From John Jay to Alexander Hamilton, 16 August 1794
To Alexander Hamilton
London 16 Augt. 1794
Dear Sir
I am happy to find by a new York paper, that the Result of the late Inquiry into your official conduct is perfectly consistent with the Expectations of your Friends. it is there represented as being voluminous, and in a variety of Respects interesting— Be so good as to send me a copy.1 I wrote to you lately a confidential Letter, under Cover to the President. my Dispatches to Mr Randolph were under the same cover.2 I presumed that if the Vessel should be examined by some rude privateer, more Respect would be paid to a Letter directed to the President, than to others.
Nothing very important has since occurred— Things are in a Train that looks promising; but the Issue is of Course uncertain. The Resolutions from Kentucky3 and N. Carolina are here;4 and make disagreable Impressions. Incivilities as often produce Resentment as Injuries do—
Affairs in Europe wear a serious Aspect— The french continue Successful, and the English decided— it is thought the Dutch will resign to their Fate without very strenuous Opposition. Geneva is undergoing another Revolution. News of Robespierres [vio]lent Death, has arrived and gains Credit.5 If true, the [Impo]rtance of it to France or the allies cannot yet be calculated— [Such] Events have hitherto been more common than influential— Yours Sincerely
John Jay
ALS (torn), DLC: Hamilton (EJ: 10767). DftS, from which a conjectural reading was made to supplement ALS, NNC (EJ: 05647). , 17: 97–99.
1. On the congressional investigation of AH on charges that he had procured discounts or credits for himself or others from the Bank of the United States or the Bank of New York on the basis of public monies deposited there under his direction, and that he had illegally drawn on monies borrowed in Europe to the United States, see , 16: 494–95.
2. See JJ to AH, 18 July-[5 Aug.] 1794, ALS, DLC: Hamilton (EJ: 10766); , 16: 608–9, probably sent with other dispatches under cover of JJ to GW, 5 Aug. 1794, above. In it JJ commented “appearances continue to be singularly favorable; but appearances merit only a certain degree of circumspect Reliance.” He had much reason to expect, he added, that the outcome of his negotiations would be satisfactory, but admitted he was apprehensive that “certain points not by us to be yeilded will occasion Difficulties hard to surmount.”
3. A meeting of citizens from Kentucky on 24 May 1794, had resolved “That the injuries and insults done and offered by Great Britain to America, call loudly for redress. That the recent appointment of the enemy of the Western country to negotiate with that nation, and the tame submission of the general government, when we alone were injured by Great Britain, make it highly necessary, that we should at this time state our just demands to the President and Congress.” The resolution was published in Gazette of the United States (Philadelphia), 23 June 1794. See also , 16: 588–89.
4. The North Carolina resolution condemned British spoliations on American trade with the West Indies, demanded that Britain should immediately surrender the western posts, commended the policy of sequestering debts, cheered French victories, and threatened to attack the British-held posts in the west. See , 17: 97–98.
5. Robespierre was guillotined on 28 July 1794.