184321Receipt to the Trustees of the American Iron Company, 30 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, May 30, 1799. “I have receiv’d a deed from Peter Goelet & other Trustees of the American Iron Company. I certify that the fourth or last installment of the Purchase money with Interest remains to be paid, which will pay on demand. New York, May 30, 1799. Alexr Hambleton.” Receipt not found. ] This receipt is quoted in, and has been taken from, Goelet to Robert Troup, August 19,...
184322Introductory Note: To Rufus King [13 August 1793] (Hamilton Papers)
This letter marks Hamilton’s initial involvement in a protracted and acrimonious dispute between Rufus King and John Jay on the one hand and Edmond C. Genet on the other. Briefly stated, the controversy centered on whether Genet on July 6, 1793, at the height of the crisis over the sailing of the Little Sarah , had or had not told Alexander J. Dallas that “he would appeal from the President to...
184323Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
Until comparatively recent times the valor of naval crews was stimulated by the prospect of a share in the proceeds of enemy vessels and goods captured as prize. The complicated questions of property and the law of war which this system of hazard pay produced were adjudicated in every country by special tribunals, administering a more or less common body of international law. From its...
184324Enclosure: Schedule A, [9 January 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
SCHEDULE A Supposititious Statement of Accounts Between the United States and Individual States. States. Ratio. Balances due to the states respectively. Proportion of each state of the aggregate of those balances according to the ratio. Balances against certain states. Balances in favor of certain states. Proportion of each state in the aggregate of the balances against certain states....
184325Editorial Note: Jefferson’s Reports of Balloting in the House of Representatives (Jefferson Papers)
On 12 Feb. Jefferson sent copies of Thomas Paine’s Compact Maritime , newly printed from manuscripts received in January, to eleven of his friends in Virginia. He accompanied at least some, and presumably all, of the pamphlets with brief letters, written at 7:00 a.m. and updated in a postscript at 1:00 p.m. , in which he gave a succinct account of the progress of voting in the House of...
184326Introductory Note: From Philip Schuyler, [31 August 1795] (Hamilton Papers)
The opening paragraph of this letter contains the first reference in Hamilton’s extant correspondence to a series of business transactions in which he was to be involved for several years as the representative of Schuyler and certain other New Yorkers. When Schuyler wrote this letter, he believed that he, Barent Bleecker, Edward Goold, and William Greene had a claim to a portion of Cosby Manor...
184327To James Madison from an Unidentified Correspondent, 10 December 1815 (Madison Papers)
Believing it essential to the happiness of every Community that each Individual should aid in promoting the Public Good, leads me, without apology to submit the following Suggestions: Of Primary Importance to this Country, in order to securing its Peace & Prosperity, is the Balance of Trade. One Means to obtain this, is, our own Manufactures. Of these, the most essential are, every article...
184328To Benjamin Franklin from the Associates of Dr. Bray, [4 December? 1766] (Franklin Papers)
Printed form with ms insertions in blanks: American Philosophical Society The Associates of Dr. Bray, for establishing Parochial Libraries, and instructing the Negroes in the British Plantations, meet on Thursday the 4 Day of December at Ten o’Clock, at their Office at the Angel and Bible, in Ave-Mary Lane. Addressed: To / Dr. Franklin Near / The Strand For the Associates of Dr. Bray, a...
184329Instruction to Virginia Delegates in re Contracts, 4 and 7 June 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). Resolved that the Delegates representing this State in Congress be instructed to take proper Steps for procuring and transmitting to the Executive of this State copies of all Accounts and Vouchers relative to disbursements and Contracts made with the Individuals of this State by any person acting under the authority of Congress in order that a proper inquiry may be...
184330Editorial Note: The Virginia Constitution (Jefferson Papers)
The three drafts of Jefferson’s proposed bill outlining the “fundamental constitutions of Virginia,” here brought together for the first time, are so important in the light they cast upon Jefferson’s early ideas of government and upon the drafting of the Declaration of Independence that they require special comment and a particular form of presentation. Each of the three drafts printed below...
