[Address panel: To Alexander Hamilton Esq^r] [Endorsements: undecipherable] No 55. Albany March 15^th 1799 — My Dear Sir — I shall not fail to call the Attention of the Senate to the insecure State of the [undecipherable: City?] of New York and to detail the distressing consequences which must result should the Metropolis be laid under contribution, be conflagrated, or possessed by a hostile foreign power. But I apprehend nothing more will be done than Authorizing the Governor to take measures for its security, If a war with some European power should appear to him inevitable It is to be lamented that the most influential characters in the representation from New York could not be prevailed on to remain here by their neglecting their duties they have committed the affairs of those constituencies to less able hands, and painful results must be expected— & If Gentlemen of consideration in the public mind may continue to refuse seats in either branch of the Legislature, It is certain that a variety of evils will result to the community; and the metropolis will be most deeply affected. I hope, therefore, that the necessity for Gentlemen to step forward and offer to consent to be candidates at the ensuing of election may be strongly urged.— M^r Burr, we are informed, will be a Candidate for a seat in the Assembly; his reasons it is not difficult to Appreciate. They alarm me, and if he prevails I apprehend a total change of politics in the next Assembly attended with most disagreeable consequences.— M^r Adams's speeches to the Senate at taking leave, and [undecipherable], in [undecipherable], at his Inauguration, have left very unfavorable impressions on my mind, and created Alarm, but it may not be freedom to state the reasons.— we are all in health, & All [undecipherable] to you [undecipherable] — Your Dear Sir most sincerely [yours,] Ph^s Schuyler