[Cover notation: Sect at War / Jany 16. 1799] New York Jany 16^th. 1799 Dear Sir, you will receive herewith the draft of a bill for a provisional Army. It includes only those things of a former Bill which are appropriate to this object - the other parts of that Bill being now in full force. The Creation of the Bill which has been already sent you renders the repetition of several clauses in the present unnecessary. The aim indeed ought to be to have a [underline: fundamental arrangement] which will attach of course upon all subsequent provisoes of law so that the law for every augmentation need only define the number to be raised, and the duration of service, and the mode of raising. An Eye has been had to this in the draught of the first Bill and one of the two additional clauses now sent for the same Bill has the same view. This will be more deliberately and correctly attended to in the plan of a Bill which I shall begin to work upon from this time, but which can not be made for a considerable time. A Bill for the Hospital establishment will follow in two or three days — yours truly A.H. The considerable Mutilation of the nominations, proposed by the Commander in Chief as it appears in the result naturally excites curiosity. It ought to be presumed, and yet the mind naturally distrusts the presumption. That there are good reasons for it, and that the service will be finally benefitted. But I confess it would be a relief to me to know a [undecipherable] in detail, what has influenced the departure & the unfitness of those who have been declined to appeared, and what means are in train to do better — Pray be particular and confidential — you will not consider any letter of mine beginning with "Dr Sir," as official ——.