[undecipherable] [Nath^l Cook.] War Department 3^d December 1800. Sir I have received your letter of the 7^th October with its enclosures, requesting the discharge of George Wells who it is alledged was enlisted into the service of the United States whilst under the Age of Eighteen years in Contradiction to the Recruiting Instructions issued from the Department. The object of the limitations in those Instructions was to secure to the service able Bodied Men, and to prevent persons who would be an expence without rendering equivalent Service from becoming a burthen to the Country by being enrolled in the Army, It appears from your Certificate & Mr. Wells, the fathers petition that George Wells has now nearly attained the Age of Twenty, and it is consequently presumed has become capable of rendering Services in the Army equivalent to the Amount of his Annual Cost as to those of an able bodied Mans, If he has become Competent to this Since his enlistment it is just that remuneration for his maintonance untill then should be sought in his future Services. I shall therefore accede to the discharge of George Wells only on Condition that an able bodied Man to be approved of by Wells's commanding Officer be procured to serve in his stead at his expence, and shall give Orders accordingly I am Sir Y^r [undecipherable]