Title: From Alexander Hamilton to James Monroe, [17 July 1797]
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Monroe, James

[Philadelphia, July 17, 1797]
Sir
I send herewith an answer to the joint letter of Mr. Mughlenberg and yourself. It appears to me on reflection requisite to have some explanation on the note of January 2. 1793 with your signature and It may be inferred, from the attention to record the information of Clingman therein stated after what had passed between us, that you meant to give credit and sanction to the suggestion that the defence set up by me was an imposition. You will, I doubt not, be sensible of the propriety of my requesting you to explain yourself on this point also.
I remain with consideration   Sir Yr. obedient servant


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from James Monroe, 17 July 1797
From: Monroe, James
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Phila. July 17. 1797.
Sir
It is impossible for me to trace back at this moment, occupied as I am with other concerns, all the impressions of my mind at the different periods at which the memoranda were made in the publication to which you refer in your favor of today, but I well remember that in entering the one which bears my single signature, altho’ I was surprised at the communication given, yet I neither meant to give or imply any opinion of my own as to its contents. I simply entered the communication as I recd it, reserving to myself the liberty to form an opinion upon it at such future time as I found convenient, paying due regard to all the circumstances connected with it. I am Sir with consideratn. yr. very humble servant
Jas. Monroe


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from James Monroe, 18 July 1797
From: Monroe, James
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Phila. July 18. 1797.
Sir
I can only observe that in entering the note which bears my single signature I did not convey or mean to convey any opinion of my own, as to the faith which was due to it, but left it to stand on its own merits reserving to myself the right to judge of it, as upon any fact afterwards communicated according to its import & authenticity.
with due respect I am Sir yr. very humble servt
Jas. Monroe


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to James Monroe, 20 July 1797
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Monroe, James

[Philadelphia] July 20. 1797
Sir
In my last letter to you I proposed a simple and direct question, to which I had hoped an answer equally simple and direct. That which I have received, though amounting, if I understand it, to an answer in the negative, is conceived in such circuitous terms as may leave an obscurity upon the point which ought not to have remained. In this situation, I feel it proper to tell you frankly my impression of the matter.
The having any communication with Clingman, after that with me, receiving from him and recording information depending on the mere veracity of a man undeniably guilty of subornation of perjury, and one whom the very documents which he himself produced to you shewed sufficiently to be the accomplice of a vindictive attempt upon me,

   See the letter from Reynolds to Clingman in which he declares that he will have satisfaction of me at all events & that he trusts only to Clingman.

 leaving it in a situation where by possibility, it might rise up at a future and remote day to inculpate me, without the possibility perhaps from the lapse of time of establishing the refutation, and all this without my privity or knowlege, was in my opinion in a high degree indelicate and improper. To have given or intended to give the least sanction or credit after all that was known to you, to the mere assertion of either of the three persons Clingman Reynolds or his wife would have betrayed a disposition towards me which if it appeared to exist would merit epithets the severest that I could apply.
With consideration I am   Sir   Your very humble serv
A Hamilton
James Monroe Esqr


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [21 July 1797]
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Hamilton, Elizabeth

[Philadelphia, July 21, 1797]
My avocation here my darling Eliza must detain me beyond the departure of the Mail stage but I expect certainly to leave town in the stage of tomorrow morning and still expect to reach New York tomorrow. Love to Angelica & Church. I shall return full freighted with it for My dear Brunettes
Adieu
A HJuly 21. 1797


