To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 10 August 1793
From George Washington
Philadelphia Augt. 10th. 1793.
Dear Sir,
I thank you for giving me the perusal of the letters to you, which are herewith returned.1 And I pray you to draught, on my behalf, what you may conceive to be a short, but proper & respectful response to the letter of the Chairman—or to the resolves—or to both as you shall judge best (for they come in a form so unusual that I scarcely know the mode that will be most eligable) and let me be furnished therewith tomorrow evening, or early on Monday morning.2
Quere—If the introduction of G—— C—— in the resolutions,3 affords a good occasion to notice the promptness & efficacy of this aid—and that of all the Governors (as far as facts are known to me) where there has been occasion for their exertion—would it not be good policy to make proper mention thereof?
Yours always
Go: Washington
Colo. Hamilton
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; ADfS, RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters, 1790–1799, National Archives; LC, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Letters not found. See H to Washington, August 9, 1793.
2. Although H’s draft has not been found, on August 18, 1793, Washington wrote to Nicholas Cruger thanking him for “the resolutions of the Citizens of New York, at their late meeting” (LC, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress). Cruger, a New York City merchant and H’s former employer in the West Indies, served as chairman of the meeting.
3. One of the New York resolutions in support of neutrality had stated: “Resolved, That in our opinion, the Governor of this State [George Clinton] is well entitled to the acknowledgments of his fellow citizens, for his prompt and decided support of the system of neutrality and peace, enjoined by the proclamation” ([Philadelphia] Gazette of the United States, August 14, 1793).