Now I have all the pages. The document set contains: an "Illegible Text" placeholder (page 1), the address/envelope sheet (page 2), the primary letter pages (pages 3–4, partially degraded), an "Other Copies" placeholder (page 5), and cleaner alternate copies of the same letter (pages 6–8). I'll transcribe the primary document using the alternate copies to fill in degraded portions. War Department 9^th May 1799. Sir, A foreigner (an Irishman) was lately enlisted at Lancaster, by Captain Matthew Henry, of the tenth regiment of Infantry, and shortly after deserted. This occurrence has led me to reflect, that it will be well, to avoid as much as possible the enlistment of foreigners. The third article of the rules and regulations, for the recruiting Service, expressly gives a preference to natives, for soldiers, and only admits of the enlistment of [undecipherable: foreigners] of good reputation for sobriety and honesty. The ninth article, contemplating, that no foreigner is entitled in the army, to the same confidence, that may be reposed in a native; provides, that at the [undecipherable] the muster roll shall bear the name or names, of any foreigner [enlisted] by birth; there shall be a note or notes, specifying that he is still an alien, or how, when, and where, such foreigner, became a Citizen, if he should have become one. The articles cited, were intended to draw the attention of officers, possibly to the objects of obtaining native soldiers. Foreigners who are led to enlist, are often profligates and irregular in their habits; to introduce too many of them, into the army, would have a tendency, to corrupt the morals of the native soldiers; and as they are bound by no principle of attachment to the country, their frequent desertions, might occasion, loss to the public, and fatal disappointments in the service. Should you coincide with me, in opinion, you will instruct the different officers now recruiting, to attend strictly, to the preference, to be given to foreigners, to enlist none whose reputations are doubtful, and even to postpone enlisting those of the best characters, until the district of country, allotted them to recruit in, is exhausted of native's willing to enlist. I am Sir with great respect your obedient servant James McHenry Major General Alexander Hamilton. [Address sheet: War Department / James McHenry; Major General / Alexander Hamilton / [underline: New York]; endorsement notations partially obscured by ink blot: undecipherable]