[30 July 1798 Jn° McHenry] [Address:] Gen. A. Hamilton [undecipherable] Philadelphia [undecipherable text at bottom of address page] War Department [undecipherable] 30^th July 1798 [undecipherable] [undecipherable] you must be fully aware how liable the [undecipherable] Experience is to be trusted in forming a just estimate [undecipherable] of the character of candidates for military appoint- [undecipherable] ments, when it must so often depend upon recom- [undecipherable] mendations that may have been affected by the [undecipherable] importunity of applicants, from a desire to ob- [undecipherable] tain some frank or to avoid [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] or perhaps overcome the hope that the army may [undecipherable] begin to suppress habits [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] which it had resisted all other modes of correction. You must also be sensible of the great im- [undecipherable] portance of the proper choice of men to command [undecipherable] [undecipherable] proposed to be raised, especially when [undecipherable] you consider [undecipherable] they may have to contend with [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the established [undecipherable] army of [undecipherable] These considerations have induced me to submit to your remarks and observations the annexed list of gentlemen, candidates for military promotions, belonging to the states of New York, New Hampshire, Vermont New Jersey and Pennsylvania I entreat you to examine this list with attention [undecipherable] to gain information where you have no personal knowledge [undecipherable] of characters and affix opposite to each candidate's name [undecipherable] their pretensions to military promotion, and the rank [undecipherable] to which they may entitle them, assured that whatever [undecipherable] you may say will be received in confidence You [undecipherable] the gentlemen [undecipherable] to you, possessing [undecipherable] expected [undecipherable] desired you will please to add them to the list, and transmit the whole to me as soon as possible [undecipherable] beg you to excuse me for taking this liberty, and ascribe it to the connection of [undecipherable] of those indispensable [undecipherable] courage and [undecipherable] when it must be [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] entitled to [undecipherable] government to see public offices, whether civil or military, filled with characters the best qualified to discharge these respective duties I am, Sir, with very great respect your most H: S: James McHenry Gen. A. Hamilton