1From Alexander Hamilton to Harrison Gray Otis, 27 December 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I did not receive ’till yesterday your letter dated 21st instant. No apology was necessary for so gratifying a mark of your good opinion, upon which I set the high value it so justly deserves. In the inclosed extract of a letter to another of the Government, you will find my ideas generally on the subject of your letter. I adopt this method of communication as equally effectual and best...
2From Alexander Hamilton to Harrison Gray Otis, 26 January 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
You will recollect that I reserved for a future answer part of a letter which I had the pleasure of receiving from you some time since. These are my ideas on that Subject. I should be glad to see, before the close of the Session, a law impowering the President, at his discretion, in case a negotiation between the United States and France should not be on foot by the first of August next, or...
3From Alexander Hamilton to Harrison Gray Otis, [23 December 1800] (Hamilton Papers)
Burr loves nothing but himself; thinks of nothing but his own aggrandizement, and will be content with nothing, short of permanent power in his own hands. No compact that he should make with any passion in his breast, except ambition, could be relied upon by himself. How then should we be able to rely upon any agreement with him. Jefferson, I suspect, will not dare much. Burr will dare every...
4From Alexander Hamilton to Harrison Gray Otis, 8 October 1803 (Hamilton Papers)
Grange, New York, October 8, 1803. States: “A slight indisposition has prevented an earlier acknowlegement of your favour of .” Gives his opinion concerning the admissibility of evidence in a case in which Otis was acting as counsel for John B. Church. ALS , anonymous donor. Otis, a Boston Federalist and lawyer, was United States attorney for the District of Massachusetts from 1796 to 1797 and...
5From Alexander Hamilton to Harrison Gray Otis, 12 November 1803 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, November 12, 1803. Urges “the utmost caution and care” in preparing John B. Church’s case for hearing before the Supreme Court. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. This letter concerns the case of John B. Church, Jr. v Tuthill Hubbart . See H to Theophilus Parsons, December 31, 1801 ; H to Otis, October 8, 1803 .
6From John Adams to Harrison Gray Otis, 16 March 1817 (Adams Papers)
The information you gave me in your favour of the fifth of this month; for which I kindly thank you, has given me great pleasure, as it affords me a hope of once more embracing my Son. I feel a curiosity to know, the “dissenting Voice”; because a Singular Vote, against a multitude, I am always inclined to consider as a violent presumption; both of Integrity, and Fortitude. As I never had the...
7From John Adams to Harrison Gray Otis, 19 February 1823 (Adams Papers)
I think you cannot have entirely forgotten a Conversation at my Table; I had invited a small company of ten or a dozen Gentlemen who had always professed to be my friends, among whom were yourself, Mr. Bayard of Delaware and I think Mr. Sedgwick, It is not necessary to recollect any others It was at the time when I had nominated ambassadors to France a measure which produced a real anarchy in...
8From John Adams to Harrison Gray Otis, 16 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of the 12 March instant—the contents of which are entirely satisfactory to me. Your memory is quite as particular as I could expect any gentleman of the company to retain except myself. I must confess I was very sore on the subject of my mission to France. I was attacked by two armies—a french army & an English army—each working warring upon me to conquer me...
9From John Adams to Harrison Gray Otis, 17 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of the 12th. march instant—The contents of which are entirely satisfactory to me—Your memory is quite as particular as I could expect any Gentleman of the company to retain, except myself. I must confess I was very s ure on the subject of my mission to France I was attacked by two armies, a french army and an English army—each warring upon me to conquer me into...
10From John Adams to Harrison Gray Otis, 28 March 1823 (Adams Papers)
Since my last letter to you fate, or fortune as Jefferson says, has thrown into my hands two Volumes of amusing Travels, entitled a Journal of a Tour and residence in Great Britain by a Native of France; who it seems has resided a quarter of a Century in America, by the name of Simond.—in page 247. of the first Vol I read as follows.— “ Since 1801. The United States have had a philosophical...