Major William Jackson Philadelphia, Aug. 11, 1827 A letter of the 7th instant from Wm. Coleman stated to me the request of Mrs. Hamilton, that I would call on Major Jackson (who was Secretary of the Convention that formed the Constitution of the United States) who could "import some interesting and important intelligence respecting the agency of Hamilton in forming the Constitution, etc. etc. Mrs. Hamilton went to him a few years ago for the purpose of obtaining it, but was told by the Major that he was still under an injunction of secrecy; as he had promised General Hamilton in his life time, not to breach the seal which contained the deposit left with him, till twenty years should have elapsed; the time has now expired; and Major Jackson, at her request, will doubtless deliver them to you." Having called twice at Major Jackson's house, without finding him at home, he this morning called on me. I read to him that part of Coleman's letter above quoted: when he answered, that Mrs. Hamilton was entirely mistaken, as to the confidential intelligence he was supposed to possess: and then stated to me. That after, by mutual concessions, the Constitution had been adopted in the Convention, General Washington (who had been its President) spoke to him to this effect: "Major Jackson, you have been observed to be constantly taking notes of what passed in the Convention, during the discussions of the numerous propositions presented for consideration; but it would be wholly improper to publish them: and I must therefore desire you not to suffer them to be made public while you live." Upon which, Jackson says he pledged himself to Washington, this his request should be sacredly observed. I asked Jackson, of what those notes consisted? He answered—of the speeches of members of the Convention: that altho' he did not write any usual short-hand yet, by putting a single letter for short words, and a syllable for long ones, he was able to keep pace with speakers who uttered their words with the deliberation usual in debate. I then asked him if from these abreviations he had written out the speeches at full length, as it could be done only by himself? He answered—"That he was doing it." You will at once reflect, that the fortieth year since the Convention finished its labours, is nearly elapsed: whence it is to be apprehended that those speeches may remain locked up forever, in the Major's abreviations. Some years have passed away since his Political Register (i.e. , newspaper) became defunct; and subsequently Major Jackson has had no business or employment, public or private. At any rate, you see, that no information concerning Hamilton can be derived from him....