(1866) Letters to Alexander Hamilton: King of the Feds

 

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Hamilton Club No.

4.

Series.

 

LETTERS

Alexander Hamilton, KING OF THE FEDS.

NEW YORK: Printed for the Hamilton Club. i

866.

 

-¥k

£ &

>

v

31*75.

Edition,

40 Copies 8vo.

20

 

( XV//

4to.

.

)

Bradstreet Press.

 

r,

-

LETTERS TO

ALEXANDER HAMILTON,

CI-DEVANT SECRETARY

of the

TREASURY

OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, INSPECTOR-GENERAL

of the

STANDING ARMIES

THEREOF,

COUNSELLOR AT LAW. &c. &c. &c. Being

intended

lately

as

a

publifhed

fumed, the

of

reply

under

Mr.

fignature

By

to

the

a

ianftion,

Hamilton, of

pamphlet

scandalous

and

Junius

as

it

figned

is

pre-

with

Philjenus.

TOM CALLENDER,

Es<^

CITIZEN OF THE WORLD.

=

\

— New- York: —

^ ^

Printed

by

Richard

Reynolds,

No.

27,

Dey-Street.

J?

1802.

 

^

esr

 

LETTER THE FIRST

ALEXANDER

HAMILTON

New- York, Not.

s

1802.

 MENE MENE, TEKEL UPHARSIN.

^

Dan.

.R.

in

Hamilton,

chief

of the

for

v.

25.

you are no more commander

Pittsburgh army, the motto quoted

above from a good old book, although

it

may

not at

present be exactly applicable to you, or your former friend Mr. Adams, was once the very to

*3

played

Start not, Sir

game you both

your nerves are strong and

able

up

to bear

a

great weight

of any kind.

You

have disavowed being the patron of the licentiousness of the press, and yet you have

made more

use of that

CO

 

LETTERS TO

4

Instrumentality to carry on intrigues against the peace

and happiness of the people than any other man in America

The pamphlet just published under the signature of

Junius

Phil^enus,

although

young

written by some of the Bar,

who

are

either

may have been

it

fry belonging to

your worshippers

or

the

slaves;

nevertheless bears such evident symbols of your pa-

tronage that

mon on

it

is

impossible for any

experience, not to see  the

its

forehead.

—The

ble a creature for

me

of com-

mark of the beast

amanuensis, to

man

is

too contempti-

pursue, I therefore address

myself to the principal and father of the bantling, not so

much

on account of any injury that

that filthy

Porcupiniade could ever produce to the present peace-

must

which

performance not

because

administration,

able

on account of any

sy-Jove,

the

Pickerings

Brutuses, &c.

silly

own purpose

its

Martin,

vulgar

the

the Harpooners, Burrs or

effect.

None

upon me,

or fears have operated

weak and

any injury you or the Jer-

Wolcotts,

could

a

is

defeat

Luther

apostate

and

it

of those

provoke

to

reasons

me

into

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. revenge against any of the whole is

of ye.

corps

It

the disturbance which ye are continually raising

up against the public

we now

men

all

live at

of wealth are

tranquillity

—

I

am happy

that

peace in this country and that well secured

in

their

property,

without having recourse to the blood thirsty plans of burning villages, as clared,

and

I

believe

is

it

if

opinion,

would

you could only have pro-

voked any of the insurgents the militia or volunteers

you had de-

great truth, you

with

have put into operation,

reported,

to shoot a single

who marched

with the utmost honor and

man

out, in

spirit,

of

my

to quell

an innovation against the laws of the United States,

but never, oh never, had they collectively any such horrid

idea

as

that

of

staining

their

.hands

in

thei eir r fel fello loww-ci citi tize zens ns without discriminathe blood of th

tion

 

—

have been told of this your declaration, so

I

often that let

me

was almost convinced

I

like

true.

But

here declare to you, that, at this day, I have

strong doubts

deny

was

it

it

of

its

veracity,

unequivocally

Hannibal,   They

that

and I wish you could

you presumed

to

take a

vow

(your confidants,) should either

 

LETTERS TO

you returning

see

or

see

what oath

head of a triumphant army

you without a head you

altar ?

at the

—Nor

am

cause I

am

enemy.

If,

could I

 

have

made

inclined to

not, nor

give

ever have

know

don't

I

so

desperate an

it

credence, be-

been, your personal

however, in the result

it

should appear,

that you really did use such an expression

remain

little

  fostered,

doubt

God pose,

able

spirit

my

mind,

in the language of

of Morrisania,

the

in

;

there will

of your

having

your friend Asmodeus

an hope, of what

?

disgusted with

down

of crushing

of republicanism by force of arms

of nature was

before

the

 

brutal

The pur-

and although you have enlisted a few respectgentlemen

your systems

—

of the

pulpit

to

write

in favor of

those defenders of your faith will soon

forsak ake e you.

—Let

them look

read over the fourth and

at

fifth

my

motto

great and good Washington

on by both of ye sider

the

let

;

them

to yours

and

we know, that the

liable to be

imposed

those political preachers con-

Belteshazzar,

of

fate

for

was

let

chapters of Daniel

and confess that they are very applicable

John Adams's administrations,

—

and

then

confess

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

/

whether the death he brought upon himself was not just

and

committed

His

 

has been the

fall

fall

the

considering

merciful,

of the

—and

so

Monarchical party in the

To tax us

with one another.

he had

was sudden and great

They attempted

United States.

crimes

to set us all at

as cruelly as the

war

Jews

were by the Egyptians, to put gags in our mouths, so that

or

we dared not

Treasury,

some

or

half a

open our

to

lips in th the e WarWar-Of Offi fice ce

Custom-Houses of America

dozen

upstart

clerks

and

least

informers

should bear false witness against us and bring us up to the bull-ring of persecution.

Those

were

hard

times,

Hamilton,

Mr.

and

al-

though perhaps you did not directly sanction such illiberality

at

the

;

I have

seen you smiling with pleasure

heart-scalding

effects

it

produced;

even

amongst some of your own old friends and compawar.

ritots in

How

could you

complaints of a good old whig

man

any

honest

my

in

being the

?

presence to

but surely you

;

monument

—

honest

never allow

I shall

you are

say that

have

that

smile at the

exposed

dis-

yourself,

enclosed a

living

as

spirit

 

LETTERS TO

8 of destruction

to

the

wealth and

prosperity of all

America.

may appear

This

to

some of your

rather an harsh expression, yet

endeavour to prove •'

it

to

is

my

be

to

intention to

be founded in truth,

to do, in the phrase of

expect

tt

friends,

one of your

as I

satellites

(Wolcott) in the course of this correspondence.

The schism that has been attempted foot is

on

by the Vice-President, amongst the republicans,

a thing totally beneath

die

to be set

and

rot

of

its

own

my

notice, because it will

corruption, and

we

shall have

no more of those cloudy days of terror which graced the late administration, but suffer

still

I

dis-

can not

myself to believe that you could prostitute your

talents to sanction th that at di disg sgra race cefu ful l system.

tainly

must have a proper respect

that

to be estimated

is

You

cer-

for the character

of you by the children of fu-

But the schism attempted by Burr, although

turity. it

is

—

despicable in

still

my

as

eyes,

is

the founders

of

know

a doubt behind, that you either

leaves

something of

its

origin,

a time, you must

after

or,

—

have suffered yourself to approve of the plot

hope

I

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. not.

—

It

is

for reasons

from chimerical

;

like

that I

these,

am

»

and they are

although I

am

from

all

enemy

to

ready to join in the general

approbation of your valuable abilities, stemiousness

far

obliged to view you in

the light of a very desperate and dangerous society,

and your

pecuniary considerations and

aball

other sublunary things I

do not mean to hurt your private feelings, but

only to

make some general

political career,

think must

from

now be

its

observations

Alpha

to its

upon your

Omega, which I

fast approaching,

from your con-

nection with so scurrilous a wretch as he

who could

have penned the pamphlet subscribed by master Junius

Philcenus,

rance, ful

whose insolence

—whose my

equal to his igno-

whose connection with you must be disgraceBillingsgate style

brutal British-Porcupine in

is

next

letter, or

—But

is

lower than even the

he shall be dissected

some other

it

letter in this series,

which

down

I have sat

defence

than the patriotism

;

to write for

no other reason

honor, virtue, and

of truth,

unsophisticated patriotism.

complicated schemes.

real

—Unlike your

—

Unlike Adams's dreams.

—

Un-

 

LETTERS TO

10

Duer's financial operations, which you had the

like

folly to father.

The very lengthy introductory-apology which master

faces

Philaanus's

His

the

lowest

debut,

us that he

filth

however, is

—who

own

office,

of sweep-chimney's

perhaps

is

expectants.

dialect.

intended

to

shew

—he

nor would

offered to him, let

Of which number

phrase, that he's not one, he him-

has taken up so

excellence

—no,

a sportsman, by the use of the word

 Bevy of hungry he vows in Yankee self

not,

by the same hand that afterwards sinks

never, written into

was

pamphlet,

pre-

many pages

to define his

never was an expectant for any

he it

accept of one

were

be ever so lucrative

might Oliver Wolcott publish

?

it

to

be

—As well

to the world the bare-

faced assertion, that he himself was the entire and sole

author of a lame defence, lately published, of

the

late

tell

administration

;

—or

have the effrontery to

the people of the United States, that he did not

come

to

New- York

to get it corrected

by the centre flugel-man of

all

and amended

mischief,

— who

is still

the rallying point for the out-casts of republicanism

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

—whose

meetings, Cacusses,

are not so secret as the junto

11

and stratagems,

plots,

may

vainly imagine.

Their frequent intrigues at New- York will never be construed into

innocent

visits of private friend-

The Jersey- Jove's races through the three mid-

ship.

dle states

are not all probably intended

personal respect to the fallen angels royal standard

others

whom

after, all

treasonable

of an intended

—neither did Luther Martin, and many

I

may

come here

not you Mr.

as visits of

probably make mention of here-

to

New- York

Hamilton, at the

style

nothing

for

expressed

?

—Have

yourself in a very

town-meetings amongst the

Cartmen or the Shoe-makers

—something

about dic-

tating to the President of the United States whatever

laws and regulations you pleased

By

stirring

up

a

sort

?

By what means

of rebellion

in

?

the eastern

states

Shall we not have the freedom of election allowed us to choose a good and virtuous

dent?

—Would

man

for our Presi-

you and Dayton have dragooned us

out of our right

much

rogated too

of suffrage

?

—You

have always

ar-

dominion to yourself, over the minds

 

LETTERS TO

12 of men.

—You

were

not

Washington, for I will

mander

call

You

in chief.

pleased

said, as

of General Malcom,

lips

him I

with

the inspired

such, for

our com-

was

from the

told,

Washington was

  that

to-

unequal to the task of commanding the revolu.

tally

tionary armies

;

excepting

cers

—no

duty.

Sir

and that there was none of the General

man

will

virtues of your favorite

depreciate

the talents

Greene,

;

qualified

for

offi-

that

deny the great and noble

but,

of the

when you presumed

to

hero of his

virtuous

country, you added no laurels to the brows of Greene

:

—all-hallowed be the memory of each of them. As

to

your own merits and services, they would

have been handed down to posterity with their just approbation had you stuck by the good old cause of republicanism, but

when we saw you

so

soon after

the revolution shooting yourself like a tangent into the atmosphere of monarchy, and attempting to im-

pose it

it

on the people under

federalism

false colours

when you knew very

— by calling

well

it

was

no

more than a stepping stone toward tyranny

we considered

all

the

dark intrigues and

—when

deep-laid

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. plots of your party flowing

destruction,

to

overwhelm

on so

time to stem the torrent, and fected

— by

—

us it

13

fast, like it

was

a tide of

high

then

has happily been

ef-

the removal of you and your dangerous

army of informers,

speculators,

and dragooners of the

people, from the high stations ye held over the affairs

of this before

now happy in

the

blessings

That you

ment.

country, which never was secured

monarchy,

is

essays of Mr.

the

young

plot

well

and good govern-

have acknowledged the federal

all

constitution to be no

of peace

more than a sham

known by

the various speeches and

Adams and many

confidant, Fenno,

to introduce a

others and even

who published

his

pamphlet entitled  desultory observations,

by

maron

the affairs of the United States.

