Palaces Out Of Paragraphs

English 1102: Hamilton and Writing

Document Transcription: Hamilton-Burr Duel Correspondance

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By Jake Smith

 

Document(s) chosen for project: Letters between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr regarding their duel

Original source: Hamilton-Burr Duel Correspondance

Transcription:

N York 20 June 1804

 

Sir,

I have maturely reflected on the subject of your letter of the 18th Instant, and the more I have reflected, the more I have become convinced that I could not without manifest impropriety make the avowal or disavowal which you seem to think necessary.

The clause pointed out by Mr. Van Ness is in these terms: “I could detail to you a still more despicable opinion which General Hamilton has expressed of Mr. Burr.” To endeavor to discover the meaning of this declaration, I was obliged to seek in the antecedent part of the letter for the opinion to which it referred, as having been already disclosed. I found it in these words: “Genl. Hamilton and Judge Kent have declared in substance that they looked upon Mr. Burr to be a dangerous man, and one who ought not to be trusted with the reins of Government.” The language of Dr. Cooper plainly implies that he considered this opinion of you, which he attributes to me, as a despicable one; but he affirms that I have expressed some other still more despicable; without, however, mentioning to whom, when or where. ‘Tis evident that the phrase “still more despicable” admits of infinite shades from very light to very dark. How am I to judge of the degree intended. Or how should I annex any precise idea to language so vague?

Between Gentlemen despicable and still more despicable are not worth the pains of a distinction. When, therefore, you do not interrogate me as to the opinion which is specifically ascribed to me, I must conclude that you view it as within the limits to which the animadversions of political opponents, upon each other, may justifiably extend; and consequently as not warranting the idea of it which Dr. Cooper appears to entertain. If so, what precise inference could you draw as a guide for your future conduct, were I to acknowledge that I had expressed an opinion of you, still more despicable than the one which is particularized? How could you be sure that even this opinion had exceeded the bounds which you would yourself deem admissible between political opponents?

But I forbear further comment on the embarrassment to which the requisition you have made naturally leads. The occasion forbids a more ample illustration, though nothing would be more easy than to pursue it.

Repeating that I can not reconcile it with propriety to make the acknowledgment or denial you desire, I will add that I deem it inadmissible on principle, to consent to be interrogated as to the justness of the inferences which may be drawn by others, from whatever I may have said of a political opponent in the course of a fifteen years competition. If there were no other objection to it, this is sufficient, that it would tend to expose my sincerity and delicacy to injurious imputations from every person who may at any time have conceived that import of my expressions differently from what I may then have intended, or may afterwards recollect.

I stand ready to avow or disavow promptly and explicitly any precise or definite opinion which I may be charged with having declared to any gentleman. More than this can not fitly be expected from me; and especially it can not reasonably be expected that I shall enter into an explanation upon a basis so vague as that which you have adopted. I trust upon more reflection you will see the matter in the same light with me. If not, I can only regret the circumstances and must abide the consequences.

The publication of Dr. Cooper was never seen by me ‘till after the receipt of your letter.

 

Sir, I have the honor to be

Your Obdt.

A. Hamilton

 

[Read more…]

Document Transcription : Hamilton–Burr Duel Correspondences : Emily Moseley

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Title: Hamilton–Burr Duel Correspondences

Author: Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and William Van Ness

Dates of Origin:
Letter 1 (Burr to Hamilton) : June 18, 1804
Letter 2 (Hamilton To Burr) : June 20, 1804
Letter 3 (Burr to Hamilton) : June 21, 1804
Letter 4 (Hamilton to Burr) : June 22, 1804
Letter 5 (Van Ness to Pendleton) : June 26, 1804

Link: Hamilton–Burr Duel Correspondences Page

Burr to Hamilton, June 18, 1804

N York 18 June 1804

Sir,

I send for your perusal a letter signed Ch. D. Cooper which, though apparently published some time ago, has but very recently come to my knowledge. Mr. Van Ness, who does me the favor to deliver this, will point out to you that clause of the letter to which I particularly request your attention.

