From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 5 April 1793
To George Washington
Philadelphia April 5. 1793
Sir
The Ship John Buckeley is just arrived here from Lisbon, which place she left on the 23. of February.
The Messrs. Walls1 a respectable Mercantile House here have received a letter from Mr. John Buckeley a respectable Merchant of Lisbon, after whom the Ship is named, of which the following is an extract.
“By letters from France by this day’s Post, we find, that an Embargo took place there the 2d. instant on all English Russian and Dutch Vessels, which is certainly the prelude of War.” This letter is dated the 22d of February.
Messrs. Walls, in addition, inform that on the 23 of Febry the moment the Ship was getting under way Mr. Buckeley came on board with a letter from Mr. Fenwick of Bourdeaux,2 informing him that War had been declared by France against England Russia & Holland.3 The foregoing particulars I have directly from the Walls.
The Report in the City is that the War was declared on the 8th of Febry.
Combining this with the Letter of Lord Grenville to Mr. Chauvelin requiring his departure4 & the Kings Message to the House of Commons founded upon5—there seems to be no room for Doubt of the existence of War.
With perfect respect & the truest Attachment I have the honor to be Sir Yr. Most Obed serv
P.S. I this instant learn that there are English Papers in Town by way of St Vincents which mention that on the 8th of February The late Queen of France was also put to Death after a Trial & Condemnation.6
ALS, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress; copy, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. John and Joseph Wall.
2. James Fenwick was United States consul at Bordeaux.
3. This is a mistake. On February 1, 1793, France declared war on Great Britain, Holland, and Spain, but not on Russia.
4. Bernard François, Marquis de Chauvelin, was French Minister to Great Britain. Following the news of the execution of Louis XVI on January 21, 1793, Chauvelin was ordered by Lord Grenville to leave England.
5. On January 28, 1793, George III sent to Parliament copies of the correspondence between Chauvelin and Lord Grenville. In an accompanying message he declared it necessary to increase the British armed forces (, 128).
6. This is incorrect. Marie Antoinette was executed on October 16, 1793.