New York April 29. 1799 Sir Inclosed you will find the [undecipherable] of a letter [undecipherable] dated the 18^th instant, from the Accountant [of the] Department of War to the Secretary of that Department, respecting Cap^t Hyde; which letter was transmitted to [undecipherable] with direction to give effect to the suggestion of the Accountant. As it appears to me proper, that his Settlement — should be made [undecipherable] Officers of the Army, [undecipherable] to different [undecipherable] as Hyde [undecipherable], than that he should be [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable: Seat of the] Government. I request that you will give [undecipherable] accordingly. If there should be no Serious [undecipherable: Obstacle] to it, which is not [undecipherable: foreseen]. I should like well [undecipherable] a Settlement be made immediately with the [undecipherable] the Pay Master General may have left as his [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — Should [undecipherable] be [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable], you will get this [undecipherable] to designate [undecipherable] by whom in his opinion it can be well made. And you will give precise orders that Cap^t Hyde [undecipherable] no time in attending the person who shall be [undecipherable] to give into his accounts and vouchers in order to a prompt Settlement. Whenever considerable [undecipherable: sums] have been on a [undecipherable] time unaccounted for, there [undecipherable] [undecipherable] even reason to [undecipherable] on the integrity of the man, [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] account, the delay is a [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] and care. I rely that this will not be [undecipherable], on [undecipherable] [undecipherable], and that [undecipherable] you will enforce a prompt execution of the business. nor will I doubt that Cap^t Hyde will [undecipherable] himself eager to give [undecipherable] to it [undecipherable] all [undecipherable] facility and dispatch, as due no less to his character than to the good of the Service. You will perceive [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] just your [undecipherable] the 3 of March last, that [undecipherable] is mentioned [undecipherable] the Accountant [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [N° 219. [undecipherable] act as Pay Master.] Are the Regimental Staff of the Regiments of the Western army compleat[undecipherable]; not, let them be completed. [strikethrough: The mode, intended to be pursued for this purpose.] I am not certain what has been the mode in time past of appointing those Officers in that army; but the mode intended to be pursued hereafter is for the Commander of each Regiment to nominate [undecipherable] his Quarter Master & Adjutant. [undecipherable] and the Pay Master [undecipherable] so far as [undecipherable] may be practicable is to be nominated by the [undecipherable] Officers by plurality of voices. Where the Reg^t is [undecipherable: so] dispersed as to prevent the assembling of the Officers generally for this purpose the nomination must be made by the Command[undecipherable] and [undecipherable] many of his Officers as [undecipherable] can conveniently assemble. The nomination when made must [undecipherable] [undecipherable] or [undecipherable] to the President. [undecipherable] the person nominated will in the mean time [undecipherable] duties. Communicate to me [undecipherable] [undecipherable] may be in your opinion of sufficient importance respecting the Western [undecipherable] Army. I am particularly [undecipherable] to be informed of its State in [undecipherable] point of [undecipherable] organization and discipline. As you have [undecipherable] under my [undecipherable] [undecipherable] command, you are well [undecipherable] now [undecipherable] is the latter in my eyes. With great consideration I am &c. G [undecipherable] [Col. Hamtranck — April 29. 1799] [Col. Hamtranck]