Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, December 20, 1780

[Albany, December 16–20, 1780] 1

I thank you Dear Mac for your poetry and your confidence. The piece is a good one—your best. It has wit, which you know is a rare thing. I see by perseverence all ladies may be won. The Muses begin to be civil to you, in spite of Apollo and my prognosis.

You know I have often told you, you wrote prose well but had no genius for poetry. I retract.

Adieu.

A. Hamilton.