The

which your party has experienced was therefore no more than you deserved, and I believe as fall

justly inflicted on ye, as the zer,

as

mentioned in

my

length satisfied with the that

punishment of Belteshaz-

motto.

The people

are at

tranquility and prosperity

surrounds them, they can sleep in peace without

being

terrified

with the shouts of warriors.

— They are

 

14

LETTERS TO

not betrayed by spies

— they enjoy the light of heaven

without being insulted and imprisoned by excise-men

—

they can transact their commercial and other relaBut you tions without going to a stamp-office &c. will not piness.

permit us to live in this tranquility and hap-

—The

sequence,

are

disbanded few, who have

and

in

tain

are

in

treasonable

of

night Caucusses, which

which

me, of Junius Philcenus,

if

dound

you to

Sir,

it

is

the

strongly sus-

a handsome specimen of the

is

were of the number or

in

The pamphlet now before

men who encouraged

your fame

in-

it is cer-

New- York, and

societies,

pected you are a principal.

malignity of the

some

the news-papers, in pamphlets

frequently held in

management

and

trumping up

everlastingly

famous falsehood

lost their con-

character.

its

it

publication,

will never re-

The world

has

never yet heard from Mr. Jefferson, the real causes of

many It

of the removals he

was lord chief justice

man

has been obliged to make. Mansfield's opinion that a office

shou sh ould ld neve ver r give

his reasons for the removal of those

who should render

at the

head of a public

themselves deserving

of

it

— and

who knows what

 

15

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. proofs, ers,

what complaints, what

may have been

letters

and strong vouch-

Mr. Jefferson, of the

laid before

lost the confi-

conduct of many of those who have Yet they will not rest dence of the administration

ill

—

quiet under their imaginary disgrace, but for ever keep

up a

fire

of slander against him.

own

for their

It

would be better

sakes they would be silent,

if

as,

the

President should be urged to publish the reasons of

some of their removals, their chagrin

—

it

better for

would, perhaps, only add to

them

to

remain contented

with the simple punishment of removal, than have the also

complicated disgrace exposed.

public

 

being

characters

There never was so great a crowd of

offices filled

maculate

of their

by men who were every one im-

—Humanity

is

liable to error.

nance and support which, I

am

The counte-

convinced, you give to

the Evening Post, and to most of the same description of scandalous

ment

to

prints, as well as

the encourage-

such reptiles as Junius Philcenus,

is

so dis-

gusting to the true friends of America, that you have

drawn down

their

indignation upon yourself.

You

have deserted the cause of genuine republicanism,

 

LETTERS TO

16

and

standard of Aristocracy.

fled to the

post of high

rank among

Duke

the

You held

of Braintree's

well-born sons, until you were almost ashamed of

and him. for

me

him.

Your

to

addressed to him,

letter,

it

is sufficient

that you most heartily despised

believe

—But, your enmity against

tration,

a

the present Adminis-

You

proceeds from very different motives.

—you cannot look with the same degree of con-

do not

tempt on the

abilities

and virtues of Mr. Jefferson

with which you viewed the weakness and vanity of Mr. Adams.

Your pretended disapprobation of the

President's conduct,

you the compliment heart approves

of

will

pay

to say, that I sincerely believe

your

is

it.

only external

for, I

The chief objection

the displacing of some not,

;

men who

to

could not,

him

is

—would

concur with the salutary and absolutely neces-

sary measures that he has adopted for the preservation

of the government.

Suppose

instance, elevated to the to be

Sir,

that you were, for

Presidential chair, and were

made acquainted with some

mal-practices in the

various departments of the administration

not remove those

men from

office

—would you

whom

you should

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. find to be guilty?

And

yet there are

I

17

must think you certainly would.

many

hold their places under Mr. Jefferson haps, he does not yet

who

still

because,

per-

—Suppose

Sir,

of this description

know

;

their faults

you, as President of the United States, were to be substantially convinced in the

most unequivocal manner,

that any officer of considerable

good

fat salary,

consequence, with a

should live so dissipated a

be obliged to borrow money from

all his

life as to

industrious

neighbours to support his extravagance, nay even to obtain

it

in a surreptitious

under the cloak of his his

own

private use,

wards to pay

ful transaction,

the

money

or

office

this

—and

officer

secure

—he

should apply

and leave the merchant

over again

it

manner from a merchant,

it

after all this

it

after-

shame-

should refuse to refund

—but

suffer

himself to be ex-

posed by a suit in the Mayor's court, which he put as long as the court

and, finally,

when

getting out an

would permit

if

off

his lawyers to do it

the merchant was on the point of

execution, he was astonished to find

the cause was removed into another court.

Hamilton,

to

I say Mr.

you were President of the United States 3

 

18

LETTERS

would you not remove dence

I

?

But

am

Sir.

this

from your

officer

confi-

sure you would.

this

only one instance

is

which might be mentioned dent

TO

out

to sheAv that

of

many

the Presi-

in possession of sufficient information to

is

duce him to act as he has done

;

and

that, so far

in-

from

treating those discarded gentlemen with cruelty, he

keeps their faults secret, which

he could have adopted. fact,

courts,

and

to

let

method

to

the

records

of

the

the information of one of your most

intimate friends at the bar.

Now,

the mildest

For the proof of the above

need only refer you

I

is

me

ask

public affairs are not

my

— Verbum

sat.

fellow-citizens,

now lodged

whether our

in safer hands than

they would have been, had the people suffered them to

remain in the hands of

have described terests of the

—

is

men

of such characters as I

not the monied and the landed

country as safe in the hands of our

present happy administration, as

it

could have been

under the government of the former rulers not, at

least,

in-

as

—have we

good security for the honor of our

wives and daughters

 

19

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

Your amorous these

transactions I will not

unless

letters,

should provoke

me

some of the

to it

r

hint at in

scribbling

fools

by using such low indelicate

innuendos as the pamphlet now alluded to

is

stuffed

Desperate indeed must be the situation of that

with.

faction

who would

hire such scurrillous scribblers.

It

has been said of the people of Connecticut, that they

had

for the

four years, taken the shine

last three or

of dissimulation from every other state or nation

poor Irish not excepted.

But the whole

—the

state of

Con-

necticut cannot produce half a dozen such creditable

gentlemen as have broken into this country, within a

few years from Caledonia.

Take

notice, Sir, I

reflection on that country in general, late

some Scotch blood,

with yourself.

I

now

as probably

confine

my

mean no

because I circu-

may be

remarks to

the case the Cal-

lender at Richmond, and John Wood, lately of New-

York,

who have been

—Mr. Wood society —he

narchical club tion

to

any

is

really a valuable acquisi-

is

teacher of half a dozen

languages, none of which can he speak or write this

 

mo-

so kindly received into the

 

—

if

be not presumption, I know not where imper-

LETTERS TO

20 tinence

One

end.

will

day, like

French negro-landing, he the world that he that he was a liar is

the

man who upon

to write

believe him

when we shores true

?

?

when he

told the the truth

 

—

asserts

yet this

who will

and government

religion,

an handsome importation

it

was

man

to our

them could know any thing

of the

him and the

neither of

interests

and the next he

has had the assurance to undertake

—what

hail'd

truth by affirming to

tells

a liar,

is

Mr. Lang, on the

of America,

wheel-barrow

But they

will try their

Every cow-boy in Scot-

hands, also, at book-making.

land attempts to become an author, and with

the

ef-

frontery of Belzebub they will venture neck and limb

on writing a book

and when they are found out

;

terwards to be nothing better than

common

and impostors, their character stands ation as

it

was

gain notoriety,

Guy Faux

did,

They

before.

much and

in the it

is

with a similar reward. I

must repeat

make no

 

my

allusion

in as

af-

plagiarists

good a

lose nothing,

situ-

and they

same way that the famous

to be

hoped they may meet

In making this observation,

former declaration, that I mean to or

reflection

upon that country

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

which has produced and virtue

as

so

many men

21

of as great abilities

any nation whatever.

This most disgraceful and unnatural enlistment of

Wood and

Calendar into the monarchial-federal corps

can never aid or assist to raise up those

men who

have justly lost their consequence in the eyes of the public

;

but who are striving hard to deceive about

millions of sensible

five

they,

—the

discomfited,

people into

the idea, that

and discarded few

—are

the

only men fitted to hold the reins of government.

Was

not right and wise to snatch the whips from their hands ? Such desperate men as these are would it

now wade up

to their

necks in blood to recover their

former stations, and like Milton's Prince of the power of foul let it

airs,

they would rebel against any government

be ever so well administered, unless they were

to be

the

supreme

dictators.

No wonder

that

the

people of such an enlightened Country as ours, should take the reins, the whips and the spurs those Jehus. again,

it

And

if

must happen

away from

they should ever recover them in consequence of

some

extra-

ordinary anodynes being treacherously administered

 

22

LETTERS TO

to lull the people into a profound sleep, whilst

they

It is not their abilities, either

were Paoli-ing them.

poli liti tici cian ans, s, printe printers, rs, or soldiers, as writers, painters, po

that can give

of

mankind

—

them a superior

the confidence

title to

we have always experienced

because,

the superior powers of the republican spirit whenever

they were forced or provoked to exert

And

it.

so it

will be for ever more, amen.

In

my

tice of

next

letter,

I shall probably take

—But

your hopeful young scribe Philasnus

I should tire you too

here

some no-

make

a

pause

much

—

borrowed

language of

who

conceited

himself,

doubt, a second Cicero, (as I

and found wanting ernment

of

at the first onset, I will

in the

your friend Asmodeus,

Daniel) for   you have

lest

may

call

no

myself a second

been weighed in the balance,

—and your dominion over the gov-

the United States shall

be taken from

you and divided amongst the old whigs and republicans.

Tom Callender.

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

23

LETTER

II.

Sir,

u IN

addressing you,

your young scriblerus,

saith

not

 I am

actuated by any of those motives which have gathered around you such a bevy of hungry ex-

by him, the

shall

my

amanuensis,

said

am

neither

In conformity to the plan attempted

&c.

pectants,

can safely

say, that,

by any such motives:

actuated

I

I

—nor

respect for Mr. Hamilton's literary abilities,

intimidate

me

who

up

takes

into the submissive stile of Phil^nus, five

and twenty pages of

his

pamphlet

about himself and his wonderful acquirements, and political

and religious

make no apology to

you

greatest

the contrary, I will

to the public for writing these letters

whom

Sir,

On

tenets.

Machiavel

I have always considered as the in

America,

although

never

I

thought you were the greatest man. This was the opinion of Bishop Talleyrand

thou

wert

the

Saviour

of

this

happy

:

land.

whether the bishop did or did not express those

ments

to Doctor Smith, of

That

But senti-

South Carolina, over a bottle

 

LETTERS TO

24 of wine,

is

a query of

little

consequence

to the

world

;

as

William Smith's character has been tolerably well

defined by Doctor Ramsey, to whoever will take the trouble to look into the Charlestown news-papers at

the time of their contested election.

