[A. Hamilton extra allowances] [postal mark: DEC 17] [answered [undecipherable]] James M^cHenry Esq^r Philadelphia I regretted [undecipherable] I [undecipherable] was [undecipherable] to the last moment of being in time for the [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] my baggage and been previously [undecipherable] thereby prevented from calling when you [undecipherable] my [undecipherable] departure from Philadelphia If the recruiting service is to be confided to me, I ought as soon as [undecipherable] to be definitively apprised of it, in the mean time, I shall be glad to have instructions heretofore prepared for that [undecipherable] that I may endeavour to obtain [undecipherable] your [undecipherable] better new lights from Officers who have had experience in this branch of the service. [undecipherable] was very [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] of great importance to insist upon a right plan You recollect that [undecipherable] after my first appointment I was [undecipherable] to turn my attention to a system of regulations for the tactics and discipline of the army. From that moment I have devoted [undecipherable] my [undecipherable] to the preliminary investigations and [undecipherable] towards a most [undecipherable] inspection & I am [undecipherable] myself as now in [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] To be [undecipherable] with you, it is utterly out of my [undecipherable] to apply my time to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] clearly enough, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the office. If [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] had be at least a thousand pounds the worse for my acceptance. From the time it was first known that I had engage in military life, the uncertainty of my being able to continue [undecipherable] for [undecipherable] I [undecipherable] be retained drove away more than half my professional practice, — what I may moderately estimate at four — thousand pounds a year. — My pecuniary [undecipherable] fees already in the [undecipherable] ought to produce the result of a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] where to compel me to greater than the law imposes. This much, as I am well aware, is not necessary for you personally. Again: If I am to discharge with effect the duties [undecipherable] my [undecipherable] office, I must make frequent [undecipherable] from one part of the army to another. Every [undecipherable] knows that the expences of such journeys would quickly eat out the narrow [undecipherable] of a Major General. It will [undecipherable] disagreeable to [undecipherable] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] the [undecipherable] of compromising my reputation by not producing the results to be expected from the Department, or of ruining myself once more in performing service. In what [undecipherable] of no adequate compensation. The precedent of last war is a full comment on the propriety of an extra allowance to the Inspector General. It is indeed indispensable if he is to be useful. It is always [undecipherable] to think of compensation for [undecipherable] [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to wave the doubts which has [undecipherable] would [undecipherable] use dictate — With great esteem & regard I remain D^r Sir Y^r Obed^t humb^l serv^t A Hamilton I imagine it may be serviceable [undecipherable] communicate to Wolcott the two [undecipherable] received from the Commander in Chief, containing the results of deliberation — [James M^cHenry Esq^r]