1Call for a Meeting, [4 June 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Card. The officers of the late army and navy of the United States are requested to meet at Gautier’s, on Tuesday evening, 7 o’clock, to consult on the subject of measures for the immediate security of our port and city. [New York] Argus. Greenleaf’s New Daily Advertiser , June 4, 1798. For background to this document, see the introductory note to H to James McHenry, June 1, 1798 . The report...
2From Alexander Hamilton to Barent Bleecker, [5 April 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
The fourth & last installment of the purchase money of the Cosby Manor Lands has become due. It is 1655 Dollars & 50 Cents of which your ¼ is 413. Dollars & 87 Cents. I beg the favour of you to lose no time in forwarding this Sum to me. With esteem Yr very hum ser ALS , Detroit Public Library. For an explanation of the contents of this letter, see the introductory note to Philip Schuyler to...
3From Alexander Hamilton to Jonathan Burrall, [17 May 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Of the sum deposited in the Office of the B of the U States in my name in trust for Louis LeGuen you will please to cause to be paid upon his orders or Checks as they may be presented The excess beyond thirty thousand Dollars, which 30000 Dollars are to remain in deposit until a further communication from me. With esteem Yr Obd Svt. ALS , from a typescript supplied by the Lincoln Library,...
4From Alexander Hamilton to Théophile Cazenove, 14 October 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, October 14, 1797. States: “The question of interest on the contract with Mr Morris of the 24th of December 1792 is not free from difficulty and doubt. I however think it the better opinion that interest is payable until the 24th of December 1795 and no longer .” Gives reasons for this opinion. ALS , Gemeentearchief Amsterdam, Holland Land Company. These documents were transferred in...
5From Alexander Hamilton to Théophile Cazenove, [14 October 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, October 14, 1797 .] Answers Cazenove’s letters of May 29 and July 5, 1797, concerning ownership of lands in New York State by aliens. ADf , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; two copies, Gemeentearchief Amsterdam, Holland Land Company. The Holland Land Company documents were transferred in 1964 from the Nederlandsch Economisch-Historisch Archief, Amsterdam. H wrote this letter...
6Conveyance from Alexander Hamilton, Elizabeth Hamilton, Isaac Bronson, and Ann Bronson to John B. Church, 24 May 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, May 24, 1798. Convey two and one-half lots of land in New York City to Church. Copy, Conveyances in the Office of the Register, City of New York, Liber 60, 176–79, Hall of Records, New York City. Bronson, a prominent New York City moneylender and land speculator, had been a surgeon’s mate in the American Revolution. For information on this conveyance, see “Receipt from Morgan Lewis,”...
7From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Condy, 22 November 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, November 22, 1797. Hamilton endorsed the letter Condy wrote to him on November 21, 1797 : “Ans 22 Nov.” Letter not found. ]
8From Alexander Hamilton to Simeon DeWitt, 28 June 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 28, 1797. “I am applied to, to examine the Title to a tract of land described in the extract A, which is inclosed. It appears from the papers put into my hands, that a Map of the intire tract patented to John W Watkins the 25 of June 1794 as surveyed is on file in your office. By the extract from the patent, which is also herewith, it is found that a number of tracts...
9From Alexander Hamilton to John Fenno, [17–22 July 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
It has been a general maxim with me, to leave the evidence of my conduct and character to answer the calumnies which party spirit is so incessantly busied in heaping upon me; nor should I have deviated from this course in the present instance, had it not been, that the names of three citizens of political and personal importance in the community appeared to give sanction to the slander. But...
10From Alexander Hamilton to John Fenno, [6 July 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I have seen in your paper of 27th June past, the advertisement of a new publication, being No. V of the History of the United States for 1796, and containing these paragraphs: “This number likewise contains some singular and authentic papers relative to Mr. Alexander Hamilton, late Secretary of the Treasury. No greater proof can be given of the value which is attached to their suppression than...
11To Alexander Hamilton from Alexander Hamilton, 4 August 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
I am about to introduce to your acquaintance a cousin & a namesake, by the desire of my father, Mr. William Hamilton; who received the honor of your letter of the 2d. May, & being little in the habits of writing has given it to me to answer, by returning our United thanks for the information it conveyed relative to a person, whose conduct & character have acquired him a degree of reputation,...
