The Case of Beal and Hopkins
Document 1800McHenry advises that it would be a mistake to depart from the rules regarding relative rank, even though in the case of Beal and Hopkins, Beal is the preferable officer. Adding grades to ranks or departing from the rules would create more difficulties than solutions. McHenry refers to a letter of January 10, 1799 regarding appointments.
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this
for future arrangement." [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
No more [^can] with justice complain [of any]
injury done to their rights from being
[undecipherable] from the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] them
in the first [undecipherable] arrangements
which [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and
has been changed in above [undecipherable]
hundred instances.
If we were to adopt the idea
of two grades of Majors in order to [get]
at a complete [justice] in the case of
Hopkins & [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] I am
apprehensive we should find more
derangement and difficulty in conforming
things to this [principle] [undecipherable] in its
in the course of promotions & service
Operations in the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Regiment
[undecipherable]
than any benefits [undecipherable] [undecipherable]
In short I can see no remedy for this
evil, which does not involve as great
or greater evil. If you can point
out one I will willingly embrace it.
Yours truely
McH
[Gen. Hamilton]
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Description
McHenry advises that it would be a mistake to depart from the rules regarding relative rank, even though in the case of Beal and Hopkins, Beal is the preferable officer. Adding grades to ranks or departing from the rules would create more difficulties than solutions. McHenry refers to a letter of January 10, 1799 regarding appointments.
Date
04/01/1800
Author
Recipient
Sent from
Philadelphia
Repository
Collection
Document number
1800040100201
Page start
1
Note
Partial document; missing first page of letter. See printed version for complete text (Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Volume XXIV, 381).
Notable persons
Alexander Hamilton
James McHenry
Beal
Hopkins
officers
Notable locations
Philadelphia
Notable items
opinions
rules
appointments
justice
derangement

