[15 July 1796 Alex Hamilton Gen. Wilkinson Gen. Wayne] [FREE James Mc Henry Esquire War Depart. Philadelphia] My dear Sir, I have considered the articles of [undecipherable] rather think the case in not provided for by them — I incline to the opinion that the President ex officio as Commander in Chief has power to order a General Court Martial — But the exercise of this power would be liable to too much question & [undecipherable] to be prudent in — What then is to be done — A President has a right to dismiss Military Officers as holding them during pleasure — but The delicacy of their military character requires Sans + it should be executed with great care & not till after [undecipherable] full investigation & not till after [undecipherable] [undecipherable] then the charges come forward [strikethrough: Reserves] [underline: general] then is communicated to the commanding [undecipherable] is called upon to refity particulars to him — if there are points to be proved & by persons with the army let him or her, judicious Officers with the aid of the Judge Advocate & a Magistrate [undecipherable] to administer oaths, be charged to collect testimony for the information of his Department & [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the President — let the accused of this [undecipherable] be notified to attend the examination of the Witness & let their testimony reduced to Writing & let the testimony of Referrees a Commissioner in the [undecipherable] the Judge Advocate & certified by them be with the observations of the Accused [undecipherable] transmitted to the War [undecipherable] of case before the President — who can afterwards act according to circum — stances — This is the best I can think of — But you must by all means avoid the imputation of evading [strikethrough: for ensuring &] protecting a favourite [undecipherable] mean of doing — I dec. 17[undecipherable] [marginalia left: Have you sent any mean of [undecipherable] an elucidation of the french government? I don't know what will befall you all.] A Hamilton July 15, 1796 J. [undecipherable] Aug 7