Alexander Hamilton Papers

From Alexander Hamilton to James Madison, [25 June 1788]

To James Madison

[New York, June 25, 1788]

My Dr Sir

I am very sorry to find by your letter of the 13th1 that your prospects are so critical. Our chance of success here is infinitely slender, and none at all if you go wrong. The leaders of the Antifederalists finding their part seems somewhat squeamish about rejection, are obliged at present to recur to the project of conditional amendments. We are going on very deliberately in the discussion and hitherto not without effect.

Communicate this to our friend G. Morris, to whom I have not time to write. And add, if you please, that his friend would certainly be exposed to a suit; but may pay in our paper money; the

depreciation of which is about 7seven per Cent. It is possible however that a jury in estimating damages would calculate the sterling money at the current exchange in paper. But this is not probable.2

Yrs. Affy

A Hamilton

ALS, Mr. William N. Dearborn, Nashville, Tennessee.

1Letter not found.

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