[10 March 1799 from [undecipherable] [seal] author[undecipherable] 13 March Gen[undecipherable] [undecipherable]: all [undecipherable] by [undecipherable]] [Private] New York March 10. 1799 D Sir. Ought it not to be a rule to forward from your department to the Major Generals, as they are passed, copies of all laws respecting the military establishment? At any rate you will oblige me by sending those of the Session just finished. I observe in the 5 § of the Recruiting Instructions filled up in Manuscript, the term of enlistment is five years — The law for augmenting the army § 2 [undecipherable: probable reading "Limits"] the enlistment to be "for and [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] during the continuance of the existing differences between the [undecipherable] States & the French Republic" — If there be any thing varying this, that has escaped me, will you inform me? This inquiry is suggested by a new revision of the recruiting instructions. As it may not be time of the Officers of the army, to prepare for me a complete list, [undecipherable] should be glad to have one of those field Officers only, with a note of their stations or destinations to which they have been assigned. I want much to learn them [undecipherable], the detached [undecipherable] & to conciliate the direction. I observe the XIII § of the Recruiting Instructions authorizes the appointment of certain Courts Marshal. Where is the power for this Regulation? Some time since I requested you to send me the organization of the Officers as far reported by the Commander in Chief. You replied that no just document had come to you. I imagine that I must not have expressed myself clearly, for I well remember that the document which I mean, was made out in M^r [undecipherable] hand writing, for the purpose [of?] being sent by you. It was an arrangement or distribution of the Officers who were nominated into Regiments battalions and companies, assigned to each company by names, its proper complement of Officers. It appears to me very important that the Regimental Pay Masters & [undecipherable: probable reading "Quarter"] Masters should be designated without delay. They are the proper organs through which all issues of monies & supplies ought to pass. If I remember rightly, in the late war, the Q. Master & Adjutant were appointed by the Commander of the Regiment — the Paymaster was designated by the Officers of each Regiment. What has been the practice lately? Whatever be the mode [undecipherable] to have the thing done. Will it not be advisable