12From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [5 June 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote to you, My beloved Eliza, by the Monday’s Post. You will be glad to hear that your dear boys & myself continue in good health & that they thus far behave well. I hope they will continue to do so—for in our mutual love & in them consist all our happiness. I trust you are by this time arrived & shall impatiently look out for a letter from you. Our public affairs continue to march in a...
13From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [8 June 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
This is the third time I have written to my love since her departure. I continue to enjoy good health and my spirits are as good as they can be in her absence. But I find as I grow older her presence becomes more necessary to me. In proportion as I discover the worthlessness of other pursuits, the value of my Eliza and of domestic happiness rises in my estimation. Angelica & her family are all...
14From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [23 April 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
Lest my Dear Eliza any circumstance should have prevented your departure before this reaches you, I conclude to drop you a line to tell you your Father is considerably better at the same time considering the delicate state of his health generally I am very desirous you should come up as he is. Yrs. Most Affec ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. For background to this letter, see H to...
15From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [1 March 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
This, My beloved Eliza, is the third letter I have written to you since I left—but I am still without a line from you. I hope the Post of today will bring me one, or I shall be uneasy. We are getting on in our cause so that I expect to leave this place on Sunday or Monday. Your father is better again. All the rest of your family are well. They speak of you with tenderness and this you know...
16From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [12 September 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I am arrived here My Dear Eliza in good health but very anxious about my Dear Philip. I pray heaven to restore him and in every event to support you. If his fever should appear likely to prove obstinate, urge the Physician to consider well the propriety of trying the cold bath—I expect it will, if it continues assume a nervous type and in this case I believe the cold bath will be the most...
17From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, 22 June 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I believe my beloved that I omitted to write by the last Post thinking it would not find you at Albany; but as it seems possible from what Mr. Schuyler tells me that your stay may be prolonged I write this to say to my darling that I begin to [be] very anxious for her return & hope it will be accelerated. I was very glad to receive a favourable account of her health & spirits. AL [S], Hamilton...
18From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [18–19 September 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I have received only one letter from my beloved Eliza since I left the city. I am very anxious to hear further and especially to know that my beloved Philip is recovered. My health continues pretty good—but I am excessively engaged with our cause. I impatiently wish it at an end that I may return to the fond bosom of my Eliza. If our Dear Angelica is returned remember me affectionately to her....
19From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [14 January 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
This moment my Dear Eliza, we descended from the carriage—after a journey, so far, much more comfortable than we could possibly have anticipated. It makes me repent that we had not pursued our original plan. But we must console ourselves with the hope of a speedy reunion which you may be assured I do every thing in my power to accelerate—For I give up too much of my happiness by my absence not...
20From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, 3 June 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been extremely uneasy, My beloved Eliza, at the state of health and state of mind in which you left me. I earnestly hope that there has been a change of both for the better. Let me entreat you as you value my happiness to tranquillize yourself and to take care of yourself. You are infinitely dear to me. You are of the utmost consequence to our precious Children. You have every motive to...
21From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [16 April 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
We arrived here last Evening well and shall proceed immediately on our journey. I forgot my brief in the cause of Le Guen against Gouverneur which is in a bundle of papers in my armed Chair in the Office. Request one of the Gentlemen to look for it and send it up to me by the post of Tuesday. Beg them not to fail. Adieu My beloved. Kiss all the Children for me. Yrs. ALS , Mr. George T....
22From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, 9 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I arrived here, My Dear Betsey, on Saturday in good health & not much fatigued. But I was immediately surrounded by a number of persons who engaged me till the hour of the Post had past by; so that I did not write as I intended. I cannot lose the opportunity of today; though I intend certainly to leave this place tomorrow in the Mail stage which arrives on Wednesday Morning. Mean time I...
23From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [19 April 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I informed you My Darling by a letter which will go by post of my arrival here in good health and finding your family well. But this morning your papa has an attack of the Gout, not particularly severe, one indeed which in a different situation would give no uneasiness—but as his strength has been of late somewhat diminished, it is impossible not to feel anxiety about him. On the whole I...
24From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [19 July 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
The affair, My Dearest Eliza, upon which I came here has come to a close. But unavoidable delays in bringing it to this point & the necessity of communicating the result must very much against my will keep me here till the departure of the mail stage tomorrow, which will restore me to my Betsey on the day following. I need not tell her how very happy I shall be to return to her embrace and to...
