To Alexander Hamilton from Richard Peters, 24 March 1795
From Richard Peters1
Philadelphia, March 24, 1795. “From your Position at Albany you might attack DeWit2 in Front Flank & rear ’till he yields in the Point of giving us the Deed from him for the Lands bought by Mr. Duane3 for my Father….”4
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. This letter, like that of Peters to H, February 18, 1795, deals with Peters’s attempt to settle his father’s claim to George Croghan’s land.
2. Simeon DeWitt was the surveyor-general of New York.
3. James Duane had been the United States judge for the District of New York from 1789 to 1794. He inherited a large tract of land from his father in the present Schenectady County, New York, and was heavily involved in land development in the state of New York.
4. On the cover of this letter H wrote: “Answer 4th. 1795. acknowlege Receipt Mr. De Wit at present absent—will attend when he returns or write to him. When I go to New York will see to the matter there effectually.” H’s reply has not been found.
The following entry appears for February 1, 1796, in H’s Cash Book for 1795–1804: “Richard Peters Dr. to Cash for this sum for recordg. deeds from S Dewitt to J Duane & from the last to him 6.58” (AD, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; also in , forthcoming volumes).