[Private] New York Sep^t 28. 1799 D^r Sir I thank you for your information on the Subject of a Dep^ty Pay Master General. A letter writ of yesterday authorise you to conclude the purchase of the ground at Brunswick. Can Straw and Boards be procured any where in Jersey not far distant? At what prices? What are your ideas of the most convenient dimensions of hutts? I wish messes to consist of twelve men. In some of the European armies this has been found conducive to the comfort of the men— the concentration facilitating convenient arrangements as to diet and diminishing the charges of waste, which are in proportion to the Subdivisions. In a late publication of Count Rumford there are some good ideas on this head. If that Scale should be adopted it would be convenient that each [strikethrough: officers] hut should be accommodated to twelve men. What are the objections? Confer with Dayton Y^r Mo^y Truly A Hamilton Colonel Ogden [Lieut Col^l Ogden / Elizabeth Town / New Jersey] [seal] [Gen^l Hamilton / respect Hutts &c / Sep^t 28. 1799]