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from James Monroe, 21 July 1797
From: Monroe, James
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Phila. July 21. 1797.
Sir
Your favor of yesterday (to use your own language) gives an indelicate and improper coloring to the topic to which it refers. I will endeavor in a few words to place the points in discussion where they ought to stand.
It was never our intention other than to fulfill our duty to the publick, in our enquiry into your conduct, and with delicacy & propriety to yourself, nor have we done otherwise.
In this truth, in respect to the enquiry, & to our conduct upon that occasion, you have so often assented, that nothing need now be said on that point. In short I shod. have considered myself as highly criminal, advised as I was of your conduct, had I not united in the enquiry into it, for what offense can be more reprehensible in an officer charged with the finances of his country, than to be engaged in speculation? And what other officer who had reason to suspect this could justify himself for failing to examine into the truth of the charge? We did so. Apprized you of what we had done. Heared yr. explanation and were satisfied with it. It is proper to observe that in the expln. you gave, you admitted all the facts upon which our opinion was founded, but yet accounted for them, and for your connection with Reynolds, on another principle. Tis proper also to observe that we admitted your explanation upon the faith of your own statment, and upon the documents you presented, tho’ I do not recollect they were proved or that proof was required of them.
You will remember that in this interview in wh. we acknowledged ourselves satisfied with the explanation you gave, we did not bind ourselves not to hear further information on the subject, or even not to proceed further in case we found it our duty so to do. This wod. have been improper, because subsequent facts might be disclosed which might change our opinion, and in which case it wod. be our duty to proceed further. And with respect to Mr. Clingman we thought it highly proper to hear what he had to say, because we had before heard him on the subject, and because you had acknowledged all his previous information to be true, and because he was a party and had a right to be heard on it. You will observe by the entry that we did not seek him, nor even apprize him of the expln. recd. from you. on the contrary that he sought us and in consequence of information recd. from Mr. Wolcott.
The subject is now before the publick and I repeat to you what I have said before, that I do not wish any opinion of my own to be understood as conveyed in the entry which bears my single signature: because when I entered it I had no opinion upon it, as sufficiently appears by my subsequent conduct, having never acted upon it, and deposited the papers with a friend when I left my country, in whose hands they still are. Whether the imputations against you as to speculation, are well or ill founded, depends upon the facts & circumstances which appear against you & upon yr. defense. If you shew that they are ill founded, I shall be contented, for I have never undertaken to accuse you since our interview, nor do I now give any opinion on it, reserving to myself the liberty to form one, after I see your defense: being resolved however so far as depends on me, not to bar the door to free enquiry as to the merits of the case in either view.
This contains a just state of this affr. so far as I remember it, which I presume will be satisfactory to you; and to which I shall only add that as on the one hand I shall always be ready to do justice to the claims of any one upon me, so I shall always be equally prepared to vindicate my conduct and character against the attacks of any one who may assail them. with due
respect I am Sir yr. obt. servt.
Jas. Monroe.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from William Jackson, 24 July 1797
From: Jackson, William
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Philadelphia July 24. 1797
Dear Hamilton,
In compliance with your request I waited upon Mr. Monroe, on saturday morning, and delivered your letter to him—telling him, at the same time, that, in consequence of Mrs. Hamilton being in the last stage of pregnancy, you were under the necessity of going immediately to New York, but would return to Philadelphia in about a fortnight.
Having read the letter, he said “it is very well, I shall attend to Colonel Hamilton’s movements—I mean to go to Virginia about the last of next week, but expect to return shortly to Philadelphia.” A conversation ensued which was prefaced on my part by the observation “that, as I was not authorised by Colonel Hamilton to any thing more than the delivery of the letter, and the verbal communication, which stated the necessity of your going immediately to New York, on account of Mrs. H’s situation, and your intention to return to Philadelphia in about a fortnight, no conclusions affecting Colonel Hamilton, shoud be drawn from what I might say in the conversation.” From this conversation I drew the following inferences.
That Mr. Monroe thought the correspondence which had passed between you and him, since your visit to Philadelphia, should be withdrawn—and destroyed—but that he wished not to be considered as making the proposal to withdraw it.
That if a letter was addressed by you to Mr. Muhlenberg, Mr. Venable, and Mr. Monroe putting the question whether they meant to offer any opinion upon, or to annex any sanction to, the last paper given in by Clingman, he, Mr. Monroe, had no doubt they would say that they neither meant to give any opinion, nor to annex any sanction to that paper, as, he said, must naturally be inferred from their not having acted upon it, which duty would have required of them had they annexed any sanction to the paper.
That he, Mr Monroe, had never intended to become your accuser, nor was he now so disposed.
That his letters to you, in your late correspondence, had been respectful—and that yours to him he thought had been much otherwise.
These inferences, which I think correctly drawn, from the substance of such part of the conversation, as, considering the limitation which I had assigned to any of its conclusions compromitting you, I think myself at liberty to repeat.
And, indeed, my dear Hamilton, unless there are very strong reasons to press you on the subject of publishing, I wish it could be postponed until we meet, which meeting I will facilitate by any means you may point out.
I am really of opinion that better effects may result from a declaration on the part of Messrs. Monroe, Muhlenberg, and Venable that they annexed no sanction to Clingman’s last paper, and from the obvious inference that they did not believe it, since if they had believed it, considering their original disposition towards you, they would have acted upon it, than from entering into a detailed publication, which although it might fully satisfy all impartial men, (who by the way are already satisfied) would only furnish fresh pabulum for the virulent invective and abuse of faction to feed on.
In any determination I think it will be best to suspend the publication until Mr. Monroe returns from Virginia, more especially as your gauntlet is now before him.
Let me repeat that your friends and every impartial Man are convinced of your purity as a public Officer—and no one among them can suppose that you are called on to furnish the Presbyterian pulpits with subject matter of declamation, however irrelevant, against the best political interests of our country.
Let me know that you have received this letter and believe me
With sincere affection and esteem   Your faithful friend and servant
W Jackson
Colonel Alexander Hamilton


