[Draft] 9 Jany 1799. Dear Hamilton. The official letter of this date fixes the commencement of your pay and emoluments. I shall as soon as it is possible define your duties and command. In the mean while I shall be glad to have your own ideas on [strikethrough: the subject to have your own views on] the subject. [strikethrough: Your next spacing in a] [strikethrough: be a] report on a system of [undecipherable] & [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] State and discipline. You will also [undecipherable] to ascertain the best [undecipherable] for [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] recruiting parties and general [undecipherable] at [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] within the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] by [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] communication [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] proceedings by the [undecipherable] for further [undecipherable] [undecipherable] information. yours sincerely Alex^r Hamilton Maj^t Gen^l &ca