From John Jay to Alexander Hamilton, 17 September 1794
To Alexander Hamilton
London 17 Septr. 1794
Dear Sir
There is something very pleasant in the Reflection that while war discord and oppression triumph in so many parts of Europe, their Domination does not extend to our Country. I sometimes flatter myself that Providence in compassion to the afflicted in these Countries, will continue to leave America in a proper State to be an azylum to them.—
Among those who have suffered severely from these Evils, is Monsr. De Rochefoucauld Liancourt, formerly President of the National Assembly of France— His Rank and Character are known to you.— He will be the Bearer of this Letter, and I am persuaded that his Expectations from it will be realized.—1 Yours sincerely
John Jay
The Hon’ble Col. Hamilton
ALS, DLC: Hamilton (EJ: 10769). Endorsed. , 2: 231; , 4: 115–16; , 17: 240–41. JJ sent similar letters of the same date to John Langdon, ALS, J.G.M. Stone Collection, Annapolis, microfilm in DNA; and to Jeremiah Wadsworth, Dft, NNC (EJ: 12528). See also JJ’s farewell note to La Rochefoucauld-Liancourt of 22 Sept. 1794, Dft, NNC (EJ: 08907).
1. François Alexandre Frederic, Duc de La Rochefoucauld-Liancourt (1747–1827), a French social reformer, was elected to the Estates General in 1789, and became president of the General Assembly on 18 July 1789; he fled to England in 1792. He arrived in Philadelphia in November 1794 and toured the United States and Canada. La Rouchefoucauld returned to Europe in 1797 and published his accounts of travels in North America. Voyages dans les Etats-Unis d’Amerique, fait in 1795 et 1797 (8 vols., Paris, 1799; translated, 2 vols., London, 1799).