Hamilton doubted whether it
would be a legitimate body, and whether, if the King should
be re-established, he might not disallow such payments on
good grounds. Knox, for once, dared to differ from Hamilton,
and to express, very submissively, an opinion, that a
convention named by the whole body of the nation, would be
competent to do any thing. It ended by agreeing, that I
should write to Gouverneur Morris to suspend payment
generally, till further orders.
November the 19th, 1792. Beckley brings me the pamphlet written by
Hamilton, before the war, in answer to 'Common Sense.' It is entitled
'Plain Truth.' Melancthon Smith sends it to Beckley, and in his letter
says, it was not printed in New York by Loudon, because prevented by a
mob, and was printed in Philadelphia, and that he has these facts from
Loudon.
November the 21st, 1792. Mr. Butler tells me, that he dined last winter
with Mr. Campbell from Denmark, in company with Hamilton, Lawrence, Dr.
Shippen, T. Shippen, and one other person whom he cannot recollect. That
after dinner political principles became the subject of conversation;
that Hamilton declared openly, that 'there was no stability, no security
in any kind of government but a monarchy.' That Lawrence took him
up, and entered the lists of argument against him; that the dispute
continued long, and grew warm, remarkably so as between them; that
Shippen, at length, joined Lawrence in it; and in fine, that it broke up
the company.
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