You must perceive, Sir, the necessity of a prompt and unqualified acknowledgement or denial of the use of any expressions which could warrant the assertions of Dr. Cooper.

I have the honor to be
Your Obdt. St

A. Burr

Hamilton to Burr, June 20, 1804

N York 20 June 1804

Sir:

I have maturely reflected on the subject of your letter of the 18th Instant, and the more I have reflected, the more I have become convinced that I could not without manifest impropriety make the avowal or disavowal which you seem to think necessary.

The clause pointed out by Mr. Van Ness is in these terms: “I could detail to you a still more despicable opinion which General Hamilton has expressed of Mr. Burr.” To endeavor to discover the meaning of this declaration, I was obliged to seek in the antecedent part of the letter for the opinion to which it referred, as having been already disclosed. I found it in these words: “Genl. Hamilton and Judge Kent have declared in substance that they looked upon Mr. Burr to be a dangerous man, and one who ought not to be trusted with the reins of Government.” The language of Dr. Cooper plainly implies that he considered this opinion of you, which he attributes to me, as a despicable one; but he affirms that I have expressed some other still more despicable; without, however, mentioning to whom, when or where. ‘Tis evident that the phrase “still more despicable” admits of infinite shades from very light to very dark. How am I to judge of the degree intended. Or how should I annex any precise idea to language so vague?

Between Gentlemen despicable and still more despicable are not worth the pains of a distinction. When, therefore, you do not interrogate me as to the opinion which is specifically ascribed to me, I must conclude that you view it as within the limits to which the animadversions of political opponents, upon each other, may justifiably extend; and consequently as not warranting the idea of it which Dr. Cooper appears to entertain. If so, what precise inference could you draw as a guide for your future conduct, were I to acknowledge that I had expressed an opinion of you, still more despicable than the one which is particularized? How could you be sure that even this opinion had exceeded the bounds which you would yourself deem admissible between political opponents?

But I forbear further comment on the embarrassment to which the requisition you have made naturally leads. The occasion forbids a more ample illustration, though nothing would be more easily than to pursue it.

Repeating that I can not reconcile it with propriety to make the acknowledgment or denial you desire, I will add that I deem it inadmissible on principle, to consent to be interrogated as to the justness of the inferences which may be drawn by others, from whatever I may have said of a political opponent in the course of a fifteen years competition. If there were no other objection to it, this is sufficient, that it would tend to expose my sincerity and delicacy to injurious imputations from every person who may at any time have conceived that import of my expressions differently from what I may then have intended, or may afterwards recollect.

I stand ready to avow or disavow promptly and explicitly any precise or definite opinion which I may be charged with having declared to any gentleman. More than this can not fitly be expected from me; and especially it can not reasonably be expected that I shall enter into an explanation upon a basis so vague as that which you have adopted. I trust upon more reflection you will see the matter in the same light with me. If not, I can only regret the circumstances and must abide the consequences.

The publication of Dr. Cooper was never seen by me ’till after the receipt of your letter.

Sir, I have the honor to be
Your Obdt. St

A. Hamilton

Burr to Hamilton, June 21, 1804

N York 21 June 1804

Sir,

Your letter of the 20th inst. has been this day received. Having considered it attentively, I regret to find in it nothing of that sincerity and delicacy which you profess to value.

Political opposition can never absolve gentlemen from the necessity of a rigid adherence to the laws of honor and the rules of decorum. I neither claim such privilege nor indulge it in others.

The common sense of mankind affixes to the epithet adopted by Dr. Cooper the idea of dishonor. It has been publicly applied to me under the sanction of your name. The question is not whether he has understood the meaning of the word or has used it according to syntax and with grammatical accuracy, but whether you have authorized this application either directly or by uttering expression or opinion derogatory to my honor. The time “when” is in your own knowledge but no way material to me, as the calumny has now just been disclosed so as to become the subject of my notice and as the effect is present and palpable.

