To Alexander Hamilton from Cyrus De Hart, 2 August 1797
From Cyrus De Hart1
Rhinebeck [New York] Augt. 2d 1797
Sir
I have just recd the enclosed Citation within twenty four hours—which leave no time for me to attend to the business. If I understand the business—the decision of the arbitrators will be consider’d as a Verdict. If the decision of the arbitrators cannot be set aside I wish you if possible to cause a delay if it can be done—So that the proprietors may have at least three months to collect the mony.
Your most Obt
Cyrus D Hart
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. De Hart was a resident and landowner in Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, New York.
This letter concerns one of several related trespass cases, Robert Williams & Cornelius C. Van Wyck v Cyrus de Hart, all of whom were residents of Dutchess County. The case was heard during the January, 1796, term of the New York Supreme Court. On July 27, 1797, the Supreme Court ordered the parties to submit their controversy to arbitration and award. On July 31 the Court ordered that “it duly appearing to this Court that the said Cyrus de Hart hath not observed or obeyed the said rule or order, It is now Ordered that the said Cyrus de Hart shew cause on Tuesday next in this present Term why an Attachment should not issue against him.” The court issued an attachment against De Hart on August 4, 1797 (MS Minutes of the New York Supreme Court, under the dates of January 30, 1796, July 27, 31, August 4, 1797 [Hall of Records, New York City]).
2. This is presumably a reference to John Van Der Voort, a resident of the town of Beekman, Dutchess County, New York.
3. The trespass case of Cyrus de Hart, Daniel Halsey and Others v Joseph Beach was entered on the calendar of the New York Circuit Court on August 8, 1797, but the trial was postponed and was not heard until October 31, 1797, when De Hart and the other plaintiffs were nonsuited because they did not appear for the trial, and the jury was dismissed (MS Account Book of Costs, New York Circuit Court, under the dates of August 8, October 31, 1797 [Hall of Records, New York City]).
An entry in H’s Cash Book, 1795–1804, under the date of January 23, 1797, reads: “this sum received of Dehart v Beach 25” (AD, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
H endorsed this letter: “De Hart adm Williams.”