From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [11–15 October 1787]
To George Washington
[October 11–15, 1787]1
D Sir,
You probably saw some time since some animadversions on certain expressions of Governor Clinton respecting the Convention. You may have seen a piece signed a Republican, attempting to bring the fact into question and endeavouring to controvert the conclusions drawn from it, if true. My answer you will find in the inclosed.2 I trouble you with it merely from that anxiety which is natural to every man to have his veracity at least stand in a fair light. The matter seems to be given up by the Governor and the fact with the inferences from it stand against him in full force, and operate as they ought to do.
It is however, of some importance to the party to diminish whatever credit or influence I may possess; and to effect this they stick at nothing. Among many contemptible artifices practiced by them, they have had recourse to an insinuation that I palmed myself upon you and that you dismissed me from your family.3 This I confess hurts my feelings, and if it obtains credit, will require a contradiction.
You Sir will undoubtedly recollect the manner in which I came into your family and went out of it; and know how destitute of foundation such insinuations are. My confidence in your justice will not permit me to doubt your readiness to put the matter in its true light in your answer to this letter. It cannot be my wish to give any complexion to the affair which might excite the least scruple in you; but I confess it would mortify me to be under the imputation either of having obtruded myself into the family of a General or of having been turned out of it.
The New Constitution is as popular in this City as it is possible for any thing to be—and the prospect thus far is favourable to it throughout the state. But there is no saying what turn things may take when the full flood of official influence is let loose against it. This is to be expected, for though the Governor has not publicly declared himself his particular connections and confidential friends are loud against it.
I remain with perfect esteem Yr. Excellency’s obed ser
A Hamilton
Mrs Hamilton joins in respectful compliments to Mrs. Washington
General Washington
ADfS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; LS, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
1. This letter is undated. If it is assumed that from three to seven days were required for a letter to go from New York to Mount Vernon, H must have written this letter between October 11 and October 15. Washington replied on October 18 that H’s letter “came to my hand by the last Post.”
2. The “animadversions on certain expressions of Governor Clinton” was written by H and published in The [New York] Daily Advertiser, July 21, 1787 (see H to The Daily Advertiser, July 21, 1787). The “piece signed a Republican,” which was written in defence of Clinton, was published in The New-York Journal, September 6, 1787. H’s answer, a copy of which he enclosed to Washington, had been published in The Daily Advertiser of September 15, 1787 (see H to The Daily Advertiser, September 15, 1787).
3. The accusation to which H is referring was made by “Inspector” in The New-York Journal, September 20, 1787. It reads as follows:
“I have also known an upstart attorney, palm himself upon a great and good man, for a youth of extraordinary genius, and under the shadow of such a patronage, make himself at once known and respected; but being sifted and bolted to the brann, he was at length found to be a superficial, self-conceited coxcomb, and was of course turned off, and disregarded by his patron.”