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from William Jackson, 25 July 1797
From: Jackson, William
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Philadelphia July 25. 1797
Dear Hamilton,
In consequence of a conversation with Dr McHenry, to whom I shewed my letter to you of yesterday, I believed it proper to see Mr. Monroe this morning. He says he shall write to you tomorrow. His letter will form a better rule for further proceeding than any thing I have said, or can say.
My letter of yesterday was too late for the mail, and will be received at the same time with this. But Mr. Monroes determination to write to you himself does away with the necessity of that letter, and, was it not already in the post office, I would not trouble you with it.
I am most sincerely   Your faithful & affectionate servant
W Jackson


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to James Monroe, 28 July 1797
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Monroe, James

New York July 28. 1797
Sir
Your letter of the 25 instant reached me yesterday.
Without attempting to analize the precise import of your expressions, in that particular, and really at a loss for your meaning when you appeal to my knowlege of a determination to which you say you should firmly adhere, I shall observe, in relation of the idea of my desiring to make the affair personal between us, that it would be no less unworthy of me to seek than to shew such an issue. It was my earnest wish to have experienced a conduct on your part, such as was in my opinion due to me, to yourself and to justice. Thinking, as I did on the coolest reflection, that this had not been the case, I did not hesitate to convey to you the impressions which I entertained, prepared for any consequences to which it might lead.
Nevertheless, it would have been agreeable to me to have found in your last letter sufficient cause for relinquishing those impressions. But I cannot say that I do. The idea is every way inadmissible that Clingman’s last miserable contrivance should have had weight to shake, though not absolutely change the opinion which my explanation had produced; and that having such an effect it should have been recorded and preserved in secret without the slightest intimation to me. There was a vast difference between what might have been proper before and after my explanation; though I am not disposed to admit that the attention which was paid to such characters, ever before, would have been justifiable had it not been for the notes in my handwriting.
But the subject is too disgusting to leave me any inclination to prolong this discussion of it. The public explanation to which I am driven must decide, as far as public opinion is concerned, between us. Painful as the appeal will be in one respect, I know that in the principal point, it must completely answer my purpose.
I am Sir   Your hum servant


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, [28 July 1797]
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Wadsworth, Jeremiah

[New York, July 28, 1797]
My Dear Wadsworth
I regretted much, that I did not find you here.
I know you have seen the late publications, in which the affair of Reynold’s is revived. I should have taken no notice of them had not the names of Mughlenberg Monroe & Venable given them an artificial importance. But I thought under this circumstance, I could not but attend to them. The affair has so turned that I am obliged to publish every thing.
But from the lapse of time I am somewhat embarrassed to prove Mrs. Reynold’s hand writing. Thinking it probable, as she was a great scribbler you must have received some notes from her when she applied to you for assistance, I send you one of her notes to me and if your recollection serves would be much obliged to you to return it with your affidavit annexed—“That you received letters from Mrs. Reynolds, conceived yourself to be acquainted with her hand writing & that you verily believe this letter to be of her hand writing.”
If your memory does not serve you then return the letter alone to me. If I remember right I never knew of your agency towards procuring Reynold’s relief, till after he was discharged. If your memory stands in the same way, I will thank you to add a declaration to this effect.
Dont neglect me nor lose time.
Yrs. truly
A HJuly 28. 1797
J Wadsworth Es


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Edward Jones, [29 July 1797]
From: Jones, Edward
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[Philadelphia, July 29, 1797. On July 30, 1797, Jones wrote to Hamilton and referred to “my letter of yesterday.” Letter not found.]


