George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 3 April 1799

From Alexander Hamilton

Private

New York April 3. 1799

Dr Sir

Agreeably to your letter of the 25 of March, which with its inclosures have come duly to hand, I have written to the Pay Master General to repair to the Seat of Government. Your letter to Col. Hamtranck goes by the same opportunity.1

The arrangements for beginning to recruit in the States of Connecticut, New York, Jersey, Pensylvania and Delaware, are so mature that it will be very extraordinary, if the business does not actually commence in a Week. Nothing in my power will be omitted to press it forward in the other States. The prospect of success in the middle and Northern States is not bad.2

I get nothing very precise about the Insurrection. But every thing continues to wear the character of feebleness, in respect to the measures for suppressing it. And though I hope it will not become very serious, yet it will not be astonishing, if from mismanagement, it should become more troublesome than it need to be.3 With greatest respect & attachment I remain Dr Sir Your Obed. Sr.

A. Hamilton

ALS, DLC:GW; copy, DLC: Hamilton Papers; copy, DLC: Hamilton Papers.

1See Hamilton to Caleb Swan, 3 April, in Syrett, Hamilton Papers, description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds. The Papers of Alexander Hamilton. 27 vols. New York, 1961–87. description ends 23:6–7. GW’s letter to John Francis Hamtramck is printed in the note to GW’s letter to Hamilton of 25 March.

2Hamilton gave recruiting instructions to the regimental commanders in the New Army in March. See Hamilton to GW, 27 Mar., and notes.

3For Fries’s Rebellion in Pennsylvania, see James McHenry to GW, 30 Mar., n.2.

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