[pg 215.] March New York, 18^th. 1799. Sir In compliance with the object of your letter of the 16. instant, I have put in motion two companies of Artillery from Fort-Jay (Henry's and Cochran's) who are to embark at ten this morning for Amboy and to proceed from thence by way of Brunswick to New Town in Bucks County. There (at Brunswick) L^t. Boote with his party is intended to join them. The two companies as they march will exceed together seventy men, and will go provided with all necessaries except that the number of tents will be incomplete. If we had known the wants of L^t. Boote's party, they could not have been supplied from this place — Enclosed are the directions to him. To morrow you will be advised of the exact number of men and tents. I trust you will excuse the deviation from your order as best calculated to fulfil its object. The march from West-Point would have been attended with great difficulties and much delay. The river will speedily open and if necessary, the substitute can then be brought from West-Point to Fort-Jay. In the mean time no inconvenience is likely to ensue. A person will go by concert between Col. Stevens and the contractor in the double capacity of Quarter Master and Commissary — He can easily do both duties. Perhaps indeed the expense of such a person might have been saved, had there been a sufficient number of officers with the companies. But it has been impracticable [bb] to send more than one Captain and two Lieutenants. I defer till to morrow to give any order to Major Ford. Were it not that the presence of Major Hoops was requisite here at a court-Martial which is to try Captain Frye and Doctor Osborne, it would perhaps be more in order to send him with the Major part of his command. But this point is reserved With great respect and esteem I am Sir Your obed. Serv. A. Hamilton. [Sec^t. at loan] --- [General Hamilton James M^cHenry Esq^r. New York March 18^th 1799.] Having examined this letter copied from the original now in my possession and having compared it with the ori-ginal I hereby certify it to be perfectly correct Charles Scribner May 6^th 1844