From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 24 March 1800
To James McHenry, 24 March 1800
NY. March 24. 1800
Sir,
I have received your letter of the twenty first instant enclosing the petition of a soldier for his discharge. The principle on which the petition is founded would apply to the whole almost all the married men who have enlisted or may be disposed to enlist.
This being the case I do not think it would be proper to grant a discharge—
S of War
(Df, in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).