[undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable: Respectfully?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable: Treasurer?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] War Department 6^th January 1800. Sir, I have the honor to inclose, the copy of a letter from me, to Major General Hamilton, the object of which is, to provide as far as practicable, against a waste of public monies, in either of the events, of a suspension of enlistments being directed by law, or the speedy settlement of our differences, with the French [undecipherable: Republic?]. I inclose also, agreeably to [your?] request, an estimate intended to exhibit, as far as practicable, the probable [undecipherable] of the military appropriations, that will be required for the present [year?], in case the Bill for suspending enlistments now before the Senate, should pass into a law. It must [undecipherable], that [undecipherable] [undecipherable], [undecipherable] to be weighed with due consideration, when [undecipherable] upon an appropriation, in either of the events mentioned in prospect. 1^st The time which must be consumed in [undecipherable] orders, to the officers, at the [several?] rendezvous, to dismiss their [recruits?] or suspend further enlistments. There are in [undecipherable] rendezvous, in Vermont 3, Rhode Island [3?], Massachusetts 20, Connecticut 10, New York 10, New Jersey 6, Pennsylvania 13, Delaware 1, Maryland 10, Virginia 20, North Carolina 9, South Carolina 6, Georgia 2, [Kentucky?] 2, and Tennessee 1. 2^d The time it will require for each Officer and Soldier, to return home, and for what they are by law, to be allowed pay and rations, or an equivalent in money. 3^d The time it will take to pay off the officers and men. 4^th The expence which will attend the moving to the Public Depots, the removal of articles of cloathing, tents, and Camp Equipage, which are widely scattered over a great extent of Country. 5^th The expences to Contractors, on breaking up of the Army, for transporting provisions from places, where they have been ordered to other places, where they can be consumed, conformably to the uniform provision of Contracts. The disbanding of [our?] Army, settlements with the individuals who compose it, and due attention to collect, and deposit safely, the various articles of Public property it had in use, will always occasion considerable extra expences, respecting which it is impossible to furnish precise and satisfactory items. I am Sir with great respect your obedient servant James McHenry Robert Goodloe Harper Esqr. Chairman of The Committee of Ways and Means.