[Draft] War Dep^t 19 Feb^y 1800 Dear Hamilton. I have rec'd your letter of yesterday informing me of your [strikethrough: soon] return to New York. [strikethrough: During your absence the House of Representatives and that] what I [strikethrough: fe] suggested [strikethrough: to you] [strikethrough: might happen] has been realised — The Senate yielded to the supposed momentum of public opinion or some other [strikethrough: sentiment] [strikethrough: of reason as powerful] and [strikethrough: have] pass'd the bill from the House of Representatives to suspend further enlistments for the [strikethrough: twelve] new Regiments and 6 companies of [strikethrough: ?] [strikethrough: a feeble attempt was made in ?] Cavalry. [strikethrough: I cannot] It is [undecipherable] to (by an amendment to the bill) the complement [strikethrough: the President need not enlist them] of men [strikethrough: on the old] [strikethrough: to the war establishment] [undecipherable] falls [strikethrough: altho' I had bef] [strikethrough: to believe it would have been in close my last] [strikethrough: weak effort] for the military academy and the army. [strikethrough: ?] [strikethrough: I were] however at this I would not be surprized at the [strikethrough: et] [strikethrough: session ?] closing without there any thing being done. The navy [strikethrough: as to] [strikethrough: monopolize] every thing and [strikethrough: they] certain should we cannot [strikethrough: give our men money] [strikethrough: it cannot give us] adequate protection and [undecipherable] a military establishment we may [strikethrough: suffer days of ?] [undecipherable] [strikethrough: some cases]. Both establishments are indispensable, and I mean the military & naval. Some [strikethrough: a] however think one of them only sufficient [strikethrough: and] and that to run down the [strikethrough: one] is [strikethrough: the best means] to secure funds for the other. You find by my report, that I have pursued a different course and presume both necessary. Adieu [docket, rotated: J. 19 Feb^y 1800 / Major Gen Hamilton] Maj^r Gen Hamilton