John Jay to Alexander Hamilton, 18 September 1779
Ph a 18 Sept r . 1779
Dear Sir
Your favors of the 25, 26, & 30 July last ^ & 12 Inst ^ 1 have lain by me thus long ^ unnoticed remained unanswered ^ . You have Reason to think ^ This Circumstance ^ would naturally lead you to think me inattentive; others will induce you to ascribe ^ it ^ to a different Cause– Exclusive of public Business which I never admit or urge as an Excuse for such omissions, want of Health has rendered me less punctual in my private Correspondence than I could wish. The approaching Season will give me Health & Inclination will always prompt me to support a Correspondence with those I ^ value & esteem, in which number I have long considered you. ^
Your Sentiments respecting the Gentleman named in your first letter perfectly correspond with my own and tho I wish to see him in a Situation agreable to himself & distant from the Place of his present Residence, I cannot prevail upon myself to propose his appointmt to the one you mention, which is daily growing into Confidence & Importance. 2
Whoever recommends to Office, becomes in a certain Degree responsible for the Conduct of the Person he nominates . My Doubts respecting this Gentleman are of such long standing and arise from such Circumstances as to destroy that Confidence which alone would induce me to support any Man which made a lasting ^ deep ^ Impression on my mind– I should never forgive myself if before these Doubts are removed I should recommend him to an office in discharging ^ the execution of which ^ they should become fully justified. I am think entertain with you the same Our opinions with yo u of his Talents Disposition & Passions and ^ are the same & I ^ am well apprized of the Consequences which will wd. result from their being exerted to obtain the objects he will be inclined to ^ of his Pursuit– ^ Some other mode of diverting them may perhaps offer–
I have seen, ^ respected & pitied ^ Mons r . Neuville ^ respected ^ and pitied him– 3 Considering how some of his Countrymen have been promoted, his Feelings have doubtless been wounded. His Pretensions however were rather too high, & could not possibly be complied with.
The Conduct in the The Affair of Stony Point in which has at last will be represented to Congress this evening in a Letter from Gen. Wayne, & affords it a proper opportunity of doing something for him– My Endeavours shall not be wanting. His Exertions exlusive of the ^ his ^ merit of ^ in ^ this action the Considerations you offer are suggested by good Policy & should always have weight. 4
It gives me Pleasure to find that Fleury holds possesses your Esteem, it will add to the share he has of mine. He stands well with the Minister, & I have punctually seconded your wishes on that Head. 5
How far it would be proper or possible to connect him with an American Minister are Questions about which I am by no means clear–such a Step would have Conveniences, but at the same Time be exposed to several unpleasant Consequences. Republics are always jealous, seldom liberal, never grateful, and not always just–and ^ yet ^ I believe, all things considered, the best Kind ^ least evil ^ of ^ all ^ Governments. As to the Surmises Probability of my going about abroad, I think it is very distant. It is one of the last things I wish for, not from any objections to the appointm t in its simply considered ^ wh[ich] would be agreable ^ – but from the Danger to which it would expose my Reputation but from the Danger to which every Man–s Reputation is exposed whose advancement would interfere with the views of the most intriguing unprincip alled led men I have ever met with–you know who I mean– 6
The Board of War are charged with Chevalier de Colombes affair, and will probably report in his Favor– 7 for my own Part I have ever been averse to giving Brevets except in very particular Cases–it cheapens us– I am &c
Col. Hamilton