[Copy collected] D^r Sir Recd. Dec^r. 26^th 1794 p. 178. I have been favored with your [undecipherable] of the 19^th Instant concerning your private letter of the same date, to Governor Lee. I hear he has left Winchester, he will probably be here tomorrow or next day, and have thought it best to keep his letter until his arrival. The explanation contained in this letter to him, are such as I had anticipated, as you might have perceived from mine to you of the 11^th. Had there been no difficulties to encounter from a want of appropriated Funds, it would have been impossible, upon an arrangement taken at Camp on the 29. Nov^r. it was still to be communicated at Philad^a for you to have sent the money to the places designated, in time for the arrival of the home detachment; nor does it appear to me that such an arrangement should have been made, without a previous knowledge of the readiness of Government to meet it, as it was well known that the [undecipherable: journey] was an unforeseen one, for which the existing Revenues had not been assigned; nor yet am I of opinion that [undecipherable] would have been the consequence of [undecipherable] communication to the Troops, that balances of pay must remain unpaid for some short time after their return home — as reasonable & patriotic citizens, they ought not to have been [undecipherable], because such treatment would not have been [undecipherable: consistent] with every practicable application — the [undecipherable: receiving] — [undecipherable] we had appropriated Funds been [undecipherable]: must much should it be considered [undecipherable] been provided for by the expenditure — indeed, I think it extremely impolitic to impress upon the minds of the people, ideas, that the degree of punctuality which has, in this instance, been attempted is the only ground on which Government can expect [undecipherable] necessary for its support. Good men may be treated like petulant Children, and, by [undecipherable] means, be made equally unreasonable & [undecipherable]; On the other hand, both good & bad men [undecipherable], by [p. 79] from [undecipherable] lessons of reason, be taught to accommodate their demands upon Government to the due resources of an honest administration — It has been said that this degree of punctuality is necessary from the impossibility of getting the [undecipherable] into the hands of the dispersed individuals, and that [undecipherable: speculators] [undecipherable] for trifles, purchase up the claims: it however appears to me that every evil suggested could easily have been provided against; and, if the Troops have been duly Mustered, they may probably [undecipherable] against. Every Soldier who re-[undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of his service, under the head of his original Officer, whether discharged at the end of the service, or interchangeably, [undecipherable] locally [undecipherable: known] [undecipherable] by any means, he [undecipherable] appeared under the [undecipherable] of another [undecipherable: Officer] — [undecipherable: locality] was, or should have been, noted in the [undecipherable: subsequent] Musters, particularly on the [undecipherable: final] — under these precautions the balances of pay might be sent to the respective Brigadiers in the Country, who should be relied on to provide for the payment thereof to the individuals, [undecipherable] whom they might appoint, and be responsible for; the [undecipherable] of the individuals to be [undecipherable] in the settlement of the Accounts, and [undecipherable] the [undecipherable: genuineness] of the Receipts to be provided by the [undecipherable] of the papers of the service — an arrangement [undecipherable] discards every idea of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] presents a certain and sufficiently [undecipherable] course for the pay of [un]paid balances to the entitled persons enrolled thereto. Moderate [undecipherable] might be allowed to the Brigadiers & [undecipherable] apart on those special occasions, which [undecipherable] be simply compensated by the relief [undecipherable] under convenient appointments — [undecipherable] demands, & the [undecipherable: delinquencies] to the claimants [undecipherable] are necessarily deferred. It appears to me that the Brigadiers of Militia may [undecipherable] very [undecipherable: happy] instruments in both the [undecipherable] of every tour of Militia duty, & it would be well to introduce practices of making them such. The Brigade districts embrace, each, an extent of [undecipherable] & numbers, convenient for individual communications, and the Brigadiers are naturally presented as convenient & safe agents, both for the public & the respective individuals concerned. In all the concerns to which [Copy collected] [p. 100] which have been entrusted to me in relation to the [undecipherable] expedition, I have endeavored to call into [undecipherable] the review of the Brigadiers, when they could possibly be encouraged; and they have been found to contribute greatly to facilitate the service, and to recommend to individuals. Your Observation upon the expensive and unwieldy accompaniment of some of the lines, arising from an overproportion of Officers, & a multiplied staff, I trust I [undecipherable] has not reference to the Virginia line. I think the [undecipherable] was put [at] [undecipherable] Moderate a scale as was [undecipherable] and every measures were taken to consolidate to thin the [undecipherable] and defray the supernumerary Officers — [undecipherable] as well as [undecipherable] & the Brothers under whom the [undecipherable] this was raised were good enough to act [undecipherable] — and indeed you to [undecipherable] receive copies of communications between [undecipherable] & [undecipherable] to early [undecipherable] from [undecipherable] two of the most [undecipherable] sources of [undecipherable] & the most [undecipherable] impediment[undecipherable] impediment, that can possibly heap upon any Army. I have every reason to [undecipherable] from the [undecipherable: forms] furnished to Col^o. Byrd, who has supplied transportation & forage fuel & Straw to the Virginia Line troops [undecipherable] the expedition, including [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] of Maryland [undecipherable] & back to [undecipherable] Cumberland, that the [undecipherable] of our Staff arrangement will be apparent: I have the satisfaction to [undecipherable] how all concerned that his supplies have been timely & ample. "Whether the Inspections & Musters of the Troops have been well attended to in the Virginia line, will appear by a view of the Returns — the enclosed letter from me to the Major of the 12^th of October will [undecipherable] you that the various [undecipherable] of his appointment were fully presented to him, and, [undecipherable] knowledge of his Capacity & usual dili[undecipherable: gence] I am [undecipherable] believes the [undecipherable] of his appointment have been well effected. I have not felt that the [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [p. 181] that I now communicate were necessary to encourage from you [undecipherable] expressions to the [undecipherable] — advantage of the arrangements of the Virginia [undecipherable]. But it will not be unsatisfactory to you to receive them. I am with the greatest regard & Esteem [undecipherable] Sir Your M[ost] O[b't] [Serv't] [undecipherable: signature] Alexander Hamilton Esq Secretary of the Trea[sury]