The high-flowing

of yourself

stile

which only ob-

scures the understanding without convincing

not attempt upon the good sense of

my

I shall

it,

fellow-citizens,

neither will I box the compass of dictionaryship like

Webster, Coleman, Phileenus, and

messieurs

Co.

to

language of which they were never originally

steal

stile,

mean not

your lofty nor mimic the low cant of Coleman and Callencler

possessed.

—one

I

whom,

of

dominion,) relation

;

say Sir,

is

my

(the

I

new

ally

to ape

of the

Hamiltonian-

name-sake, although he

because

is

no blood-

he himself told me, that he was

greatly afflicted with a weakness of the nerves, a dis-

order with which none of

have ever been pestered. lest

my

family of the Callenders

As an

instance of this, and

any of yours or the Vice-President's friends and

gladiators should imagine that I

about naming the Revenue

was any way bashful

officer

whom I

have hinted

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. at in

my

first letter, I

25

here beg leave to refer to Mr.

Troup who brought the

suit against him,

and

if

he

should hesitate on the business, I can appeal to the

merchant,

who

will substantiate the fact,

and who told

me, he was resolved to lay the state of his case before the President of the United States. that I go

upon good ground

—You may perceive

and

;

must appear

it

evi-

dent to your superior intellect, that although there

may be means

one

man

in

America who would use

to get rid of a rival, I dread

with respect to you,

Sir, I

him

second-

not.

declare, that, so far

But,

from

suspecting you of countenancing so base a proceeding, I

am

heartily convinced of your strict adherence to

the principles of a soldier and a man, and that you

would detest any wretch that would implicate upon himself such a vile suspicion. I think

it

necessary to

private opinion of

widely I

am

differ

you

make

this declaration of

as a gentleman,

with you in general

confident, I

am

my

though I may

politics.

From

you,

perfectly secure, with respect to,

any foul mode of resentment sider all your allies in the

;

but,

Sir, I

do not con-

same honorable point of

 

26 of view.

LETTERS TO

After the dark-handed conspiracy of a certain

conceited lawyer, who,

to

get rid

would use adventitious means,

it is

of an

opponent,

high time for the

genuine friends of America to look sharp.

men

as these

were to rule the

The

pest to society voters

literary assassin

is,

undoubtedly, a great

but the savages who undertake to bully

;

at times

of election,

be

should

time,

we should soon

of the liberties and prosperity of

witness the death

America.

roast,

If such

or,

indeed, at any other

marked, and I have

watched their conduct

so

minutely

as to be able to develope

most

of their secret intrigues for the attainment of power.

The base and cowardly attacks made upon republican

New- York, Philadelphia, and other

parts

of the United States, will not soon be forgotten.

The

printers at

circumstance of Duane's being held fast by one of the strongest

men

in America, whilst the son of a conserv-

ator of our laws played off the valour of his

fists

upon

his face, is such an instance of turpitude, as, I hope, I shall never hear of an equal to

give

Duane

venge.

for not

It is true

nor shall I easily

for-

having taken an exemplary

re-

;

he challenged the youth, who

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. generally allowed, modestly refused to

Democrats may here suppose I to their systems

—nor

am

I.

am

27

meet him.

The

not altogether up

—Neither

did I ever con-

it

is

sider the magistrate alluded to, nor his secretary Dallas,

nor Ingersoll,

ernor,

intended for the next gov-

is

true republicans.

as

reasons,

who

could

I

here

men

but I leave the decision to such

been in habits of intimacy with them. light do I view

lican

—neither

ing your opposition merical monarchy. that I

am

not very

Mr. Bloomfield

art thou, Mr. to

You

much alarmed

pointed royalists

— or

brother Jonathan.

Duke

in the states is

no repub-

of Braintree's chi-

here naturally

will

list

observe

of timid scribblers

at the resentment of disap-

furious

the

For

thunder bolts

they attack

if,

me

they take

me

—

am

of

in front I

will endeavor to defend myself as well as I can if

have

Hamilton, notwithstand-

the

not amongst the

as

In the same

some leading characters

of New-York, Jersey, &c.

my

give

—and

it

will not be

The sportsman-like phrase of Philamus

at the onset

in the rear

with your consent.

I

sure

of his pamphlet might induce some honest fellows of

 

28

LETTERS TO

the chace to follow of

him through

them should give a

the forest

;

but

view-holla, he will not

—and

within a mile of the hunt

culated for a huntsman, he

is

so far

if

any

come up

from being

cal-

incapable of performing

the duty of a whipper-inn to a pack of well trained

harriers.

On purchasing at

the pamphlet, I carelessly opened

page 48, and on reading lines

7

5, 6,

it

and 8 could

not restrain a laugh at master Philosnus's sagacious re-

marks on the conduct of Mr.

Jefferson.

He

accuses

the President, of having expressed   his contempt for

members

their (the

of the late ejection) understand-

by answering their reasonable and respectful

ings,

re-

monstrances with a pompous display of logical non-

and angry recriminations.

sense

—Who

is

there amongst

the sons of the monarchical-feds that can explain to

us the meaning of logical nonsense

from writing,

as

soon as possible

;

?

Stop the youth

otherwise he will

put an extinguisher over the dying flames of aristocracy.

It is really

pamphlet. it

wasting time to look over this poor

Nor would any one think of doing

it,

not for the general conviction that Mr. Hamilton

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. approved of suffer

its

publication.

Sir,

why

29 will

you not

an experiment to be made in the art of simpli-

fying government under the ferson

;

were

as

management

of Mr. Jef-

you desired when you led the van under

the administration of the great and good, but

much

imposed on Washington, with your complicated plans

—

all

you asked from the opposition then, was

them a

fair trial

;

—which was

consented to

;

?

to give

and not

only your plans, but your language and your pen were

allowed too great a range of absolute licentiousness.

Your party

New- York were ready not only

in

port you with their purses but even to in the streets

who

to sup-

mob any man

differed in opinion with themselves

and you.

The

result has been, as I have already said, in con-

formity with

my

text

—your dominion has been taken

from you, &c. by the general consent and will of the people

on

whom

you

calculated

to

enforce

your

schemes by threatenings and hard blows.

The

various systems of intrigue carried on, by your

associates, at that

time, are fresh in

The attempt made by a

my

private citizen,

recollection.

when

in

Eu-

 

LETTERS TO

30 rope,

at

the time of the debate upon your funding

system, to purchase the whole debt which the United States

owed

to France,

and

to sell this contract to the

Hopes of Amsterdam, who were

to furnish the

money,

was a subject in the senate, who rejected the nomination of that citizen,

ambassador

to

by the President,

France

;

to

the place of

yet he was afterwards appoint-

ed,

through the intrigues of Eobert Morris, whose

relation to

him was no more than being concerned

in

a plan for selling lands in the moon, to European speculators, which,

when

Hence

not to be found.

jjroperly enquired for, were

the depreciation of the

character in Europe originated, and

ican

Amer-

hence the

subsequent reduction of the financier-general of the

United States, to the humble station of a birth in the jail

of Philadelphia.

old

saying,

If he

 that honesty

had only considered the is

the

best policy.

He

never would have consented to be concerned with this Diable Boiteaux, in Europe.

that

who ruined his

Perhaps

credit

was from

it

and consequence

this

circumstance

John Adams took up the idea which he has

patriotically expressed in the

book he wrote in London,

 

31

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

 A

yclept

wherein he

Defence

of

the

says, that the

American

Americans

Constitution  

have no char-

—you were then prob-

acter.

Thank you Mr. Adams

ably in

the

same way of thinking that the Diable

Boiteaux expressed lately in the Senate of the United States

when he

said the people themselves were their

own worst enemies

?

so

what an elegant

figure in rheto-

ric

—

was

It

this to

come from the

such a Cicero

lips of

was kind, and merciful, indeed, when bellowed

from the lungs of a man of the most contracted ities

amongst the His

effrontery.

furniture, real

?

feds,

abil-

but of the most unlimited

hard-eanied

or

estates,

and equipage have not any

fine

effect

house,

upon the

republicans to produce respect for his person or

his merit

—

I heartily despise both,

and should pass an

evening with more genuine comfort in company with a Poughkeepsie

farmer, than with

bought or borrowed

him and

all

his

In the same estimation,

lustre.

do I hold Mr. Bingham, the breeches-maker's son, at Philadelphia. at

my

classing

The

trade, I hope, will not take offence

There are many

him amongst them.

brokers in New-York, &c.

who

ride in coaches, but

who

 

LETTERS TO

32

would appear more in character the

streets

in

if

buttermilk-carts,

they were to parade or

the arms

at

of

bakers' wheelbarrows.

The vulgarity of some of the eastern members of Congress, to

is

intrigue

only to be equalled by their inclination

and

low

cunning.

most unlimited obedience

them be ever

so

professed

your propositions,

to

extravagant

They

;

yetwhen

it

came

the let

to

of the U.

voting for President

States, &c.

you, Sir, had written a terrible

Adams,

as a private

electors to influence

carry

it,

letter

be

circular, to

them

and afterwards

against

first

John

sent to the

your weight would

as far as

was again published by

it

The whole

Lang, in New-York, &c.

although

effect it

had on

the election, both in the Eastern and Southern states,

wa s

—That your

make

letter did not

—nor did John Adams such experience as

lose

this, it

by

it

is

but

your interest and influence could

a single proselyte

a single vote. fair to

judge, that

effect nothing.

calling of caucausses, therefore, at

From

The

New- York, of the

discontented lew, ought not to be considered, as any

very dangerous combination against republicanism

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

33

They, undoubtedly, were for an aristocracy.

was against them

a

little

—he

was

for a

Adams

monarchy

they could not agree, and republicanism came out of the

The

fire like

again

pure gold.

particulars of these causes

explain at not a very distant day,

and

effects I

shall

—nor shall any petty

scribbler like Philaenus prevent me.

The

intolerable

use of detraction propagated by your associates, have

brought down destruction on themselves

—you shewed

them an example long

preferred

xample, You shewed them another exam

same complimentary ridicule

you pronounced,

when you

against Washington,

ago,

Greene.

in the phillippic

Gov.

style,

in

Clinton,

in the

when you attempted

the

letters

to

you wrote

for

the Daily Advertiser in the years 1787-88, under the

The

signature of H. G. ington, was no

of those essays, on Wash-

firs

more than barking

at

the

moon: and

the second, against Clinton, had no better issue, altho' «

you put up Judge Yates, a good republican, against friend

— So

it

has been

peregrinations in politics. better,

with you

his

throughout your

They would have succeeded

had they been grafted on a sounder stock

 

LETTERS

34

your

standing

army, and

judged things. next century,

TO

excise,

were

equally

ill-

They might have answered

for the

our posterity should then

become

if

such abject tools to self-important architects of gov-

ernment

ment said,

as

can,

you and Mr. Adams.

and has been

But

simp si mpli lifi fied ed, , as I have already

and we find that republicanism may,

shall,

be established.

you could agree with not so

much

tied

It

me

govern-

Sir,

would be well

for

in this sentiment.

down by your promises

can,

and

you

You

if

are

to aristoc-

racy,

but

regain

that you

might make one more

your station amongst republicans.

effort to

This

may

appear to some as a sly invitation to join the good old party

;

but, be assured, Sir, they generally think they

can do very well without you.

You have had recourse

to

a vast quantity of press-

work, and printing-offices in your time, to carry your points,

let

them be good

or

when you were considered by

evil

;

and

remember

I

the printers of

New- York

as inspector-general of every thing they should bring

Adieu

forth.

to

such days

You must now

 

on your own bottom, nor will

all

the Thunderer of

 

ALEXANDER

35

HAMILTON.

