To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 10 February 1796
From Robert Morris
New York
Philada. Feby 10. 1796
Dr Sir
I was preparing to answer your favor of the 22d ulto1 when I was informed that you are to be here on the 17th of this month2 which I am very glad of as it will give me the Oppy of adjusting the business personally & I hope to your Satisfaction.
I am most truly Yrs
RM
LC, Robert Morris Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Letter not found.
2. The purpose of H’s trip to Philadelphia was to argue the constitutionality of the carriage tax before the Supreme Court of the United States. See Oliver Wolcott, Jr., to H, January 15, 1796. On February 22, 1796, H “was admitted and sworn a Counsellor of … [the Supreme] Court” (RG 267, MS Minutes of the Supreme Court of the United States, National Archives). H argued the Government’s case in the Supreme Court on February 24, 1796. His account with the United States “For his Compensation in attending the Argument on behalf of the said States, respecting the constitutionality of the Tax on Carriages” for five hundred dollars was submitted to the Treasury Department on March 7, 1796, and was paid on March 9, 1796 (RG 217, Miscellaneous Treasury Accounts, 1790–1894, Account No. 7712, National Archives). In H’s Cash Book, 1795–1804, between the dates February 10 and March 3, 1796, is the following entry: “this sum expended on my journey 60.” A second entry in H’s Cash Book, 1795–1804, on March 10, 1796, reads: “Cash—Dr, to Account of Costs and fees for this sum received of the U. States for my attendance at Philadelphia a fortnight to argue the question of the constitutionality of the Carriage Tax 500” (AD, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).