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Edward Jones, 30 July 1797
From: Jones, Edward
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Philadelphia July 30th. 1797
Dear Sir,
In my letter of yesterday, I mentioned an interview which I was to have with a person on the subject of the Conspirators. This interview has taken place. The person alluded to proves to be a Mr. Folwell by profession a printer, and whose character I am told stands sufficiently fair to give weight to his testimony. The facts which he offers to substantiate are as follows—The improper conduct of Mrs. R—— whilst a lodger at his Mothers house—her Confession to him that her husband wished her to prostitute herself for money—her sending for him after she had assumed the Name of Clingman and telling among other things, that she had married Clingman before she had been divorced from Reynolds—in short if we were to pursue the clue which Folwell can furnish, we might obtain a very curious history of the means employed by those Caitiffs to levy contributions on the public—but as our time will not permit us to extend our enquiries, it will be best to content ourselves with such facts as come within his own knowledge.
Folwell does not wish it to appear as if he had volunteered this business—he therefore requests that you would address him a line, stating that you had been informed of his being acquainted with some circumstances relative to Reynolds & his Wife, and requesting that he would make oath to what he knew—this you can do without mentioning my name or that of Fenno.
The moment I cast my eyes on the Copies of the original documents of the proceedings of the famous Committee of enquiry I was enabled to account for their publication, admitting that the originals have not been resorted to—the fact is, they were transcribed by one of Beckley’s Clerks, who has very probably been directed to retain Copies of them.
Since writing the above, Mr. Folwell called on me and put into my possession the enclosed sheets, which upon a careful perusal I find to contain the most important information. You will observe by his letter to you on the back of this last sheet, that he wishes you to throw his communication into a better form, preserving however as much as possible the style, that the production may appear to be his own. This task I would have undertaken myself, but my health forbids the attempt. I have pledged myself to Mr. Folwell, that the rough draught shall be returned—you will therefore transmit it to me as soon as you have extracted everything useful to yourself. Preserve at all events, the anecdote of Mrs. R’s application to Govr. Mifflin & Secretary Dallas. Now that I mention Mifflin’s name, it is proper to inform you, he does not wish to recollect the fact referred to him in your publication—it has therefore been struck out.
Just as I was going to close this long Epistle, Folwell called on me with a letter signed M. Clingman a copy whereof is enclosed. This letter proves two important facts—first—her hand writing—Second, her connection with Clingman. Altho the motives which have governed Folwell in making these disclosures are highly disinterested—I should much approve of some means being adopted to convince him of your sense of the service he has rendered to you. The mode is submitted to yourself. He appears to possess a wish, that his communications might be cloathed in language favorable to his talents as a Writer—it is but reasonable therefore that he should be gratified—it is his desire also that his information may be published in the shape of a letter.
With esteem   I am   Dr Sir   Yours &c
E. Jones
Colo. Hamilton


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from William Jackson, 31 July 1797
From: Jackson, William
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Philadelphia July 31. 1797
Dear Hamilton,
Your letter to Mr. Monroe, which I received under cover on Saturday last, was delivered to him on that day—he said he should not leave Philadelphia until thursday, and gave me to understand that he would write to you.
It appears to me that your publication must go on, as Mr. M did not seem willing to grant the certificate, and I confess I should be unwilling to recommend any compromise short of that.
I am sincerely   Your faithful & affectionate servant
W Jackson


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from James Monroe, 31 July 1797
From: Monroe, James
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Phila. July 31. 1797.
Sir
Your letter of the 28th which I have recd. claims a short answer.
I have always stated to you that I had no wish to do you a personal injury. The several explanations wh. I have made accorded with truth & my ideas of propriety. Therefore I need not repeat them.
If these do not yield you satisfaction I can give no other, unless called on in a way which always for the illustration of truth, I wish to avoid, but which I am ever ready to meet. This is what I meant by that part of my letter which you say you do not understand. With due respect I am
Yr. humble servt
Jas. Monroe