Your letter has furnished me with new reasons for requiring a definite reply.

I have the honor to be
Your Obdt. St

A. Burr

Hamilton to Burr, June 22, 1804

N York 22 June 1804

Sir,

Your first letter, in a style too peremptory, made a demand, in my opinion, unprecedented and unwarrantable. My answer, pointing out the embarrassment, gave you an opportunity to take a less exceptionable course. You have not chosen to do it, but by your last letter, received this day, containing expressions indecorous and improper, you have increased the difficulties to explanation, intrinsically incident to the nature of your application.

If by a “definite reply” you mean the direct avowal or disavowal required in your first letter, I have no other answer to give than that which has already been given. If you mean anything different admitting of greater latitude, it is requisite you should explain.

I have the honor to be, Sir
Your Obdt. St

A. Hamilton

Van Ness to Pendleton, June 26, 1804

Sir,

The letter which you yesterday delivered me and your subsequent communication in Col. Burr’s opinion evince no disposition on the part of Genl. Hamilton to come to a satisfactory accommodation. The injury complained of and the reparation expected are so definitely expressed in his (Col. B.’s) letter of the 21st Inst. that there is not perceived a necessity for further explanation on his part. The difficulty that would result from confining the inquiry to any particular times and occasions must be manifest. The denial of a specified conversation only, would leave strong implications that on other occasions improper language has been used. When and where injurious expressions and opinions have been uttered by Genl. Hamilton must be best known to him and of him only does Col. Burr think it proper to enquire.

No denial or declaration will be satisfactory unless it be general so as to wholly exclude the idea that rumors derogatory to Col. Burr’s honor can have originated with Genl. Hamilton or have been fairly inferred from anything he has said. A definite reply to a requisition of this nature is demanded in Col. Burr’s letter of the 21st Inst. This being refused, invites the alternative alluded to in Genl. H.’s letter of the 20th Inst. It was demanded by the position in which the controversy was placed by Genl. H. on the 22nd Inst., and I was immediately furnished with a communication demanding a personal interview.

The necessity of this measure has not in the opinion of Col. Burr been diminished by the General’s last letter or any subsequent communication which has been received and I am again instructed to deliver you a message as soon as it may be convenient for you to receive it. I beg, therefore, you will have the politeness to inform me at what hour I shall wait on you.

Your most obt. & very hum. Servt.

W. P. Van Ness

Document Transcription: Hamilton to Eliza

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Letters from Hamilton to Eliza

Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton

Author: Alexander Hamilton

Date of Origin:

  • Letter 1 – July 10, 1781
  • Letter 8 – September 6, 1781
  • Letter 10 -October 10, 1781

Originally Found:

 

To Elizabeth Hamilton

[Camp near Dobbs Ferry, New York, July 10, 1781]

The day before yesterday, my angel, I arrived here, but for the want of an opportunity could not write you sooner. Indeed, I know of none now, but shall send this to the Quarter Master General to be forwarded by the first conveyance to the care of Col. Hughes.2 Finding when I came here that nothing was said on the subject of a command, I wrote the General a letter3 and enclosed him my commission. This morning Tilghman came to me in his name, pressed me to retain my commission, with an assurance that he would endeavor by all means to give me a command nearly such as I could have desired in the present circumstances of the army. Though I know my Betsy would be happy to hear I had rejected this proposal, it is a pleasure my reputation would not permit me to afford her. I consented to retain my commission and accept my command.

I hope my beloved Betsy will dismiss all apprehensions for my safety; unhappily for public affairs, there seems to be little prospect of activity, and if there should be Heaven will certainly be propitious to any attachment so tender, so genuine as ours. Heaven will restore me to the bosom of my love and permit me to enjoy with new relish the delights which are centred there. It costs me a great deal to be absent from them, but the privation is certainly only temporary. I impatiently long to hear from you the state of your mind since our painful separation. Be as happy as you can, I entreat you, my amiable, my beloved wife. But let not absence deprive me of the least particle of your affection. Always remember those tender proofs I have so frequently given you of mine and preserve for me unabated the only blessing which can make life of any value to me…

To Elizabeth Hamilton

Head of Elk, [Maryland] September 6, 1781.

