New York April 8. 1799 Sir Col Smith has reported to me the nomination of Lieutenant James Smith as Pay Master, L^t W^m Cocks as Adjutant, and Lieut H W Ludlow as Quarter Master, [strikethrough: and] to his Regiment, and Col Ogden has reported to me the nomination of L^t Joh C McWhorter as Pay Master, L^t W^m Potts as Adjutant, and L^t Geo M Ogden as Quarter Master to his Regiment. I believe that nominations are judicious and ought to be confirmed. Inclosed is the Bond Sent by Col Smith for his Pay Master. The Surety is his brother and the opinion is that he is Sufficient. From Connecticut I have not yet heard. Col Moore will make known his nominations [strikethrough: immediately] to you — Col Ogden will immediately send his Pay Master to Philadelphia to receive money and cloathing. It has been suggested by both these Colonels, that an advance of money to the officers on account of their pay is necessary. All of them have to incur considerable expense for their equipments and many of them cannot afford it out of their own funds. I agree [strikethrough: we opinion that the measure is necessary, in] the necessity of the measure. The advance ought not to be of less than [strikethrough: four] Months pay and ought to extend to all the [undecipherable] additional Regiments. The use of music is very conducive to the [strikethrough: materially to the] success of the recruiting Service. It is therefore [strikethrough: extremely] desireable that an adequate number of Drums and fifes should accompany the Cloathing. [strikethrough: Also] Let me now urge that not a moment may be lost in furnishing the money Cloathing and instruments of music and that the measure for this purpose may embrace all the States. from New Hampshire to Virginia inclusively. By the time it can be effected other preparations Steps will be matured in all of them. You have only Sent me 90 copies of the recruiting instructions I ought to have at least 20 to time and Regiment. I pray you to forward the residue without delay. It will be useful to put them in Packages of Twenty franked by you. A Court Martial which was ordered here for the Trial of Capt Frye & Doctor Osborne is hindred in its progress by the absence of three persons who make part of the detachment which went from this quarter against the Northampton Insurgents. They are Captains Henry & McClellan and Lieuzant John Anderson. The Court will this day adjourn for Eight days. If matters shall so turn or can be so arranged as that these persons can be at New York by the expiration of that time or two or three days either, it will be an agreeable circumstance.: for it is unpleasant to let the business of the Court [strikethrough: interrupted] and the arrest of the officers, [strikethrough: protracted] without a trial. With great respect & I am &c Y^r Obed Serv. [The Sec^y of War — No. April 8. 1799 General Hamilton, Let]