To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 24 October 1798
From John Jay1
Albany 24 Octr. 1798
Dear Sir
I subjoin for your Information a copy of a Letter of the 17 Instant which I recd. this morning from the Presidt. of the U.S.2 in answer to mine of the 26 ult. by which he consents to authorize you to concert with me the plan of laying out the money in question to the best advantage, & to appoint you to superintend the Execution of it.
Will it not be proper immediately to form an accurate Survey of such parts of the Shores & waters of the port, as from their Situation or other Circumstances, it may be desireable to fortify? Col. Burr3 informs me that this has already been partially done by Mr. Coles;4 & I submit to your Consideration whether it would not be adviseable to confer with them respecting, and perhaps obtain their aid in executing the measures proper to be taken to perfect that necessary work.
That being done, I conceive the next object of Inquiry will be, the manner in which the port is capable of being the most effectually fortified. The Result I think should then be laid before the President, thro’ the Secy at War, and our future operations will necessarily depend greatly on what he may direct to be communicated to us on the Subject. I wish all this may be done and ascertained before the next Session of our Legislature;5 that my Communications to them may be full and early. The Expence incident to the orders which you may give for these purposes, will of Course be paid; for it gives me pleasure now to consider you as being perfectly authorized to superintend the Fortifications contemplated by the act.
I purpose to be in Town next month, and am with great Esteem & Regard
Dear Sir your most obt. Servt
John Jay
Majr. Genl. Hamilton
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; LC, Governor’s Letter Books, from the original in the New York State Library, Albany; copy, Dr. Frank Monaghan, Washington, D.C.
1. For background to this letter, see the introductory note to H to James McHenry, June 1, 1798.
2. Copy, in the handwriting of Jay, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. For an extract from this letter, see John Adams to H, October 17, 1798, note 1.
3. Aaron Burr and H were both members of the Military Committee of New York City. See “Call for a Meeting,” June 4, 1798, note 2.
4. John B. Coles, a New York City merchant, was vice president of the New York Chamber of Commerce and alderman from the second ward. On May 28, 1798, he, Gabriel Furman, John Bogert, and Ebenezer Stevens were appointed a committee “to attend to the Measures … for the Defence of the City and Harbor of New York.” See the introductory note to H to McHenry, June 1, 1798.
5. The legislature had adjourned on August 27, 1798, and was scheduled to convene on January 2, 1799.