Yesterday, my lovely wife, I wrote to you, inclosing you a letter in one to your father,1 to the care of Mr. Morris. To-morrow the post sets out, and to-morrow we embark for Yorktown. I cannot refuse myself the pleasure of writing you a few lines. Constantly uppermost in my thoughts and affections, I am happy only when my moments are devoted to some office that respects you. I would give the world to be able to tell you all I feel and all I wish, but consult your own heart and you will know mine. What a world will soon be between us! To support the idea, all my fortitude is insufficient. What must be the case with you, who have the most female of female hearts? I sink at the perspective of your distress, and I look to heaven to be your guardian and supporter. Circumstances that have just come to my knowledge, assure me that our operations will be expeditious, as well as our success certain. Early in November, as I promised you, we shall certainly meet. Cheer yourself with this idea, and with the assurance of never more being separated. Every day confirms me in the intention of renouncing public life, and devoting myself wholly to you. Let others waste their time and their tranquillity in a vain pursuit of power and glory; be it my object to be happy in a quiet retreat with my better angel.

A Hamilton

To Elizabeth Hamilton

[Camp before Yorktown, Virginia, October 10, 1781. On October 12, 1781, Hamilton wrote to Elizabeth Hamilton: “I wrote you two days since.” Letter not found.]

 

Introduction: Jake Smith

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By: Jake Smith

 

Hello, everyone. My name is Jake Smith and I am an Aerospace Engineering major here in the in-person section of the class. I am currently planning on graduating in Spring 2021. I’m spending the summer here in the ATL taking two classes, while working part time and golfing whenever I can.

 

I took English 1101 here at Tech my freshman year first semester and put off taking 1102 until the summer. Not that I didn’t enjoy my 1101 class about murder mysteries, but as an AE major, English hasn’t exactly been at the top of my list. In my experience with the WOVEN curriculum, I believe I struggle the most with written communication. I do enjoy turning in a well-written essay, however I am a slow writer so some writing assignments can be challenging for me. I hope to hone in on my writing ability this semester by brainstorming and making outlines to help the pen to paper process, as well as improving other modes of communication.

 

What do I know about Hamilton? I do know that Mike Pence was not a fan of the show, but apart from the not so surprising news of our current administration not supporting hip-hop counterculture, I am not too familiar with it or really any musicals for that matter. I do enjoy music, dance, and movies a lot, but I have not enjoyed musicals like I have other types of performance arts. Additionally, I do enjoy some hip-hop music. My quick list of the rap greats over the years: Biggie (of course), Andre 3000 & Big Boi, Nas, Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, Kanye, Kendrick, and recently Young Thug, Kodak Black, Money Man, and Travis Scott.

 

I look forward to this semester and here’s a collection of my favorite albums by these some of these artists:

 

Introduction to Me

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By Ben Payne

Hello everyone, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ben, I’m an Aerospace Engineering

My babies, but the only one I still have right now is the motorcycle

major from Peachtree City, GA. I’ve had a long history here at Georgia Tech, starting classes in the Fall of 2009 with a couple breaks in between. But I’m set to graduate in the Fall of 2018 assuming all goes well, so I’m almost done. My major obligation this summer other than this class is my full time job. I work as a freight agent for an auto transport broker based in my hometown. So I’m working Monday through Friday, as well as some Saturdays. Immediately following class, I drive (or ride my motorcycle) over to my sister’s place in Decatur and start working until 10pm.

