, set out as a forlorn hope, to execute this business.

Had the formation of the Army followed closely the passage of this Act; and Recruiting Orders had tread on the heels of that; the Men which might have been raised at that time, would in point of numbers have been equal to any in the world; inasmuch as the most reputable yeomanry of the Country were ready to have stepped forward with alacrity. Now, the measure is not only viewed with indifference, but deemed unnecessary by that class of People, whose attentions being turned to other matters, the Officers who in August and September could, with ease, have Enlisted whole Companies of them, will find it difficult to Recruit any; and if this idle and dissipated Season is spent in inactivity, none but the riff-raff of the Country, and the Scape gallowses of the large Cities will be to be had.

*Hamilton's letter to Washington (February 15) states: "The commencement of the business of recruiting, however, is still postponed; for the reason, as assigned by the Secretary [of War], that a supply of cloathing is not yet ready." Hamilton's letter is in the Washington Papers.

Far removed from the Scene, I might ascribe these delays to wrong causes, and therefore will hazard no opinion respecting them; but I have no hesitation in pronouncing that, unless a material change takes place, our Military Theatre affords but a gloomy prospect to those who are to perform the principal parts in the Drama. Sincerely and Affectionately etc.*

TO MAJOR GENERAL ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Mount Vernon, February 25, 1799. Sir: I have been duly favoured with your letter of the 15th instant.

When the disposition was contemplated for assigning to Major General Pinckney and to yourself your respective districts of superintendence, I was of Opinion (as you will see by the enclosed copy of a letter which I wrote to the Secretary of War on my way from Philadelphia to this place) that the whole of General Wilkinson's Brigade should be considered as under your immediate direction; because, if a part of it which is, or may be stationed within States of Kentuckey and Tennessee, should be under the Superintendence of General Pinckney, and the other part under your's, it might occasion great inconvenience, and perhaps confusion, for General Wilkinson to have to communicate sometimes with one of the Major Generals and sometimes with the other. This, I conceive, will still be the case, if the disposition, which [you]' mention to have been communicated by the Secretary of War, should continue. I am therefore yet decidedly of opinion, that the

'From the Hamilton Papers in the Library of Congress. The press copy, in the Washington Papers, was corrected by Washington after this letter was sent. It varies in minor verbal details.

Б

Supplied from the draft in the Washington Papers.

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whole of General Wilkinsons Brigade should be under your superintendence.

If it be determined to pursue the recruiting business at all, I regret extremely that there should have been so much delay in it; for the favourable season is passing off every day, and when the Spring opens, great numbers of those who would readily enlist now, will be then engaged in other avocations, and we shall lose the precious moment.

I shall hope to be regularly advised of every occurrence which takes place in your military Arrangemts. that you may think essential to communicate. With very great regard etc.

P.S. I enclose herewith Returns of Troops, Stores &c. at Niagara, which have been forwarded to me by Major Rivardi, and shall, in acknowledging the receipt of them, desire that the Returns in future may pass through you to the War Office.R

TO MAJOR GENERAL ALEXANDER HAMILTON

(Private)

Mount Vernon, February 26, 1799.

My dear Sir: I received your letter of the 18th instant yesterday. You refer me to enclosed letters for information on the subject therein mentioned. One letter only came, and that under a Seal to General Lee, which I shall forward, unopened, tomorrow by my Nephew Mr. Bushrod Washington, who is a neighbour of his.

Having written to you yesterday both an Official, and private letter, I have only to add in this, that with sincere esteem and Affectionate regard etc."

"In the writing of Tobias Lear in the Hamilton Papers in the Library of Congress. 'From the Hamilton Papers in the Library of Congress.

*To JAMES EWING

Mount Vernon, February 26, 1799. Sir: The Columbian Alphabet which you were so polite as to send me, came safe, and for which I pray you to accept my thanks. It is curious, and if it could be introduced, might be useful for the purposes proposed; but it will be a work of time, it is to be feared, before it will be adopted, generally, I am etc.

*To REVEREND JEDIDIAH MORSE

[N. Y.P.L.]

Mount Vernon, February 28, 1799. Revd. Sir: The letter with which you were pleased to favour me, dated the first instant, accompanying your thanksgiving Sermon came duly to hand.

For the latter I pray you to accept my thanks. I have read it, and the Appendix with pleasure; and wish the latter at least, could meet a more general circulation than it probably will have, for it contains important information; as little known out of a small circle as the dissimination of it would be useful, if spread through the Community. With great respect etc.

8

*To WILLIAM HEATH

[N. Y.P.L.]

Mount Vernon, March 1, 1799. Dear Sir: I have been duly favoured with your letter of the 11th. Ulto. from Roxbury, accompanying your Memoirs of the American War; which I accept, and dare say beforehand shall read, with pleasure, as soon as the bustle in which we now are engaged at the Wedding of our Granddaughter Miss Custis, is over.

In the Washington Papers.

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If in doing it, occasion should be found to make any observations thereon, I shall avail myself of the liberty you allow me, to express my sentiments with the utmost candour and freedom. In the meanwhile, I pray you to accept my best thanks for the testimony of your friendship and politeness in sending me the work so elegantly bound. Mrs. Washington is thankful for your kind remembrance of her. and with great

esteem etc.

[N. Y.P.L.]

TO MAJOR JOHN JACOB ULRICH RIVARDI

Mount Vernon, March 2, 1799.

Sir: Your letter of the 10th of Jany, enclosing Returns from the Garrison at Niagara for the month of Decr. and since that, Returns from the same place for the Month of January, have been received. These Returns I have forwarded to Major General Hamilton, to whom you will, in future, be pleased to address all your official communications; which must go to him of course as Inspector General of the Armies of the United States.

I am happy to hear of your welfare and that harmony prevails between our Garrison and the British Posts in its vicinity. Mrs. Washington joins in compliments and best wishes for Mrs. Rivardi with etc."

*To THE SECRETARY OF STATE

(Confidential)

Mount Vernon, March 3, 1799.

Dear Sir: The unexpectedness of the event, communicated in your letter of the 21st. Ulto, did, as you may suppose,

"The draft is in the writing of Tobias Lear.