To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 19 January 1796
From Alexander Hamilton
[New York] Jany 19. 1796
Sir
The Bearer of this letter is Doctor Bolman whom you have heared of as having made an attempt for the relief of the Marquis la Fayette which very nearly succeeded—The circumstances of this affair, as stated by Doctor Bolman & Mr Huger, son of B. Huger of S[out]h Carolina deceased, who assisted, do real credit to the prudence management and enterprise of the Doctor and shew that he is a man of sense and energy.1
He appears to have been induced to think that he attempted a service which would strongly recommend him to the favour of this Country; in which idea I have reason to believe that Mr Pinckney among others encouraged him—and as a consequence of it he hopes for some civil employment under our Government—His expectations of what he may begin with are not high—it being principally his object to obtain some present provision in a way which may lead him, if he discovers talents to something better—He appears to be a man of education—speaks several languages converses sensibly is of polite manners & I dare say has the materials of future advancement.
I have not left him unapprised of the difficulties in his way, but he concludes to go to Philadelphia to ascertain what is or is not possible, relying at least on a kind reception from you.
He brought me letters from Mr & Mrs Church which speak handsomely of him—I believe they had a chief agency in promoting his undertaking.2
At his request I give him this letter to you. With respectful & affecte Attachment I have the honor to be Sir Your very obed. ser.
A. Hamilton
P.S. The Doctor is a German.
ALS, DLC:GW; copy, DLC: Alexander Hamilton Papers.
1. Justus Erick Bollman (1769–1821) was a German doctor. For details of the attempt by Bollman and Francis Kinloch Huger to free Lafayette in fall 1794, see the account forwarded by Huger’s uncle Francis Kinloch to Timothy Pickering on 6 Nov. (MHi: Pickering Papers). Bollman remained in the United States and later became involved with the Burr conspiracy. Huger’s father was Benjamin Huger (1746–1779), who served in the South Carolina provincial congresses and general assembly before he was killed while serving at Charleston as an officer of the South Carolina line.
2. John Barker Church and Angelica Schuyler Church were Hamilton’s in-laws. Angelica wrote to Hamilton’s wife (her sister) in 1795, introducing Bollman as “a young gentleman of good sense and polite manners, his exertions for the Marquis de La Fayette have been so zealous and active that every good American must honor him for his generous conduct,” and adding that she hoped Hamilton would introduce him to GW (Allan McLane Hamilton, The Intimate Life of Alexander Hamilton … [New York, 1911], 247–48).