Hamilton, Alexander (1757-1804) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.07244 Author/Creator: Hamilton, Alexander (1757-1804) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 March 1799 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 32.5 x 19.9 cm. Order a Copy
In this very personal letter from Hamilton to Knox, Hamilton says, "My judgment tells, I ought to be silent on a certain subject-but my heart advises otherwise and my heart has always been the Master of my Judgment." He continues, "Believe me, I have felt much pain at the idea that any circumstances personal to me should have deprived the public of your services...." Hamilton insists he must remain silent as to his opinion about this unspecified matter.
Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
[draft]
New York March 14, 1799
My Dear Sir
The inclosed letters, [strikeout], as I conclude from others which accompanied them, have been a long time getting to hand. There was a moment, when their object seemed to present itself as one not entirely chimerical - but the probability has diminished. Tis however a thing on which the mind may still speculate as in the Chapter of extraordinary events which characterise the present wonderful epoch.
My judgment tells me, I ought to be silent on a certain subject - but my heart advises otherwise and my heart has always been the Master of my Judgment - Believe me, [struck: that] I have felt much pain at the idea that any circumstance personal to me should have deprived the public of your services or occasionned to you the Smallest dissatisfaction - Be persuaded also that the views of others, not my own, have given shape to what has taken place - and [inserted: that] there has been a serious struggle between my respect and attachment for you and the impression of duty - This sounds, I know, like affectation, but it is [strikeout] nevertheless the truth. In a case, in which such great public interests were [strikeout] [inserted: concerned], it seemed to me the dictate of reason and propriety, not to exercise an opinion of my own, but to leave that of others, who could influence the office, to take a free course - In saying this much, [2] my only motive is [inserted: to] presume, if I may, a [strikout] claim on your friendly disposition towards me, and to give you some evidence that my regard for you is unabated -
Adieu My Dear Sir -
Very much Yrs. A Hamilton
General Knox
[address leaf]
General Knox
Boston
[docket]
Alexr Hamilton
1799.
14. March
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