[19 Jan^y 1799 from Gen Hamilton] New York Jan^y 19. 1799 Dear Sir This will be handed to you by M^r Brinley a Gentleman of New Port who is on the list of nominations of Lieutenants. You will find among the letters very strong recommendations of this Gentleman. I very well remember that the General Officers lately convened at Philadelphia hesitated not a little between this Gentleman & M^r Ellery for the command of a Company & that finally it was agreed to place him first on the list of Lieu=tenants that he might be first for promotion to a Captaincy. I understand that he is on the contrary placed last on the list of Lieutenants. How this has happened I am at a loss to imagine. Unless there was a mistake in the Law. The nomination presented by us will conform to you the above view of the July [undecipherable: probable reading "of"]. M^r Brinley is willing to accept the appointment of Lieutenant on the ground I have mentioned — and I am clearly of opinion that he ought to be so secured. His pretensions as to family qualifications &c give him a just title. I am aware the arrange ment is not now to be definitively fixed. But if the Executive opinion on the subject is ascertained to that it is easy to give M^r O'Brenley an expectation which will satisfy him — Yr^s with great regard A Hamilton James M^c Henry Esq^r [seal] James M^cHenry Esq^r &c &c Philadelphia