To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 16 August 1794
From Alexander Hamilton
Treasy Departmt Aug: 16. 1794.
Sir,
It appears probable that advantages will result from giving to the Citizens at large information on the subject of the disturbances which exist in the Western parts of Pennsylvania.
With this view, if no objection to the measure should occur to you, I would cause a publication to be made of the Report which I had the honor to address to you, dated the 5th instant.1 With the most perfect respect &c.
A. Hamilton.
LB, DLC:GW. It is unknown whether the letter-book copy was made from Hamilton’s original letter, which has not been found, or from the document that Hamilton, lacking a copy of the original, later drafted "as a substitute" for publication (see Hamilton’s second letter to GW of 21 Aug.). The only significant difference between the version published on 21 Aug. and the letter-book copy is the addition of the word "full" before "information."
1. Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., replied to Hamilton on 19 Aug.: "I am directed by the President to inform you, in reply to your letter of the 16 instant, that relying that the facts contained in the Report have been stated with due care & from authentic sources, he perceives no objection to the publication of it as proposed" (DLC:GW). Both letters were printed, along with a revised version of Hamilton’s report to GW of 5 Aug., in Dunlap and Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia) and Gazette of the United States and Daily Evening Advertiser (Philadelphia) on 21 August. The most important of the revisions were suggested by Edmund Randolph’s letter to GW of 18 August.