under the great source of good, to the just and equal operations of the new government. I think Congress has nothing to do, but to pursue with fortitude the system it commenced, firmly adhere to it, and all, I have no doubt, will terminate according to the best wishes of those who love the government most.

I have the honor of being,

Dear Sir, with great esteem,

Your affectionate friend,

B. LINCOLN.

MCHENRY TO HAMILTON.

BALTIMORE, 3d January, 1791.

MY DEAR SIR:

You may think I have neglected you from my long silence; but I can assure you I have never forgot you. Having withdrawn myself from every thing of a public nature, this has led me to endeavor to reduce my pleasures as much as possible to a small compass, and thus to neglect many correspondents, for whom I entertain the liveliest affection.

That I love and esteem you, I know you will believe without my repeating it. Your career as yet has been glorious. I wish sincerely that nothing adverse may interrupt it.

You owe this short reassurance of my regards to Captain Baring, who has a desire to be personally known to you. I introduce him with pleasure. He is a man of many valuable qualities, and well known for his distinguished services during the war. As yet, however, he is to receive his reward. I believe he goes up to Congress with the intention to petition for commutation, and the expenses incurred in his captivity.

Pray present me to Mrs. Hamilton. I have learned from a friend of yours, that she has, as far as the comparison will hold, as much merit as your treasurer, as you have as treasurer of the wealth of the United States. Adieu, my dear Secretary, and believe me unchangeably yours.

I approve of your bank plan. I see you have accommodated a little; but it is under such restrictions as cannot let it injure.

MY DEAR SIR:

HAMILTON TO SETON.

PHILADELPHIA, January 18th, 1791.

I have learnt with infinite pain the circumstance of a new bank having started up in your city. Its effects cannot but be in every way pernicious. These extravagant sallies of speculation do injury to the government, and to the whole system of public credit, by disgusting all sober citizens, and giving a wild air to every thing. 'Tis impossible but that three great banks in one city must raise such a mass of artificial credit, as must endanger every one of them, and do harm in every view.

I sincerely hope that the Bank of New-York will listen to no coalition with this newly engendered monster; a better alliance, I am strongly persuaded, will be brought about for it; and the joint force of two solid institutions, will, without effort or violence, remove the excrescence which has just appeared, and which I consider as a dangerous tumor in your political and commercial economy.

I express myself in these strong terms to you confidentially, not that I have any objection to my opinion being known, as to the nature and tendency of the thing.

Yours, with real regard, &c.

SETON TO HAMILTON.

NEW-YORK, 3d February, 1791.

DEAR SIR:

The letters you intrusted to my care relating to our Senator, were duly delivered, as you would find by the answer our friend

D wrote you; but the point had been absolutely decided long before. The other party had been undermining for months, and the coalition between the Governor and Chancellor secured the election. All your friends here lamented it, foreseeing the impediments it would throw in your way. Some say he will act otherwise; but what is bad in the bone will appear in the flesh. I anticipate (though no politician) great opposition to every salutary system.

The goldsmiths inform me, contrary to your expectation, and contrary to what would seem reasonable, that the standard they mean in the assays is British standard, which is eleven parts pure gold, and one part alloy.

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P. S. Of the last bills on Amsterdam, we have sold 81,000 guilders-hope to run off the remainder of the 200,000 in a few

days.

DEAR SIR:

HAWKINS TO HAMILTON.

SENATE CHAMBER, 16th February, 1791.

I have just received an authentic copy of the resolutions of the General Assembly of North Carolina, which I showed to you in a newspaper some time past, containing, among other items, the following instructions to the Senators from that State.

"Resolved, That they strenuously oppose every excise and direct taxation law, should any be attempted in Congress."

Being of opinion that the Constitution marks the line of my duty, and that it is obligatory on my honor to make my own judgment the ultimate standard, after paying suitable respect to the opinions and observations of others, I have acted in conformity on a recent occasion.

Although it is much to be wished that a discussion of this sort should never have happened, yet in the present case being inevitable, a right decision is of the utmost consequence to the

Union. If the States have a right to instruct, why are we bound by oath to support the Constitution?

As no one has contributed more than yourself to the elucidation of the principles of the government, I take the liberty to request the favor of you, if you should have leisure from the important functions of your office, to give me your opinion on this subject.

I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, dear Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant,

BENJAMIN HAWKINS.

MIRANDA TO HAMILTON.

LONDON, le 5 Avril, 1791.

MON CHER TRESORIER GENERAL:

Ayez la bonté d'agréer mes complimens, et mes respects, dans. l'occasion du départ de notre mutual ami le Col. Smith, qui a. passé quelques semaines dans cette Capitale ici; qui m'a fait l'amitié de passer bien des moments ensemble, et à qui, j'ai eu le plaisir de voir parfaitement accueilli par tout le monde qui l'a connu antérieurement, et vit dans l'occasion actuelle.

Il pourra vous dire l'étrange Sistheme Politique que l'Angleterre poursuit actuellement, &c. et je peux vous assurer que vos Plans des finances; de Banc National; des Collections des taxes, &c., non seulement ont mérité l'admiration des gens de la plus grande considération ici; mais ils ont donné aussi la plus haute idée du Nouveau Gouvernement, qui se conduit à cet égard par des principes d'honneur et de dignité très peu communes dans les gouvernemens modernes. Je vous en félicite de tout mon cœur, en attendant que les progrès rapides de vos institutions produisent une prospérité générale dans ce Pais-fortuné, et votre bonheur éternel, qui est le prix immanquable.

Portez-vous bien toujours-donnez-moi de vos nouvelles (si vos occupations vous le permettent), et croyez-moi sincèrement, Le Votre,

HAMILTON TO

T. DE MIRANDA.

PHILADELPHIA, April 10, 1791.

SIR:

Your letter of the 5th of March duly came to hand, though not till after the arrangement for the execution of the act mentioned in your letter had been made.

I wish you not to consider it a mere compliment when I say that the light in which your character stands could not fail to have brought you into view in that arrangement. And could you be minutely acquainted with every circumstance that in the President's mind inclined the balance a different way, you would find no reason to be dissatisfied with the estimation in which you have been held. You are well aware that in a comparison of the pretensions of men of merit collateral considerations may be often justly allowed to turn the scale.

Suffer me to add that in the course of those future opportu. nities which may be expected to occur, it would give me a pleasure, as far as may be in my power, to be instrumental in furnishing you with a proper occasion for the exercise of your talents and zeal in the service of the national government.

With much consideration and esteem,

I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient, &c.