1James Duane and Ezra L’Hommedieu to Alexander Hamilton and William Floyd, 1 September 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
to Alexander Hamilton and William FloydThe Honorable Colos. William Floyd & Alexander Hamilton
2From Alexander Hamilton to John Canfield, 30 August 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
Albany, August 30, 1783. Asks Canfield to sell a farm which belongs to John Carter and is located in Salisbury, Connecticut. ALS , Courtesy of the Sons of the Revolution, Headquarters, Fraunces Tavern, New York City. Canfield, a lawyer in Sharon, Connecticut, was a member of the state legislature. John B. Church.
3To Alexander Hamilton from Robert R. Livingston, 30 August 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
I felt a resentment at hearing that you had passed without stoping at Clermont that your friendly letter of the 13th. has hardly yet calmed. Abstracted from the pleasure of seeing you I had a thousand political inquiries to make for I have not yet been able to philosophize myself into that tranquil indifference which is perhaps necessary to ones happiness. I am much obliged to you for the...
4From Alexander Hamilton to Richard Soderstrom, 30 August 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, August 30, 1783. On the envelope of a letter which Soderstrom wrote to Hamilton on August 4, 1793 , Hamilton wrote: “Answered 30th by the post.” Letter not found. ]
5From Alexander Hamilton to John Chaloner, [22 August 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
Mrs. Hamilton has requested her sister who left this a few days since on her way to Philadelphia to purchase a few articles there for her, and if she found it necessary to apply to you for the money. I will be obliged to you to advance it on my account and I will in a short time repay it. We have accounts here that induce us to believe Carleton has received final orders for the evacuation of...
6From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 20 August 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
Albany, August 20, 1783. Requests information concerning 40,000 acres of land in Tryon County on which Abel James holds a mortgage. ALS , New-York Historical Society, New York City.
7From Alexander Hamilton to George Clinton, 20 August 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Albany, August 20, 1783. On August 20, 1783 , Hamilton wrote to Philip Van Rensselaer: “I send you a line to the Governor.” Letter not found. ]
8From Alexander Hamilton to Philip Van Rensselaer, [20 August 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
I find on examination that the Cash I could spare is so trifling that it would be of little use to you. I send you a line to the Governor which is at your service. I imagine there may be about £50 due me. The letter accompanying this gives the Govr. an account of the time I was at Congress. He will calculate according to the allowance made by the state. If I can dispose of a bill on...
9To Alexander Hamilton from John Chaloner, 14 August 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
Your favr of the 2nd. reached me the 12th Instant. Mrs. Dunkin is doubtfull whether She can procure the Chintz or not if she does it shall be forwarded as you directed immediately. Herewith the General will receive a Cape Letter from Mr Carter. The Pilot was a long while returning with it. Your draft on me I shall duly honour on Acct of Mr. Carter tho he omitted in his hurry to speak to me on...
10From Alexander Hamilton to Robert R. Livingston, [13 August 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
I arrived here two days ago. Being in company with Mrs. Schuyler I was induced, in complaisance to her, to pass through New York. But I was sorry not to find any satisfactory ground to believe that the suspicions entertained of the arrival of the definitive treaty were well founded; though Rivington when it is mentioned to him shrugs up his shoulders and looks significantly; and Sir Guy has...
11From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, [5 August 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
Mrs. Schuyler having some business in this city obliged me to pass into it. I do not find that the definitive treaty is here, though I am inclined to believe that definitive orders have been received respecting the evacuation, and advice of the sailing of a fleet of transports for that purpose. A new embarkation of German troops is going on. But upon the whole I do not imagine the evacuation...
12To Alexander Hamilton from Richard Soderstrom, 4 August 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, August 4, 1783. Asks Hamilton to serve as attorney in Soderstrom’s suit against James Jarvis. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Soderstrom, a prominent Boston merchant, was a member of an insurance company established by John Hurd of that city.
13From Alexander Hamilton to George Clinton, [3 August 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, August 3, 1783. Letter not found. ] “General Hamilton to Governor George Clinton,” Columbia University Libraries.
14From Alexander Hamilton to John Chaloner, 2 August 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, August 2, 1783. On August 14, 1783 , Chaloner wrote to Hamilton: “Your favr of the 2nd. reached me the 12th Instant.” Letter not found. ]
15From Alexander Hamilton to George Clinton, [27 July 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
A few days since I was honored with Your Excellency’s letter of the ; and was glad to find your ideas on the subject corresponded with mine. As I shall in a day or two take leave of Congress, I think it my duty to give my opinion to the legislature on a matter of importance to the state, which has been long depending and is still without a prospect of termination in the train in which it has...
16From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, [25 July 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
Though I have not performed my promise of writing to you, which I made you when you left this country, yet I have not the less interested myself in your welfare and success. I have been witness with pleasure to every event which has had a tendency to advance you in the esteem of your country; and I may assure you with sincerity, that it is as high as you could possibly wish. All have united in...
