1To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 3 March 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
On the day I wrote you last, Mr Westerloe left at my House Yours of the 23d. I expect the pleasure of his company soon. I hope Mr Bridgon’s Clients will as was proposed in my last letter to you come or send to Mr Nicholson who is disposed to put their demand upon the most satisfactory footing in his power, & I expect the business may be so settled as that the Money will be forth coming sooner...
2Pardon for Benjamin Parkinson, 3 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
Alexander Hamilton to GW, 25 Oct. 1794
3From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 3 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
GW to Alexander Hamilton, 2 Nov. 1796
4From George Washington to Henry Knox, 2 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
GW to Alexander Hamilton, 2 Nov. 1796
5From Alexander Hamilton to William Beekman, [1 March 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, March 1, 1797. ] “Having reconsidered the case of your Uncle (Wm. Beekman’s) Will with the authorities—I advise the Devisees to claim all that by the Partition became his several property & which in my former opinion with Mr. Evertson was considered as passing by his Will, not merely a proportion equal to his interest before Partition in the part which remained to him after...
6To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 27 February 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Tilghman authorizes me to tell you that our Law respecting endorsements is exactly the same as the Law of England & that 20 ⅌ Ct is the Amot of Damages on protested Bills drawn here upon Europe. Mr. Nicholson is returned to this City & I think the holders of his bill should Apply to him for payment. I think he would make some arrangement with them so as to secure the payment and allow...
7From Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Sedgwick, [26 February 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
The present inimitable course of our public affairs proves me to be a very bad politician so that I am afraid to suggest any idea that occurs to me. Yet I will give over my timidity & communicate for your consideration a reverie which has struck me. It is a fact, that the resentment of the French Government is very much levelled at the actual President. A change of the person (however...
8From Alexander Hamilton to Robert Morris, 23 February 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, February 23, 1797. On March 3, 1797, Morris wrote to Hamilton and referred to “Yours of the 23d.” Letter not found. ]
9To Alexander Hamilton from Gerard Bancker and Philip Livingston, 22 February 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, February 22, 1797. “In our Character of Executors, we are Trustees for a Number of persons who do not think the Claims of Mr. & Mrs. Ricketts well founded, and who would suppose us blameable, if we afforded them any Facilities, Whatever therefore may be our own inclinations, we are advised to put the Claimants to their Bill for discovery, and to submit ourselves to the Chancellor,...
10From George Washington to John Jay, 19 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Alexander Hamilton to GW, 14 Jan. 1795, n.3
11From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [17 February 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I groan My Dr. Sir at the disgraceful course of our affairs. I pity all those who are officially in their vortex. The behaviour of Congress in the present crisis is a new political phœnomenon. They must be severally arraigned before the Bar of the Public. How unfortunate that our friends suffer themselves by their passiveness to be confounded in the guilt. Yrs. truly ALS , Connecticut...
12From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 17 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Alexander Hamilton to GW, 31 Jan., n.1
13From Alexander Hamilton to Rufus King, [15 February 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
Geave me leave to recall to your recollection and acquaintance Mr. De Talon the bearer of this, who, as he informs me, goes to Europe on private business. I need not observe that he is an interesting man, as you know all his titles to the attention, which your situation will permit you to afford. You must not think, I forget you, because I do no write (for this is only my third letter). I am...
14To George Washington from Edward Newenham, 15 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Rufus King, the U.S. minister to Great Britain, provided similar reports about GW’s reputation in Britain. In a letter to Alexander Hamilton, written from London on 6 Feb., King wrote: “Nothing can exceed the applause that is given here to our Government, and no American who has not been in England can have a just Idea of the admiration...
15From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 14 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
GW raised this issue after perusing the letter of 6 Feb. from Alexander Hamilton to Pickering, which recommended that merchants provide statements of proof about French spoliations. For Pickering’s transmission of Hamilton’s letter, see
16To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Pickering probably enclosed Alexander Hamilton’s letter to him of 6 February. The final paragraph of that letter reads: “Is it not proper to call upon the Merchants to furnish your Department with statements & proofs of the spoliations which we have suffered...
17From Alexander Hamilton to Hall and Stimpson, 11 February 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, February 11, 1797. “The suits against Riley as a Partner of Wetmore are expected to be matured for Trial at the ensuing Circuit Court which begins the 20th of March. I should of course want the original documents to establish the Copartnership and the original notes & acknowleged accounts to establish the respective demands of the parties. As the measures preparatory to Trial are...