25From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [21 July 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
My avocation here my darling Eliza must detain me beyond the departure of the Mail stage but I expect certainly to leave town in the stage of tomorrow morning and still expect to reach New York tomorrow. Love to Angelica & Church. I shall return full freighted with it for My dear Brunettes Adieu ALS , Columbia University Libraries. See H to Elizabeth Hamilton, July 19, 1797 .
26From Alexander Hamilton to William Hamilton, 2 May 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Some days since I received with great pleasure your letter of the 10th. of March. The mark, it affords, of your kind attention, and the particular account it gives me of so many relations in Scotland are extremely gratifying to me. You no doubt have understood that my fathers affairs at a very early day went to wreck; so as to have rendered his situation during the greatest part of his life...
27From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 24 April 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your two favours of the 19th instant. I feel as I ought the mark of confidence they announce. But I am obliged by my situation to decline the appointment. This situation you are too well acquainted with to render it necessary for me to enter into explanation. There may arrive a crisis when I may conceive myself bound once more to sacrifice the interest of my family to public...
28From Alexander Hamilton to Rufus King, [1 May 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
It is a great while since I received a line from you—nor indeed have I deserved one. The vortex of business, in which I have been, having kept me from writing to you. At this moment I presume you will not be sorry to know my opinion as to the course of our public affairs. In Congress, a good spirit is gaining ground; and though measures march slowly, there is reason to expect that almost every...
29From Alexander Hamilton to Rufus King, [8 April 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you, My Dear Sir, for your letter of the 6th. of February. The intelligence that the Directory have ordered away our Minister is every way unpleasant. It portends too much a formal Rupture as the only alternative to an ignominious submission. Much public feeling has been excited. But the Government, I trust and believe, will continue prudent and do every thing that honor permits...
30From Alexander Hamilton to Rufus King, [March 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
It is a great while, My Dr. friend, since I have written to you a line. You will not I am sure impute my silence to any cause impeaching my friendship, for that must be always cordial and intire. The truth is that my professional avocations occupy me to the extent of the exertions my health permits, and I have been unwilling to sit down to write you without leisure to say something...
31From Alexander Hamilton to Rufus King, [6 June 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Official information & the public papers will give you all the information I could give of the measures going on in this Country. You will have observed with pleasure a spirit of patriotism kindling every where. And you will not be sorry to know that it is my opinion that there will shortly be national unanimity as far as that idea can ever exist. Many of the leaders of Faction will persist...
32From Alexander Hamilton to Rufus King, [8 June 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I thank, you My Dear Sir, for two letters lately received from you the last by Mr. Church. I feel very guilty for my negligence. But how can I help it? The public prints will inform you of the course of public proceedings hitherto. You will perceive that the general plan is analogous to what was done in the case of Great Britain, though there are faults in the detail. Some people cannot learn...
33From Alexander Hamilton to Marquis de Lafayette, 28 April 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I was very happy, My dear Marquis to receive lately a letter from you. It inclosed one from Général Dumas, which also gave me pleasure. I fear, shall hardly have time to write to him by this opportunity; but I beg you to assure him of the interest I take in what ever concerns him. As to the affair of Mr. de Beaumarchais, while I was in the office of secretary of the Treasury, I procured his...
34From Alexander Hamilton to John Laurance, 1 June 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, June 1, 1797. On June 3, 1797, Laurance wrote to Hamilton : “I have received your letter of the first Instant.” Letter not found. ]
35From Alexander Hamilton to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, [3 July 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
I lose no time in answering your letter of the first instant. I am altogether at a loss to imagine how Mr Soderstrom could have so extremely misconceived me. You may be assured that he has done it—that it was not said that you received a good price from Adet or any other person or any thing like it. The substance of what I observed was this—“that an opinion was entertained that your political...
36From Alexander Hamilton to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, [20 March 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
On my return from Albany, I received a letter referring to one I sometime since received from you. I am ashamed to tell you that the extreme pressure of my engagements has hindered my attending hitherto to your wish. I shall in the course of this week pay such attention to it as my relative situation permits, guided by a real desire to be useful to you. Yrs. with regard ALS , Digges-L’Enfant...
37From Alexander Hamilton to Brockholst Livingston, 28 April [1797] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Albany ] April 28 [ 1797 ]. “The situation of General Schuyler & other family circumstances do not permit me to attend Court this day. Will you do me the favour to argue the motion for setting aside the Non suit & granting a new trial on the inclosed case? …” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Philip Schuyler, H’s father-in-law, was ill. See H to Elizabeth Hamilton, April 19 , 23,...
