Autograph Letter Signed

A Gloomy Prospect for Those Who Perform the Principal Parts in the Drama

Washington worries that the time for attracting the most promising recruits may have passed and that only the riff-raff are left to man the twelve regiments that need to be formed to face the threat from France.

1799

02

25

Mount Vernon

A private letter.

Alexander Hamilton

George Washington

most reputable of the yoemanry of the country

officers

whole Companies

riff-raff of the country

scapegallions of the large cities

Mount Vernon

augmented force

delay in recruiting

zeal and enthusiasm

publication of the dispatches from our commissioners at Paris

raising of twelve regiments

dark season

want of employment

agriculture

avocations

labor

forlorn hope

formation of the Army

passage of the Act

recruiting orders

indifference

idle and dissipated season

gloomy prospect drama

If this idle and dissipated season is spent in inactivity, none but the riff-raff of the country and the scapegallions of the large cities are to be had.

1799022590101

General Washington
Feby 25 1799


private
Private [in another hand:] 209
Mount Vernon 25th. Feb.y 1799
p. 167 (87)
My dear Sir
Your private letter of the 16.th instant came duly to hand, & safe: and I wish you at all times, and upon all occasions, to communicate interesting occurrences with your opinions thereof (in the manner you have designated) with the utmost unreservedness, to me.
If the augmented force was not intended as an interrora [?] measure the delay in Recruiting it, is unaccountable; and baffles all conjecture on reasonable grounds. The zeal and enthusiasm which were excited by the Publication of the Dispatches from our Commissioners at Paris (which, gave birth to the Law authorising the raising of twelve Regiments [undecipherable]) have evaporated. It is now no more. And if this dull season, when men are idle from want of employment, and from that cause might be enduced to enlist, is suffered to
pass
[in another hand:] 210
pass away also, we shall, by and by, when the business of Agriculture and other avocations call for the labour of them, set out as a forlorn hope to execute this business.
Had the formation of the Army followed closely the passage of this Act; and Recruiting Orders [undecipherable] tread on the heels of that, the men which might have been raised at that time, would in point of numbers have been equal to any in the world; in as much as the most reputable yeomanry of the Country were ready at that time to have stepped forward with alacrity.
Now, the measure is not only viewed with indifference but deemed unnecessary by that class of People, whose attentions Strike-through textbeing turned to other matters, the officers who in August & September could, with ease, have enlisted whole Companies of them will find it difficult to Recruit any; and if this idle & dissipated Season is spent in inactivity, none but the riff-raff of the Country, & the Scapegallowses of the large Cities will be to be had.
p 168 [in another hand:] 211
Far removed from the Scene, I might ascribe these delays to wrong causes, and therefore will hazard no opinion respecting them; but I have no hesitation in pronouncing that, unless a material change takes place, our Military Theatre affords but a gloomy prospect to those who are to perform the principal parts in the Drama. Sincerely and affectionately
I am always Yours
Go Washington


Maj.r Gen.l Hamilton