One of the major reasons it has taken me this long to graduate has been English classes. Earlier in my college career, I would sign up for an English course, become interested in the early stages of the course, then fall behind in coursework and attendance, and, because of the mandatory attendance policy in place, be forced to drop the class. I believe I took at least five different ENGL 1101 classes before finally passing in the Fall of 2017. And even that one was close. I hope to rid myself of some of my bad procrastination habits this semester, although it may be difficult, as I am also working full time while taking this class. I do enjoy parts of communication; mostly reading about things I’m interested in, but the other side of communication has always been a struggle for me. I’m great at editing things, whether they be writing or visual, but producing things from scratch usually makes my head spin not knowing where to start. I’m hoping to improve my writing, making it more fluid and understandable, as well as my verbal communication, as getting my thoughts out correctly the first time has proved a struggle for me in the past. I’m also excited to work on electronic communication, with these blog posts and tweets, as well as the historical annotation project.

Prior to this class, I had never seen a Broadway musical. In high school, a trip to New York for an academic tournament sent us to a production of Stomp off-Broadway, but I’ve never seen a major musical. I have listened to the Wicked soundtrack from start to finish once after a friend’s daughter saw the play and shared it with me.

I first heard of Hamilton in early 2016, when I was planning a trip to New York to visit my cousin at Columbia. I was interested in seeing something on Broadway, and she suggested it, but also said that tickets were basically impossible to come by. Time ending up slipping away on that trip, and I never went to see a play. I guess it wasn’t meant to be, but I am glad to be studying Hamilton now, other than the fact that the songs are stuck in my head all day everyday now after listening to them all multiple times

 

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Introductory Post: Ian Byers

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Hey everyone! My name is Ian Byers, and I’m a computer science major who is anticipated to graduate in 2021. I’m the in-person section of this class, but I am commuting to Georgia Tech, so I won’t be on campus very much this Summer. The only other class I am taking in the Summer is a late Summer semester class, so I am currently spending my free time preparing for my Fall classes since I will have a pretty difficult schedule then.

This is my first English course which I am taking at Tech, but I have heard lots about other peoples’ experiences in these classes and how they are different than English courses at other colleges. In my previous English classes, the expectations were very different than those of a course at Tech, but I am sure that many basic skills will be transferable. I would say that I enjoy and prefer oral and visual communication, while I tend to struggle more with written communication. Although I hope to improve all aspects of my communicative abilities this semester, I will focus most on improving those which I find more difficult, particularly written communication.

As far as the course theme goes, I had a superficial knowledge of Hamilton before this class on account of its popularity, but I had not listened to or watched it in any form. I also do not have significant experience with musicals in general, and although I do not have any inherent dislike for the genre, and can even appreciate it at times; I definitely dislike the culture that exists around it. I have a similar opinion of hip hop, except that I have listened to it in the past and am exposed to it regularly, as my friends listen to it often.

My interests are admittedly fairly uncommon ones. I have an amateurish interest in European history, and have visited many European countries. One thing about me that people may find unusual about me is that I have I actually have a strong dislike of most modern technologies and their uses. This may seem odd considering my major, but this is actually part of why I chose to study computer science in the first place.

Here’s a picture of me with my mom on a glacier in Iceland, which is some of the most fun I have had while traveling abroad!

Zac Frederick Introductory Post

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By: Zac Frederick

Hi everyone! My name is Zac Frederick, and I am very excited to be a part of this English 1102 course. I am a business major and have just completed my first year here at Tech in May. My four-year graduation would be in 2021, however (hence the summer courses) I am hoping that I can bump that forward maybe a semester or two! I am in the online section of the course, however I am still here in Atlanta, and am also taking in-class courses at Tech every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. In addition, I am fortunate enough to have landed an internship this summer, and have scheduled Tuesdays and Thursdays for that effort.

In high school I would say that English courses were probably my least favorite area of study. The content was far too broad for my liking, and I never felt that my efforts would ever yield a knowledge that I saw as valuable. However, when I came to Tech I realized that English was taught differently from a standard English curriculum, in that classes focused on a specific study, and you could become proficient in one or a set of ideas. My 1101 course studied the effect noise, music, and our overall soundscape has on every aspect of our lives, and I really feel like I got something out of the course that I had not yet experienced with English thus far.

