To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 18 August 1792
From Alexander Hamilton
Philadelphia Aug. 18. 1792
Sir
I am happy to be able, at length, to send you, answers to the objections, which were communicated in your letter of the 29th of July.1
They have unavoidably been drawn in haste, too much so, to do perfect justice to the subject, and have been copied just as they flowed from my heart and pen, without revision or correction. You will observe, that here and there some severity2 appears—I have not fortitude enough always to hear with calmness, calumnies, which necessarily include me, as a principal Agent in the measures censured, of the falsehood of which, I have the most unqualified consciousness. I trust that I shall always be able to3 bear, as I ought, imputations of errors of Judgment; but I acknowledge that I cannot be entirely patient under charges, which impeach the4 integrity of my public motives or conduct. I feel, that I merit them in no degree: and expressions of indignation sometimes escape me, in spite of every effort to suppress them⟨.⟩ I rely on your goodness for the proper allowance. With high respect and the most affectionate attachment, I have the honor to be Sir Your most Obedient & humble servant
Alexander Hamilton
ALS, DLC:GW; ADf, DLC: Hamilton Papers; copy, DLC: Hamilton Papers. GW docketed the ALS “Private.”
1. For background on the objections to the financial policies of the Washington administration that were contained in GW’s letter to Hamilton of 29 July, see Jefferson to GW, 23 May 1792 (second letter), and notes. For Hamilton’s enclosure, which has been found only in draft form in DLC: Hamilton Papers, see 12:229–58.
2. At this place on the draft manuscript, Hamilton wrote and then struck out the phrase “has been deserved indulged.”
3. At this place on the draft manuscript, Hamilton wrote and then struck out the words “submit properly to.”
4. At this place on the draft manuscript, Hamilton wrote and then struck out the word “purity.”