Now I have all six pages. Let me produce the full transcription. [Address: Major General Alexander Hamilton] [Endorsement: 22 Aug^t 1798 — Hamilton] [File number, circled: 23] [PAID] Philadelphia 22 July 1798 Sir. The slight acquaintance I have with you will certainly not be considered as an apology for the liberty I take in troubling you with a letter on a subject but the particular at a time when your mind must be occupied with matters of general & important concern — I must therefore throw myself on your indulgence for an excuse and will hope that when the nature of the case is taken into View I shall not be altogether disappointed ——— I applied to the Secretary at War for the Second Regiment of Artillery — but when I heard that Col Doughty was a Candidate I told the Secretary I took it for granted that he would be preferred knowing the weight of his pretensions, and that I would wait untill an augmentation of the Army should take place — [strikethrough: he] The Secretary represented to me that the distinction of a Major of Artillery was a very desirable one and that if I could not get the first place I should not be far from the second — I declined my resolution of not being considered as a candidate for a rank inferior to that I had applied for — Gen Macpherson to whom I mentioned what had passed told me I was wrong that I should accept a Majority & that it would be a step forward, the accomplishment of my wishes when the army came to be augmented I returned to the Secretary & told him of the conversation between Gen Macpherson & Myself He observed that Gen Macpherson's ideas were correct his advice good & that I would do right to follow it — On the ground of this conversation I was considered as a Candidate for a Majority in the Artillery —— N^B Gen Macpherson has since had a conversation with the Secretary in which he they were clearly understood — The Secretary now intimates that the principle of not taking an officer from one corps to place him in another will be adopted & that as applied to me is contrary to what was understood. I have written to the Secretary in order to bring back to his recollection what passed before I was considered as a Candidate for a Majority, and requesting that if the way is not open to the Regiment of Artillery which was the object of my first application He will consider me as a Candidate for one of the twelve Regiments of Infantry to be added to the Establishment (My View in writing to you Sir is to sollicit the exertion of your influence in order that my pretensions may not have to contend with any thing but their own want of weight or at least not with the principle which the Secretary appears disposed to adopt with regard to myself I have not the vanity to suppose that the decision of this principle would be in any way injurious to the service, but the general question would I believe be of most pernicious tendency — The Secretary in making me a Major of Artillery meant I am convinced to do me a service — but altho' a promotion is not in itself unworthy of consideration yet it is not among the motions that have been yet presented — — From particular circumstances I have had an opportunity of forming a tolerably accurate judgment of the effect which would at length be produced in this Country by the intrigues of the French government. and it was not difficult to foresee that the event would be an appeal to arms — This anticipation operating on a natural tendency of disposition toward military pursuits opened prospects to me powerful as they may affect the immediate feelings of humanity but highly animating to such as feel a warm interest in the national character which we are to establish and [undecipherable] honest fame — for I have no doubt [undecipherable] displaying an [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] have even carried me a [undecipherable] & [undecipherable] may be indebted to you for being a means of checking [undecipherable] upon the internal career of the French Republic, and [undecipherable] the full effect of their [strikethrough: undecipherable] principles upon the general order & happiness of Mankind — It has been ascertained with my view to be stationed in a post perhaps on the frontier where an enemy may soon show his face or on the sea coast where in case of attack a Detachment will be sent and the command given to an Officer of Superior Rank — yet this would be the predicament of a Major of Artillery — I must ask for an extension of your indulgence for taking up more of your time than the immediate object required but I was so nearly [undecipherable] on further than I intended —— I cannot flatter myself with a successful issue to my application from the intrinsic merit of my pretensions, but if they are found to have some particular weight I could not entirely despair With such sentiments as every true American feels toward you I remain Sir your most ob^t & my Hum^ble St [signature] [Address notation: Major General Hamilton]