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Wadsworth, 2 August 1797
From: Wadsworth, Jeremiah
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Hartford August 2d 1797
Dear Sir
your favor of the 28th July arrived late last evening. I have not the least knowledge of Mrs. Reynolds’s hand writing nor do I remember ever to have recd a line from her if I did they were destroyed but a letter or two for you which by Your request I returned to her or destroyed. The first time I ever saw or heared of her She came to my lodgings one Morning—and stated the Situation of her husband and desired me to apply to You Mr Woolcott & General Mifflin for his Liberation told me she was the Wife of Reynolds the Sister of Col DuBois. I told her I knew her husband. that his Character was bad and no interference of mind would be proper nor could it suceed: at this moment John Vaughn came in on a Visit & supposeing me engaged offered to retire. I told him to stay the Lady was going she then said she wished to say something in private. Mr. V took leave. And she immediately fell into a flood of Tears and told me a long storey about her application to You for Money when in distress in her husbands Absence & that it ended in a amour & was discovered by her husband from a letter she had written to you which fell into his hands. I told her I would see Mr. Woolcott & G Mifflin The next Morning I told Mr. Woolcott what had passed he then related the transaction for which Clingn & Reys had been committed. I then went to Mifflin and told him I came at ye request of Mrs. Reynolds. he imediately told me that she had told him the Story of the amour. I imediately left him went to Mrs Reynolds and told her who I had seen that all interference on my part was at an end that in my Opinion her husband must undergo a trial. She then mention the transaction of Baron Glaubeck would be brot into View and be injurious to You. I told her it was fortunate that I knew more about Glaubecks affair than any body and it could not injure you or Any body else. A Mr. Clingman whom I had never seen before and seemed to have been sent for was present part of the time. From this interview I was fully confirmed in my Opinion before formed that the whole business was a combination among them to Swindle you. Mrs Reynolds called on me again and urged me deliver letters to You. You refused to receive them & desired me to return letters for You or destroy them I do not know which. I rec’d several Messages from her and again went to her house told her you would hold no correspondence with her and gave her my Opinion as at first that her husband must undergo a trial. I can not be particular as to time & date and I do not remember that I ever knew how he was liberated untill I lately saw Mr Woolcott. I certainly never considered myselfe as having any agency in procureing Reynolds’s relief nor do I remember ever to have had any conversation with You on the subject untill after your meeting with the Mess Munroe Melenburg & Venables. and had supposed Reynolds to have been ⟨released⟩ by their influence he was ⟨ashamed⟩ to have been so ⟨–⟩ after an Explanation with you. I am sorry you have found it necessary to publish any thing for it will be easy to invent new Calumnies & you may be kept continualy employed in answring. be Assured it never will be in the power of your enemies to give the public an opinion that you have Speculated in ye funds, nor do they expect it: I should have replied by this days Post—but the Mail arrives here at nine at night & goes out at Two in the Morning.
I am D sir truly yours
J Wadsworth


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Egbert Benson, 4 August 1797
From: Benson, Egbert
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[New York] August 4, 1797. “I take the first leisure moment to write to you on the Subject you mentioned to Me on Tuesday last, as to the Probability, whether after the Expiration of the seven Years granted by the first Law, the Legislature would prolong the Term for which the Dutch Gentlemen might hold the Lands they have purchased in our State? For four successive Sessions of the Legislature my Endeavours were unceasing, and yet nothing more could be effected than in the first Instance than a privilege for seven Years only, and that afterwards extended for thirteen Years more on Condition that the Purchasers would advance a Sum on Loan for the western Canal. Both these Bills passed the Assembly with great Difficulty, and without meaning to make a Merit of it with these Gentlemen, I will venture to say and which I am perswaded You will readily beleive, that much is to be attributed to my personal Influence with many of the Members.…”


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to James Monroe, 4 August 1797
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Monroe, James

New York Aug 4. 1797
Sir
In my opinion the idea of a personal affair between us ought not to have found a place in your letters or it ought to have assumed a more positive shape. In the state to which our correspondence had brought the question, it lay with you to make the option whether such an issue should take place. If what you have said be intended as an advance towards it, it is incumbent upon me not to decline it. On the supposition that it is so intended I have authorised Major Jackson to communicate with you and to settle time and place.
I am Sir   Your Humble servant
James Monroe Esq


