Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox to John Jay, 29 November 1793
Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox to John Jay1
Philadelphia November 29th
1793
Dr. Sir
Notwithstanding the information of this Morning respecting the Insertion in Dunlap’s Paper2 on Monday, certain reasons determine us rather to return to you the Paper with our certificate.
You will find that we have altered nothing material to your purpose. The omission of what concerned the President has proceeded from a scruple about official propriety.
We are with respect & esteem Dr Sir Your obedient servants
Alex Hamilton
H Knox
John Jay Esqr
LS, in the handwriting of H, Columbia University Libraries.
1. For background to this letter, see the introductory note to H to Rufus King, August 13, 1793. See also “Cabinet Meeting. Opinion on the Case of the Little Sarah,” July 8, 1793; “Cabinet Meeting. Opinion on Vessels Arming and Arriving in United States Ports,” July 12, 1793; H to King, August 23–24, 1793; Jay and King to H and Knox, November 26, 1793; Jay to H, November 26, 1793; King to H, November 26, 1793; H and Knox to Jay and King, November 27, 1793; “Statement by Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox on Edmond Charles Genet’s ‘Appeal to the People,’” November 29, 1793.
2. No letter of “this morning” has been found. Apparently H and Knox had intended to insert their certificate on Genet’s “appeal” (see “Statement by Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox on Edmond Charles Genet’s ‘Appeal to the People,’” November 29, 1793) in Dunlap’s American Daily Advertiser in Philadelphia, but decided instead to send it to Jay in New York.