New Haven, Sept. 16, 1787.
My Dear Sir:
Our friend Col. Wadsworth has communicated to me a letter, in which
you made inquiries respecting a political letter that has lately
circulated in this State. I arrived in this town yesterday, and have
since conversed with several intelligent persons on the subject. It
appears to have been printed in a Fairfield paper as long ago as the
25th of July. I have not been able to trace it to its source. Mr.
Wetmore informs me, that when he first saw this letter it was in the
hands of one Jared Mansfield, who, I believe, has formerly been reputed
a Loyalist. Indeed it seems to have been received and circulated with
avidity by that class of people, whether it was fabricated by them or
not. I think, however, there is little doubt that it was manufactured
in this State. I demanded of Mr. Wetmore what he thought were the
wishes and objects of the writer of that letter. He said, he believed
it might be written principally for the amusement of the author, and
perhaps with some view to learn whether the people were not absolutely
indifferent to all government and dead to all political sentiment.
Before I saw the letter in question, a paragraph had been published
by Mr. Meigs, giving an account of it, and attempting to excite the
apprehensions of the Anti-federalists, with an idea, that the most
disastrous consequences are to be expected, unless we shall accept the
proceedings of the Convention. Some think this was the real design of
the fictitious performance, but others, with more reason, that it was
intended to feel the public pulse, and to discover whether the public
mind would be startled with propositions of Royalty. The quondam tories
have undoubtedly conceived hopes of a future union with Great Britain,
from the inefficacy of our Government, and the tumults which prevailed
in Massachusetts during the last winter. I saw a letter, written at
that period, by a Clergyman of considerable reputation in Nova Scotia,
to a person of eminence in this State, stating the impossibility of our
being happy under our present Constitution, and proposing (now we could
think and argue calmly on all the consequences) that the efforts of the
moderate, the virtuous, and the brave, should be exerted to effect a
reunion with the parent State. He mentioned, among other things, how
instrumental the Cincinnati might be, and how much it would redound to
their emolument. It seems, by a conversation I have had here, that the
ultimate practicability of introducing the Bishop of Osnaburgh is not a
novel idea among those who were formerly termed Loyalists. Ever since
the peace it has been occasionally talked of and wished for. Yesterday,
where I dined, half jest--half earnest--he was given as the first toast.
I leave you now, my dear friend, to reflect how ripe we are for the
most mad and ruinous project that can be suggested, especially when,
in addition to this view, we take into consideration how thoroughly
the patriotic part of the community--the friends of an efficient
Government, are discouraged with the present system, and irritated at
the popular demagogues who are determined to keep themselves in office,
at the risk of every thing. Thence apprehensions are formed, that
though the measures proposed by the Convention, may not be equal to the
wishes of the most enlightened and virtuous, yet that they will be too
high-toned to be adopted by our popular assemblies. Should that happen,
our political ship will be left afloat on a sea of chance, without a
rudder as well as without a pilot.
I am happy to see you have (some of you) had the honest boldness
to attack in a public paper, the Anti-federal dogmas of a great
personage in your State. Go on and prosper. Were the men of talents
and honesty, throughout the Continent, properly combined into one
phalanx, I am confident they would be competent to hew their way
through all opposition. Were there no little jealousies, bickerings
and unworthy sinister views, to divert them from their object, they
might by perseverance, establish a Government calculated to promote the
happiness of mankind, and to make the Revolution a blessing instead of
a curse.
I think it is probable that I shall soon go to the southward; in the
mean time, I beg you to be persuaded that I am, with sentiments of
sincere friendship and esteem,
My dear Hamilton,
Your most obedient and most humble serv’t,
D. Humphreys.
Col. Hamilton.