Mr. Dawson hazards the guess that this edition was edited by William
Coleman, but by Mr. Hopkins statement, he appears in error.
“Mr. Hopkins informed me to-day that this edition was in the
first instance corrected by John Wells, who compared it with the
original edition, published by McLean [sic] in 1788, and that it
was subsequently revised by my father, at whose casual suggestion
Pacificus was printed with it.” _Memoranda by J. C. Hamilton, Feb. 6,
1847._
From the “prefatory remarks” prefixed to the Washington edition, it
would appear that Mr. Jay also revised in this edition the numbers
contributed by him. See No. 41.
“In the year 1802, Mr. Hopkins, printer, of this city, intending to
publish a new edition of The Federalist, took this opportunity to
apply to Gen. Hamilton, and solicit him to correct and revise the
numbers, and, so far succeeded, as to obtain his consent to assist in
the revisal, provided a gentleman of competent literary talents would
undertake to make the first verbal corrections, for the original idea
was to be strictly adhered to:—He then examined the whole with his
own eye, previous to its being committed to the press, and saw that
it was free from literary blemishes.” William A. Coleman in the _N.Y.
Evening Post_, March 25, 1817.
_The Federalist. New York._ 1810.
The / Federalist, / on the New Constitution; / written in 1788,/
by Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Madison. / To which is added, /
Pacificus, / on the Proclamation of Neutrality; / written in 1793, /
by Mr. Hamilton./ A new edition, with the Names and Portraits of the
several Writers. / In Two Volumes. / Vol. I. / New-York: / Published by
Williams & Whiting, / at their Theological and Classical Bookstore, /
No. 118, Pearl-Street. / Printed by J. Seymour. / 1810.