Page:Federalist, Dawson edition, 1863.djvu/43

Rh, and triumphantly assert, the still more amazing power and resources, resistless authority and imperial grandeur, of the United States; but a Rebellion which caused, alas, the frightful expenditure of rivers of blood and millions of treasure; in recalling which Humanity weeps over the hosts of heroic slain and maimed, and the heart of the Nation heaves in deepest grief and sympathy with the desolate wives and mothers. You are therefore, in my opinion, permit me to say, rendering a signal service to the great cause of the Union, in the object in which you have embarked; and I cheerfully proceed, in answer to your letter, to furnish my humble contribution to your task.

"You are pleased to invite from me such materials, known to you to be in my possession, as go to establish the authorship of the several numbers of The Federalist, about which there has been some controversy.

"My edition of the work came to me under the will of my late father as a part of his library. It is the edition of and, New York, 1810, in two volumes, forming part of The Works of Alexander Hamilton, in three volumes, by the same publishers.

"This edition belonged to him certainly as early as 1816, as will be seen. From 1814 to 1817 my father was Attorney-General of the United States, and as such a member of the cabinet of Mr., then President. I may perhaps be permitted to say that he was honored with the friendship, as with the confidence, of that illustrious statesman, pure patriot, and eminent chief magistrate.

"On a fly-leaf of the second volume there is the following memorandum in my father's handwriting. I copy it exactly as it appears:—