18From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, [10 February 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
If I recollect right, Chancellor Livingston while Secy for foreign Affairs reported a censure upon Our Commissioners who made the peace with G Britain for not obeying their instructions with regard to France. Will you favour me in confidence with the real state of this business? I was at the time a member of Congress. It was immediately on the arrival of the provisional articles. I trust my...
19To George Washington from Elkanah Watson, 10 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
GW to Alexander Hamilton, 2 Nov. 1796
20To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 9 February 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Your favour of the 4th only reached me Yesterday. I will get Mr Tilghman or Mr Lewis to write to you on the point you desire. In the mean time as I am anxious to have the Land business settled, I think it best to have the papers assigned to Mr Garrett Cottringer in such manner as to Vest him with the right for the present and as that he may release or convey to me my or my order hereafter. The...
21Petition of Anna de Neufville, [7 February] 1797 (Madison Papers)
...and had also assisted John Adams in his efforts to negotiate loans in 1780. His son, Leonard de Neufville, had become insane, and in 1797 his widow came to Philadelphia to seek assistance from several prominent men, including Alexander Hamilton, Robert Goodloe Harper, and George Washington (
22To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 6 February 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive your Letter of the 16. of Decr. and I need not express the Satisfaction which the information that it contained afforded me, the Probable termination of the Election of Pr. the general Temper of the Country, & the Effect likely to be produced by Mr. Adet’s notes are such as I had not only hoped but expected; if by prudence & Firmness, which have hitherto kept...
23From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, [6 February 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I duly received your letter of the 23 of Jany with its inclosure, for which I am much obliged to you. I have read it with great pleasure. It is a substantial satisfactory paper will do good in this Country & as to France I presume events will govern there. Is it not proper to call upon the Merchants to furnish your Department with statements & proofs of the spoliations which we have suffered...
24To George Washington from Rufus King, 6 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
.... One difficulty stemmed from jurisdictional issues related to the commission appointed under the treaty’s Article VII to settle merchants’ claims for damages from ship seizures. On this date, King wrote Alexander Hamilton from London: “In the main our affairs here are in a good train, the treaty I think will be fairly and fully executed. You remember the opinion given by certain Gentlemen...
25To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, [4 February 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
[ London, February 4, 1797. Letter not found. ] Letter listed in Rufus King’s “Memorandum of private Letters, &c., dates & persons, from 1796 to Augt 1802,” owned by Mr. James G. King, New York City.
26From Alexander Hamilton to Robert Morris, 4 February 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, February 4, 1797. On February 9, 1797, Morris wrote to Hamilton : “Your favour of the 4th only reached me Yesterday.” Letter not found. ]
27To George Washington from Anna Margaretha de Neufville, 2 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Alexander Hamilton to GW, 19 Jan.
28To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 1796–January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, 1796–January, 1797. At this time, McHenry “suggested to Hamilton the establishment of a permanent navy yard, and enclosed a draft of his departmental report in which he tried not to censure his predecessors.” Letter not found. ] Steiner, James McHenry Bernard C. Steiner, The Life and Correspondence of James McHenry (Cleveland, 1907). , 180, note 1. Although Steiner dates this...
29From Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Sedgwick, [January 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I have been reading the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the subject of direct taxes. I think it does him credit. The general principles and objects are certainly good. Nor am I sure that any thing better can be done. I remember, however, that I once promised you to put in writing my ideas on the subject. I intended to have done it and communicated them to the Secretary. My hurry &...
30To George Washington from the Chevalier de Colbert, c. January 1797 (Washington Papers)
...in Franklin County, Ga., which had been granted to his relative Charles-Hector, comte d’Estaing for his wartime services in America. For more on Colbert’s affairs in the United States, including aid given him by Alexander Hamilton, see
31To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, c. January 1797 (Washington Papers)
From Alexander Hamilton
32From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [25–31 January 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
The sitting of the Court and an uncommon pressure of business have unavoidably delayed an answer to your last favour. I have read with attention Mr. Pickerings letter. It is in the main a substantial and satisfactory paper, will in all probability do considerable good in enlightening public opinion at home—and I do not know that it contains any thing which will do harm elsewhere. It wants...
