to concert with you the plan of laying out the money in question to the best advantage and to appoint him to superintend the execution of it. I must however, at the same time make a reservation of this condition, viz, that this act of the Executive authority of the United States, shall not be understood to have any influence on any question or questions which may hereafter come before the Legislature of the United States and may be proper only for their determination. The Presidents letter to Major General Hamilton dated 19^th October I have received, last night, a letter from his Excellency Governor Jay enclosing a copy of an act of the Legislature of New York for the further defence of that state and for other purposes. The Governor observes that it appears to be the intention of that act, that the money appropriated in it, 180,000 dollars shall be laid out only in the manner which the national government will recognize as wise and advisable, and his Excellency proposes to my consideration whether it would not be expedient to employ Major General Hamilton, as a national officer in whom great confidence may be placed, to concert government of the United States; and in full confidence that this state will be allowed, and indemnified by the United States for all expenditures which may accrue by virtue of the premises - There give Be it enacted by the people of the State of New York represented in Senate and Assembly, that a sum not exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated for the purpose of repairing and completing such fortifications as have already been erected and constructed in the said city and its vicinity, and for constructing and erecting such other fortifications, at such place or places upon the Island of New York, Governors Island, Bedlows Island, Ellis or Oyster Island and Long Island, and for providing such other means of defence for the security of the said city and port of New York as the person administering the government of this state for the time being shall or may deem best adapted to the security and defence of the same, and, provided that the said sum shall be expended under the direction of the President of the United States. And be it further enacted, that there be appropriated a sum not exceeding one hundred and sixty five thousand [undecipherable] for the purchase of a further quantity of arms and to