Contents

Introduction

THE WEST INDIES, THE REVOLUTION, AND THE CONFEDERATION, 1769–1786

To Edward Stevens, November 11, 1769

“My Ambition Is Prevalent”

To The Royal Danish American Gazette, September 6, 1772

Account of a Hurricane

A Full Vindication of the Measures of the Congress, December 15, 1774

To John Jay, November 26, 1775

The Danger of Trusting in Virtue

To John Jay, March 14, 1779

Enlisting Slaves as Soldiers

To John Laurens, c. April 1779

Hope for a Wife

To John Laurens, January 8, 1780

“I Am Not Fit for This Terrestreal Country”

To Elizabeth Schuyler, August 1780

“Examine Well Your Heart”

To James Duane, September 3, 1780

“The Defects of Our Present System”

To Elizabeth Schuyler, September 25, 1780

The Plight of Mrs. Arnold

To Elizabeth Schuyler, October 2, 1780

The Fate of Major André

To Margarita Schuyler, January 21, 1781

Advice About Marriage

To Philip Schuyler, February 18, 1781

A Break with Washington

To James McHenry, February 18, 1781

Washington Will Repent His Ill-Humour

The Continentalist No. III, August 9, 1781

To George Washington, February 13, 1783

The Prospect of a Mutiny

To James Hamilton, June 22, 1785

“I Feel All the Sentiment of a Brother”

FRAMING AND RATIFYING THE CONSTITUTION, 1787–1789

Plan of Government, c. June 18, 1787

Speech in the Constitutional Convention on a Plan of Government, June 18, 1787

To George Washington, July 3, 1787

“The Critical Opportunity”

Conjectures About the New Constitution, c. late September 1787

The Federalist No. 1, October 27, 1787

The Federalist No. 15, December 1, 1787

The Federalist No. 35, January 5, 1788

The Federalist No. 70, March 15, 1788

To James Madison, May 19, 1788

Coordinating a Campaign

The Federalist No. 78, May 28, 1788

The Federalist No. 84, May 28, 1788

Speech in the New York Ratifying Convention on Interests and Corruption, June 21, 1788

To George Washington, September 1788

Convincing Washington to Serve

To George Washington, May 5, 1789

Presidential Etiquette

SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, 1789–1795

To Lafayette, October 6, 1789

“I Hazard Much”

To Henry Lee, December 1, 1789

“Suspicion Is Ever Eagle Eyed”

FROM Report on Public Credit, January 9, 1790

Opinion on the Constitutionality of a National Bank, February 23, 1791

To Philip A. Hamilton, December 5, 1791

“A Promise Must Never Be Broken”

To Edward Carrington, May 26, 1792

“A Faction Decidedly Hostile to Me”

An American No. I, August 4, 1792

To George Washington, September 9, 1792

Responding to a Plea for Peace

To an Unknown Correspondent, September 26, 1792

An Embryo-Cæsar

Draft of a Defense of the Neutrality Proclamation, c. May 1793

Pacificus No. I, June 29, 1793

To Andrew G. Fraunces, October 1, 1793

“Contemptible As You Are”

To Angelica Hamilton, c. November 1793

Advice to a Daughter

Tully No. III, August 28, 1794

To Angelica Church, October 23, 1794

“Wicked Insurgents of the West”

To Angelica Church, December 8, 1794

“A Politician, and Good for Nothing”

Memorandum on the French Revolution, 1794

To George Washington, February 3, 1795

Resigning from Office

FEDERALIST LEADER AND ATTORNEY, 1795–1804

To Rufus King, February 21, 1795

A Threat to the Public Credit

To Robert Troup, April 13, 1795

“Public Fools”

Memorandum on the Design for Seal of the United States, c. May 1796

To George Washington, July 30, 1796

A Draft of the Farewell Address

To William Hamilton, May 2, 1797

Introduction to an Uncle

The “Reynolds Pamphlet,” August 25, 1797

To Elizabeth Hamilton, November 19, 1798

“My Good Genius”

To Theodore Sedgwick, February 2, 1799

The Problem of Virginia

To James McHenry, March 18, 1799

Displaying Strength “Like a Hercules”

To Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, December 22, 1799

The Death of Washington

To Martha Washington, January 12, 1800

“So Heart-Rending an Affliction”

To John Jay, May 7, 1800

An Electoral Stratagem

To Theodore Sedgwick, May 10, 1800

Withdrawing Support from Adams

To John Adams, August 1, 1800

Response to an Accusation

To William Jackson, August 26, 1800

“The Most Humiliating Criticism”

Rules for Philip Hamilton, 1800

To Gouverneur Morris, December 26, 1800

Jefferson over Burr

To John Rutledge Jr., January 4, 1801

Anxiety About the Election

To James A. Bayard, January 16, 1801

Burr Has “No Fixed Theory”

To Gouverneur Morris, February 29, 1802

“Mine Is an Odd Destiny”

To Benjamin Rush, March 29, 1802

The Death of Philip Hamilton

To James A. Bayard, April 1802

The Christian Constitutional Society

To Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, December 29, 1802

“Refuge of a Disappointed Politician”

To Elizabeth Hamilton, March 17, 1803

“A World Full of Evil”

To Timothy Pickering, September 16, 1803

Explaining a Plan of Government

THE DUEL, 1804

From Aaron Burr, June 18, 1804

Origins of a Dispute

To Aaron Burr, June 20, 1804

Declining to Avow or Disavow

From Aaron Burr, June 21, 1804

New Reasons for a Definite Reply

To Aaron Burr, June 22, 1804

“Expressions Indecorous and Improper”

From Aaron Burr, June 22, 1804

“The Course I Am About to Pursue”

Response to a Letter from William P. Van Ness, June 28, 1804

Statement Regarding Financial Situation, July 1, 1804

To Elizabeth Hamilton, July 4, 1804

“Fly to the Bosom of Your God”

Statement Regarding the Duel with Burr, c. July 10, 1804

To Theodore Sedgwick, July 10, 1804

“Our Real Disease; Which Is Democracy”

To Elizabeth Hamilton, July 10, 1804

An Obligation Owed

Joint Statement by William P. Van Ness and Nathaniel Pendleton, July 17, 1804

Statement by Nathaniel Pendleton, July 19, 1804

Statement by William P. Van Ness, July 21, 1804

Chronology

Note on the Texts

Notes

Index