For this reason, I was very excited when I learned we would be taking an in-depth look at Hamilton over this summer semester. Coming from knowing almost nothing about the play that has created such a craze across the nation over the previous few years, it is understandably somewhat intimidating of a position; however, I am glad to be introduced to the subject in an English course setting. I really enjoyed our AP U.S. History study of this time period, but I feel like we glossed over such an important time period, one that I would very much desire to learn more about. In addition, I am not really well-versed (or desire to be) in musicals, but I am happy to make an exception for one that is held in such high esteem.

Here’s a picture of my greatest life accomplishment, me accidentally killing a bird with a golf ball at the driving range!

Intro Post

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Hi everyone, My name is Ye Jun Kim, and I am a Computational Media major, anticipating to graduate in 2021. I am taking this course online, but I am still at Tech! I am taking CS 1331 right now, along with this class, so I live near campus.

I actually took English 1101 with Dr. Wilson Fall semester. The theme during that class was play, so I was able to explore different kinds of play and how we can communiate with these forms of play.

My favorite kind of communicaton is visual. I really like drawing and looking at art pieces and how emotion is conveyed through those artworks.

As i have said in one of my tweets, I am a first generation immigrant. I came to America when I was in third grade, so I can speak English well enough to communicate, but I struggle with communicating effectively. I hope to improve this kind of communication as I progress throughout the course.

I don’t really have a direct experience with the course, but I think I’ve heard a couple of the songs while shuffling through youtube a long time ago. I really like musicals because I enjoy listening to music and the songs having to tell a story. I don’t know about showtunes, but I enjoy listening to movie soundtracks and I guess they can be similar in a way that they music enhaces the story.

I’m not a very big fan of hip-hop, but I really like Chance the Rapper, and music similar to his style of music. I usually listen to modern jazz or indie music, and now days, there are a lot of modern jazz songs featuring rappers, which is really cool and interesting to listen to.

The picture above is an artwork done by my favorite artist, Seonglib. It is a drawing of a couple kissing.

Introduction: Arfa Ul-Haque

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Hello everyone! My name is Arfa Ul-Haque and I am a biochemistry major on a pre-health track. I hope to graduate in May 2021. I am part of the in-person section of the English 1102 course and am also taking Physics 2 on campus. This course is the first English class that I am taking at Tech. My favorite literature class that I have taken so far is AP Literature. I had a really great teacher who helped me improve my writing and taught me how to analyze of a variety of genres of literature. I especially liked our examination of poetry and the in-depth analysis of the books we read, like The Invisible Man and The Handmaid’s Tale.

The parts of communication that I enjoy are visual and written. As a commuter, I spend a lot of time reading so I love the written aspect of communication and exploring how various authors write differently based on the genre they are writing and the tone they are trying to convey. I also like the visual aspect because I learn best through visual demonstrations. The communication aspect that I struggle most with is oral communication, as I get anxious when speaking in front of large groups of people. I hope to improve my written and oral communication to become more efficient at writing and more confident in public speaking.

I first heard Hamilton a few months after it initially was released in 2015, so I’m pretty familiar with the musical. Once I was introduced to it, I was immediately captured by the lyrical genius that is Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Image result for lin manuel miranda gif

I love how he incorporated so many different elements of hip hop into the musical and the overall historical accuracy he maintained while writing the script. After listening to Hamilton, I became familiar with other musicals made by Lin-Manuel Miranda, including In the Heights and the mini-musical 21 Chump Street. Since then, I’ve become a fan of many other musicals including Dear Evan Hansen, Into the Woods, and Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812.

Overall, I’m excited for this course and to learn more about Hamilton!

