of his department depends upon it, must be more likely than any other officer, to feel a due sensibility to the efficient and proper course of the mint, and consequently to exert himself to give it such a course.

The Post Office, on the other hand, if the idea which has repeatedly appeared in Congress be adhered to, that of rendering it an instrument of the improvement of the public roads instead of a means of revenue, may without inconvenience be placed under the department of State, while the mint establishment is transferred to the Treasury.

These observations proceed on the supposition that the President has adopted in principle and practice, the plan of distributing all the particular branches of the public service, except that of the law, among the three great departments; a plan which is believed to be founded on good reasons.

Another point, to which I would invite the attention of the President, is the scheme of mounted volunteers, as established in the law, and as it has operated in practice.

The expense of it is enormous, and from the nature of the thing, has a tendency to continue so. Though the compensation of a dollar per man is not fixed absolutely, but as a limit not to be exceeded, the effect is, that extent of the sum is expected, and that from this expectation, the men could not probably be obtained for less. The Executive, too, in an emergent service, will never be willing to incur the responsibility of failing by a restriction of the sum, and thus the ultimatum becomes the ordinary rule.

It will be happy if a revision of the measures for defensive protection should issue in a conviction, that the number of volunteer horse can be reduced by a substitution of infantry. It is imagined that on calculation it would appear, that a more than proportional increase of infantry would cost less.

In the last place, I beg leave to submit an impression, that advantages would accrue, in the view of economy at least, if the agents for Indian affairs, in the Southwestern and Northwestern Territories, were distinct from the Governors. These might still retain the political direction of affairs, and there would result a check in the business of supplies.

GENTLEMEN:

HAMILTON TO WILLINK, ETC.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Jan. 31, 1795.

It is probable that before this reaches you, you will have heard of my determination to resign my office of Secretary of the Treasury as on this day. The event will accordingly take place.

I could not permit myself to renounce my official situation without placing among my last acts the expression of the high sense I continue to entertain of the fidelity and ability with which you have uniformly served the United States. This testimony is due to you, and it is with great pleasure I give it.

The gentleman whom the President has determined to nominate as my successor, and who will be no doubt appointed, is Oliver Wolcott, Esquire, the present Comptroller of the Treasury. I do him no more than justice by assuring you, that he is a gentleman of undoubted intelligence, probity, and good principles with regard to public credit. The confidence of yourselves and your countrymen may be safely reposed in him.

With sincere wishes for your future welfare, and with increased consideration and esteem,

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

Messrs. WILHELM & J. WILLINK, and

NICHOLAS & J. VAN STAPHORST & HUBBARD.

ALEX. HAMILTON.

HAMILTON TO WASHINGTON.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Jan. 31, 1795.

SIR:

Agreeably to the intimation heretofore given, I have the honor now to tender you my resignation of the office of Secreta

ry of the Treasury, and to be with sincere respect and affection

ate attachment, Sir,

Your most obedient and humble servant, &c.

The President of the United States.

WASHINGTON TO HAMILTON.

SUNDAY, 1st February, 1795.

DEAR SIR:

I received the inclosed letter, with the document therein, last night.

For reasons which will appear obvious, I make you acquainted with the contents of them-being yours,

Endorsement on this letter by A. H.—

G. WASHINGTON.

This covered a letter from Mr. Coxe, of the 31st January, 1795, containing a charge against Mr. Wolcott, for my having committed to him, and he having exercised, the duties of Secretary of the Treasury in my absence on the western expedition. A. H.

WASHINGTON TO HAMILTON.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 2, 1795.

DEAR SIR:

After so long an experience of your public services, I am naturally led, at this moment of your departure from officewhich it has always been my wish to prevent-to review them.

In every relation, which you have borne to me, I have found that my confidence in your talents, exertions and integrity, has been well placed.

I the more freely render this testimony of my approbation, because I speak from opportunities of information which cannot deceive me, and which furnish satisfactory proof of your title to public regard.

My most earnest wishes for your happiness will attend you in your retirement, and you may assure yourself of the sincere. esteem, regard and friendship of

Dear Sir,

Your affectionate

G. WASHINGTON.

ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Esq.

HAMILTON TO WASHINGTON.

PHILADELPHIA, February 3d, 1795.

SIR:

My particular acknowledgments are due for your very kind letter of yesterday. As often as I may recall the vexations I have endured, your approbation will be a great and precious consolation.

It was not without a struggle that I yielded to the very urgent motives which impelled me to relinquish a station in which I could hope to be in any degree instrumental in promoting the success of an administration under your direction, a struggle which would have been far greater, had I supposed that the prospect of future usefulness was proportioned to the sacrifices to be made.

Whatsoever may be my destination hereafter, I entreat you to be persuaded (not the less for my having been sparing in professions) that I shall never cease to render a just tribute to those eminent and excellent qualities which have been already productive of so many blessings to your country; that you will always have my fervent wishes for your public and personal fe licity, and that it will be my pride to cultivate a continuance of that esteem, regard, and friendship, of which you do me the

honor to assure me. With true respect and affectionate attach

ment,

I have the honor to be,

Sir, your obliged, and ob't servant,

The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

A. HAMILTON.

SIR:

WILLING TO HAMILTON.

BANK UNITED STATES, Feb. 3d, 1795.

The President and Directors of the Bank of the United States acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st ult., and feel with peculiar sensibility the notification of your resignation; with sincerity they offer their best wishes, that you may be as happy in private, as your administration has rendered you useful in public life.

They recollected, with extreme satisfaction, the liberal and enlightened principles on which you have conducted the great and various operations of your department with this institution: such as tend to cement a connection which it is their mutual interest to maintain, and which can only be permanent whilst founded on reciprocal advantage.

It must be to you a source of the most pleasing sensations to reflect on the extensive utility of an institution which you had such an essential agency in organizing, which has been strikingly evident as well in the aid it has afforded to the fiscal administration, as in the important support it has given to public and private credit.

They will again recur to the consideration of the propriety of establishing a branch in Virginia, and if it should appear that the advantages that will result therefrom, will supersede the obstacles and inconveniences that have hitherto retarded the operation, they will not hesitate in carrying it into prompt effect. In discussing the subject, the arguments which you have suggest