[undecipherable — pages wholly or in part illegible] [From Col Ogden] [March 23. 1799] [Clarkstown / Mars 29 —] [Rec'd to be acknowledged] [I approve of her [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] he mentions [undecipherable] after the appointed [undecipherable]] [1-0] [1.2] Major Generall Alex Hamilton. New-York. Elizabeth-Town March 23^d 1799 Sir, Your favor of the 23^d instant, received by the mail of yesterday, and have accordingly appointed Saturday, the sixth of the next month, for a meeting of the officers at New-Brunswick, for the purpose of making a nomination of a paymaster by a plurality of their voices. I could not comply with the expedition required, fix when a later day, without interfering with the engagements, which many of our officers are under of attending the General Court-martial, of which Major [undecipherable] is President and which stands adjourned till the 8^th of the ensuing month — If the delay will not be too great I have under your [undecipherable] postpone my recommendation for [undecipherable] character amongst the Lieutenant for altho' [undecipherable] untill after the meeting of the officers above alluded; and also in any alterations in the relative rank of the officers of the same grade and in that either [undecipherable] companies, as much useful information may [undecipherable] be [undecipherable] more distinctly in respect to the officers from Pennsylvania [undecipherable] when I am personally acquainted. As to the officers from New Jersey from my personal knowledge & many of them [undecipherable] that very useful alterations might be made in [undecipherable] a few of them in which [undecipherable] Major [undecipherable] on their own [undecipherable]. But as no opportunity of consulting these [undecipherable] will occur untill the sixth of the next month, I prefer with your leave waiting untill after that time, when you will be [undecipherable] the whole of the alterations which may be suggested. I am Sir respectfully [undecipherable] of the propriety of silence as to those [undecipherable] alterations in order to [undecipherable] discontents, that your injunction in this particular, shall be most scrupulously observed. I have the honor to be, Dr Sir with the highest respect Your mo. ob. Serv. [signature]