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from William Jackson, 5 August 1797
From: Jackson, William
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Philadelphia August 5. 1797
My dear Sir,
Immediately on the receipt of your Letter this morning, I waited on Colonel Monroe and observing that “Colonel Hamilton considering your letter as an overture to a personal meeting, has directed me to deliver this letter from him to you—and I have further to inform you that I am prepared to give effect to the purpose of his letter.”
Mr. Monroe received the letter, and then asked me if it was a challenge. I told him that propriety, in every relation, forbad me to say that I was the Bearer of a challenge—the letter would explain its purport. He then returned the letter to me, and said he would consult a friend.
I desired him to attend the message, which I would repeat, as stated within the inverted commas, On which he requested me to lay down the letter, and as soon as he had consulted with his friend, he would give an answer either to you or myself. Here we parted. By to-morrow’s post I may be able to give you the result of his determination.
I have delivered the other paper to Mr. Jones.
Accept my congratulations on the birth of your Son—and always believe me
Affectionately yours
W Jackson


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 6[–10] August 1797
From: King, Rufus
To: Hamilton, Alexander

London Aug. 6 [–10] 1797
Dear sir
No satisfactory Opinion can yet be formed concerning the termination of the negotiations for Peace. Even those who are supposed to have the best information are without confidence—on the one Hand peace may be concluded sooner than any one thinks probable, on the other the negotiations at Lisle and montebello may be suddenly broken off, and France again engaged with austria as well as England. A great Struggle in which all Europe think themselves interested, exists between the two Councils and a majority of the Directory, for it is well understood that almost every question is decided in this latter Body by three against two. If the councils prevail, peace is believed to be more probable—if the war continues Denmark, and the neighbouring free Cities, Portugal, perhaps Switzerland, and even Greece as well as the whole of Italy will be revolutionized. I wish I could write to you with the same freedom as we could converse: how far the new order of things is to extend, which are still to be overturned, and who are to be spared, is a subject concerning which we may amuse ourselves with Conjectures; it would be a consolation, could we any where discover a mind of adequate foresight and authority, to influence, combine, and apply to their proper and legitimate uses, the dispositions, and the means, which unquestionably exist, to resist and baffle the monstruous Force, which overturns, and will continue to lay waste every Country against which it bends its energies—paradoxical as it may appear, the People are less wrong than their Governments, which every where seem to be destitute of both wisdom and courage. I cannot except even the Government of this Country, which possessing the command of the Resources of the Richest nation in Europe, with a clear and distinct view of the total insecurity of any compromise with their Enemy, still dismount and lower the national Spirit and Courage by fruitless and repeated Efforts to restore Peace. Men are mortal, and by a Law to which they are subject, can exist but for a limited time. Societies are exempt from this Law, and there is nothing in their nature that limits their improvement, or Duration; still the Analogy is but too strict, and we seem to be doomed to witness, if not to suffer in, the Dissolution of the present social organization.
Farewell, when I am able to give you a gayer prospect, I will write to you again.
Yours very sincerely
PS. 10 Aug. a very short time will ascertain who are to rule in Fr—the armies are loud and publish their sentiments with great Boldness—it wd. not be surprizing shd. they try their hands and give another Constitution to the imperishable Republic. The negotiations at Lisle are suspended in Effect (tho in form they continue) and will continue so till the Parties decide which shall govern.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from William Jackson, 7 August 1797
From: Jackson, William
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Philadelphia, August 7. 1797
Dear Hamilton,
I have informed Mr. Dawson, who called on me yesterday, on the part of Mr. Monroe, that, as you had expressly told Mr. M in one of your letters, that you thought the motives of his conduct towards you had been “malignant and dishonorable,” I had advised you against throwing the affair into a more formal challenge, it resting, in my opinion, with Mr. Monroe either to submit to, or to resent these expressions.
I am always   Your faithful affectionate friend
W Jackson
This letter has been shewn to Mr. Dawson.

W. J.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from William Jackson, 7 August 1797
From: Jackson, William
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Philadelphia, August 7. 1797
Dear Hamilton
Mr. Dawson (of Virginia) called upon me yesterday morning to shew to me a letter from Mr. Monroe to you, wherein he says “that if you considered his last letter as a challenge, he will frankly acknowledge that you were mistaken—that he meant not to give but to be prepared to receive one—that he admits, if any one has been injured in the correspondence between you, it has been you—and, if your letter was intended as a direct challenge, Colonel Burr is charged with his answer.”
I hold it to be a duty to say something on the subject of this letter, and to offer my opinion on the manner of treating it.
It is certainly a question of feeling which of you is to consider yourself as the Party injured by the correspondence—and Mr. Monroe may possibly think you the injured party—or, by saying so, he may endeavor to extort a direct challenge: But it by no means appears to me that you are the Person injured by the correspondence—injured you may be by his conduct—but there is not a word in his correspondence, since I became acquainted with it, which will bear that construction, or that calls for a direct challenge from you. On the other hand I declare it to be an opinion, growing out of my sense of propriety, that the man, whose sense of injury is not to be awakened by being told (as you have expressly told Mr Monroe) that the motives to his conduct have been “malignant and dishonorable” and whose resentment, after such indignity, is not to be excited by a proposal to settle the time and place of a personal meeting, is not a Person to whom I would offer a direct defiance, which might be accepted or which might be used to other purposes.
Under this impression of your situation, I am free to advise you to decline giving a direct challenge to Mr. Monroe—and to wait the effect of your publication, which will, I doubt not, be the removal of any opinion, if any such has been formed, against your official conduct.
I am, most sincerely   My dear Hamilton   Your faithful and affectionate friend
W Jackson


