Impending War Between Britain and France
Item
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Title
Impending War Between Britain and France
Description
Hamilton speculates on the evidence of impending war between Britain and France.
year created
1790
month created
10
day created
17
author
sent from location
New York
recipient
in collection
in image
notable person/group
George Washington
Alexander Hamilton
Lord Howe
General Clarke
Sir Guy Carleton
Department of State
Department of the Treasury
Commissioners for Settling Accounts
National Assembly
King
ministries of his Catholic Majesty
Ambassador from France in Spain
notable location
New York
France
Spain
Quebec
Philadelphia
different nations of Europe
notable item/thing
British packet
warlike aspect
English paper [newspaper]
National Assembly of France
Dutch fleet
mysterious circumstance
rumor in England
communication
meeting of the legislature
peace
defensive and commercial engagements
National Treaty
principles of justice
armaments
safety of the colonies and of commerce
ships of the line
frigates
small vessels
Positive orders have been sent to Lord Howe to fight if he can find the opportunity.
notable phrase
Positive orders have been sent to Lord Howe to fight if he can find the opportunity.
document number
1790101737001
page start
1
transcription
From Alex.r Hamilton Esqr.
17.th Oct. 1790
Speech
G Britain [undecipherable]
pg 66. Copy Hamilton to Washington
New York Oct. 17th 1790
Sir,
I had the honor of receiving your letter of the 10th Instant by the last Post. It is certainly very possible, that motives, different from the one avowed, may have produced a certain communication; and matters of such a nature, it is not only allowable, but the dictate of prudence, to receive suggestions with peculiar caution.
A British Packet arrived yesterday. The accounts, she brings, are all of a warlike aspect. I have extracted from an English Paper the inclosed decree of the National Assembly of France; which though of a qualified nature tenor looks pretty directly towards the eventual supporting of Spain. The English papers hold it up as a decisive indication of a disposition to do so - And it is said in some of the letters which have been received that positive orders have been sent to Lord Howe to fight if he can find an opportunity. The papers announce a second fleet of fifteen sail of the line ready to rendezvous at Portsmouth to be under the command of Admiral Hood. Their destination unknown.
It is also mentioned the Dutch fleet has returned to the Texel; the Duke of Leeds having previously made a journey for an interview with the Dutch Admiral. This very mysterious circumstance is wholly unexplained.
A certain Gentleman, who called on me today, informed me, that a Packet had sailed the 16th of August for Quebec, in which went passenger General Clarke. He added that the rumour in England was that Sir Guy Carlleton was to return in her. He made no other communication.
The inclosed letter came to hand to day. I have had no opportunity of making any enquiry concerning the person recommended in it. If I can obtain any additional lights, they shall be made known without delay.
The object suggested in your letter as preparatory to the Meeting of the Legislature shall engage my particular attention.
The papers of the Departments of State and the Treasury and of the Commissioners for settling accounts are on their way to Philadelphia. On the 20th I propose with my family to set out for the same place.
I have the honor to be with the highest respect
and truest attachment
Sir
Your most Obedient
& Most humble Servant
Alexander Hamilton
The President of the U States
Decree of the National Assembly
Thursday Afternoon four oClock
The National Assembly deliberating upon the formal proposition of the King, contained in the letter of his Minister of the 1st of August Decrees
1st That the King shall be prayed to make known
to his Catholic Majesty, that the French Nation in taking all
the measures necessary to maintain peace, will observe the
defensive and commercial engagements which his Government
has contracted with Spain
2nly. Decrees moreover, that the King, shall be prayed immediately to charge the Ambassador from France in Spain, to negotiate with the Ministers of his Catholic Majesty for the purpose and to the effect of strengthening, by a National Treaty the ties and connections useful to the two Nations, and to fix with clearness and precision all the stipulations which shall not be entirely conformable to the views of a general peace, and to the principles of Justice, which will ever be the policy of France.
3dly The National Assembly, taking into consideration the armaments of the different Nations of Europe â their progressive augmentation, the safety of the Colonies and of Commerce, Decrees that the King shall be prayed to give necessary orders that the squadrons in Commission may be augmented to forty-five ships of the line, with a proportionate number of frigates and small Vessels.
[in another hand, lower left corner:] 1351
17.th Oct. 1790
Speech
G Britain [undecipherable]
pg 66. Copy Hamilton to Washington
New York Oct. 17th 1790
Sir,
I had the honor of receiving your letter of the 10th Instant by the last Post. It is certainly very possible, that motives, different from the one avowed, may have produced a certain communication; and matters of such a nature, it is not only allowable, but the dictate of prudence, to receive suggestions with peculiar caution.
A British Packet arrived yesterday. The accounts, she brings, are all of a warlike aspect. I have extracted from an English Paper the inclosed decree of the National Assembly of France; which though of a qualified nature tenor looks pretty directly towards the eventual supporting of Spain. The English papers hold it up as a decisive indication of a disposition to do so - And it is said in some of the letters which have been received that positive orders have been sent to Lord Howe to fight if he can find an opportunity. The papers announce a second fleet of fifteen sail of the line ready to rendezvous at Portsmouth to be under the command of Admiral Hood. Their destination unknown.
It is also mentioned the Dutch fleet has returned to the Texel; the Duke of Leeds having previously made a journey for an interview with the Dutch Admiral. This very mysterious circumstance is wholly unexplained.
A certain Gentleman, who called on me today, informed me, that a Packet had sailed the 16th of August for Quebec, in which went passenger General Clarke. He added that the rumour in England was that Sir Guy Carlleton was to return in her. He made no other communication.
The inclosed letter came to hand to day. I have had no opportunity of making any enquiry concerning the person recommended in it. If I can obtain any additional lights, they shall be made known without delay.
The object suggested in your letter as preparatory to the Meeting of the Legislature shall engage my particular attention.
The papers of the Departments of State and the Treasury and of the Commissioners for settling accounts are on their way to Philadelphia. On the 20th I propose with my family to set out for the same place.
I have the honor to be with the highest respect
and truest attachment
Sir
Your most Obedient
& Most humble Servant
Alexander Hamilton
The President of the U States
Decree of the National Assembly
Thursday Afternoon four oClock
The National Assembly deliberating upon the formal proposition of the King, contained in the letter of his Minister of the 1st of August Decrees
1st That the King shall be prayed to make known
to his Catholic Majesty, that the French Nation in taking all
the measures necessary to maintain peace, will observe the
defensive and commercial engagements which his Government
has contracted with Spain
2nly. Decrees moreover, that the King, shall be prayed immediately to charge the Ambassador from France in Spain, to negotiate with the Ministers of his Catholic Majesty for the purpose and to the effect of strengthening, by a National Treaty the ties and connections useful to the two Nations, and to fix with clearness and precision all the stipulations which shall not be entirely conformable to the views of a general peace, and to the principles of Justice, which will ever be the policy of France.
3dly The National Assembly, taking into consideration the armaments of the different Nations of Europe â their progressive augmentation, the safety of the Colonies and of Commerce, Decrees that the King shall be prayed to give necessary orders that the squadrons in Commission may be augmented to forty-five ships of the line, with a proportionate number of frigates and small Vessels.
[in another hand, lower left corner:] 1351
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (4 pages) | WGD01 (4 pages) | Collection: Alexander Hamilton Papers | R: 5 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Alexander Hamilton | New York | [n/a] |
| Recipient | George Washington | [unknown] | [n/a] |