33From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [31 January 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
My late situation exposes me to applications which I cannot resist without appearing unkind. It is understood that Mr. Walker is about to resign the place of naval Officer. Mr. Jonathan Burrall Mr. Rogers (Walker’s Deputy) and Col Giles (the present Marshall) have all three mentioned the subject to me and requested me to express my opinion of their qualifications to you. As to Mr. Burrall...
34To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 31 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
From Alexander Hamilton
35To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 30 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Alexander Hamilton Esq.
36To Alexander Hamilton from John Dunn, 28 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Dublin [ Ireland ] January 28, 1797. “I take the liberty of enclosing to you an account current furnished to me by Mr. John Barclay of Philadelphia relative to a fund in his hands by me anxiously desired to be entrusted to your care—A late account of some unfortunate circumstances occurring in Mr. Barclay’s affairs makes me anxious in the extreme that the Property in his hands should be...
37To Alexander Hamilton from Fisher Ames, 26 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
My last was written hastily & under some impressions of the moment which I had not time to unfold. The close respecting your taking a seat in the next house (to be elected) would pass for an awkward compliment if you did not know me (and yourself) too well for such an interpretation. You desire an inside view of our stage. I begin with the outside . Our relations with France are serious. All...
38To Alexander Hamilton from Gerrit Boon, 26 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Oldenbarneveld [ New York ] January 26, 1797. Discusses the case of Herman LeRoy, William Bayard, and Boon v Peter Servis and others . ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Boon, a native of the Netherlands, was an agent of the six Dutch banking firms which formed the Holland Land Company on February 13, 1796. H was an attorney for the company. For background to this letter, see...
39From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 25 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Alexander Hamilton to GW, 9 May 1792 [first letter], n.1
40To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 23 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 21st inst. is just received none of a previous date in reply to mine of 31st Ulto ever reached me, nor have I received from you any acknowledgement of the receipt of my letter to you of 7th Inst. which was sent by Captn Williamson in order to have the mortgage to Colo Smith removed & the suit in Chancery brought by Colo Walker discharged. This latter is a very important...
41To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 23 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, January 23, 1797. On February 6, 1797, Hamilton wrote to Pickering : “I duly received your letter of the 23 of Jany.” Letter not found. ]
42From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, [23 January 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I remember that very early in the day & prior to any act of Great Britain the French passed a decree violating with regard to all the neutral powers the principle of free ships free goods & I think making provisions liable to seizure. This decree was afterwards rescinded as to America—then again revived & then again revoked. I want copies of these decrees for a particular purpose useful to the...
43To George Washington from Robert Rutherford, 23 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
GW to Alexander Hamilton, 2 Nov. 1796GW to Alexander Hamilton, 2 Nov. 1796
44To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., 23 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
GW to Alexander Hamilton, 2 Nov. 1796, n.2
45To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 22 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 19th. instant was received yesterday. From the general impression on my mind, relative to Mr. De Neuvilles claim on the justice of this country, a delay, or a refusal to administer it, would be hard; but I must add, that I am too little acquainted with the particulars to form a correct opinion, and were it otherwise, I do not see how I could, with propriety, appear directly...
46From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 22 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
To Alexander Hamilton
47From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 22 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
on 19 Jan. 1797 that JM was to be appointed envoy extraordinary to France, and a few days later Alexander Hamilton made the same suggestion to Washington. In notes dated 2 Mar. 1797, Jefferson recorded a meeting with president-elect John Adams about the possibility of JM’s accepting a mission to France, but JM refused to consider it...
48From Alexander Hamilton to Robert Morris, 21 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, January 21, 1797. On January 23, 1797, Morris wrote to Hamilton : “Your letter of the 21st inst. is just received.” Letter not found. ]
49To Alexander Hamilton from Angelica Church, [20 January 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I would have you to understand Mon tres cher Monsieur that my eyes have recovered all their former lustre, and that they have been ineffectually employed in searching for the grace and elegance of your friend, nor have I yet been able to discover that ease and je ne sais quoi by which Sterne observes the gentleman may be so readily ascertained. As to his capacity for Bargain making that I...
50From Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Sedgwick, [20 January 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I received your late letter in due time. You seem to be of opinion to defer to a future period the commencement of direct taxation. I acknowlege I am inclined to lay gently hold of it now. Leaders of the opposite party favour it now, perhaps with no good design. But it will be well to take them while in the humour and make them share the responsibility. This will be the more easy as they are...