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HAMILTON'S WORKS.

VOL. IV.

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PUBLISHED FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS DEPOSITED IN
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

BY ORDER OF

THE JOINT LIBRARY COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS.

EDITED BY

JOHN C. HAMILTON,

AUTHOR OF THE LIFE OF HAMILTON."

VOL. IV.

NEW-YORK:

JOHN F. TROW, PRINTER, 49, 51 & 53 ANN-STREET.

M.DCCC.LI.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, by

JOHN C. HAMILTON,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New-York.

JOHN F. TROW,

Printer and Stereotyper,

40 ANN STREET.

CABINET PAPERS.

HAMILTON TO WASHINGTON.

NEW-YORK, May 5, 1789.

SIR:

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In conformity to the intimation you were pleased to honor me with on evening last, I have reflected upon the etiquette proper to be observed by the President, and now submit the ideas which have occurred to me on the subject.

The public good requires, as a primary object, that the dignity of the office should be supported.

Whatever is essential to this ought to be pursued, though at the risk of partial or momentary dissatisfaction. But care will be necessary to avoid extensive disgust or discontent. Men's minds are prepared for a pretty high tone in the demeanor of the executive, but I doubt whether for so high a tone as in the abstract might be desirable. The notions of equality are yet, in my opinion, too general and too strong to admit of such a distance being placed between the President and other branches of the government as might even be consistent with a due proportion. The following plan will, I think, steer clear of extremes, and involve no very material inconveniences.

I. The President to have a levee day once a week for receiving visits; an hour to be fixed at which it shall be under

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