To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 30 July 1796
From Alexander Hamilton
New York July 30. 1796
Sir
I have the pleasure to send you herewith a certan draft which I have endeavoured to make as perfect as my time and engagements would permit—It has been my object to render this act importantly and lastingly useful, and avoiding all just cause of present exception, to embrace such reflections and sentiments as will wear well, progress in approbation with time, & redound to future reputation—How far I have succeeded you will judge.1
I have begun the second part of the task—the digesting the supplementary remarks to the first address which in a fortnight I hope also to send you—yet I confess the more I have considered the matter the less eligible this plan has appeared to me—There seems to me to be a certain awkwardness in the thing—and it seems to imply that there is a doubt whether the assurance without the evidence would be believed—Besides that I think that there are some ideas which will not wear well in the former address, & I do not see how any part can be omitted, if it is to be given as the thing formerly prepared. Neverthe[le]ss when you have both before you you can better judge.
If you should incline to take the draft now sent—and after perusing and noting any thing that you wish changed & will send it to me I will with pleasure shape it as you desire. This may also put it in my power to improve the expression & perhaps in some instances condense.
I rejoice that certain clouds have not lately thickened & that there is a prospect of a brighter horison.2 With affectionate & respectful attachment I have the honor to be Sir Yr very Obed. Serv.
A. Hamilton
ALS, NN: Alexander Hamilton Papers.
1. Hamilton enclosed a draft for GW’s farewell address that reorganized GW’s initial version and omitted material James Madison had written in 1792 (see 20:265–88, 293–303, or 179–99; see also GW to Hamilton, 15 May 1796, and the enclosure—“GW’s Draft for a Farewell Address”—printed with that document). Hamilton docketed the draft “Original Draft Copy considerably amended,” and it contains many small textual adjustments. Most likely, Hamilton’s docket did not refer to the alterations on this draft, but instead conveyed that this draft was a more extensive alteration of GW’s original version than another draft that Hamilton eventually submitted on 10 Aug. (see the editorial note to Farewell Address, 19 Sept.).
2. GW replied to Hamilton from Mount Vernon on 10 Aug.: “The principal design of this letter, is to inform you, that your favor of the 30th ulto, with its enclosure, got safe to my hands by the last Post, and that the latter shall have the most attentive consideration I am able to give it.
“A cursory reading it has had, and the Sentiments therein contained are extremely just, & such as ought to be inculcated. The doubt that occurs at first view, is the length of it for a News Paper publication; and how far the occasion would countenance its appearing in any other form, without dilating more on the present state of matters, is questionable. All the columns of a large Gazette would scarcely, I conceive, contain the present draught. But having made no accurate calculation of this matter, I may be much mistaken.
If any matters should occur to you as fit subjects of communication at the opening of the next Session of Congress I would thank you for noting and furnishing me with them. It is my wish, and my custom to provide all the materials for the Speech in time that it may be formed at leizure” (ALS, DLC: Hamilton Papers).