17To John Jay from Alexander Hamilton, 25 July 1783 (Jay Papers)
From Alexander Hamilton
18From Alexander Hamilton to Robert R. Livingston, 23 July 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
It happens My Dear Sir that both Mr. Maddison and myself are here. We have talked over the subject of your letter to him, and need not assure you how happy we should both be to promote your wish; but the representation continues so thin, that we should have little hope that any thing which is out of the ordinary course and has somewhat of novelty in it could go through. We therefore have...
19From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, 22 July 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote you my beloved Betsey by the last post, which I hope will not meet with the fate that many others of my letters must have met with. I count upon setting out to see you in four days; but I have been so frequently disappointed by unforeseen events, that I shall not be without apprehensions of being detained, ’till I have begun my journey. The members of Congress are very pressing with me...
20To James Madison from Robert R. Livingston, 19 July 1783 (Madison Papers)
Alexander Hamilton left Congress at the close of July and was in New York City by 2 August. On 23 July, while still in Princeton, he informed Livingston by letter: “It happens My Dear Sir that both Mr. Maddison...
on 1 July. It contained an account of the 19 June meeting between a congressional committee headed by Alexander Hamilton and the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania at which the council refused to call out the militia to prevent the troops on the road from Lancaster from joining the already mutinous Philadelphia garrison. With the report are the committee’......Alexander Hamilton and...
22Elias Boudinot to the American Peace Commissioners, 15 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Alexander Hamilton was a member of this committee, and on June 19 he issued orders to
Maj. William Jackson to meet the mutineers and bring them back. The effort was
unsuccessful: Harold C. Syrett The Papers of Alexander Hamilton
23From Alexander Hamilton to James Madison, [6 July 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
On my arrival in this city I am more convinced than I was before of the necessity of giving a just state of facts to the public. The current runs strongly against Congress and in a great measure for want of information. When facts are explained they make an impression and incline to conclusions more favourable to us. I have no copy of the reports in my possession, which puts it out of my power...
24To James Madison from Alexander Hamilton, 6 July 1783 (Madison Papers)
From Alexander Hamilton
25To John Jay from Philip Schuyler, 1 July 1783 (Jay Papers)
Elizabeth Schuyler (1757–1854) and Alexander Hamilton were married 14 Dec. 1780. Margaret Schuyler (1758–1801) and Stephen Van Rensselaer (1764–1839), the eighth patroon of Rensselaer-wyck, were married 6 June 1783. Cuyler Reynolds, ed.
26From Alexander Hamilton to George Clinton, 29 June 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
It is proper I should inform Your Excellency that Congress have lately removed to this place. I cannot enter into a detail of the causes; but I imagine they will shortly be published for the information of the United States. You will have heared of a mutiny among the soldiers stationed in the barracks of Philadelphia, and of their having surrounded the state house where Congress was sitting....
27From Alexander Hamilton to James Madison, [29 June 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
I am informed that among other disagreeable things said about the removal of Congress from Philadelphia it is insinuated that it was a contrivance of some members to get them out of the state of Pensylvania into one of those to which they belonged and I am told that this insinuation has been pointed at me in particular. Though I am persuaded that all distinterested persons will justify...
28To James Madison from Alexander Hamilton, 29 June 1783—Note on Letter (Madison Papers)
From Alexander Hamilton
29From Alexander Hamilton to Elias Boudinot, [24 June 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
The Committee appointed to confer with the Supreme Executive Council of this state, respecting the practicability of taking effectual measures for supporting the public authority, violated by the mutinous behaviour of a body of armed soldiers, who surrounded the place where Congress and the Executive Council of this state were assembled on saturday last in a hostile and menacing manner—not...
30Alexander Hamilton and Oliver Ellsworth to John Dickinson, [23 June 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
Alexander Hamilton and Oliver Ellsworth
31From Alexander Hamilton to Major William Jackson, [19 June 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
Information having been received, that a detachment of about Eighty mutineers are on their way from Lancaster to this place, you will please to proceed to meet them and to endeavour by every prudent method to engage them to return to the post they have left. You will inform them of the orders that have been given permitting them to remain in service ’till their accounts shall have been...
32Continental Congress Report on a Military Peace Establishment, [18 June 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
“The Committee consisting of Mr (Alexander) Hamilton, Mr (James) Madison, Mr (Oliver) Ellsworth, Mr (James) Wilson and Mr (Samuel) Holten, ‘appointed to take into consideration the arrangements proper to be taken in case of a general peace’ observe.…”...
33From Alexander Hamilton to George Clinton, [11 June 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
In two or three letters, which I have had the honor of writing to Your Excellency lately, I mentioned the necessity of a representation of the state here and at the same time of my returning to my private occupations. I am obliged to inform Your Excellency that I cannot remain here above ten days longer. I have the honor to be Yr. Excellency’s Most Obed ser ALS , Blumhaven Library and Gallery,...
34From Alexander Hamilton to John Fitzgerald, [10 June 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
The inclosed letter is for Mr. Bowman who married Mrs. Cattle. I am told he is at Alexandria which make me trouble you with the letter. Should he have left that place for South Carolina, I will thank you to forward it to him. No definitive treaty yet arrived nor any thing else of importance new. I write in Congress & have only time to add that I am Yr. sincere & affectionate friend ALS ,...
