[8 Febry 1799 To Maj.^r Gen. Hamilton] [Private] Philad. 8 Feby 1799 Dear Hamilton I have rec'd your private letter of the 6^th. and [strikethrough: another] [strikethrough: your] (private) dated also the 6^th. The latter this morning. Your instructions are and have been some days with the President — the moment he is pleased to decide so as to enable me to proceed you shall have them. I spoke to him yester day, he had not considered them and seemed to intimate the affair need not be hurried. I urged the necessity [strikethrough: while] of being excited to put you in possession of my orders as soon as possible [strikethrough: no] that [undecipherable] along arrangements, [strikethrough: for] the recruiting service [strikethrough: &] the [strikethrough: ought] [strikethrough: be immediately taken]. The lists you suggest makes [strikethrough: a part] of [undecipherable] [strikethrough: or] references annexed to the Instructions. I have taken care on all my Lists presented to the President for nomination to not to destroy hope, nor to exclude [undecipherable] young men, who had not acted like [undecipherable] offenders. Gibbs I think would have made a good officer; but it is a fact, that his character is very low in Boston, that he is looked upon as a trifler, and has no weight [strikethrough: whatever] in that quarter of the union. [strikethrough: This a fact, if not now to sch[undecipherable: probable reading] in when the Country is placed is not a will not support the army, could [undecipherable] [undecipherable]] I shall endeavour to fill up the vacancies in the New Regiments as soon as possible. Gen. Hamilton E.