John Jay Papers
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From John Jay to Alexander Hamilton, 28 November 1790

To Alexander Hamilton

Boston— 28 Nov 1790

Dr Sir,

on returning from Exeter here, the Evening before the last, I had the pleasure to recg your Letter of the 13th. Instant with the two Copies mentioned in it.1 Having no apprehension of such measures, they it what was to be done? appeared to me to be a Question of some Difficulty as well as Importance— To treat them as very important might render them more so than I think they are— The author of Mc.Fingall could do Justice to the Subject—2 The assumption will do its own work— it will justify itself and not want advocates— Every indecent Interference of State assemblies will diminish their Influence— The national Govt have^s^ only to do what is right and be if possible be silent— If compelled to speake, it shd be in few words strongly evincive of ^Temper^ Dignity and self Respect— Conversation and desultory paragraphs will do the rest—

Conversing to Day with Gen. Lincoln, I find he doubts the Expediency of some provisions in the proposed act respecting the coasting Trade &ca. ^[in margin] He seems well informed about these matters^ It strikes struck me ^& I observed^ that his passing a week at Phil[adelphi]a ^a few Days at Pha^ ^a few Days at Pha & conversing with You^ wd ^might^ be useful— I believe he wishes it, and considering the Season of Year [It might not be inconvenient?] ^he thinks no^ Inconvenience be spared ^wd result from his being absent^ a little while from his Station— If you should think so, he wd on securing ^it best to giv send him^ Leave of absence, he will [illegible] ^he wd.^ immediately set out— I promised to ^told him I would^ mention this much to You.3 I often hear his Conduct commended, and I really believe with Reason— the appearance our embarrassment would have on our?].

I have heard it suggested that a Revenue officer shd be stationed on the communication with Canada— the Facility of introducing valuable Goods by that Route being ^is^ obvious— The national Govt gains Ground in these Countries, and I hope Care will be taken to cherish the national Spirit which is here prevailing in them— The Deviation from Contract touching Interest does not please very universally ^an Individual remarked that while Congress thought themselves authorized to^ take such Liberties, a national Bank would not afford a safe Deposit for private Property could not be secure in a national Bank— Adieu my good Friend I am my Dr Sr. yours aff[ectionatel]y

John Jay

Mr Secy Hamilton—

Dft, NNC (EJ: 05639). Endorsed: “… in ans. to 13 Inst” HPJ description begins Henry P. Johnston, ed., The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay (4 vols.; New York, 1890–93) description ends , 3: 409–11; WJ description begins William Jay, ed., The Life of John Jay: With Selections from His Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers (2 vols.; New York, 1833) description ends , 2: 203–4; PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 7: 166–67.

1See AH to JJ, 13 Nov., above, and notes.

2John Trumbull (1750–1831), cousin of the artist John Trumbull, and both a poet and lawyer, was author of the satirical poem M’Fingal, published 1775–82, and coauthor with other “Hartford Wits” of “The Anarchaid” (1786–87), as well as various political tracts during the Revolution. At this time he was attorney to the state of Connecticut for Hartford County (1789–95).

3Benjamin Lincoln, collector for the port of Boston, received permission to leave his post and visit Philadelphia. See AH to GW, 15 Dec., and to Lincoln, 17 Dec. 1790, PAH description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols.; New York, 1961–87) description ends , 7: 342–43, 345; and PGW: PS description begins Dorothy Twohig et al., eds., The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series (19 vols. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1987–) description ends , 7: 82–84.

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