[29 April 1799 To Gen. Washington.] [Private] Philad. 29^th April 1799 my dear Sir, I received this morning your letter of the 23^rd inst. et for which I am much obliged to you. I did not in my own mind consider your dilations in your answers, aware of the nature of your employments and [strikethrough: the] my company and incessant interruptions to which you are subject. There are one or two points you mention where I shall say a few words to. It may be asked why some the officers put on pay, and not unemployed. Officers of the additional Regiments They were put upon pay from the date of their acceptances, because such has been the uniform practice of this office, except [strikethrough: where] because, the obligation of the U.S. to pay is complete from the date of the acceptances, because the law has left no discretion with the President to withhold their pay. It is True there are instances, where the President has said to certain general Officers, that it was understood they would not [strikethrough: always] pay till called into actual service; but even in such cases the consent of the officer was [strikethrough: considered] necessary to give the U.S any right to withhold it. [strikethrough: Some of they are now and all will] [strikethrough: These officers, will not I apprehend] be speedily, employed. Maj Gen Hamilton has completed his arrangements [strikethrough: for the] recruiting districts for New York Connecticut New Jersey & Pennsylvania and Delaware, and nearly for Maryland & Virginia and I have taken all the measures dependent upon me to give [strikethrough: the most prompt effort to the] most beneficial activity to the commencement and vigorous prosecution of the recruiting service. If it languishes [strikethrough: at] at any time [strikethrough: or place], it will be on account of some [strikethrough: other] deficiency in clothing. [strikethrough: And again] France [strikethrough: has good] is exerting himself in this branch of supply [strikethrough: with best]. The President desired me to send him a plan for settling the rank of the field Officers of the additional regiment, [strikethrough: in consequence] [strikethrough: Inclosed is the] Inclosed is the plan [strikethrough: that to have] appeared to me the best and which I flatter myself he will approve. M^r [undecipherable] has declined his second appointment, [strikethrough: to that I was forced]. But altho the [strikethrough: office] [strikethrough: business] is once more vacant. Upon the strength of recommendations of a particular kind from the Eastward or [strikethrough: also along in favor I apprehend it was understood we too weak to have yet] [undecipherable] [strikethrough: power to fill it not will] falls rather from this State or from Virginia as I shall in Massachusetts. Inclosed is [strikethrough: the] the Artillery arrangement for the Artillery made in conformity with [strikethrough: again] the ideas contained in your letter of Dec ult and my instructions to the Major Generals. I add also a copy of my letter to Maj Gen Pinckney respecting it. If I can procure one of Arrowsmith's maps of the U.S. I shall send it to you. I am my dear Sir Yours — [undecipherable signature] [L. Gen G. Washington.]