Jersey can do, forward you an inch in your designs. I

know not of any

circumstance, plan, or scheme of

yours, that has been, in anywise likely to

manent.

Blame who you

I can scarcely

of your

imagine that

own brain

vanity, like that

You had bad

;

let

will for this it

me

become

per-

defalcation,

was altogether the child rather suppose

it

was

by which Mr. Adams was actuated.

advisers,

and they led you

stand

astray.

TOM CALLENDER.

LETTER

III.

Sir,

OOME

may

of your friends

pretend to say,

it

un-

is

generous to attack you in print, as you are out of fice,

and have nothing This

tration.

thing to do with it

—but

it

with the present adminis-

to do

true

is

enough,

—in favour of

you have something

plot-work

crumble

that

to

is

dust,

plans have done.

to

you it,

almost

any

not

or in support of

which

it;

will

your other political

all

—We must and

have

do in the Rye-house-

brewing against

as

of-

and

will have a quiet

 

LETTERS TO

36

peaceable government

keep

—

in despite of all

it

You

fallen angels.

we have it now, and we will the Macbeth witchcraft of the

see I go freely into the

The

of examining your great works.

makes one item winking at

of

what you have

many

to

improprieties

little

labour

Pilot-boat

answer

for.

man Your

committed against

the people's peace, as well as their pockets,

is

another

and your countenancing the publication of such trash as Junius Philaenus is a third, with fifths,

The

and octaves finesse

Thomas

to

fill

up your

many

other thirds,

concerto.

and stratagems which were practised on

Paine, by Robert Morris &c. in the years 1785,

and 1786, whilst he was

my

They

recollection.

commerce)

Philadelphia, are fresh in

at

enemies of American

(the

ruined his character then, with his

by prevailing on him

friends,

to write a

own

pamphlet in

favour of the bank of North-America, which was com-

posed of a set of traders, not bankers.

They knew

All the banks in Europe except-

nothing of banking.

ing the bank of England, are composed of

have

CASH-capitals

there, because the

;

none

banker

of is

your

men who

scrips

under an honorary

 

37

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

gation not to

interfere in

he limits himself

to the

any sort of merchandize

buying and selling of bullion.

But, in America, the banking gentry are

wet and dry goods

;

and when they want

upon a purchase of rum,

all traders in

to

speculate

sugar, or East India crockery,

they contrive to have a partner who sends his note to the

bank

means

to

to

the directors to get

be discounted, in order to provide the

make

that very purchase

—his partner —will

that note

done, in

:

his friend

amongst

certainly endeavour

preference to a better note,

and a better man, and better security than the Here in

is

bad

banking indeed,

to reject

will

other.

good paper and take

tell

obli-

Your Philsenus attempts

to give us a balance-sheet

of the state of American affairs

;

but

let

him,

he can,

if

explain to us the propriety of the above system

On

 

a

similar plan was the bank of the United States established:

—

It

was pretended that *it was

support the

to

—and so was. But what government —A government that was yet government

?

upon the to

of

sort

it

to

a

be raised

ruins of the present constitution, according

any construction the Aristocrats might choose to

 

LETTERS TO

38

put upon it; and all this was to be effected by force Several unconstituof arms, and banks, and intrigue. forced through the

tional acts were

influenced majorities; and

small

legislature, by-

the power

of the

country, and the liberties of the people were about to

be divided, like loaves and or an

hundred

aristocrats.

were to be installed

Adams

arrived at

;

fishes,

amongst about

fifty

— Various orders of nobility

and on the very day that Mr.

New- York

to take the chair of Pres-

ident of the Senate, a motion was made, by one of his particular friends, in

on the

officers

three ranks or

the senate, to confer titles

of government,

degrees of the

and

to

erect two

members of the

or

leg-

islature.

Let any person look into the minutes of

the senate, then kept by Mr. Otis, (with the assistance

of some

of the

senators,

he was not competent

for

himself to that trifling task) and

it

will be discovered,

that the senate was employed, for the greater part of

two or three weeks, government, on that

was

so often rejected

that they fairly

at

the

organization of the

first

Illustrious

and which

business,

by the house of representatives,

shamed the senate out of

and they,

it;

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

instead of ordering the disgraceful transaction erased from their books, with to its

39

'

to

be

the tenacity of a child

hobby-horse, have entered on their minutes, in

words exp xpr res essi siv ve of their sorrow,

conform themselves gard to

titles

to the

at not

being able to

customs of Europe, in

re-

of Nobility; but that, from a desire of

keeping up a friendly intercourse with the house of representatives, they would, for the present, postpone

the further consideration of the subject.

have not entirely given up

all

Thus, they

hopes of reviving

some convenient moment hereafter;

and

at

it

thus this

bantling of Mr. Adams's brain was put out to nurse

 

I

wish they had torn the minutes of that debate from their books,

and sent them

to Braintree

with him on the

morning he ran away so early from Washington rather than bear the sight of seeing Mr. Jefferson sworn into I

office.

my

must not omit mentioning

opinion,

debate,

had you

given

it

at the

time

here, that it

of the

is

illustrious

your hearty and sincere support,

it

would have been carried through both houses of the legislature,

royal

and we should now be disgusted with a

almanack

published

annually

containing

a

 

40

LETTERS TO

lengthy

list

of honorable Sedgwicks, right honourable

Thatchers, most honorable Ames', and most illustrious

Adamites.

Your conduct on

that occasion, therefore

deserves the highest approbation, whether

it

proceeded

from a luke-warmness to the scheme, or from a complete

contempt of the effeminacy of so ridiculous a

project. to

Indeed,

your credit,

if

it

would redound something further

you could yet prevail with some of

your friends in the present senate, to move for the erasure of all the minutes that were foisted into the

books on that subject.

And

in

doing this you would

only be acting in conformity with the opinions you express in your letter to Mr. dismissal

of the

army

at

Adams

Bristol.

so soon after the

You, I

am

sure

gained no money or estates by your rank or pay, but

he took care to feather his nest well for himself and

young

his

attack.

him

So that he could the better bear your

ones.

It

thus.

would make a good caricature Sitt Si ttin ing g sn snug ugly ly, , in a

warm

nest,

to sketch

on the top

of a large weeping- willow at Braintree, looking at your headless

body

as

approaches from Fort-Pit,

it

which might be represented

back ground

in the

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. flames

—Your

never bring

it

head, as you said

41

you would

yourself,

back otherwise, might be exhibited as

following after you like a balloon in the

Mr. sort

Adams

air,

whilst

should appear in a full bag-wig with a

of glory around his head, and vast

clouds in a

thousand fancied shapes and forms of coronets, sceptres,

kingdoms, and millions of

thrones,

garters.

On

his

stars,

and

a bulse of diamond with

left breast

The trunk

the order of the white duck in the centre. of the willow should have

scarlet-ribbond

like ivy in a spiral line with

several gilt mottos such

A

as   sola nobilitas virtus?

 

mori quam fcederare?

And

SfC.

high hovering in the straw.

a

air,

in

twining

Rege

Malum

let a large

owl appear

deo

et

the act of balancing a

Thus equipped and defended we leave him

moment

to

take a view

of your

down

mode

for

of bodily

all in

attack

—with a

full uniform, a

and your letter

in

truncheon in one hand,

must appear

the other, you

in

the act of kicking your great jack-boots against the root

of the willow, until the

who was placed

there by

Prussian

way of

cenitnel

alarm, and calls out to his Pa, quack

 

Embassador,

—seconds the

quack

 

quack

 

LETTERS TO

42

It

may offend some

to see Mr.

Adams

thus satirised

but I submit to the world, whether his conduct in running away in the manner he did from Washingseve vere rest st ce cen nsu sure re. . ton did not deserve the se ral

Washington behave in

he was

first

paid him

sworn into

all

this

office at

manner

—Did

to

Gene-

him when

No —he

Philadelphia.

the respect possible and assumed no other

consequence than that of a private citizen, and so did Mr. Jefferson, they both walked humbly in his train,

Mr.

Adams came down from

and I

recollect that he,

the Senate chamber

some how, neglected

shorten his sword whilst on the

stairs, so

that

on the steps and made a noise that put

mind of the

cat's feet to

it

first,

to fore-

trailed

me much

in

which a wicked boy had waxed

walnut-shells, in order to frighten a family at midnight

with suspicions of a ghost.

I also

recollect

on the

same occasion that when Mr. Adams entered the House

of Representatives in order to be sworn, Mr. Jefferson

was

still

Secretary of State, and had he been as cere-

monious

as the illustrious

senators wanted to be, he

gove vern rnme ment nt, , have have imwould, as second officer in the go low wed the President, and Gen. Washingmediately follo

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

43

ton being sensible of the propriety thereof, and feeling

himself only in the station of a private citizen, with that dignified simplicity and modesty that have ever characterized him, trance,

fell

and bowing

back on one side of the en-

to Mr.

Jefferson, whilst

with his

hand, he silently signified to him, to walk in before.

But Mr.

Jefferson,

without a moment's hesitation,

fell

back also on the other side of the door; and after bowing to the general, he stood up firm and erect.

It

was

the most interesting scene of elegant contention I had

ever beheld, but lasted only about two seconds, and the general

was obliged

more particular it

in

to

enter

first.

I

am

the

mentioning this circumstance, as

has been falsely propagated and published, that Mr.

Jefferson

was not an admirer of the general.

I believe

on the contrary he was the greatest bosom friend that the inspired Washington had in the world.

Let his

conduct on this occasion be compared to Mr. Adams's

flight,

me whether

and then answer

symptoms of

it

had any of the

Nobility.

Tom Callender.

 

44

LETTERS TO

LETTER

IV.

Sir,

UlNCE in

I

have ventured to

offer

my humble assistance

defence of the character of the virtuous

ington, against all detractors,

memory, the

it

here occurs to

villainous publication in

Essay by that lowest of Anti- Jacobin Review, vol.

all

5,

at Philadelphia

that infernal

appears to

enemy to

me

on

chief,

—

have ever

no, nor

our

di-

so busy in this city in defending

the fair fame of Col. Burr

cromby

the

page 547, which none of the

yet taken the trouble to contradict

who have been

my

London of an

rascals, Cobbett, in

Aid-de-camps of our Commander in

vines,

Wash-

— nor

the insolent Aber-

who was hand and

all

decency.

reflection, a little

glove with

I say, Sir, that it

strange, that

you

have never stepped forward to draw your pen in the defence of your old

commander.

It

is

still

more

strange that some of the clerical order have also omit-

ted to do pitiful,

'tis

it

;

and

it

is

more than

 

passing strange,

that the author of Seri riou ous s Considerations,

should find leisure sufficient from his holy studies, to

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

45

write a pamphlet of abusive language against Mr. Jefferson,

who

a better christian than either himself

is

or any of his

coadjutors; and yet he could overlook

the villainous slander of the British scoundrel, Cobbet. I appeal to

all

America, whether I can use any ex-

pression too harsh on such an occasion

endeavour to wipe

off the stain

I will

?

which that

now

ruffian has

attempted to cast upon the memory of a man,

  the

latchet of whose shoes he was not worthy to unloose.

The aid which was administered

New York and disgrace to the

to

Porcupine in

Philadelphia, will be an everlasting

memories of those who supported him

;

whilst the glory of Washington will rise higher and

higher in the estimation of every age hereafter.

