[2 may 1799 Gen Hamilton Cap Welling] New York May 2. 1799 My Dear Sir You little having informed me, that you some time since encouraged Cap^t Welling to solicit a furlough, and having learnt from him that in consequence of this encouragement he had made arrangements and entered into engagements for the voyage, I thought it would compromise you to refuse the [undecipherable] request. I have therefore very much against my own judgment complied: The precedent in my opinion a bad one: let me intreat you on future occasions to avoid the occasion of similar embarrassments — Y^m Aley &c H H Jams M^r Henry Gay [undecipherable]