Ja[mes] A[lexander] H[amilton] to MVB, 23 February 1829
Wash.
Feby 23d 1829.
My dear Sir.
We look day after day with the utmost anxiety for a letter from you announcing your acceptance of the Generals offer. I do not ask you not to delay it because I believe it is now on its way. The General has made up his mind to make no change in his Cabinet but has consented that if Eaton & The P M G choose to change places he will not object. I have been engaged to day in preventing Eaton from consenting to the change by all means in my power This and the suggestion that you will not accept at present engages all attention We that is those of your friends who are not disappointed express our unhesitating confidence that ^you^ will not regret the proffer, because we believe & so declare that there is no reason for you doing so.
I have just left the General he is animated by the <threat> of opposition which has appeared against Eaton from the Tennessee D[e]legation & he is consequently is <now> unlike himself He said to me this makes me well I was born for a storm and a calm does not suit me He wrote a letter to one of that delegation in which he spoke of you as the person to whom all eyes were turned & upon whom the nation had fixed for this ^<illegible>^ place; & our <illegible> upon the opposition is a severe but <becoming> measure. Write to me.
Has it ever occurred to you that the change of the location of the Navy Yard from Long to Governors Island affords you a happy opportunity for manufacturing a Just & flattering solicitude for the interests of the City of New York If it has there is an end to all I have to say. If not ought you not to take advantage of the Circumstances to write to the <illegible> ^President^ the subject The you may advert to the apprehension whither <will> a ill founded of a portion of the Citizens that extending dock yards ^from that Island^ into the <river> may cause increase the rapidity of the Current of the East River so much as to render the approach to the warves difficult. That its tendency may be to form a ^enlarge the^ passage through the <illegible> into Gow^ua^ness Bay (already increased so as to afford a channel for Sloops) and by carrying out to the bar a mass of matter which may be deposited & thus endanger our harbor. The passage to which I refer has certainly be formed by the increased rapidity of the Current owing to extending the Piers of New York I believe it is very clear that the cession ^was^ for a millitary defence & not a navy yard (which cannot but be unsightly) I find I have gone seriously into the matter when I really only intended to hint to the a matter ^you a subject^ for inquiry.
God Bless
You sincerely pray your friend
J A H
I hope my letters do but partake of it, but undismayed I am rendered quite unhappy by Adams last cursed slander