MOYLAN TO HAMILTON. DEAR SIR: LOAN OFFICE, PENNSYLVANIA, Jan'y 29th, 1794. With regret I mention it, that perhaps the letter you will receive with this will be the last official one I shall have occasion to write to you. I cannot let it go without paying the just tribute due to you for the ease which the systematic arrangements made for this office has rendered the execution of its duties to me. Accept, sir, the wish of a sincere friend, which is, that your happiness in private life may, if possible, exceed your public Believe me, with every sentiment of gratitude and virtues. esteem, Dear Sir, Your obedient and very humble servant, STEPHEN MOYLAN. DAVID ROSS TO HAMILTON. BLADENSBURGH, March 21st, 1794. DEAR SIR: Colonel M passed through this place yesterday, in the stage, on his way, as he says, to Congress; yet he may, perhaps, be going no further than Baltimore; but, if he should go on, it is probable he will be satisfied to have the appearance of closing the correspondence with you, as I find he never sent forward to the office your last, and has now withdrawn the whole of the papers. If, however, I should be mistaken, and he should answer your last, I need not again express my sentiments as to your putting yourself on a footing with him. If any thing should take place, I hope to be informed by you, as no dependence can be put on the representation of it by Colonel M I was sorry I missed you, several times before I left the city, on the subject of Britain's then unexpected conduct towards this country, which is now believed; and Sedgwick's motions in Congress are supposed to be brought forward in consequence of such belief. Those I have yet seen in your city and this State, who were the most inclined for peace, and opposed to Madison's resolutions, are for very spirited measures, if a war cannot be avoided; but they have a confidence, also, that no precipitate conduct will involve us, but that we shall rather give Britain an opportunity (after showing ourselves prepared even for offensive operations) of altering her measures in time to avoid a war. At any rate, the idea is, that if any declaration takes place, it should be first on the part of Britain; and that we should not do as the French did-attach the people of England to the measures of their administration, by a hasty declaration of war, instead of continuing only acts of retaliation. A judgment can be formed of the principles on which Madison's resolutions have been brought forward and supported, by the part their advocates take on Sedgwick's resolutions. Yours, in haste, DAVID ROSS. WASHINGTON TO HAMILTON. (PRIVATE.) May 6th, 1794. In answering your note of yesterday respecting the request of Mr. Talleyrand de Perigord, I do not hesitate to declare, that I find it difficult to hit upon a line of conduct towards characters -under the description that gentleman is-emigrants—that is satisfactory to my own mind, or, more properly, that is free from exception, by avoiding what may seem incivility on one hand, or unpleasant political consequences on the other. I can perceive very clearly, that the consequence of receiving these characters into the public rooms, will be driving the French minister from them. His visits are much less frequent than they were, and an occurrence on Tuesday last (which shall be mentioned when you call here) has left no doubt as to the cause. A particular introduction of these characters (out of the usual course) would, I presume, be more noticed than the reception of them in public. It has become expedient, therefore, in my opinion, that principles should be adopted in these cases (not only for the conduct of the President, but the executive officers also) by which evils may be avoided, and uniformity observed. What these had best be deserves consideration. My wish is, and it is not less my duty, as an officer of the Republic, to avoid offence to powers with whom we are in friendship, by conduct towards their proscribed citizens which would be disagreeable to them; whilst, at the same time, these emigrants, if people of good character, ought to understand that they will be protected in their persons and property, and will be entitled to all the benefits of our laws,--for the rest, they must depend upon their own behavior, and the civilities of citizens at large, who are less restrained by political considerations than the officers of government must be. Yours always. WILLIAMSON TO HAMILTON. EDONTON, May 27th, 1794. DEAR SIR: In travelling through the country, I have lately observed a considerable uniformity of sentiment among the people, with a great want of consistence, of which they do not themselves appear to be conscious. There are frequent complaints of the want of vigorous measures in the Executive, to resent the insults of the British nation. This they receive from a certain class of politi cians and political writers. There is also an observation almost universal among the planters, that fifteen or twenty years longer peace would make us so rich and powerful, that we should despise the attempts of any nation on earth. This opinion is their own, and they seem not to suspect, until the system is explained, that the advocates for vigorous measures are, in effect, courting a general war, in the hope of destroying public credit and overturning a government to which they have been uniform enemies. I verily believe that this war-making project, when well understood, will produce a considerable apostasy from anti-federalism. By this day's post, I have, at the request of gentlemen concerned, forwarded certain papers to Mr. Randolph. Probably well-authenticated claims to reparation will be sent after Mr. Jay, in support of his complaints. The case of Mr. Armistead, that I have forwarded, seems to have been a clear robbery, unpalliated by excuse. Our people are, in general, fair traders. I am, dear Sir, with the utmost respect, Your most obedient servant, HU. WILLIAMSON. HIGGINSON TO HAMILTON. BOSTON, June 17th, 1794. DEAR SIR: Mr. Cabot has mentioned to me that Mr. Cox was inquiring relative to our trade to Sweden, and intimated that government wanted to get from thence a parcel of copper and iron. I have two vessels now going to Gottenberg, and will import any articles that may be wanted at the same advance or benefit as I shall get upon common iron, if the articles can be got ready in time to come in them. Should the articles wanted not be prepared in time for these vessels, they may be prepared to come by some later ones. We have, this day, letters from Jamaica informing us that the packet with the orders of January 8th arrived there May 8th, in consequence of which all our vessels were liberated. Two of the masters, whose vessels were released, write thus to their owners, and letters from a good house there give the same information. I congratulate you upon the report relative to your department. Master Giles, I think, must feel very much mortified; and his constituents cannot be gratified at seeing him placed so far in the background. I rejoice also to find that Congress are up, and that their session has closed so much better than there was reason to apprehend at some periods. With sentiments of respect, I am, Sir, Your very humble servant, STEPHEN HIGGINSON. HETH TO HAMILTON. SHILLELAH, 6th July, 1794. Accept, I pray you, my dear friend, of my sincerest congratulations, on your second and complete triumph over the invidious persecutions of a base faction. The Report of the Committee of Congress, has turned out precisely as your friends here had predicted. "The more you probe, examine, and investigate Hamilton's conduct, rely upon it, the greater he will appear." But it was a cruel thing in Congress, and somewhat unprecedented, I presume, to oblige your persecutors and prosecutors to sit as your judges, and what was more ill-natured-to compel them to make a report, by which they were obliged ***** mortification surely to convict you of purity of conduct, unshaken integrity, and a competent watchfulness over the public interest. This was **** hard upon them, to be sure. And how one of them, who had pledged himself to convict you of nothing less than |