38From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Mann and Isaac Parker, 28 June 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 28, 1797. “Your letter of the 6th of May last by making a circuit to Albany did not reach me in due time—which is the principal cause of this late reply. The idea of there having been property lodged in my hands towards satisfaction of the notes surprized me, as nothing of the kind ever took place, nor do I recollect or believe that the expectation of it was ever suggested to...
39Petition to the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the City of New York, [24 April 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, April 24, 1797 ] “The Memorial of Sundry Inhabitants of the City of New York and the vicinity thereof Respectfully Sheweth That your Memorialists have learnt … that the Corporation of the City of New York have purchased a lot of Ground situate in the Seventh Ward … which they intend to Convert into a Potters Field for the interment of the bodies of such persons as may die of...
40From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [1 June 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Our citizens are extremely anxious that some further measures for their defence should take place. Do me the favour to inform me confidentially what means are actually in the disposition of your department for this purpose when & how they will be applied. Yrs truly A Capt Hacker formerly of our Navy is desirous of being employed. One or two good men have recommended him to me. It seems however...
41From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [13 February 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Yours of yesterday with its inclosure are come to hand & will be attended to as speedily as possible. I take the liberty to trouble you with the inclosed to receive the amount (which though the accumulated interest on all my Stock from the beginning of the funding system will be short of 200 Dollars). When received, pay yourself one hundred, our friend Lewis seven, & deliver the rest to...
42Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and Ebenezer Stevens to James McHenry, [14 June 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
We have carefully attended to the subjects presented to our consideration, by your note of yesterday and now offer to you the result of our reflections. The idea of a succession of batteries from the Hook, to the City, very naturally occurs in contemplating the defence of this port, and doubtless has advantages. It would present dangers in the approach which may be expected to have...
43From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 29 April 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
I now send you a cursory answer to certain questions. They are imperfect & probably will come too late. But court avocations and distress in the family have prevented any thing better. General Schuyler has been critically ill though now as I hope out of danger. My Brother in law Mr. Rensselaer has just lost a favourite Daughter one & the Eldest of two Children without a prospect of more. The...
44From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [27 January–11 February] 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
It may serve to prepare the way for a direct answer to the questions stated by the President to make some preliminary observations. 1 It is an undoubted fact that there is a very general and strong aversion to War in the minds of the people of this Country—and a considerable part of the community (though even this part has been greatly alienated from France by her late violent conduct...
45From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [17 August 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed are some papers, which were sent me shortly after my return to this City from Philadelphia but which from Mrs. Hamilton’s situation hurry of business &c have been forgotten. If there is any thing to be said to my correspondent you will enable me as speedily as possible to say it. I send you the 100 Dollars you sent me and a further sum to reimburse some money paid for me by Lewis ....
46From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [20 February 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
I regret that my occupations have not permitted me to give your report more than a cursory reading, before my being obliged to leave the city for Albany. I have put it under a cover addressed to you. If it cannot conveniently wait my return, which will be in a fortnight, it will be sent you upon a line directed to Mr. “James Inglis at Col Hamilton’s No. 26 Broad Way N York.” desiring him to...
47From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [April 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
Situated as I am at this moment I am obliged to confine myself to very general hints respecting the paper of the 15 of April. As to the first head—I think it will be adviseable that the Speech should be confined to the foreign Affairs of the Country giving the primary & prominent place to those with France. This will make the main business the more striking. Domestic matters may follow in...
48Enclosure: Answer to Questions Proposed by the President of the U States, [29 April 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
To The first. It is difficult to fix the precise point at which indignity or affront from one state to another ceases to be negotiable without absolute humiliation and disgrace. It is for the most part a relative question—relative to the comparitive strength of the parties—the motives for peace or war—the antecedent relations—the circumstances of the moment as well with regard to other...
49From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [17 May 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the instant. Not having seen the law which provides the Naval Armament , I cannot tell whether it gives any new power to the President that is any power whatever with regard to the employment of the Ships. If not, and he is left on the foot of the Constitution, as I understand to be the case, I am not ready to say that he has any other power than merely to employ...
50From Alexander Hamilton to James Monroe, 8 July 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
I request to be informed whether the paper numbered V dated Philadelphia the 15 of December 1792 published partly in the fifth and partly in the sixth number of “The History of the United States for 1796” and having the signatures of James Monroe, Abraham Venable and F A Mughlenberg is the copy of a genuine original. I am Sir Yr. humble servt ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. For...