DEAR SIR,--Yours of yesterday was received in the course of the day. Our post-rider has not yet got to be punctual, arriving here from two to four hours later than he should do, that is to say from 3 to 5 o'clock instead of 1. I mean to propose to him that being rigorously punctual in his arrival, I will always discharge him the moment he arrives, instead of keeping him till 7 o'clock as the postmaster proposes, taking for myself the forenoon of the succeeding day to answer every mail. I do not exactly recollect who of the heads of departments were present, (but I think every one except Mr. Gallatin,) when, conversing on the bungling conduct of our officers with respect to Erskine's letters, and the more bungling conduct to be expected when the command should devolve on a militia major, Mr. Smith proposed that the whole regulation of flags should be confided to Decatur, which appeared to obtain the immediate assent of all. However, the remedy is easy, and perhaps more proper on the whole. That is, to let the commanding officer by land, as well as the one by water, have equal authority to send and receive flags. I will write accordingly to Governor Cabell. This is the safer, as I believe T. Newton (of Congress) is the Major. General Dearborne has sent me a plan of a war establishment for fifteen thousand regulars for garrisons, and instead of fifteen thousand others, as a disposable force, to substitute thirty-two thousand twelve-month volunteers, to be exercised and paid three months in the year, and consequently the costing no more than eight thousand permanent, giving us the benefit of thirty-two thousand for any expedition, who would be themselves nearly equal to regulars, but could on occasion be put into the garrisons and the regulars employed in the expedition _primâ facie_. I like it well. I salute you affectionately. P. S. The record of the blank commission for Marshal of North Carolina, sent to Governor Alexander, must be filled up with the name of John S. West, the former Marshal, who has agreed to continue. TO THE SECRETARY AT WAR. MONTICELLO, August 9, 1807. DEAR SIR,--I received yesterday yours of the 7th, with the proposition for substituting thirty-two thousand twelve-month volunteers instead of fifteen thousand regulars as a disposable force, and I like the idea much. It will of course be a subject of consideration when we all meet again, but I repeat that I like it greatly.