[Illegible text — some or all pages of this document are wholly or in part illegible] [Address panel: Maj.^r General Hamilton / Broadway / New York. Left panel postal notations: undecipherable] Albany 25 Jan.^y 1799 [undecipherable] on Coun[undecipherable] — I have hitherto [undecipherable: forborne or postponed] making any Communications to our Superiors on the Subject of fortifying the Port of new York, in Expectation of [undecipherable] the Result of your proceedings relative to that object. Be, pleased to inform me when I may expect it. Since your letter to me of the 19^th of November last, to which I answered on the 25^th of that month, none from you on the Subject in question have reached me. It being proposed that the answer alluded to may have miscarried, I subjoin a copy of it — with great Respect & Esteem I am Dr Sir your most ob^t. Serv^t, [undecipherable] Jay — P.S. I do not recollect that any subsequent letter from you, mentioning your having rec^d mine of the 24 Oct^s. and 5 Nov^s. last — [Maj. General Hamilton —] [Copy]