The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

418 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. r[ET. 51.
TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, IN CONGRESS.
Newburg, 16 April, 1783.
DEAR SIR,
My last letter to you was written in a hurry, when 1
was fatigued by the more public yet confidential letter,
which, with several others, accompanied it. Possibly I
did not on that occasion express myself, in what I intended as a hint, with so much perspicuity as f ought.
Possibly, too, what I then dropped might have conveyed more than I intended, for I do not now recollect
the force of my expressions.
My meaning, however, was only to inform you, that
there were different sentiments in the army, as well as
in Congress, respecting Continental and State funds,
some wishing to be thrown upon their respective States,
rather than the continent at large, for payment; and
that, if an idea should generally prevail, that Congress,
or part of its members or ministers, bent upon the latthis time, it must be grounded on the permanent military establishment
for our frontier posts and arsenals, and the wants of the States, separately, of officers to command the defences on their seacoasts.
"On this principle it might be expedient to establish a military school,
or academy, at West Point. And that a competent number of young
gentlemen might be induced to become students, it might be made a
rule, that vacancies in the standing regiment should be supplied from
thence; those few instances excepted where it would be just to promote
a very meritorious sergeant. For this end the number, which shall be
judged requisite to supply vacancies in the standing regiment, might be
fixed, and that of the students, who are admitted with an expectation
of filling them, limited accordingly. They might be allowed subsistence
at the public expense. If aniy other youth desired to pursue the same
studies at the military academy, they might be admitted; only subsisting
themselves. Those students should be instructed in what is usually
called military discipline, tactics, and the theory and practice of fortification and gunnery. The commandant and one or two other officers of
the standing regiment, and the engineers, making West Point their
general residence, would be the masters of the academy; and the
inspector-general superintend the whole." — Mewtburg, April 22d.