In the book which I have alluded

made

to give a review of

on the front of the

list

to,

;

theone of which

we

is

is

American publications, and find a single

taining a criticism on two distinct and jects

an attempt

article

con-

separate sub-

the eulogium delivered by

a gentleman of the American revolutionary army on

the

character

Gen.

of

Washington.

—The

other,

a

prayer of a clergyman at the opening of an innocent

 

46

LETTERS TO

ceremony of respect

to

departed virtue, which hap-

pened shortly after the account of that great man's death had reached that

The

city.

anti-jacobin reviewer,

whose

to those of the old reviewers

is

abilities

like

compared

charcoal to dia-

monds, commences his criticism with a few lines of pirated language, and

afterwards falls into his

The

low and pitiful abuse.

paragraph

first

who

every individual were an insulated being, for

himself,

German

agreeably to the

new system

nil nisi

bonum.

—so

But

maxim

so long as salutory

long as moral inclinations for the use

and benefit of society

are to

be derived from the

conduct and characters of men,

who have made

conspicuous figure on the theatre of

of

lived

of a religious and political nature are to be

deduced

we continue

of such

  If

philosophists, no detriment to society could

— De mortuis

shall

—

of certain

accrue from a rigid adherence to the ancient

lessons

is

own

a

maxim,

to

reprehend a

as calculated to

life

strict

— so

a

long

observance

deprive mankind

the advantages of example, which interest alike

the heart and the understanding, and eminently con-

 

47

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. tribute to promote

verum

delineation of public characters.

To

paragraph an easy answer

this

only

many and

will offend not

it

must offend every excellent man

as

 

Accustomed

to

make

that any

when

good

all

meaning

true

tomed

and decency

it is

man

con-

a vile

will

to be, accus-

and

;

men

as

not yielding to the tide of popular prejudice sensible

due to

justly

sacrifices to truth,

instantly understand the sacrifice all truth

—True,

made by such

he says of himself, but which

to

is

of Washington, especially

sidered that the attempt has been miscreant.

know

to

attempt to diminish the respect that

memory

occurs.

excellent men, but

it

the

nil nisi

only rule worthy of attention, in the

the

is

The

the cause of virtue.

to his

— every

knows, that a long series of popular

opinion amounts as nearly to truth as any theorem in fluxions.

deny

it,

Sir Isaac

Newton would

not,

were he living,

although this cobweb-brusher of a book-store

has the spitefulness to oppose

it.

The Americans have not been commendations on their hero

too lavish of their

—for

the

effusion of a

few individuals, who

may have

the bounds

over-stept

 

LETTERS TO

48

of mechanic language, yet had, nevertheless, a good

word they sp spo oke and although they

intention in every

;

may have committed some modus

little

the

mistakes, in

in rebus, still their hearts, at the time they were

speaking, were forliter in re

—

this is

only borrowing

the words of one of the greatest English politicians.

In the

first instance,

we

find that the

philanthropy

and philosophy of ancient maxims are rejected,

make way

promote

for the nil nisi verum,   in order to

—

same

piece, the

condemns the episcopal

clergy, for

the cause of virtue writer, afterwards,

to

and, in

having deviated from the old

the

established

orthodox rules

and orders of the ages of ignorance and superstition.

He

pretends

churches

he

is

;

we

to

a knowledge of the

shall see

presently

on that subject

the heart and the understanding,

him,

if

he

nil nisi

bonum

;

says, are refused

ergo, he leaps

the bounds of both ancient and

and

interest

he were obliged to pay respect to the old

maxim, de mortuis all

of the

well informed

The advantages of example which equally

 

to

how

affairs

truth, and,

over

modern decency

under a mask of searching

after

ve-

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. racity, he, unequivocally,

attempts to hold up the char-

acter of one of the truest

example contrary

—

I

 

what

for

;

49

—not

am ashamed

Men

that ever lived, as an

for imitation

up

to follow

 

but quite the

this rascally in-

any further, nor would I have ever conde-

sinuation

scended to bring this impotent magazine into view,

were

it

not I

know many

individuals in

take a secret malicious pleasure foreigners,

who

America who

in supporting some

ultimately prove

to be

their deep-

rooted enemies. If the despicable author of the sinuate,

whieh

I

am

Review means

sure he does, that general

ington has not contributed to the cause

then

all

globe,

the good and great

men on

Wash-

of virtue

the

face of this

who have admired and

praised the virtue of our

must be very

ignorant, indeed, or this

Patriot Chief,

disg di sgra race cefu ful l Br Brit itis ish h

a

,

Reviewer must be so abominable

that Milton's description of Satan would not

afford colours sufficiently black to paint

There the

to in-

best

shall be

and

him

in.

millions of millions hereafter, of

bravest

of mankind, to

write in the most ardent praise of

speak

and

WASHINGTON.

 

LETTERS TO

50

His second paragraph goes thus

most improper of

suredly, the

:

all

 

A

church

is,

as-

places for the de-

The temple of Truth

livery of a professed eulogium.

should never be polluted by the strains of adulation.

And

flattery

more

gross, seldom,

we

conceive, escaped

the lips of man, in any place whatever.

'

Who

shall

delineate a just portrait of that character which was perfect in all

its

relations

the story of that above

—

all

'this

praise

life

be

— or

told,

what language

shall

where every action was

— the god-like Washington'

Again

?'

in

'

immaculate man.'

This language

really

is

impious, and what kind of credit can be given to the facts stated

by a man who

so far forgets himself as to

use it?

Our

fined to

the use of these unjustifiable

prin inci cipa pall lly y co connobjections, however, are pr

orator has not imitated

some of

of

;

dared his other sins are not so

commission as

shewn one

side,

sins

of

'

and that the

though indeed, by calling nies that there were

his

The

countrymen, who,

to stigmatize this

similar occasion,

on a and its sovereign

his

terms.

omission

;'

he

country

much

sins

has only

fair side of the picture

hero immaculate, he de-

any spots in

his character.

Pre-

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON,

51

sumptious and foolish man, to hold up a of perfection

'

to the world,

ants to admire

Thus

and to

and worship

it

on

call

'

its inhabit-

 

attempted

far has this impertinent reviewer

in his second paragraph,

a monster

and thus we reply

In every country, a church

is

the most proper place I appeal to all the

for delivering a funeral discourse.

world, if this reviewer doth not here express a self-evi-

proof of malice propense

buoyed up, as he was, by

?

a vain expectation of support from a party (heaven

be

praised,

there

country or climate

is

no party now existing in any

who does

not renounce and despise

him) of earning bread by the most dishonourable of all

meannesses

farther,

—the

sales of scandal

and with diabolical

—he

still

ventures

effrontery, insinuates, that

the temple of Truth had been polluted by the strains of adulation and flattery of credit

is

;

and boldly

asks,

to be given to the orator

who

what kind delivered

the eulogium?

This

is

indirectly telling the

spoke falsehoods within

Truth;

for,

all

the

little

gentleman that he

the walls of the temple of

attempts that

follow

that

 

LETTERS TO

52

by way of qualifying

assertion,

it,

express meaning of the writer. at

orator, it is

argumentum ad rem

But

,

;

for here he says,  

The

men and

in case he

things in America:

who dared

is

to

stigmatize

means that the

entirely

wrong

man was

a native of Great Britain, and,

had no

occasion

to

be

apologies of any foreign

propped

:

orator

that gentle-

it is

presumed,

up by the

emissary, for

meaning of the passage,  his other

this

Here an ab-

sovereign.

its

If he

broached.

was an American, he

some

orator has not imitated

and

country (England)

much

so,

shews, in almost every instance,

countrymen,

is

modify the words, by

to notice the calumniator.

this creature

solute lie

to

at least, I believe

a complete ignorance of

of his

had not been

highly probable that gentleman

would have obliged him

would descend

If he

more than three thousand miles

the distance of

from the

will never alter the

such

is

faint

the

sins are not so

the sins of commission as sins of omission.

As to the bullying words, country and

its

passed in the

sovereign,

camp

 

dared to stigmatize this

such su ch lang langua uage ge might have

at Saratoga, before the capitula-

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. tioD

53

of the brilliant nil nisi bonum general

this day, a threat like risibilty in

this,

but, at

;

can only serve to excite

every man's countenance, whose muscles

have not lost the power of smiling.

The

orator held

up the

fair side

of the picture, be-

cause there was no foul side to be shewn.

famous scavenger of literature this picture into a

The third publication

by attempting so lavishly

we

of the

as follows

:

—

 

reviewer's

We

iniquitous

are well aware that,

to diminish the respect

which has been

bestowed on the memory of Washington,

shall give serious offence to

worthy men. fices to

attempt to twist

monster of perfection.

division

is

shall

Yet, an in-

truth,

But,

we

are

many

accustomed

and we do not

excellent and to

make

sacri-

feel disposed in the pres-

ent instance, to yield to the tide of popular prejudice,

and shrink from the discharge of a public duty. the

Americans,

if

they think

commendations on their hero, blessed republic

—with that

proper,

 

their

for establishing their

we have nothing

to

do

and

as loyal

we never can contemplate the public

charac-

but, for ourselves, feeling as Englishmen, subjects,

lavish

Let

LETTERS TO

54

ter of

Washington, without seeing, as

feature, the horrid crime of rebellion,

but repentance can ever

Washington might be a hero;

Nor

the

this

is

which nothing

to

'God-like'

much

We

man.

If

Britain he was

we have

only protest '

to

we have not been very

by Robespierre, nor his '

declaration,

deist.

to his disinterestedness, of

said,

formerly by

Thomas

sycophants in America

dence so a salary)

it

;

which

so

and

its

much

who have

result

has been

in our

carried their impu-

he never even accepted

power to accuse those

gentlemen of advancing willful falsehoods.

Washington not only took care regularly, (for

the

Paine, and lately by other

far as to assert that

we have

at

approved of the French revolu-

tion in its commencement, its progress

 

a

immaculate,'

misinformed, general Washington was a

same time, that he

to

then,

have not forgotten his reception of the flag sent

him

As

which

To America,

enter against the spotless purity of this this

prominent

It is not success

efface.

diminishes the guilt of a criminal.

traitor.

its

General

to receive his salary

which certainly no blame could attach

him) but even

touched

a great

portion of the

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. salary of the ensuing year,

This

we know, was the

fact,

versy in

by which means he had an

of speculating with

opportunity

America, and

were never invalidated

55

the public

money.

subject of public contro-

the proofs

of

existence,

its

 '

 Angels and ministers of grace defend us such a bare-faced villain as this

—He

—from

Washing-

calls

ton a deist, and a speculator with the public

ney

?

—Where

 

where

wert thou

 

thou

Serious

Warning ? tomb

—All

—had

— Where

—

—

he been living, your ten thousand pens

would have leapt out of ten thousand wings fence

—but

wert

Trumpeter Voice of Washington was in the cold

Consideration asleep.

Camillus,

then,

Phocius, Publius, General, Royal-Fed?

mo-

he

was dead,

and you

expect promotions from him.

—Ye

all

could no

began

the rising-sun, John ohn Adams ams, of

whom

make

purposes.

a very tool for your

own

in his de-

to

longer

worship

you expected

The honor and pleasure of confuting the

to

villain,

devolves to me, and I wrote something similar to this,

which it

I sent to

had some

London nearly two

effect in

raising

years ago, where

up the resentment of

 

56

LETTERS TO

the

molished. I

and

time

the

at

citizens

Cobbet's

—that Washington was a pure

now

assert

it is

well

known

was

house

to every person

who

de-

christian,

ever

knew

him, that he was a liberal respecter of every religion, without being a persecutor.

