[Private] 28 April 1799. Dear Sir Has it struck you, that it wice be proper, notwithstanding the command in chief of the army has formally declined Taking any active agency or responsibility in its affairs, until a certain state of things shall [undecipherable] occur, for you to correspond with him, as the [undecipherable: probable reading Commander in] chief, and give him [undecipherable] such information from time to time relative to your command and [strikethrough: orders or] instructions from [their] department, as wece enable him when he [undecipherable] upon actual service to exercise his functions with promptitude and a knowledge of previous arrangements and [undecipherable] circumstances. If you have not adverted to this idea, will you turn it in your mind and do a [strikethrough: the] [undecipherable] that may be proper. [strikethrough: If you on [undecipherable] letter] Gen Hamilton