To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 24 February 1804
From Rufus King
[New York] feb. 24 1804
Dr sir
Mr. D. Ogdon1 called upon me a few minutes past, and as I understood from him that he purposes writing to you by the mail of this Evening,2 I think it proper, in order to avoid any misconception of the tenour of our conversation to repeat to you the purport of what I said to him. viz.
“Whether it will be expedient to offer a federal candidate for the Govr.3 is a point upon wh, from the want of information concerning the relative strength and disposition of parties, and the consequent probability of success, I proposed myself (to Mr. O) quite unable to judge.
With respect to my being the fedl. Candidate4 althoh. I wd. not say, that my mind was absolutely decided, as I had never considered the subject, the Objections to my consenting appeared to me to be insurmountable.”
faithfully &c
RK.
Genl. Hamilton. Albany
P.S. On the subject of our last interview, I have conversed with Wolcott,5 who agrees with you in Opinion, wh. I ought before to have told you.
Copy, in King’s handwriting, New-York Historical Society, New York City.
1. David A. Ogden was a New York City lawyer.
2. Letter not found.
3. For the gubernatorial election in New York, see “Speech at a Meeting of Federalists in Albany,” February 10, 1804; H to Robert G. Harper, February 19, 1804.
4. See H to King, February 24, 1804.
Most leading Federalists hoped that King would be the party’s candidate for President or Vice President in 1804. See Theodore Sedgwick to H, January 27, 1803, note 9.
5. Oliver Wolcott, Jr.