From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 10 April 1800
To Charles Cotesworth Pinckney1
N. Y. April 10th. 1800
Dr. Sir
I am perfectly content with the delay of communication to the Revd. Mr. Hill, till the effect of your Experiment with the Secretary of War shall be known.
I have heard nothing as to the impression made by our mission to France upon the combined powers—but I cannot doubt that it is a disagreeable one.2 And certainly the course of Events lately has not said much for the good policy of the measure. This calculation of the President on a general peace this winter, as the main argument for what was done, proves, at least, to be as fallacious as I ventured to predict to him just after he had resolved to consummate the Error.3
Capt. Izzard has accepted his appointment under Mr. Smith & has sailed for Europe.4
Mrs. H & myself have learned with great pleasure the amendmt of Mrs. P.’s Health. Offer her & accept yourself our felicitations & best wishes
Adieu
Copy, in the handwriting of Ethan Brown, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. This letter was written in reply to Pinckney to H, March 21, 1800.
2. For the mission to France, see Theodore Sedgwick to H, February 25, 1799, note 4; H to George Washington, first letter of October 21, 1799, note 2.
3. For H’s opposition to the mission to France, see H to Washington, first letter of October 21, 1799, note 2.
4. See George Izard to H, February 25, March 2, 1800; H to Izard, February 27, March 5, 1800.