To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 25 October 1799
From James McHenry
War Department
Trenton 25 ~ October 1799
Sir
I this moment received your letter of the 24 ~ instant1 containing one to the Pay Master General.2 I have sent it to him with an earnest injunction that no time be lost in complying with your expectations, and desired him to engage an express to carry the money to the appropriate officers should he think it best so to do.
It is certainly my wish to keep the Troops regularly paid, and to do every thing proper to increase their contentment and attachment; but I cannot alter the instructions of the Treasury under which the Pay master acts,3 neither ought it to be expected that I should take upon myself the responsibility in making advances which are opposed by the laws4 and those regulations.
I have the Honor to be, with great respect, Sir Your Most Obed. Huml. Serv,
James McHenry
Major General A. Hamilton
LS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; LS, letterpress copy, James McHenry Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Letter not found.
3. Oliver Wolcott, Jr., to Swan, July 26, 1792 (Df, partly in Wolcott’s handwriting, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford; copy, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
4. See McHenry to H, August 29, 1799; H to McHenry, September 16, 1799, notes 4 and 5.