61From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 14 August 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
When you were last in Town I promised to communicate to you the outline of a project by which I think you may enter upon a career of business beneficial to yourself and friends. My almost constant attendance at Court ever since you were here has retarded its communication, which I shall now make. Let a commercial Capital be formed to consist of 100 000 Dollars divided into shares of 1000...
62From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 16 December 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
It is now, my Dear Sir, ascertained that Jefferson or Burr will be President and it seems probable that they will come with equal votes to the House of Representatives. It is also circulated here that in this event the Fœderalists in Congress or some of them talk of preferring Burr. I trust New England at least will not so far lose its head as to fall into this snare. There is no doubt but...
63From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [26 June 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I learn from a Gentleman of character that a prize brought into Boston by a French Privateer is about to be sold. This being in direct breach of our Treaty with G Britain how does it happen? Though no particular law passed, the Treaty being the law of the land, Our custom houses can & ought to prevent the entry & sale of prizes, upon Executive instruction. If any thing is wanting to this end...
64From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 2 July 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, July 2, 1795. On July 10, 1795, Wolcott wrote to Hamilton : “I have recd. your several Letters dated June 22d. 26th. 30th. & the 2nd. current.” Letter of July 2 not found. ]
65From 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...
66From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 20 September 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
A slight indisposition prevented my meeting you at E Town which I should otherwise have done with great pleasure. It is wished for a particular purpose to know who are the Writers of Valerius Hancock Bellisarius Atticus . If any thing about them is known in a manner that can be depended upon I will thank you for it in confidence. The fever in this Town has become serious. The alarm however...
67From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [22 April 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
The consideration for the candidates in the better part of the community stands nearly thus. Clarkeson , ver Plank , Fish = Walker , Burrall , Giles ,
68From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 22 April 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
My absence from New York to attend the Court here has put it out of my power to answer sooner your letter of the 13th instant. The characters which occur to me as proper to be considered for Collector are these— Benjamin Walker —This Gentleman you know as well as I do. He is every way qualified and fit, and had he remained in the place of naval officer he might, qualified as he is, have looked...
69From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [11 November 1795] (Hamilton Papers)
At length I am able to send you the explanation I mentioned to you. The papers upon which it is founded are returned that you may compare & if necessary correct. You may by altering the body or by a note rectify any inaccuracy . You will observe marks in the margin which will require particular attention. A Let the distance if not so now be rightly stated. B insert the most usual sum or sums....
70[From Alexander Hamilton to William Bradford, Timothy Pickering, Edmund Randolph, and Oliver Wolcott, Junior], [28 July … (Hamilton Papers)
Hamilton, History John C. Hamilton, Life of Alexander Hamilton, a History of the Republic of the United States of America (Boston, 1879). , VI, 243. John Church Hamilton states that H wrote to members of George Washington’s cabinet on this date. No further evidence of this correspondence, however, has been found.
71From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 27 May 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
The Patterson manufactory being defunct, the persons heretofore employed are thrown out of business and among them Mr. Marshall who erected & directed the Cotton Mill. As this man has proved that he understands himself & is a discreet well-moralled man I am loth that he should be under the necessity of leaving the Country. He is a man of some education. Besides a considerable knowlege of...
72From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 22 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you for your Note sending me Adet’s letter. The present is in my opinion as critical a situation as our Government has been in—requiring all its prudence all its wisdom all its moderation, all its firmness. Though the thing is now passed, I do not think it useless to say to you that I was not well pleased with the Secretary of State’s answer to Adets note communicating the order...
73From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [7 July 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I have had some conversation with some influential Members of the Bank of New York who are disposed to do all that shall be found possible. But I wish to know without exaggeration the least sum that will be a material relief to you & when & how the payments will be desired. Yrs. ALS , Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford. For an explanation of the contents of this letter, see H to Wolcott,...
74From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 28 July 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
We have some cause to suspect though not enough to believe that our Jacobins medidate serious mischief to certain Individuals. It happens that the Militia of this City, from the complexion of its officers in general, cannot be depended on and it will be difficult for some time to organise a competent armed substitute. In this situation our eyes turn as a resource in a sudden emergency upon the...