I

next

affirm that

he

never speculated with the public money to the amount of a single cent, or a thousand, or a million of cents, dollars or pounds.

made by the

I lastly declare that the charge

British brute, of his having touched his

salary in advance,

as

is

abominable a

wretch were to assert that there

is

lie,

as if

no God.

any

The only

foundation which Cobbett had for the malicious falsehood, proceeded from a very ill-judged paragraph in

the Aurora, whilst that paper was conducted by B. F.

who was

Bache, father,

to

who had

publish

existing

it.

unfortunately

by

influenced

his

a private pique against Washington,

JSvery

one knows that there

is

a law

which allows the President of the United

States to receive dollars per

a

annum.

salary

The

of twenty-five

thousand

priv ivat ate e se secr cret etar ary y President's pr

was in the habit of taking up

this

salary,

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

57

either

monthly or quarterly, and he was duties of his

was a

trifling

It

office.

happened however that there

informality in the report of the Secre-

tary of the treasury, Wolcott, larize the items of the

He

the

regular in

who ought

to particu-

appropriatio ion ns for the year.

conceived that the law for paying the President's

salary

was

sufficient,

his report to

and he forgot

to

mention

the committee of ways and

it

in

means.

Thus, although the law existed for paying the President's salary, there

Some imp Bache,

of  darkness

who

specific appropriation.

communicated

it

publicity,

and

to

make

Washington was receiving pay

The British

this

to

old

influenced his son, the proprietor of the

Aurora, to give that Gen.

was not any

villain

inconsiderately

mistake, and has dared to publish

it

it

appear

in advance.

grabbed

at

the

world in

to the

the above paragraph in the Anti-Jacobin Review.

The truth must now of

common

intellect, that

nor his secretary,

blunder

;

clearly appear

to every

neither Gen. Washington,

knew any thing about

Wolcott's

the secretary went on in his usual

the law was

his

authority

man

— but

mode

with regard to the

 

58

LETTERS TO

taking up a single sixpence in advance

—there can be

no greater falsehood uttered.

Gen. Washington was

never in want of money for himself, neither did he ever take up any from the public coffers but for the

To follow the slanderer

best and noblest purposes.

any

farther,

'be

although

that

lieve,

would

superfluous

our

America suffered Cobbet review,

and subscribed

when they down

for

—and

sanctified to it,

I

really be-

gentlemen in

print that

anti-jacobin

the citizens of London,

see this statement, will not hesitate to pull

the fellow's house again about his ears.

But,

it is

too

much

the practice with partial politi-

cians to read those kind of scurrilous pamphlets.

They

the better for being detestable, and so

sell

was with Wood, Callender, Philsenus, and of the gang of detractors, other's

all

who have played

it

the rest

into each

hands too long, to the great disgrace of the

printing

art, as

well as the annoyance of the public.

To follow Cobbet through the whole of the review, would be too tedious therefore, select such ticularly

levelled

at

for

some of our readers

the

character and

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

thus:

I will,

paragraphs as seem to be par-

memory

 

general Washington.

;

59

His seventh phillippic proceeds

of

 

Whilst the congress was employed in passing their

mournful resolutions, and their funeral admonitions to the

pious inhabitants of the United States, they

were laughing in their sleeves at the dupes which they had made, and the impositions which they had

The

passed on the world.

fact

is,

ing the dissentions which prevail

that, notwithstand-

among

the contend-

ing parties of enlightened statesmen, in one wish they are

unanimous

nations. is

— to

deceive

But the attempt

dishonourable.

In

is

this

and

foreigners

foreign

as fruitless as the

wish

mourning,

pre-

general

scribed by patriotic hypocrisy, and enforced by popular authority, it

is

not an

members with crape on time, to hear

of the ticity

uncommon thing

to

their arms, and, at the

see

same

them vent maledictions on the memory One other

deceased of which

they

may

shew our readers what

fact,

on the authen-

fully rely, will

sort of

freedom of thought

and action the Americans are allowed

what sincerity of soul

is

suffice to

to enjoy,

and

concealed under the outer

 

LETTERS TO

60

trappings of woe.

why he

A

geutleman having been asked

did not wear crape on his arm, answered, that,

he thanked God, he

had

lost

neither

relation

nor

'What '

friend.

general

exclaimed

Washington

the other,

'

your

the

'was

querist,

friend?'

he was no man's friend

rejoined

'No,'

and

;

not

it

would

been a good thing had he died twenty years

have

This blunt declaration was

ago.'

immediately suc-

ceeded by a threat of vengeance from the querist;

and

it

was with great

difficulty that the

escaped the yankee punishment of

tar

gentleman

and

feather,

and that his house was rescued from destruction, by his consent to

wear a crape, and

ing publickly on a table

must not be supposed assertion, that

 

In

to ask

relating

pardon standthis

fact,

we

to acquiesce in the unqualified

general Washington was the friend of

no man; we are not sufficiently acquainted with the general's private character to

of so serious a charge

;

ing to believe, that a

and

so

warmly

we know how

vouch

for the validity

and we are extremely unwill-

man who

has been so highly

praised, in different countries, to appreciate

such praise, could really

 

61

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. deserve an accusation, which implies a disposition

we

should shudder to contemplate.

The circumstance, place in

New- York

;

though

or something similar did take

hut the gentleman alluded

to,

in

my

much

opinion, ought not to be

viewer, for trumping

it

had been nearly buried fore,

up

whom

make

remark

a

on

world again, after

to the

I

it,

it

I will not, there-

in oblivion.

take any further notice of

of a person for

obliged to the re-

to hurt the feelings

have a high respect, only to

the

malicious

reviewer's

con-

clusions.

In the beginning of the foregoing paragraph, he

endeavours to cast a general stain upon he ridicules both our

civil

condemns our laws almost he

may

and religious

all

America

societies,

and

Whatever respect

in toto.

be thought entitled to from the gentlemen of

the bar, on these points, they are best able to judge

One thing must be allowed

of themselves.

much

and, I believe,

to their

honor

—

to them,

that they have

found laws sufficient to punish emissaries and slanderers,

who may have been employed by

tions for

bad purposes amongst us

;

foreign na-

and in some cases

 

62

LETTERS TO

they have obliged the

miscreants to

fly

from

our

shores.

As pears

to the

attack

strange

that

neglected to reply

upon our some of to

the

religious orders,

them

have

it

ap-

hitherto

calumnies of this

same

foreign

them not

reviewer.

to alledge, that  

worth

their

be but a poor reason in

It will

he

notice

such a scoundrel, he

is

—neither

himself

nor

is

his

writings.

And,

is

this

all

ye will say, ye reverend

friends

and daily associates of your once favorite and delightful

much

Peter

I

could

make

a

better excuse for you myself; but I will not at

present draw

up the

in so cowardly a is

Why,

Porcupine

curtain,

behind which you have,

manner, hid your plotting heads.

only to you, the Skulkers, I allude

praised, ye are but a small

and,

;

It

God be

number, compared with

the thousands of open, undesigning, honest men, of

every church.

The elegant comparison of  mild and

stale

when

speaking of the proceedings of the episcopal clergy at their convention, held

some time

ago, at Philadel-

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. phia,

is

amongst the number of the compliments paid

to them,

and

is

thus as elegantly compared to reta retail iler ers s

of porter mixing mild with stale beer; this

63

—and,

mixture of the Clergy with the Laity,

be like  plowing with the

Ox and

See here, reverend gentlemen,

is

lastly,

said to

the Ass together. this

how

old acquaint-

ance of some of ye, makes Oxen of you and Asses of the

And have you

laity

scurrillity?

this

mean

If

tamely submitted to

your

here

(I

the compatriots of half a dozen, or a few more,

clergymen,

whom

I

know

well

;

will

here omit personifying),

that

ye would expose

but, it

is

from pure

charity,

highly probable

one another, as has been the

between men of much higher notoriety

case lately this

was

compatriot

all

who have commenced

country,

awkward war against each

in

clumsy and

a

Adieu, ye reverend

other.

few; cover your faces with your gowns, lest the true

and faithful christians should be further provoked

shew the hypocrisy of your

After slanders

more

having

taken

hearts.

the

foregoing view

propagated by this British enemy,

their

to

enemy than he has

in his

power

of the

(for

to

he

is

be ours)

 

64

LETTERS TO

it is

time to finish him with some general observa-

tions.

With

his private or personal

character,

whether

as

a soldier, a spy, an impostor, or an incendiary, I have

nothing to do; residence

in

although

America,

he has, during his short

been

encouraged

by

some

friendly people to invade and abuse the most sacred

and domestic concerns of churches, houses, camps, country, male, female, old, and young, without

Shame on

or distinction. but,

who supported him

some of them have been since

living, as well

as

children's future

little

my

prosperity, forbids

know them

corrosive sublimate

they are

enumerating

as well as I

;

know

who

of Parsons,

hereafter be despised by their brethren in Philadelphia

For the

laid low.

dead, a respect towards their

the

their names, although I

the

those

mercy

will

and, indeed,

known, and their views

all

as clearly intelligible to Americans, as the writing

on

the wall was understood by Belteshazzar's interpreter.

The whole it is

drift

performance in question,

of the

evident, as I have

already said,

spleen of an individual,

who

is,

to vent

himself on the

values

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

65

honor of having been born in England, but whose conduct has been a disgrace

Who

is

the Briton

that

the

to

dare

shew

company of honourable men, utter

the words which

this

in

his

?

of a Briton face

in

any

any country, and

itinerant

found means to get published garly printer's

name

vagabond has

Shame on

the

the beg-

poverty of soul, who would prostitute

his

types to

poor, indeed to procure

Bay,

such a vile purpose.

—starving —better he

for bread

to

live

be very

to sell such

had been sent

it;

there

—

He must

to

poison

Botany-

upon the mandrake-plant, than

basely thus to procure a sustenance in London, by

is-

suing forth such villainous falsehoods, that there

is

not a child of six years old from Japan to California, or  

from

Bay

Baffin's

to

you have deceived

New

us,

Zealand, but would say,

and we cannot but despise

you.

But, in order to

fill

up the measure of

his iniquity,

he contradicts the'very accounts published the world, descriptive of the

all

over

most sincere and pro-

found sorrow which was every where expressed on this

melancholy occasion, and in

truly

those

holy

 

LETTERS TO

66

sanctorums wherever the funeral livered

;

nay, he

denies that the

eulogiums were depeople shed tears

These are his words  

Now, we have good authority

Philadelphia, where this

wet eye was to be

hymns

at the

for saying, that, in

prayer was delivered, not a

seen on the occasion.

The three

conclusion of the prayer, are miserable

imitations of Sternhold and Hopkins.

In answer to

this, I

need only refer to yourself, Mr.

Hamilton, who I saw, on that day, shedding

must

I

tears.

to Mr.

Jefferson, who, likewise, shed

tears pl plen enti tifu full lly, y, as did

hundreds of other gentlemen

and

also refer

ladies

tators

who were

who crowded

and thousands of spec-

present,

the streets to see the procession.

But, the reviewer follows the immortal Hero of our

Country even into the silent tomb, with

all

imp

of hell.

yet, it is reported, that there are several

hundred

rancour, falsehood, and treachery of an

And

the studied

subscribers to that book in this country. forbid

Patriotism

it,

—forbid

Virtue.

Oh, Death, where

where

thy victory

is

?

it,

is

In America

—forbid —0, Grave,

Gratitude

thy sting ?

it,

That those subscribers may

 

67

ALEXANDER. HAMILTON.

reflect

more

wisely,

and withdraw their support from

this foreign reviler of our country, ourselves,

laws,

and our

ought to be the sincere wish of every good and

virtuous citizen.

