From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [21 August 1794]
To Elizabeth Hamilton1
[Philadelphia, August 21, 1794]
Your last letter, My beloved Eliza, gave me inexpressible pleasure.2 It tells me that my precious boy was fast recovering. Heaven Grant that the favourable appearances may have continued.
If you have not already left Albany write to me the precise day you will certainly leave it; so that I may meet you at New Ark. When you get to New York apply to Col Fish3 to make an arrangement for carrying you & the Child to New Ark & when there, go to Mr. Boudinot’s4 till I come.
Philip & Alexander are gone to Trenton.5 Angelica6 is in good health.
Adieu my sweet. Love to all with you & best blessings on you & My dear boys.7
Mrs. Hamilton
AL [S], Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. For background to this letter, see H to George Washington, July 11, 23, 1794; Washington to H, July 11, 1794; H to Elizabeth Hamilton, July 31, August 2, 8, two letters of August 12, August 17, 1794.
2. Letter not found.
3. Nicholas Fish, who had known H since they were students together at King’s College and who had been H’s second in command at Yorktown, was a prominent resident of New York City. In 1794 he was supervisor of the revenue for the District of New York.
4. Elisha Boudinot, a lawyer and businessman in Newark, New Jersey, was a director of the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures.
5. Philip A. Hamilton (born January 22, 1782) and Alexander Hamilton, Jr. (born May 16, 1786) were H’s two oldest sons. Both studied under William Frazer, the Episcopal rector of St. Michael’s Church in Trenton, New Jersey.
6. Angelica Hamilton, who was born on September 25, 1784, was H’s second child and at this time his only daughter.
7. James Alexander Hamilton (born April 14, 1788) and John Church Hamilton (born August 22, 1792) were H’s two youngest sons at this time.