By: Arfa Ul-Haque

Document Transcription: Hamilton’s Letters to Eliza

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By: Adair Garrett

Title: Alexander Hamilton’s Letters to Eliza

Author: Alexander Hamilton

Dates of Origin: 

  • July 10, 1781
  • July 10, 1804

Links: 

  • https://founders.archives.gov/?q=Correspondent%3A%22Hamilton%2C%20Alexander%22%20Correspondent%3A%22Hamilton%2C%20Elizabeth%22&s=1111311113&r=1
  • https://founders.archives.gov/?q=Correspondent%3A%22Hamilton%2C%20Alexander%22%20Correspondent%3A%22Hamilton%2C%20Elizabeth%22&s=1111311113&r=121

Document Excerpts: 

[Camp near Dobbs Ferry, New York]

[July 10, 1781]

The day before yesterday, my angel, I arrived here, but for the want of an opportunity could not write you sooner. Indeed, I know of none now, but shall send this to the Quarter Master General to be forwarded by the first conveyance to the care of Col. Hughes. Finding when I came here that nothing was said on the subject of a command, I wrote the General a letter and enclosed him my commission. This morning Tilghman came to me in his name, pressed me to retain my commission, with an assurance that he would endeavor by all means to give me a command nearly such as I could have desired in the present circumstances of the army. Though I know my Betsy would be happy to hear I had rejected this proposal, it is a pleasure my reputation would not permit me to afford her. I consented to retain my commission and accept my command.

I hope my beloved Betsy will dismiss all apprehensions for my safety; unhappily for public affairs, there seems to be little prospect of activity, and if there should be Heaven will certainly be propitious to any attachment so tender, so genuine as ours. Heaven will restore me to the bosom of my love and permit me to enjoy with new relish the delights which are centred there. It costs me a great deal to be absent from them, but the privation is certainly only temporary. I impatiently long to hear from you the state of your mind since our painful separation. Be as happy as you can, I entreat you, my amiable, my beloved wife. But let not absence deprive me of the least particle of your affection. Always remember those tender proofs I have so frequently given you of mine and preserve for me unabated the only blessing which can make life of any value to me.

I write your father all the military news. I have barely seen Mr. Carter and delivered him the letters which your amiable father committed to my care. You are of a charming family my Betsy. I shall not easily forget the marks of parting regret which appeared in both your sisters. Assure them of everything my heart is capable of feeling for the lovely sisters of a lovely wife.

I quarter at present by a very polite and very warm invitation with General Lincoln. I experience every mark of esteem from the officers of both armies. As soon as possible, I shall begin housekeeping myself. Mr. Carter and I are four miles asunder. Tomorrow morning I shall see him again. He is in good health and the principal French officers express great satisfaction at his conduct.

My good, my tender, my fond, my excellent Betsy, Adieu. You know not how much it must ever cost me to pronounce this word. God bless and preserve you.

A Hamilton

 

[New York]

[July 10, 1804]

My beloved Eliza

Mrs. Mitchel is the person in the world to whom as a friend I am under the greatest Obligations. I have ⟨not⟩ hitherto done my ⟨duty⟩ to her. But ⟨resolved⟩ to repair my omission as much as ⟨possible,⟩ I have encouraged her to come to ⟨this Country⟩ and intend, if it shall be ⟨in my po⟩wer to render the Evening of her days ⟨c⟩omfortable. But if it shall please God to put this out of my power and to inable you hereafter to be of ⟨s⟩ervice to her, I entreat you to d⟨o⟩ it and to treat ⟨h⟩er with the tenderness of a Sister.

This is my second letter.

The Scrup⟨les of a Christian have deter⟩mined me to expose my own li⟨fe to any⟩ extent rather than subject my s⟨elf to the⟩ guilt of taking the life of ⟨another.⟩ This must increase my hazards & redoubles my pangs for you. But you had rather I should die inno⟨c⟩ent than live guilty. Heaven can pre⟨se⟩rve me ⟨and I humbly⟩ hope will ⟨b⟩ut in the contrary ⟨e⟩vent, I charge you to remember that you are a Christian. God’s Will be done. The will of a merciful God must be good.

Once more Adieu My Darling darling Wife

A H