Tom Callender.

LETTER Sir,

V.

HAVING,

in

my

letter, I

last

presume, wiped

off all

the stains that the British critic had attempted to cast

upon the character of general Washington, next perform the same ter of Mr. Jefferson,

I

shall

of respect to the charac-

office

which has been

wickedly

as

at-

tacked here by another Porcupine, under the modest signature of Junius

Philasnus, and, as I apprehend,

Sir,

under your patronage.

my

task, to say

Clinton, and

be a part of

It will, also,

something in defence of old governor

some other gentlemen who have been

basely traduced in your favorite News-papers. affectionate

so

—The

esteem which general Washington always

expressed towards governor Clinton,

is

well

known

to

 

LETTERS TO

68 the world

—

gentleman manner.

and even

is

mentioned

This

any of your

in his last will, the

is

in

who have

the

lie

direct to

said that

governor

Clinton was inimical to the general tain, I

may solemnly

assert

of that

a particularly respectful

sufficient to give

scribblers,

name

—and, I am

cer-

the same in regard to the

friendship which exists between Mr. Jefferson and the governor.

They have always been

true friends, nor can any

deep-laid plot or schism divide them.

The pamphlet-

eers

and paragraph writers cannot be considered, by

men

of sense and probity, as of the least consequence.

The farmers of North America must know that they are

now more happy, comfortable and

secure, than

they were under the last administration, because they

have not to pay ten dollars per year, or some such out in their

for riding

own

which was contemplated,

chair.

will

—No

tax,

window-tax,

vex their feelings

the e ne neg goc oci iat ati ions between stamps will not interrupt th

man and man

— excises are

gone to the dogs

— &c. &c.

These are arguments so strong that the most red-hot Fed, will

scarcely have effrontory sufficient to deny

 

69

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. neither will

the

pilot-boat

speculator, or

any of the

imported citizens of America, after the war was  

and nothing in our mind but

joy.

over,

That man was

no citizen of the United States, although he was permitted to take a seat in congress, and afterwards to partake of the most honorable and lucrative

offices.

He

benefited himself by his knowledge of what was going on,

and what was expected

tricate British

to

end in favor of the

system of finance, set up by you, a

mode de monsieur

Pitt,

inla

but which has turned out to be

not so bad as you intended

it

—an

ever lasting

burthen

them

— a mill-stone hung to bring

them

into

around the necks of the people

subjection, and, then, in case

you were

standing

have a Bravo duce them into obedience

plan

failed,

a good It

time

to

deadly policy.

Surely

 

it

re-

was then

the power from such hands.

to wrest

would be needless

—

army

to

that

to say

any more of that deep and

The present administration have, with

a masterly hand, retrieved us out of those

desperate

dilemmas into which we were

sunk

for-

in theory,

but

ever.

—

Your

likely to be

policy was not only

has been worse in practice

wrong

allowing your heart to

;

 

LETTERS TO

70

have had no share in a situation as this

—

Reduced

you are

such when your friends as well as your it.

as

to

adversaries in politics (for I cannot suppose you have

any personal enemies) have clusion, that

agreed upon one con-

you are a mistaken

your great and undeniable find this

all

to be the

case,

abilities.

why

us to give to

you required

it

with

all

Then, when you

not permit us to enjoy

the benefits of our present mild

honorable and firm)

politician,

(though nationally

administration?

why not

allow

the same chance of experiment that for

yours?

The People

are

satisfied

with the present administration, would you and your

satellites

permit us to be happy and comfortable.

Coleman,

whom

or black-maw,

is

I

know not whether he

Gracious Heavens ?

 

has been clearly ascertained.

it

How

can you as a man, patronize

whose trade

is

scandal, whose bread

depends upon the circulation of falsehood cariages of criticism

?

his mis-

upon every thing he has attempted

Even on the subject of

are a disgrace to literature. he, your

the theatre,

a white

not only supposed to be your princi-

pal typographer, but

such a fellow

is

Coleman, and

an apothecary,

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.  

whom

I

71

remember that hereabouts doth

dwell, cull-

ing of simples, and old cakes of roses.

They have the assurance cisms on theatricals.

to issue forth their criti-

I think

it

necessary to bring in

this subject to shew, that it is a junto of the

of the

knights

of the

gray-goose-wing

same degree that

write

against the president, the people, and the theatre.

am

I

therefore, justified in bringing in this remark.

Two

or three Scriblerusses, I really believe, have got

the freedom of the house (theatre) from the manager,

and they are obliged

to repay

him

of publishing whatever he dictates.

formers

lie

at the

in the

humble coin

Thus

all

the per-

mercy of the manager, whose only

merit

lies

in the translation of a

plays of which to

make

it

few stupid German

would take more than five-hundred

one plot like Shakespeare's Hamlet.

The impudence of these dent to every

man

of taste

Those  minor critics

must appear

critics,

who has seen the

evi-

world.

have had the assurance to bla-

zon forth the merits of subaltern performers, and then

throw cold water upon the evinced this

disposition

their

in

They have

first-rate.

multum

in

parvo

 

72

LETTERS TO

remarks upon

Mr. Hodgkinson, to

whom

they will

allow no other merit, than, that   he performed his part with propriety.

Here

is

a

black and vindictive malice, let quarter

kinson

it is

may.

And

to

which

silent intention it

of

come from what

I reply, that

Hodg-

the best general performer I have known.

In the same strain of hireling criticism

—those Irvings,

and Colemans, and the poor apothecaries and their apprentices have been itching to attack Mrs. Whitlock,

whose powers cannot be found out by any of

band of

critics.

Yet every person of genuine

must admit that she

is

yet appeared in America. to

this taste

the best performer that has

Let those demi-critics dare

say that they have ever seen such acting as her's

in Esliphania

?

yet they freeze at the thought of pay-

ing her the smallest compliment.

They undoubtedly

are authorized in thus manoeuvering by the manager,

whose time would be better employed

in ordering the

regulation of the under characters of every play. rick

would not permit a messenger

to deliver a

—Gar-

message

unde ders rsto tood od th the e subject to himself unless the performer un

and looked him

full

in the face.

—But,

Mr. Dunlap,

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. thinks

all this

how can

the

73

under-management unnecessary

first

—

performers exert their talents

?

if so,

how

could Hodgkinson, in Dionisius, harrangue his soldiers

when

they stood like a

row of pallisadoes at the back

of the stage, and if he had position, he

dience.

addressed them in that

must have turned

—There

was no body

his

back upon the au-

to tell

them what

but Hodgkinson himself, and I heard him

to do,

whisper

something to the troops, after which they marched in detour so as to form a front on the side scenes. tion these things to

I

men-

shew the influence of the mana-

gers on those writers of criticisms, and also to intimate

the power of Mr. Hamilton over the writers for Cole-

man, Bayard and Lang.

Coleman in humble imitation of the

rest of these

bribed critics of Mr. Dunlap, must also come on, limp-

ing after these, with his sagacious and most perspicuous remarks

but, if he does not cut a better figure

;

in that field of fancy than he has on the political theatre,

he had better beat a retreat quickly to the tune

of  

The General,

—

  Strike

your

and

tent

march

away.

10

*

 

74

LETTERS TO

*

The abusive language which duced into the Evening Post

is

this

man

more base and

than that of Porcupine or Callender

—

it is

to Lang's insolent publication of L***'s

nant

gall,

or the

has introvile

even equal

most malig-

Commercial Editor's attempts at

writing.

But

I can account for this last

man's insolence.

He was

mentioned gentle-

intended for a lawyer by

Papa who was a vendue master in Philadelphia

some how, he was not the kind of wood Mercury of

;

to

;

but

make a

therefore he did not succeed at the

bar.

His friends, however, made interest to get him appointed Clerk of the Circuit Court of Pennsylvania, at

the

first

meeting of that Court in Philadelphia,

when Mr. Jay was Chief

Justice of the United States,

and appeared on the bench in party-colored silken

robes, as flashy as

any

Roman Bishop

ever wore

when

performing the ceremony of high mass on an Easter

The post of Clerk was not

holiday. to

make

lucrative

a permanent living for our Editor

enough

—there was

scarcely any business to be transacted in the court at

that time, as there was no Alien or Sedition laws exist-

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. ing under Washington's

75

administration.

—Those

dis-

graceful acts were left for his successor to manufacture.

The post

conferred

therefore

on our Editor was

no more than a feather in his cap, which would never support a family, and as he was list

of office-hunters, he

made

now

entered on the

application for another

which, through the interest of his connections,

post,

—He

he obtained. assist in

was appointed

settling the

to

go to London to

disputed claims of the Amer-

icans with the English merchants for marine spoliations

;

towards

which he contributed very  

The

credit of that settlement is

dor,

Rufus King, who

work by a

due

to

little.

our Ambassa-

very judiciously finished the

single dash of his pen,

by boldly lumping into

the whole intricacy of the various claims one consolidated sum, which is so well known to the pub-

lic as to

render

it

unnecessary to say anything further

on the subject, at present; only Editor's

void air,

;

office

remark, that our

to

was consequently rendered null and

London upon the

and, as he could not live in

without a salary, he very prudently returned to

his native soil, very

much

chagrined against our ad-

 

LETTERS TO

76

ministration, for not continuing

was abolished.

office

against Mr.

measure

one

This accounts in

him

for

ever since.

Jefferson

in

pay after the

resentment

his

There

is

another

reason which also, probably operates on his gall

—The

repeal of the judiciary extravaganza, whereby

Judge

who

Baffet lost his birth, lation of our editor, in Deleware,

These are

set

father-in-law to a near re-

and who has

facts, to

to

they are the

He

therefore, has

causes.

in

conjunction with the

whole pack of hounds that have been

ving to hunt down the ;

suffi-

submit, although

up a barking and yelping

trate

voce populi.

our editor has not

which

result of natural

rest of the

also lost his election

by the consent of the

cient philosophy

common

is

and what makes

the patronage

given to

fair

fame of our

it still

this

first

stri-

magis-

the more disgustful

pack by you,

Sir,

is,

whose

station

in

ought

life

such pitiful

to

prevent your sinking into

and scandalous

arts,

libels.

It

is

from

these provocations that I have thought you, Sir, (Mr.

Hamilton) the most proper personage to address these letters to

;

and because

I despise

your emissaries too

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

much,

descend into a correspondence with them,

to

whilst you are so prominent in

The are

pilot-boat

still

77

my

view.

expedition of Smith, Duer, and Co.

well recollected.

tem was on the carpet

;

Whilst your funding sys-

and when a right calculation

could be formed on the vote that would be carried for

—whilst

it

in preference to Mr. Madison's propositions

it

was yet pending, those speculating companies took

up

all

the hard

credit, &c.

clerks, in

money they could borrow on

and sent

it

pilot-boats

off

and

their

by a troop of brokers and stages,

who were

dispersed

through Carolina, and some other states to purchase

up the poor six-pence

sold so ldie ier' r's s cert certif ific icat ates es at

for

two shillings and

the pound, and perhaps for less than

that poor equivalent.

Those gentlemen knew their

game, and although you had no hand in that job, you certainly

winked

at

it.

Another plot of a deeper dye

was likewise attempted on the members of the United

States

legislature,

when an

effort

was made

to

pur-

chase the votes of some of them, to vote for a law to

grant a charter to a company of land-jobbers for the

dominion of a large

tract of country,

whereby they

 

LETTERS TO

78

would

all

of

them become a

train of petty princes.

