f any
part of America or Europe. But, as it is a movement of great
delicacy, it will require all your address to communicate the
subject in a manner that shall be inoffensive to his feelings, and
consistent with all the respect that is due from me to him.

"If the general should decline the appointment, all the world will
be silent, and respectfully acquiesce. If he should accept, all the
world, except the enemies of his country, will rejoice. If he
should come to no decisive determination, but take the subject into
consideration, I shall not appoint any other lieutenant-general
until his conclusion is known.

"His advice in the formation of a list of officers would be
extremely desirable to me. The names of Lincoln, Morgan, Knox,
Hamilton, Gates, Pinckney, Lee, Carrington, Hand, Muhlenburg,
Dayton, Burr, Brooks, Cobb, Smith, as well as the present
commander-in-chief, may be mentioned to him, and any others that
occur to you. Particularly I wish to have his opinion on the men
most suitable for inspector-general, adjutant-general, and
quartermaster-general.

"His opinion on all subjects would have great weight, and I wish
you to obtain from him as much of his reflections upon the names
and the service as you can."

[129] The arrangement was as follows:--

ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Inspector. }
CHARLES C. PINCKNEY, } Major-Generals.
HENRY KNOX, or, if either refuses, }
HENRY LEE, }

HENRY LEE (if not major-general), }
JOHN BROOKS, }
WILLIAM S. SMITH, or } Brigadiers.
JOHN EAGER HOWARD, }

EDWARD HAND, or }
JONATHAN DAYTON, or } Adjutant-General
WILLIAM S. SMITH (if not brigadier),}

EDWARD CARRINGTON, Quartermaster-General.
JAMES CRAIK, Director of Hospitals.

CHAPTER XL.

HAMILTON ACTING COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF--ARRANGEMENT OF GENERAL
OFFICERS--MORTIFICATION OF KNOX--HIS LETTER TO WASHINGTON--A
SOOTHING REPLY--KNOX OFFERS HIMSELF AS AID-DE-CAMP--THE PRESIDENT'S
INDECISION--WASHINGTON'S DECIDED LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT--HIS
ARRANGEMENT OF GENERALS CONFIRMED--TARDINESS IN
RECRUITING--REMISSNESS OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR--ANOTHER LETTER TO
KNOX--HE DECLINES SERVING UNDER HAMILTON--GENERAL PINCKNEY'S
GENEROUS COURSE--MEETING OF THE GENERAL