1From Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Sedgwick, 26 December 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, December 26, 1797. “I beg your pardon for not having written to you sooner. Blame my excessive avocations & particularly my engagements with the Court of Chancery.… The declaration sent us by Van Shack has been examined and returned. We do not find, that our statute contains any provision.” Letter not found. ] ALS , sold by American Art Association-Anderson Galleries, March 3,...
2From Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Sedgwick, [1–15 March 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
In my opinion these things— The President ought to make a solemn and manly communication to Congress the language grave and firm but without invective—in which after briefly recapitulating the progress of our controversy with France the measures taken toward accommodation & stating their degrading result—he ought to advert to the extremely critical posture of Europe the excessive pretensions...
3From Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Sedgwick, 29 August 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 3. instant came seasonably to hand. Business & absence from this place have delayed the acknowlegement. The persons you mention have been correspondently placed before the Secretary at War. As to Military Affairs, they lag not a little. No appointments of Regimental Officers yet made. McHenry as you know is loaded beyond his strength. It was an obvious idea to derive aid...
4From Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Sedgwick, 25 January 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The cold which I had when you were here increased after you left me & has a great part of the time confined me to bed. This is the chief cause that you have not heard from me in reply to your letter. I have perused the answer in Chancery & incline at present to the Opinion that we can at the ensuing term obtain a dissolution of the Injunction. I will shortly reperuse it & if I change my mind I...
5From Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Sedgwick, 2 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
What, My Dear Sir, are you going to do with Virginia? This is a very serious business, which will call for all the wisdom and firmness of the Government. The following are the ideas which occur to me on the occasion. The first thing in all great operations of such a Government as ours is to secure the opinion of the people. To this end, the proceedings of Virginia and Kentucke with the two...
6From Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Sedgwick, 21 February 179[9] (Hamilton Papers)
The step announced in your letter just received in all its circumstances would astonish, if any thing from that quarter could astonish. But as it has happened, my present impression is that the measure must go into effect with the additional idea of a Commission of three. The mode must be accommodated with the President. Murray is certainly not strong enough for so immensely important a...
7From Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Sedgwick, 27 February 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
When will Congress probably adjourn? Will any thing be settled as to a certain Election? Will my presence be requisite as to this or any other purpose and when? I observe more and more that by the jealousy and envy of some, the miserlyness of others and the concurring influence of all foreign powers , America, if she attains to greatness, must creep to it. Well be it so. Slow and sure is no...
8From Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Sedgwick, [4 May 1800] (Hamilton Papers)
You have heard of the loss of our Election in the City of New York. This renders it too probable that the Electors of President for this State will be Antifœderal. If so, the policy which I was desirous of pursuing at the last Election is now recommended by motives of additional urgency. To support Adams & Pinckney , equally, is the only thing that can possibly save us from the fangs of...
9From Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Sedgwick, 8 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you My Dear Sir for your letter of the 5th instant which was received yesterday. The measure you mention has been attempted but without much hope of success. Yet our friends are today in good spirits. The accounts from the Northward, apparently authentic, give us strong hope of still having a majority ⟨in⟩ our Legislature. But be this as it may, our welfare depends absolutely on a...
10From Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Sedgwick, 10 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I am very sorry for the information contained in your letter of the 7th. But I am not intimate enough with Dexter to put myself upon Paper to him. If on his return I can catch him at New York I shall have a particular conversation with him. He is I am persuded much mistaken as to the opinion entertained of Mr Adams by the Fœderal party. Were I to determine from my own observation I should say,...
11From Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Sedgwick, 22 December 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I intirely agree with you, My Dear Sir, that in the event of Jefferson and Burr coming to the House of Represnetatives the former is to be preferred. The appointment of Burr, as President would disgrace our Country abroad. No agreement with him could be relied upon. His private circumstances render disorder a necessary resource. His public principles offer no obstacle. His ambition aims at...
12From Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Sedgwick, 21 January 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
Being in a hurry to leave New York for this place, I comprised in a letter to Bayard some observations which had I had time I should have put in a reply to your last. I requested him to communicate it to you & I beg you as you love your country, your friends and yourself to reconsider dispassionately the opinion you have expressed in favour of Burr. I never was so much mistaken as I shall be...