Their mode of address was to issue certain vouchers or tickets, like lottery-tickets so that even should

of any

sion

bribed failed

—there

resist,

be.

name being

inserted, the

were a

sufficient

number

—This

as

plot

in

congress

there

ever will

—The aggregate wisdom and virtue of

our general

will al alwa ways ys oppo oppose se such attempts.

I will here take the liberty of recording

of the same stamp. set

bearer

could not be discovered.

and reject the bas ase e att ttem empt pt, ,

legislature,

to

those tickets be found in posses-

of them, no

member

—payable only

some others

The bank of North America, was

up with the king

of France's dollars, sent here to

pay the revolutionary army, when they were on the point of a mutiny assistance of his

the

soldiers with

—yet Mr.

Robt. Morris, with the

had the address to satisfy own six months notes without

advisers,

his

ever allowing the honest fellows of the

cash.

to

The money was made

palm a six-pence into a bank,

and

the

were paid with notes, with which they

soldiers

purchased shoes at ten dollars the

pair, hats, &c.

on

the same reasonable terms, at various stores, set up by

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. this

79

Robert Morris, and his agents, in every quarter

of the United States; so that in

touched

never

money,

the

the end the soldiers

although

he

made

the

profit.

But

—

it

what

see

is

is

the consequence of ill-gotten wealth

like an East

India fortune, never

goes to a

third generation.

This same Mr. financier-general of

the United States,

who

who

the people, and

upon the Marquis

acted this character towards

also played

la

Fayette

—he —the

many more

has fallen, as many,

some Pargent

tricks

mighty man

of your acquaintance

— Greenleaf—Nicholson, &c.—The Eastern Southern cognoscenti in speculation—yet these

have done

and are

the

sort

of

men

of our government flocks to

that

—these

consult with you

want

to

are the in

recover the

men who come

New- York upon

or plot of operation against the present safe

administration.

ceed

—

let

Porcupine

them calls

reins in

a plan

and mild

Let them beware how far they propause, with Monsieur

—

him

let

le

Governeur, as

your tribes of calumniating

editors with

all

thousand

their

tongues

secret-working hypocritical parsons

—

let

your

—your out-of-office

 

LETTERS TO

80

fallen angels

—

let

even the Jersey Jove, and you,

Sir,

beware how far you carry on this trade of iniquity, lest

the people

should be roused with indignation

against your Satanic

incantations and despotic sys-

tems, and in their honest zeal pronounce

them Trea-

son

Tom Callender.

LETTER

VI.

Sir,

1

HAVE

always considered

it to

be an indispensible

duty of the editors of news-papers to render to the public

who support them,

formation as

may have

a due

account of such

fallen within

the sphere of

their knowledge, especially of circumstances to the wellfare

or

danger of the

state.

in-

relative

Amongst

the

multiplicity of objects that are daily bursting on their view,

and whilst

so

much

notice

has been taken of

our domestic pamphlets,

it

seems strange that these

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

81

editors should overlook or neglect noticing, or answering, the

infamous slanders of both foreign and do-

mestic intruders upon

ment

;

some of

whom

decency and

all

civil

have been nursed in the bosom

of America, and others fostered amongst us,

waited for raised

an

govern-

opportunity to

them from obscurity

sting

who

the hand

only that

situations of profit

into

and honor.

Even two

or three of our doctors of di-

vinity have

incurred

the

congregations,

who have informed me

who were accustomed pure delight

;

detestation of

to attend their

their

own

of this fact, and discourses with

but who have since deserted them, in

consequence of their having deserted their duty to Grod,

by becoming the mean instruments of polemical

intrigue or dark and dismal tyranny,

and weighed in the

The mercantile

which was

tried

scales of un unsu succ cces essf sful ul am ambi biti tion on. .

interest of this

country to

whom

wish to pay a real respect, will now confess how

I

much

they were mistaken by patronizing (some of them) Porcupine's

Gazette,

since his return

to

of Federalism, and

the

editor

of

which

England has thrown

now

exhibits

(Cobbet)

off the

mask

himself in native

11

 

LETTERS TO

82

colours

—that

he was only a spy whilst he was here,

that he wishes to injure and destroy the mutual inter-

course and

commerce between that nation and

which

our interest, as well as theirs, to preserve

it is

most inviolably.

He

endeavors to throw us into con-

tempt in the eyes of the British merchants and wound

this,

for ever, if

—to injure

he could, the credit and char-

acter of America. -

My

friends—ye merchants of the United States

not the fact me, view you must acknowledge is this

tell

?

— and you must When you

read his re-

it,

all

be of

one opinion, that he has betrayed you in such a style as to force

from you an ejaculation

est of traitors.

—

 

he

is

the black-

—For the honor of humanity, neverthe-

cannot suppose that the honest and enlightened

less, I

merchants of either England or America, or of any other country under Heaven, would be influenced by the falsehoods and scurrility of the veriest ruffian that ever disgraced the freedom of the press.

Under

this

impression, I would be inclined to think that his attacks

upon America and the

States,

citizens

of the United

although published in London in a daily news-

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

83

paper, will not have any injurious effect to the wellestablished

trade

The

between the two countries.

treacherous attempts of a few despicable Englishmen, to prevent our

having a good breed of sheep, by pur-

chasing and killing them, to send away as salted provisions lest

—

burn a spinning machine

to

we should go on with

—

manufactory

all

the

at Philadelphia,

cotton or any other

these things I despise, nor do I put

the charge or account against the British nation.

it to

If there be any truth in the whole of these charges,

the

shame ought

to

rest

upon the individuals who

perp pe rpet etra rate ted d th the e crime, for I solemnly declare that no

man

make me

could

believe that the government, or

the people of that country, would or could ever coun-

tenance such an abominable proceeding.

The

British

are too enlightened a nation to suffer a stigma like this

upon

There

their character.

may be some

envi-

ous persons whose speculations into futurity will not carry

them

farther than

the length of their noses

but there are thousands of Englishmen plate

America

who

can

who contem-

in a very different point of view,

clearly

perceive

the

rising

and

consequence

 

LETTERS TO

84

of the United States, and our rapid career towards a station of

more sublime consequence than any of the

modern nations could ever boast

antient or is

the time so very distant

when

this great sera will

Less than half a century will verify this

take place.

and exhibit

prediction,

to the

world an American navy

equal to that of any other nation that existence,

—Nor

of.

may then

be in

notwithstanding the insiduous plots

and

eit the her r in inte tern rnal al or external foes to cramp schemes of ei

or confuse us. still

I will

stronger than the

also last.

hazard another assertion That, the United States

of America will continue to be a Republic.

The

idle

conjectures of all the politicians in the world cannot

prevent

it.

prevent

it,

tion.

This

The visionary hopes of Mr. Adams cannot nor

all

may

the powers of Europe in conjunc-

appear to some persons to be too ex-

— but I think

travagant an idea

maybe

fairly

calculation.

a conclusion that

deduced from sound doctrine and just France

 

Americans set the example, in

their revolt from tyranny, for it

it is

you

to

imitate

;

but

has been reserved for Frenchmen to decide the most

important question that has ever been agitated in the

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. world

The annals of

 

85

this earth afford

no similar

in-

stance of a period so highly interesting to humanity.

The

great and glorious

problem

has been solved

mankind were born to be the everlasting dupes and slaves often or a dozen murdering despots;

whether

or whether the

the use of

its

God

inhabitants

favor of the people

and kings

:

of Nature created this globe for

The

?

—the

decision has been in

dispute was between

men

France and America have both succeeded,

and although

there

may

at

present be vested too

high a degree of arbitrary power in the hand of the chief magistrate, I have the strong hope and assurance in

my own mind

ment

will nevertheless be preserved there as well as

in this country. its

that the Republican form of govern-

—France alone by the

real equality of

individuals as to knowledge and manners

capable of perfect freedom ionable

among

;

but

it

is

most

has become fash-

a certain class of men, to depreciate

the very principles of liberty and equality of election because, some temporary effects have taken place in

France, from the confusion of the times, that will not

bear a

vindication.

Let those gentlemen, however,

 

LETTERS TO consider and enquire,   whether these effects, as far as

they are unfortunate, are not derived from the treachery of those

who expended

the revenue allowed

by the new system, in endeavoring one

?

And

them

to restore the old

found to have been so

if these effects are

procured, what should result from the discovery but a confirmed abhorrence of the old system and of that political

creed,

which

invites

men

crimes

to

by

rendering them sacred.

The same argument

will apply to this country

under

does likewise to

your

administration, as

it

the last ideas of forms of government which you had the boldness to propose in the convention of 1787.

The plan

you proposed was happily rejected, and the constitution

which was adopted has been it

now

to the people in general,

and

dently amended, that

ried on with satisfaction

so wisely

and pru-

gives complete security I

am

sure

it

will be car-

by the present administration,

in despite of all the important attacks of yourself

the

weak opposition of your

allow that

all

mankind

coadjutors,

who

and

will not

are competent to judge of the

best form of government for their general happiness

 

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. your doctrine competent,

is,

vile flatterers,

more

that a few kingly animals are

who have been and

as the earth is

87

ever will be (so long

burthened with them) educated by

and

impostors,

It is a

slaves.

ser-

melan-

choly truth, that in this enlightened age, there should still

be found, even in America,

men who

cate an hereditary chief magistracy.

The experience

say they,  justifies us in this conclusion

of past ages,

—that

 

will advo-

although republican forms of government are

the most natural and approved systems, yet the inclination

of parties

seem

to

bend

monarchy, we had better come to to prevent

quisitions.

so

quickly toward

it at

once, in order

troublesoms altercations and political

Thus

—would

dis-

these friends of republic-

anism surrender the divine and natural rights of man, rather than struggle against the artful encroachments

But the present gov-

of false and ungodly doctrine.

ernment of the United States remain

so,

sufficient

I hope, for ever

is

republican and will

— and will

confutation of this

always furnish a

mistaken axiom

always put a stop to the ambitious views of

wanted

 

to cry

 havoc

and

let loose

;

and

men who

 the dogs of war

LETTERS TO

88

must proceed

This hankering after a standing army,

from some

evil spirit that

some of our accordingly as is

citizens,

we have

hath taken possession of

and ought

down

set it

kept under

to be for a

thousand years,

mentioned in the book of the revelations of

John, chapter xx.

And

 

I

saw an angel come down

from Heaven, having the key of the bottomless

and a great chain the

dragon,

Devil,

And

in his hand.

(War,)

that

old

—And

cast

him

he laid hold on

which

serpent,

is

the

fulfilled,

and shut him

into the bottomless pit,

upon him, that he should deceive

the nations no more,

till

the thousand years should

&c.

Having thus got rid of you and your intrigues, is

pit,

and Satan, and bound him a thousand years

up, and set a seal

be

St.

  devoutly to be wished,

for a

as it

thousand years, we

expect that our government and administration will go

on with the same degree of characteristical firmness,

and prudence that

it

commenced

Discontents will be set

own

folly.

—With

down

—The

with.

to the account of their

regard to myself, I never held any

place or pension under the government

 

yells of

;

nor do I be-

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. lieve I ever shall

emolument

;

nor do I expect to receive any more

for publishing these letters than

when you made

a present

(to

am

as

you did

Mr. Lang) of the Copy,

right of your letter addressed to poor I

89

John Adams.

independent as you are in mind and body.

The individual or

collective interest of the Clintonians,

Hamiltonians, or Jeffersonians, could never operate on

my mind

so long as a single

ernment

is

cure

;

now

safe,

second of time.

— Our gov-

and the administration of

it se-

nor shall any of our internal, or external en-

emies dare to overturn

it.

Tom Callender.

FINIS.

[copy right secured.]

12