From Alexander Hamilton to John Chaloner, [3 December 1791]
To John Chaloner1
[Philadelphia, December 3, 1791]
Sir
I request you will not take any step respecting the land mortgaged by Mr. Holker2 for Mr. Church’s debt without first consulting me.3
I am Sir Your obedient servt
Alex Hamilton
John Chaloner Esqr.
ALS, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
1. During the seventeen-eighties Chaloner, a Philadelphia merchant, had served as the Philadelphia agent for John B. Church and Jeremiah Wadsworth.
2. John Holker, who had served as inspector general of manufactures in France, came to the United States in 1778, where he served as marine agent of France. In September, 1781, he was appointed French consul general for New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. During the seventeen-eighties and seventeen-nineties he was a shareholder in the Scioto Company and a principal figure in the bankruptcy proceedings of Daniel Parker and Company. See John Ross to H, November 29, 1791, note 1. In 1784, together with other Philadelphia businessmen, he participated in founding the Bank of North America.
3. H handled Church’s affairs in the United States.