[Docketing notation, upper right, written diagonally: Gen: Hamilton / 27 Aug / 1799] [15] [— Aug^t] [his Excellency / Governor Jay] [two circular postal seals] New York Aug 27 1799 Sir I was very sorry when at Albany not to have been there. I called the day after you arrived but you were then indisposed or abroad. In the rest of my Stay I was very unwell. An Apprehension is stated here that in consequence of the Petitions of the Militia Officers the persons named to the new Companies will not be appointed. I take it for granted that this must be a groundless apprehension as far as may depend on the Executive. For certainly the ordinary Militia Officers can on no military principles have any pretensions in relation to new and extraordinary Corps which grow up — are created. And as to expediency nothing can be clearer. The utility of these new corps in various aspects needs no comment. Their efficiency depends on their being officered in the manner they themselves desire. To attempt to place them under the present Militia Off^rs is to annihilate them. This is one the [undecipherable] — the part [strikethrough: their Officers] [undecipherable] in an Antifederal Scheme. Let them by new Disappointment be disgusted & resign. Better them. They will have acted presumptuously or ignorantly. Many bad men will be gotten rid & the best can easily be [undecipherable] with as good or better — to them in plain [undecipherable] & There is really not a difficulty [undecipherable] the least Attention. Mr Gracie has solicited my interposition with you for the pardon of [undecipherable] lately convicted of forging a check on the Bank — His arguments is that the culprit is of respectable connections in South Carolina & quite a lad [say from 16 to 18] a very simple lad — & led to this act by the embarrassment of not being able to account for the prudent expenditure of a sum of money advanced him by a friend of his fathers for his own use. I confide in what this Gracie says & really believe it is as favorable a case for a pardon as can easily occur. [I] remain with [undecipherable] Attachment & true [undecipherable] A. Hamilton Governor Jay