HAMILTON, Alexander (1755-1804)

Observations on Certain Documents Contained in No. V & VI of "The History Of The United States For The Year 1796," in which the charge of speculation against Alexander Hamilton, late Secretary of the Treasury, is fully refuted

Philadelphia: Printed [by William Duane] Pro Bono Publico, 1800. 8vo. (8 13/16 x 5 1/78 inches). 37, [1], lviii pp.

19th-century half morocco marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers.

Second edition of the infamous Reynolds pamphlet in which Hamilton confesses to his affair with Mrs. Reynolds.

The second edition of the infamous "Reynolds pamphlet," in which Hamilton describes his affair with Maria Reynolds and admits to paying off a blackmailer. Hamilton had paid Mrs. Reynolds' husband to keep the affair secret, and in turn, Hamilton was blackmailed by her husband, who falsely implicated Hamilton in participating in Reynolds' own illegal speculation practices. In the pamphlet Hamilton takes the extraordinary step of admitting to adultery in order to clear his name of the financial scandal. While mostly successful in its purpose, it destroyed any hope of a political career on the national stage, and provided salacious ammunition for Hamilton's enemies. This scarce edition was published by Hamilton's opponents to keep the scandal alive in the election of 1800, after the Hamilton family had purchased and destroyed most of the original 1797 edition. At the height of conflict between Federalists and anti-Federalists, Hamilton's enemies reprinted the pamphlet and capitalized on these accusations to generate a smear campaign against him.

Evans 37571; Howes H120; Sabin 29970; Ford 65.

Item #39197

Price: $15,000.00