184331To Benjamin Franklin from David Hall, 12 July 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: American Philosophical Society I receiv’d your kind letter of May the 9th by the Packet, for which I am much obliged, and observe what you say as to the Accounts; but, as you are pleased to express your Satisfaction, with respect to my Desire of settling every thing right, and my Sentiments are exactly the same as to you, we can not, as you remark, have any Difference:...
184332Endorsing Independence and Supporting Washington Editorial Note (Jay Papers)
By the time the Fourth New York Congress made a quorum at White Plains on 9 July, the Continental Congress had already acted on independence, and the first order of business for the New York legislature was consideration of a letter from their delegates in Philadelphia enclosing a copy of the Declaration of Independence. John Jay drafted the committee report on the Declaration, which was...
184333To Thomas Jefferson from Robert R. Livingston: Editorial Note (Jefferson Papers)
On 12 Mch., Robert R. Livingston began a letter to the president that reported on his activities in general terms, mentioning his efforts to influence Napoleon Bonaparte about Louisiana, his discussions with the Spanish ambassador concerning the Floridas, and French attitudes toward the United States and Great Britain. The next day, a Sunday, Livingston interrupted his writing to attend an...
184334Editorial Note: The Northern Journey of Jefferson and Madison (Jefferson Papers)
Long before Hamilton’s friend Robert Troup made this observation he had become convinced that the enemies of the Secretary of the Treasury were resolved to defeat his policies by destroying him politically. He saw this danger most ominously manifested in the southern states, particularly in Virginia. Now, as Jefferson and Madison paused in New York City at the beginning of their northward...
184335Treasury Department Circular to the Commissioners of Loans, 8 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, April 8, 1791. On May 3, 1791, Nathaniel Appleton wrote to Hamilton : “Your circular Letter 8th April is received.” Circular not found. ]
184336From Benjamin Franklin to Rudolph Erich Raspe, 21 July 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Landesbibliothek, Kassel I had a Bill on Messrs. Michael David, & Fils, for 526 ⅓ Reichs Thalern. I receiv’d 50 Ducats in Specie, and a Bill on Franckfurth for 134 Ducats, making in all but 184 Ducats. I request the Favour of Monsr. Raspè to speak of it to Monsr. David, and to get the Mistake rectified, receiving and retaining in his Hands the Money still due to me, to pay for such Books...
184337Introductory Note: To Thomas Jefferson, [20–27 May 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
On March 5, 1792, George Hammond, the British Minister to the United States, submitted to Jefferson a detailed account of the failure of the United States to abide by the provisions of the treaty of peace of 1783. On May 29, Jefferson wrote an extensively documented reply to Hammond’s charges. Jefferson had completed the draft of his letter to Hammond by May 15, 1792, but he delayed sending it...
184338Editorial Note (Washington Papers)
The effectiveness of an army rests in large measure on the quality of its officers. GW recognized this truth. He held that only gentlemen should serve as officers, insisted that officers not fraternize with their men, and consistently encouraged officers to study to improve their martial skills. Major General Steuben’s military manual, which GW carefully reviewed during its creation, served as...
184339Treasury Department Circular to the Commissioners of Loans, 6 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In consequence of an enquiry made of me, I think it necessary to inform you that I consider the holders of Certificates received from the Government of any State in lieu of certificates of the federal debt, as having a right to subscribe those State Certificates to the Loan of the Assumed debt, and I consider the State as having a right to subscribe the continental Certificates which they have...
