Alexander Hamilton Papers

To Alexander Hamilton from William Henderson, 19 January 1794

From William Henderson1

New York Jany. 19th. 1794

Dear sir

Mr. Hammond2 has informed me since his return, that he left Philada. without having an opportunity of speaking to you on the subject of the negociation, on which we conversed. I am sorry it was omitted—Tho’ it need not prevent the business going on. I think there will not be much dificulty in effecting what you wish; if the security be such as you supposed it would be: for my own part I will readily go as far as my other engagements will permit, and I feel confident there others who would do the same if applied to, but I have not taken the liberty to mention it to any one. Any further communication, you may think proper to make on this subject, will meet the utmost attention from

Your Very Hume. servt.

Wm Henderson

The Honble. Alexr. Hamilton

ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.

1Henderson, a New York City insurance broker, owned large tracts of lands in northern New York. He was a stockholder of the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures and became a director of the society in October, 1794.

On the back of this letter H wrote: “The within letter relates to a loan for Mr. Randolph S of S which he requested me as a friend to endeavour to procure for him.” Below this H wrote “Ansr” and the draft of his reply to Henderson, January 23, 1794.

For background on Edmund Randolph’s financial problems and H’s earlier attempt to obtain assistance for him, see Randolph to H, April 3, June 4, 1793; William Bell to H, June 2, 1793.

2Abijah Hammond.

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