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From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 2 May 1794

To Alexander Hamilton

Philadelphia May 2d 1794.

Sir,

I did not think it worth while to give you the trouble of writting a formal answer, and therefore I desired the Secretary of State, who was with me on business, if he had an opportunity, to ask an explanation of the last clause in your letter of the 30th ulto1—He has just informed me, that you state that there is money in your hands, applicable to the French debt; and upon the whole, I do not see any objection to your making the payments to Mr Fauchet, which you mention in that letter.2

I return the passports signed; & I am so fully impressed with the necessity of discontinuing the issuing of them without some restrictions, that I request you to be careful in charging the Collectors, not to suffer any of vessels for which they are given, to depart without complying with the conditions expressed in your letter of this date.3

Geo: Washington

LB, DLC:GW.

1. The last paragraph of Hamilton’s letter to GW of 30 April reads: "The Minister [from France] is desirous of securing an additional sum for satisfying two drafts of his predecessor, which he specifies. It will be within the compass of our means to perform this also. But it is not within the limit heretofore prescribed and it includes besides considerations which are proper only for the decision of the President." For information about the two drafts, see Jean-Antoine-Joseph Fauchet to Hamilton 21 April, Hamilton Papers description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds. The Papers of Alexander Hamilton. 27 vols. New York, 1961–87. description ends , 16:303-4.

2. In Hamilton’s letter to Fauchet of 5 May, he informed the minister that the payments would be made (Hamilton Papers description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds. The Papers of Alexander Hamilton. 27 vols. New York, 1961–87. description ends , 16:377-78).

3. The passports were enclosed with Hamilton’s letters to GW of 1 and 2 May. The conditions were suggested in Hamilton’s letter of 1 May.

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    Washington Papers
    Title
    From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 2 May 1794
    Author
    Washington, George
    Recipient
    Hamilton, Alexander
    Date
    2 May 1794

    Reference

    Cite as
    “From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 2 May 1794,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-16-02-0010. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series, vol. 16, 1 May–30 September 1794, ed. David R. Hoth and Carol S. Ebel. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2011, pp. 8–9.]

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