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from William Jackson, 11 August 1797
From: Jackson, William
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Philadelphia August 11. 1797
Dear Sir,
I have received your letter, without date, enclosing the copies of Mr. Monroes two last letters to you, which I have delivered to Mr. Jones—to whom I have shewn your letter.
He is surprised that you should not have received a packet containing some interesting documents, among others Folwell’s testimony, which he forwarded to you under the Comptroller’s frank. I am no less surprised that you should not have acknowledged the receipt of my two last letters, one of which, expressing my advice to you on Mr. Monroes last letter, I had shewn to his friend Mr. Dawson—a copy of this letter, which is a short one, I must request you to transmit to me, as I mean to annex it to the certificate which I shall give to Mr. Jones.
I applaud your decision on Monroe’s last letter, and congratulate you on the recent evidence received through Folwell, a duplicate of which Mr. Jones will forward tomorrow.
I am always   Your faithful affectionate friend
W Jackson


Title: Certificate by James Monroe, [16 August 1797]
From: Monroe, James
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[Philadelphia, August 16, 1797]
I hereby certify that it was not my intention to give any sanction to, or opinion of my own, as to the entry which bears my single signature, in the papers containing an enquiry into Colo. Hamiltons conduct, by messrs. Muhlenburg Venable & myself in 1792, but that I meant it to stand on the credit of Mr. Clingman only upon whose application the entry was made. Phila. Augt. 16. 1797.
Jas. Monroe


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [17 August 1797]
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: McHenry, James

[New York, August 17, 1797]
My Dr Sir
Inclosed are some papers, which were sent me shortly after my return to this City from Philadelphia but which from Mrs. Hamilton’s situation hurry of business &c have been forgotten. If there is any thing to be said to my correspondent you will enable me as speedily as possible to say it. I send you the 100 Dollars you sent me and a further sum to reimburse some money paid for me by Lewis.
Yrs affectly
A HamiltonAug. 17. 1797
Js. Mc. Henry Esq


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 19 August 1797
From: McHenry, James
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Philad. 19 Augt. 1797.
My dear Sir
I have received this morning your letter of the 17th inst.
Mr Jones is without your letter of the 4th to Mr Monroe, and the want of it delays the publication.
With respect to the papers inclosed to you by Mr. Tillery. I wrote to McKee on the 25th of July ulto.
“I will state to you briefly the difficulty which prevents any final determination at present on the two propositions which respect the house of Panton Leslie & Co. and what I think that house may reasonably look forward to.”
“As the assumption of their Indian debts or compensation for them in land would require the consent of Congress, it would be to hazard a great deal too much to make any promise to them founded on its being obtainable. In a case so circumstanced it is proper that they should understand the difficulty and be convinced that the President has no authority to conclude such an engagement or make it binding on the U.S. In giving them this information you will mention how very sensible I am of the good offices which they have it in their power to render, and that whatever favour they can ask that can be granted by the President will not be refused. It would be easy I should conceive to afford them such indulgences as would greatly facilitate the effectual and prompt collection of their debts within our Indian nations and this is what I think they may ask and reasonably look forward to.”
“Considering how infinitely precious the friendship of the U.S. is to Spain I can only ascribe the late conduct of some of her officers to an influence which controuls their better judgment. War is not desired by the U.S. They will shun it if possible, and sure I am Spain ought carefully to avoid forcing them into it. My last accounts from Natches is up to the 19 May. Then every thing was seemingly quiet.”
Yours affectionately
James McHenry
P.S. There was no money in your letter.