184340Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson’s Account with Charles Everette, [ca. 23 February 1810] (Jefferson Papers)
Tho s Jefferson to Charles Everett. D r 1810. Feb. 23. amputating negro’s great toe, dressing E t c £ –2– 8–0 Daily dressings, medicine E t c negro’s
184341Protest of Bills of Exchange, 16 March 1782 (Jay Papers)
M r . Jay says that when he accepted the Bills hereunto annexed, he had good reason to expect to be supplied with the funds necessary to pay them; That he has been disappointed in the Expectations he was encouraged to entertain on this Subject, and that his Endeavors to obtain Monies for the purpose both here and elsewhere, have been unsuccessful, although the Bills which remain to be paid by...
184342Enclosure B: [List of Petitions for Compensation for Transportation], [16 April 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
List of petitions for compensation for transportation during the late War. Petition of Christian Knipe. John Smyth Petition of Nathaniel Tracy, and Roger McLean For receipt of these petitions by the House, see Journal of the House , I Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States (Washington, 1826), I. , 391, 518, 374, 503.
184343To James Madison from an Unidentified Correspondent, 31 January 1823 (Madison Papers)
“Nothing sells high but land which is kept up to an extravagant price from the particular situation of that article. All the valuable land in the State is either forfeited to Govt or in the hands of individuals who calculate on this situation, & do not expect a sale of the forfeited lands for many years, when they will have disposed of their land, at a high price to the Emigrants to this...
184344Spain’s Finances and the Bills Drawn on John Jay Editorial Note (Jay Papers)
Although Jay continued to hope that Spain would be able to loan him the funds needed to cover the bills Congress had drawn on him, Spain’s ability to raise funds to cover its own needs had been frustrated by its lenders’ refusal to accept repayment in vales reales . During the resulting crisis, full-blown by the end of August 1780, Floridablanca had ignored Jay’s requests for a meeting and, on...
184345From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Hopkinson, 9 May 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have been so busy that I have not had time to go to the Customhouse about your Salary, since mine of Feby. 26. (but will now do it soon) nor to write to you since I saw the Bishop, which was some time after he receiv’d your Letters. He express’d a Pleasure in hearing of and from his Relations, enquir’d in what manner he could send Letters to you, and...
184346The Supreme Court: Procedures and Cases: Editorial Note (Jay Papers)
Article III of the United States Constitution, dealing with matters judicial, provided that the judicial power of the United States be vested in a Supreme Court and such inferior courts as Congress shall establish. The Supreme Court was to have original jurisdiction “in cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls”, and those in which a State is a party. In all other cases...
184347Introductory Note: To Frederick A. C. Muhlenberg, [16 December 1793] (Hamilton Papers)
On December 16, 1793, the Speaker of the House of Representatives “laid before the House a Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, requesting that a new inquiry into his official conduct may be instituted, in some mode most effectual for an accurate and thorough investigation; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.” Because of Republican criticism of the manner in which the 1793...
184348The Washingtons in Barbados (Washington Papers)
The arrival at Bridgetown, on Carlisle Bay, is not well documented because pages are missing from the diary at this point. There are no collateral data such as newspaper listings of shipping arrivals, for not a single copy of the Barbados Gazette for 1751 is known to exist. The first two diary entries after the Washingtons disembarked are supplied by Jared Sparks, who obviously saw them while...
184349Enclosure: Conrad Hanse’s Account, 29 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Thomas Jefferson, esquire, 1801. To Conrad Hanse Dr. Augt. 29. To a new plain, well-finished Chariot , with plated Dolls. Harness for 4 Horses, and 2 postillion Saddles. 1206 MS ( DLC ); in unknown hand. In a statement of TJ’s account, John Barnes entered at 18 Sep. a payment to Hanse of $1,000 for the chariot (statement of private account from John Barnes, 30 Sep., in ViU ;
184350The Jay Treaty: Appointment and Instructions: Editorial Note (Jay Papers)
Jay was selected as envoy extraordinary to Great Britain after two previous missions to London had failed and after Washington decided against the three other men he had considered as possible appointees. Of all the candidates, Jay was the most experienced in diplomacy. As his confirmation process would reveal, however, he was as controversial as any of the others, particularly in the South...