tions as well as a better arrangement-and the very words used by them at different times, might be quoted from the Gazettes with some effect. Something might be added or altered in the inclosed, if a proper person would do it. There will be no objection made to any alterations.

The press is busy here, rather overdone. The enragés are remarkably in check.

I look forward to the next campaign with concern. I wish nothing may be omitted to make the people understand the truth, so well as to disarm the faction who distort it.

My principal object in writing at this time is, to mention to you the subject of a State being sued. It was seized on here as you must have seen. The people understand the matter imperfectly, and on the whole, I conceive the entire active force of the State politics to be hostile to the decision. It is supposed the legislature will vote their censure of the suableness of a State, and request Congress to propose an amendment-or instruct their senators and request their representatives to move such an amendment. Is this regular? The Constitution authorizes two modes of amending. Either Congress may propose alterations to the State, or a convention may be called. If specific amendments should be moved by the States to Congress, is there not a great mischief lurking in the precedent? However, I waive the ceremony of any reply from you, which, busy as you are, is needless. I wish to call your reflections to the subject, which I think will be stirred. We cannot doubt it will be so managed as if possible to make difficulty.

I hope your unremitted cares do not impair your health.
I am, my dear Sir, yours truly,
FISHER AMES.

HAMILTON TO MRS. GENERAL GREENE.

PHILADELPHIA, September 3d, 1793.

It is not an uncommon thing for you women, to bring us
It seems you have brought me into one.

poor men into scrapes.

You will wonder how. Hear the tale.

Shortly after I came into office, Wadsworth informed me that Baron Glaubeck was indebted to General Greene (to whom he had behaved in a very exceptionable manner), and that it was intended to endeavor to purchase of Glaubeck some pay which had been just granted to him by Congress, upon the plan of advancing to him a certain sum of money to satisfy his immediate necessities, and the residue that was due to him to be applied towards the indemnification of the General's estate for what Glaubeck owed to it. I afterwards understood that the execution of this plan was committed to Flint or Duer, or one or both of them—and that a purchase of the claim was in fact made—not indeed of Glaubeck, but of some person to whom he had parted with it for some trifling consideration-the object being throughout to benefit you by way of indemnification as above mentioned.

It likewise would appear from the Treasury records, that you have in fact received the whole benefit of the purchase. The conversations we had together when you were last in Philadelphia, assure me at least that the certificate for four-fifths of his claim accrued immediately to your use.

Francis, late a clerk in my department (partly from resentment at a disappointment he has met with at the Treasury and partly, I believe, from its having been made worth his while by some political enemies of mine), endeavors to have it believed that this transaction was a speculation in which I was engaged, and in proof it-a draft of a power of attorney, corrected by some interlineations in my handwriting, as he asserts.

I do not recollect this part of the business, though I think it very possible that such a correction, in such a draft, may have been made by me.

For Duer and Flint, it seems, employed Francis to make the purchase; and it is not unlikely that a draft of a power for the purpose may have been brought to me, to know from me whether it would answer the purpose of the Treasury as a competent instrument; and that I (believing the design to be such as I have represented, one not only unexceptionable but laudableone in which my friendship for you would naturally take part) may have taken up my pen and made such corrections as the draft might appear to stand in need of

I give you this detail to show you how I may have been implicated.

What I wish of you is, that you will have the goodness to state in writing what you know of the affair; ascertaining that the purchase was for your benefit, and the cause of it; and that you will take the trouble to make affidavit to the statement, and forward it to me.

As it is an affair of delicacy, I will thank you to request some gentleman of the law to give form and precision to your narrative.

You perceive that it is not in one way only that I am the object of unprincipled persecution; but I console myself with the lines of the poet

He needs must be of optics keen,
Who sees what is not to be seen.

And with this belief, that in spite of calumny, the friends I love and esteem, will continue to love and esteem me.

Yours, sincerely.

A. H.

HAMILTON TO WADSWORTH.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 3, 1793.

MY DEAR WADSWORTH:

Shortly after I came into office I remember your having told me that Glaubeck (whom you represented as a worthless and un

grateful fellow) was indebted to General Greene's estate, I think, for money lent him, and that it was your intention to endeavor to effect a purchase of his public claim, and allow him some part of it for his immediate necessities, letting the residue be an indemnification [original illegible] estate; or, in other words, go to the [original illegible] that he would [original illegible] something [original illegible] you left the city; that you had left the business in charge with Flint.

The purchase of the claim was afterwards made through a second hand, and it appears in fact that Mrs. Greene has had the benefit of it.

Francis, lately a clerk in my department, prompted partly by resentment, and partly, I believe, by some political enemies, gives out that I assisted in this affair as a speculation, and to prove it, shows the draft of a power for assigning the claim, with some corrections, which are said to be in my handwriting.

Whether this be so or not I really do not now recollect, but I think it very possible that having understood the matter in the light I have stated from you, and viewing the transaction [origi nal illegible] precision the course of the transaction as it stands in your recollection, particularly what passed between you and myself in the first instance. If not inconvenient to you, I should even be glad that you would attest to it.

Yours affectionately,

AFFLECK TO HAMILTON.

A. HAMILTON.

NEW-YORK, 7th Sept., 1793.

SIR:

A Mr. G. Francis, lately from your office, waited on Thomas Basen, and asked him if he recollected any thing of a certificate he had bought of him about two years ago. Basen answered he did. Francis told Basen he was employed by you to purchase, and that he had of you fifty dollars for his trouble; and that you

then said the profits was to be applied to the benefit of the widow of Greene, but that you applied them to your own emolument. Two or three days after this interview, Basen was waited on by a lawyer from Philadelphia, who put to Basen nearly the same questions as Francis had done, adding, "that Basen would recollect himself, for that he would be called upon that session." On Tuesday last, a printed pamphlet, containing twenty-three pages octavo, was handed to Basen by Francis, desiring him to peruse it till next day, when Francis returned and presented a paper to Basen to sign, but Basen declined signing it, for the fact is, he can neither read nor write. The pamphlet was given to me to peruse by a neighbor, but being sent in a few minutes I had not leisure to examine it. I have tried to get it since, but cannot. I have mentioned the affair to Mr. E. Benson, and I doubt not but he has notified you by this time.

My sole motive in troubling you with this communication, is to put you on your guard-that you may be able to thwart the efforts of malice, envy, and treachery, which generally, and particularly in this case, are combined against uncommon abilities and worth.

With great respect, I am, Sir,

Your humble servant,

W. AFFLECK.

P. S.-If my services can be of any use in the business, you may command them.

WADSWORTH TO HAMILTON.

HARTFORD, September 13th, 1793.

DEAR SIR:

I was out of town when your letter reached this place, and have this moment returned. Glaubeck, when under the command of General Greene, persuaded the General to endorse his bills, which came back protested, and when Glaubeck made ap