I received your Letters of Decbr 31 & Jan’ry the 1st I am sorry that it should fall to your Lot to nominate Col smith again, and that to a lower Grade than, as a soldier he merrits. I think however that he was placed in a difficult situation. if he had rejected the offer, those who have stiled him a Jacobin, would have attributed it to motives unfriendly to his Country, but as a Man particuliarly calculated for the Millitary department, and having Served his Country with honour and approbation in the Feild, he deserved [a mu]ch Higher Grade of Rank. the New Modelling the Army [. . .] tend to reconcile him to the arrangment, but I think as an officer, he ought not to have submitted to the Nomination, disgraced as he was by the Senate, Some of whom I shall always remember for their consistancy, of conduct.

The Idea which prevails here, is that Hamilton will be first in command, as there is very little Idea that Washington will be any thing more than, Name as to actual service, and I am told, that it ill suits the N England stomache they say He is not a Native, and beside He has so damnd himself to everlasting Infamy, that He ought not to be Head of any thing. the Jacobins Hate him & the Federilists do not Love him— Serious people are mortified; and every Uriah must tremble for his Bathsheba;1 I do not consider G W— at all a happier man, because he has not Children. if he has none to give him pain, he has none to give him pleasure, and he has other sources of anxiety, in full proportion. as to conjecturing what is to be the Lot, and portion 350 of the next generation; my only anxiety is that they may have good & virtuous Educations, and if they are left to struggle for themselves, they will be quite as like to rise up virtuous and distinguished Characters as tho they had been born to great expectations. vicious conduct will always be a source of disquietude to me. if my wishes are blasted I must submit to it, as a punishment, a trial, an affliction which I must bear—and what I cannot remedy I must endure.

Since I wrote you last, mr smith has seen capt Jenkins. He informs him that Thomas a[pplied] to him for a passage on Board his vessel, but captain [Jenkins] advised him not to come in her. tho a fast sailor, she was a very wet ship, and a winters passage in her would have been very uncomfortable. He went with Thomas to examine the vessels there, and found the Alexander Hamilton capt Clark for N york, in which he advised him to take passage, as she was a good vessel, and a Good captain— She was to sail in a few days after Capt Jenkins—

It is now two Months since you left me, and two more I hope, will return you Here again

our General court are in Session we shall see the Govenours Speach in tomorrows Paper I trust2 I have met with some of the Numbers addrest to Genll Marshall in the Chronical.3 they appear to me to be the common place stuff of the party, the same low invective and abuse of the Government for which the Faction are distinguishd. They will not injure Marshall so much as he injured himself— Gallitin and Nicholas have thrown asside, even the veil they used to wear— Harpers observations were good, but too lengthy, and his sarcasms very pointed.4

after the Dismall cold week we have had, last night came a strong south wind, and with out any rain; Swept away all but our Banks, broke up the sleighing, and left half the ground bare—

we are all well, but your Brother, who has his Eyes constantly Bad—one bunch gathering after an other. I am really affraid he will be Blind. he is too inattentive to the concequences—

I cannot write to day to William—

I send you a Green House—

yours affectionatly

I arrived at this place yesterday afternoon, in the Ship Alexander Hamilton, after a passage of 46 days— The Season of the year will best explain what kind of weather we have experienced. I thank God that I tread once more the land of my Fathers.

I shall wait only for my baggage to come on shore and then set out for Philadelphia—where I hope—to meet you in health. It gives me pain that I cannot at the same time embrace both my parents—

I left my Brother & Sister well at Berlin, as I informed you by the Brig Pulaski and by Capt Jenkins while at Hamburg.1

I have several letters to write and must therefore postpone any information until I reach Philadelphia— The Letters I brought go on by this Post.

Your Son

Yesterday in high stile with his Carriage and four, His Honor the Lieut Govenour made me a visit. this is the first notice I have received of his Gaurdianship. he desired I would inform the President that he had been here, as he had promised him that he would take care of me. I told him I should certainly comply with his request; the seeing me for the first Time, since the loss of Mrs Gill, renewed his sorrow, and he could scarcly converse upon any other subject he 352 seems to have buried with her, his pleasures and his comforts, for he said the 25 years which he lived with her, he never knew an interruption of their domestic happiness, as it respected each other.1

I received your Letter of the 5th inclosing the Letter from Thomas, which corresponds with what I wrote, you; capt Jenkings told mr smith; I cannot help feeling still anxious for him, and shall, untill I hear of his arrival. if the senate scrutinize every Character with as much rigour as they have done Col W S. S. I should suppose that some of the Gen’lls of the army would not pass mustur, but I Imagine it is the political, and not the Moral Character which is such a stumbling Block— I would however as soon trust col s—h as Gen’ll Hamilton. I have not any Confidence in the honour, integrity or Patriotism of any Man, who does not believe that, thou shalt not commit Adultery, is a possitive command Prohibition of God thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours wife, is an other, and yet I have been credibly informd, that the Audacious publication of that Man, has only renderd him more bold, and hardned in iniquity—2 it only requires a temptation sufficiently powerfull to Ambition, to lead from the path of political Rectitude; it is a strange way of Reasoning I would not upon any consideration do a publick wrong or injury, but I can be guilty of breaking the most solemn private engagement, and that to one whom I am bound by affection, and by Honor, to protect, to Love and Respect. I can disgrace and stigmatize my Lawfull ospring, and feel neither shame or compunction, but I would not betray a public trust. I cannot see that I commit any breach of Charity in this comment;

I read all the public papers and am glad to find Congress so buisy. some men prate too much and it is too evident, that it is to be admired. they answer their end for I admire at them. I think I never saw Gallitin so netled and so off his gaurd before. as to Nicholas he seems to have brought with him, all the Malignity of Giles, and the spight of Tailor—

I hope I am not too censorious, yet upon looking over my Letter, I begin to suspect that I have given myself a pretty free latitude. I believe I had better close before I attack any other. assureing you that I am in full Charity with all Good men, and that I am your truly affectionate