1From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 5 April 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I return herewith the statement sent me in the case of Lemuel Toby and the Ship Lydia, in order that a further enquiry & statement may be had. I am not at present satisfied of the innocence of the transaction, as it respects all the parties, who may be concerned, and as it is a shape in which fraud may present itself with great success, I am solicitous for a pretty strict scrutiny. A Hogshead...
2From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 4 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I find myself obliged to remit the proceedings on the Petition of John Osborn in order that a further inquiry be had. Having had occasion heretofore to consult the British Acts of Parliament respecting the admeasurement of vessels, I am satisfied that there must be some incorrectness in the evidence from which it has been stated that the Tonnage, according to the rule prescribed by the British...
3From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, [7 May 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The form of the bill has been changed to day. He is to be paid 7000 Dollars & an annuity for life but the blank is not filled up. Nobody talks of less than 1500 Dollars. The Baron says his contract or nothing; but you & all his friends must join me in telling him that to act upon this would be to act like a boy. This must be done before you leave town. Yr affect & Obling ALS , New-York...
4From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 24 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, September 24, 1789. On September 24, 1789, Duane wrote to Hamilton : “I called upon you within the time limited to give you my answer on the Communication which … you was pleased to make me this morning.” Letter not found. ] Duane was mayor of New York City.
5From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, [3 March 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
It is in my opinion intirely necessary that the Common Council should be convened this day in order to pass an act for appropriating the City Hall to the use of Congress. This act should be published in the papers & notified by yourself, or if you are not well enough by a committee or member of your board to the senators & representatives as they arrive. The Philadelphians are endeavouring to...
6From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, [1786] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, 1786. ] Encloses draft of a certificate and asks Duane “to affix the seal of the Corporation” of the City of New York to the draft. ALS , New-York Historical Society, New York City. Duane was mayor of New York.
7From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 26 September 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
I received last night your letter of the 8th. instant, accompanied by one from Mr. L’hommedieu and yourself to Mr. Floyd and myself. I shall in consequence write to the Governor on the subject; though if I recollect right, I did in an official letter to him mention all that I can now say though perhaps at greater length—to wit that the resolutions of the senate & Assembly were committed for...
8From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, [14 September 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
The enclosed was delivered me by Doctr. Schuyler with a request to transmit it to one of the delegates of the state for patronage. He assures me that what he asks has been done in similar cases; particularly for some Hospital surgeons belonging to the State of Pensylvania. If so there will prob⟨ably⟩ be no difficulty in the case. I beg l⟨eave⟩ to recommend it to your attention. Doctor Schuyler...
9From 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.
10From 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...
11From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 18 October 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Since my last to you, I have had the pleasure of receiving two letters from you. I am sorry to find we do not seem to agree on the proper remedies to our disorder, at least in the practicability of applying those which are proper. Convinced, as I am, of the absolute insufficiency of our present system to our safety, if I do not despair of the Republic, it is more the effect of Constitution...
12From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 6 September 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
The letter accompanying this has lain by two or three days for want of an opportunity. I have heard since of Gates defeat, a very good comment on the necessity of changing our system. His passion for Militia, I fancy will be a little cured, and he will cease to think them the best bulwark of American liberty. What think you of the conduct of this great man? I am his enemy personally, for...
13From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, [3 September 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeably to your request and my promise I sit down to give you my ideas of the defects of our present system, and the changes necessary to save us from ruin. They may perhaps be the reveries of a projector rather than the sober views of a politician. You will judge of them, and make what use you please of them. The fundamental defect is a want of power in Congress. It is hardly worth while to...
14From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, [22 July 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
I take the liberty my Dear Sir to request your interest for a friend of mine and a member of the family, Dr McHenry. He wishes to quit a Station which among foreigners is not viewed in a very reputable light and to get into one more military. He will go into the Marquis’s family as an aide. He has been in the army since the commencement of the War—first in the medical line, since the 15th of...
15From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 14 May 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
This will be handed you by the Marquis, who brings us very important intelligence. The General communicated the substance of it in a private letter to you & proposes a measure which all deem essential. For God’s sake, my Dear Sir, engage Congress to adopt it & come to a speedy decision. We have not a moment to lose. Were we to improve every instant of the interval, we should have too little...
16From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 29 October 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Laurance is setting out for Philadelphia to obtain a determination respecting the promotion which he may expect by continuing in his present station. It seems his pay has been lately reduced—and he stands in the predicament of the civil staff in general, without any assurances of having his depreciation made good; though certainly there can be no reason for excluding him from this piece of...
17From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 1 October 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
I am much obliged to you, my dear Sir, for your two letters of the 16th & 23rd. In haste I snatch up my pen by an express going off to the Governor, to give you the news as it runs. The most important & best authenticated is, that Count D’Estaing was arrived on the coast of Georgia. The tale runs thus. We are in possession of a Charlestown paper of the 6th of September which mentions that the...
18From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, [1 October 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
I am much obliged to you my dear Sir for your two letters of the 16th and 23d. In haste I snatch up my pen by an express going off to the Governor, to give you the news as it is runs. The most important and best ascertained is that Cou[n]t D’Estaing was arrived in the coast of Georgia. The tale stands thus. We are in possession of a Charles Town paper of the 8th. of September, which mentions...
19From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 14 September 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
I do not recollect whether I said any thing in my last about the strength of the reinforcement with Arbuthnot. All the accounts agree that it does not exceed 3000, mostly recruits, and in very bad health; ’tis said more than a thousand died on the passage, and the greater part of the remainder, are journeying fast to the other world. Disease prevails also in the other parts of the army and...
20From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 14 September 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your letter of the 10th ins. two days since & with my usual distraction suffered your apple to pass out of my hands and to be lost before it could be seen by the General. But Tilghman and Meade who saw it and pretend to be connoisseurs in matters of this kind laughed at me for my inquiries & insisted that it was nothing more than the common crab-apple and not the least resemblance...
21From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, [7 September 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
I this day received your bill⟨et⟩ of the 4th with one inclosed for Col Washington which was immediately forwarded. You do not mention the receipt of a line from me which I wrote several days since giving you an account of Arbuthnot’s arrival. The current of our intelligence makes the reinforcement with him amount to about three thousand, mostly recruits and in bad health. ’Tis said...
22From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 28 August 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
I with pleasure snatch a moment agreeable to your request to inform you of the events which have taken place since you left us. A York paper of the 24th announces the arrival of the Russell of 74, which parted three days before from Arbuthnot’s fleet, which was of course momently expected. Subsequent intelligence gives us the arrival of the whole fleet. This comes through different channels, &...