[Copy. Gen. Hamilton to McHenry Esq.^r New York Dec. 16. 1790] [Private] [pg. 77] New York Dec.^r 16. 1790 Dear Sir, I regretted that I was detained to the last moment of being in time for the Stage, in which my baggage had been previously sent and thereby prevented from calling upon you before my final departure from Philadelphia. If the Recruiting service is to be confided to me, I ought as soon as possible to be definitively apprised of it, and in the mean time, I shall be glad to have the Instructions [undecipherable] had for that purpose, that I may endeavor to obtain for your final decision new lights from Officers who have had experience in this branch of the service. My own was very limited, and it is of great importance to commence upon a right plan. I now recollect that shortly after my first appointment, I was desired to turn my attention to a revision of regulations for the tactics and discipline of the Army. From that moment I have devoted much of my time to the preliminary investigations, and I shall devote a much larger proportion, if I am to consider myself as now in service and intitled to the emoluments of the Station. But to be frank with you, it is utterly out of my power to apply my time to the public service, without the compensations, or [undecipherable] which the law annexes to the Office. If I were to receive them from the day of the appointment I should be at least a thousand pounds the worse for my acceptance. From the time that it was full known that I had reengaged in military life, the uncertainty of my being able to [undecipherable: probable reading "render"] services for which I ought to be retained drove away more than half my professional practice, which I may moderately estimate at four thousand pounds a year. My pecuniary sacrifices already to the public ought to produce the reverse of a disposition every where to compel me to [undecipherable] than the law [undecipherable]. This remark, I am well aware, is not necessary for you personally. Again: If I am to discharge with effect the duties of my present office, I must make frequent [undecipherable: probable reading "surveys"] from one part of the army to the other. Every body knows that the expenses of such journeys would quickly eat out the narrow allowances of a Major General. It will be disagreeable to be exposed to the dilemma of committing my reputation and that of the Government by not producing the results to be expected from the department, or of ruining myself once more in rendering services for which there is no adequate compensation. The incidents of the 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 disagreeable to speak of compensations for oneself but a man blest with a Wife and six Children and a very small property before hand, is compelled to wave the sentiments which his nicety would otherwise dictate [undecipherable]. I imagine it may be advisable to [undecipherable] communicate to [undecipherable] the two letters received [undecipherable] from the Commander in Chief containing the A Hamilton results of our deliberation