35From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Nathanael Greene, [10 June 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
I inclose you a couple of letters from Mr. Carter one for yourself, the other for Mr. Kenlock. There is nothing for me to add, except that I wish you when the business shall be transacted to transmit the bond to me under cover to General Schuyler at Albany. I expect to leave this shortly for that place and to remain there ’till New York is evacuated; on which event I shall set down there...
36To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [7 June 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Newburgh, New York, June 7, 1783. Letter not found. ] “List of Letters from G—— Washington to General Hamilton,” Columbia University Libraries.
37To Alexander Hamilton from Robert R. Livingston, 5 June 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Thompson this morning requests me in persuance of the order of yesterday to send the papers of this office under my seal to his office. I had supposed that it would have been the wish of Congress to continue them in the public office I have hired & to have given Mr. Thompson the direction of them. I am now perplexed to know what is to be done with the secretaries & clerks whether they are...
38Notes on Debates, 4 June 1783 (Madison Papers)
On 30 May 1783, in compliance with its adoption of a motion by Alexander Hamilton, Congress elected a grand committee of ten members “to consider of the best manner of carrying into execution the engagements of the United States for certain allowances of land to the Army at the conclusion of the war”...
39From Alexander Hamilton to George Clinton, 1 June 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
In my last letter to Your Excellency I took occasion to mention that it was of great importance to the state, at this time to have a representation here as points in which by its present situation it is particularly interested are dayly and will be dayly agitated. It is also of importance at this moment to the United States (not only from general considerations but) because we have a very thin...
40To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, May 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been honored with your letter of the 9th. ultimo in which you request that I would communicate to you my thoughts on a military Peace establishment for the United-States. As the detail of the System, which I am about to recommend, will more properly rest with the executive Officers of the Engineer and Inspector General’s departments—I will confine my information to the following general...
41Continental Congress Motion on Appointment of Committee to Consider Allowances of Land for the Army, 30 May 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
The motion is endorsed: “grand comee., Mr [Samuel] Holten, Mr. [Jonathan] Arnold, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, Mr. [Abraham] Clarke, Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. [Gunning] Bedford [Jr.], Mr. [John Francis] Mercer, Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins, Mr. [John] Rutledge to meet tomorrow morning at 9...
42To Alexander Hamilton from John Allan, [28 May 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
The memorandum which I had the Honour of delivering you a day or two ago was in General the State of matters in the Indian Eastern Department, from which I presumed the Hono[r]able Committee Appointed by Congress woud Examine into the Matter, And from the Importance of the Subject woud Speedly determine. I woud not by any means urge matters out of the proper Rule or Channel nor wou’d I be so...
43Notes on Debates, 26 May 1783 (Madison Papers)
The resolutions of instruction concerning “the Negroes,” which were largely drafted by John Rutledge but introduced by Alexander Hamilton, directed the American peace commissioners in Europe “to remonstrate thereon to the Court of Great Britain, and take proper measures for obtaining such reparation as the nature of the case will admit.” The commissioners were to be...
44Continental Congress Motion on Instructions to Francis Dana, [21 May 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
..., from the Secretary for foreign affairs, together with letters of 16 and 19 December, 1782, o.s., from Mr. Dana, having reported thereon, and the report being postponed, a motion was made by Mr. (Alexander) Hamilton, seconded by Mr. (James) Madison, in the words following.” (
45Robert Morris to Alexander Hamilton, Richard Peters, and Nathaniel Gorham, 15 May 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
Robert Morris to Alexander Hamilton,
46From Alexander Hamilton to George Clinton, 14 May 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
The President of Congress will of course have transmitted to Your Excellency the plan lately adopted by Congress for funding the public debt. This plan was framed to accommodate it to the objections of some of the states; but this spirit of accomodation will only serve to render it less efficient, without making it more palatable. The opposition of the state of Rhode Island for instance is...
47Notes on Debates, 9 May 1783 (Madison Papers)
On 6 May Congress appointed a committee, Alexander Hamilton, chairman, and
48Notes on Debates, 6 May 1783 (Madison Papers)
, and n. 5. In accordance with Alexander Hamilton’s report of 29 April on behalf of a committee appointed the day before to consider Adams’ dispatch, Congress on 1 May “
49Notes on Debates, 5 May 1783 (Madison Papers)
The journal of 2 May does not record the vote whereby Congress adopted the resolution offered by Alexander Hamilton and seconded by James Wilson. JM was absent from Congress on that day (
50To Alexander Hamilton from Philip Schuyler, 4 May 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
Your several favors of the 18th & 25th March and 2d. ult: were delivered me on the first Instant by a man from Charlotte County who found them at Mr Loudons at Fish kill, that of the 23d April I had the pleasure to receive yesterday. Persuaded as I have long been of the necessity of terminating the war both from the want of exertion in ourselves and the possibility of a change in European...