75From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [25 June 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
I understand that the Collector of Philadelphia will speedily offer his resignation & that McPherson does not incline to be the successor—but that Major Jackson is desirous of it. If all this be so—and if your experience of his conduct in his present station gives you a confidence that he would execute the Office of Collector well, it would gratify me to see him appointed. Jackson has more...
76From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 10 April 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote you a few lines by the last Post. I sit down to fulfil my promise then made. The fulfilment of our foreign engagements under the existing circumstances is no doubt a perplexing task—But I hope it will not be found impracticable to effect enough to preserve character and credit. Every thing must be done to this end, though with considerable sacrifices, provided you do not go so far as...
77From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [April 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you for your last letter. The opinion with regard to the conduct of the President is very important. As to our finances all will be well, if our councils are wise & vigorous; if not, all will go to ruin. I fear there is not among the friends sufficient capaciousness of views for the greatness of the occasion. I send the inclosed because it required correction. AL , Connecticut...
78From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 25 June 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, June 25, 1794. On July 7, 1794, Wolcott wrote to Hamilton : “In obedience to your Letter of June 25.” Letter not found. ]
79From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [May–August 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, May–August, 1796. ] “I have been applied to for an opinion concerning the Georgia Claim.… I will thank you for the Report of the Attorney General on that subject, to Congress.…” Copy, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford. This is a reference to the claims of the Georgia Yazoo land companies which were organized in 1795. For information on these land grants and their revocation,...
80From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [5 June 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
The answer from The President to the Commander in Chief &c of New Jersey contains in the close a very indiscreet passage. The sentiment is intemperate & revolutionary. It is not for us, particularly for the Government, to breathe an irregular or violent spirit. Hitherto I have much liked the Presidents answers, as in the main within proper bounds & calculated to animate and raise the public...
81From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [8 September 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I have received the inclosed letter which I send to you with only this remark that I have a good opinion of the writer . I know that the pretensions of the person recommended will be weighed in an equal scale & will have all the attention to which they are intitled. Yrs. truly ALS , RG 59, General Records of the State Department, Applications and Recommendations, 1792–1801, National Archives....
82From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 13 October 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 6 instant. I am of opinion that the Commissioners to be appointed under the 7th article are competent to grant relief, in all cases of captures or condemnations of our property, during the present war and antecedent to the Treaty, which were contrary to the laws of Nations and in which there is adequate evidence (of which they are to judge bona fide ) that...
83From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [1 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote you a line from Albany expressing an opinion from Memory , that our Treaty with G B prohibitted the sale of prizes made by French National Ships. Being just returned to Town I have looked into the article which relates to the point & I fear that opinion was wrong. In a day or two I will write you more particularly. Adets late communication demands a very careful & well managed answer....
84From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 18 September 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, September 18, 1798. On September 19, 1798, Wolcott wrote to Hamilton and referred to “your Letter of yesterday.” Letter not found. ]
85From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 1 July 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you the enclosed. If any good use can be made of it you will do it. I have been in Massachusettes, New Hampshire & Rhode Island. There is little doubt of Fœderal Electors in all. But there is considerable doubt of a perfect Union in favour of Pinckney. The leaders of the first class are generally right but those of the second class are too much disposed to be wrong. It is essential to...
86From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [6 December 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
The President of the Bank of New York called upon me yesterday and manifested considerable anxiety about the State of the Bank. It seems the course of things lately, and their large accommodation to the Government, have produced a heavy ballance against them in favor of the Office of Discount at this place, which has lately called for 100000 Ds in specie & it is apprehended may speedily call...
87From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [December 1800] (Hamilton Papers)
Your last letter, My Dear Sir, has given me great pain; not only because it informed me that the opinion in favour of Mr. Burr was increasing among the Fœderalists, but because it also told me that Mr. Sedgwick was one of its partizans. I have a letter from this Gentleman in which he expresses decidedly his preference of Mr. Jefferson. I hope you have been mistaken and that it is not possible...
88From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 3 August 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have two days since written to Mr. Adams a respectful letter on the subject I heretofore mentioned to you. Occupations at Court prevented its being sooner done. But I wait with impatience for the statement of facts which you promised me. It is plain that unless we give our reasons in some form or other—Mr. Adam’s personal friends seconded by the Jacobins will completely run us down in the...