To Alexander Hamilton from David Ross, 13 March 1793
From David Ross1
Bladensburgh [Maryland] March 13. 1793
Dear Sir
You have been so much harrassed that I am sorry to trouble you so soon—but as I see a Note in the Baltimore Paper that Co Mercer intends to answer my Publication2 I am induced to request you will favor me, as soon as you conveniently can, with a Copy of the Statement to the President respecting the Bribe,3 and of the other Communications you promised me—for I shall not be surprised if Co Mercer should deny his language to you which I have quoted since I see he still holds out in his Speeches some insinuation of Corruption.
If you have made any observations on the last resolutions that were moved for,4 I shall be glad of a Copy of them as also of any communications between you & Co Mercer that may have taken place since I left Philadelphia marking such as you may think has no relation to the subjects between us and which you would not wish me to disclose.
Compts to Mrs Hamilton from Your friend & obedt Servt
David Ross
PS The Patronage of Messrs. Jefferson & Maddison to Freneaus Paper5 was avowed when Subscriptions were solicited in this Neighbourhood and was held up as an inducement to subscribe but I did not hear of this circumstance till today.
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. For background to this letter, see the introductory note to H to John F. Mercer, September 26, 1792. See also H to Mercer, November 3, December 6, December, 1792, March 1, 1793; Mercer to H, October 16–28, December, 1792, January 31, March 5, 1793; H to Ross, September 26, November 3, 1792; Ross to H, October 5–10, November 23, 1792; Uriah Forrest to H, November 7, 1792.
2. This notice appeared in The Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser, March 8, 1793.
4. For these resolutions, see the introductory note to “Report on the Balance of All Unapplied Revenues at the End of the Year 1792 and on All Unapplied Monies Which May Have Been Obtained by the Several Loans Authorized by Law,” February 4, 1793.
5. Philip Freneau’s National Gazette had been established in Philadelphia in October, 1791, as an opposition newspaper to the Federalist [Philadelphia] Gazette of the United States.