91From Alexander Hamilton to Robert Livingston, [25 April 1785] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. W. Livingston mentioned to me lately in New York, that you would wish to have measures speedily taken concerning the controversy between the Chancellor and yourself. Though I am upon the maturest reflection of opinion that the law is with you; yet you know my sentiments as to the uncertainty of the event. Much will depend on the whim of a jury; and therefore previous to entering upon a...
92From Alexander Hamilton to William Duer, [14 May 1785] (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote you from Albany informing you that the Chancellor had given you till the first of June to bring into Court the money allowed to be due, to wit such part of the principle with interest at five ⅌ Cent as became due to 1776 and the residue of the principal which afterwards became due. I am doubtful whether that letter may not be delayed. I do not now recollect precisely the order but it...
93From Alexander Hamilton to John D. Coxe and Tench Coxe, 9 June 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 9, 1785. Cannot represent them in their land dispute with Robert Lettis Hooper and James Wilson, as Hooper and Wilson previously have engaged Hamilton’s services in the controversy. ADfS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. See John D. Coxe and Tench Coxe to H, May 21, 1785 .
94From Alexander Hamilton to Samuel Jones, [9 June 1785] (Hamilton Papers)
The above is a copy of a paper transmitted me this day by Mr. Duane. You will perceive much is expected from us; and unfortunately in the situation of my business little is in my power. I wish to see you in Town as soon AL , The Huntington Library, San Marino, California. The letter is undated. It was written, as the first line states, on the date on which H received his commission from James...
95From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 15 June 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Before I left Town for Albany some time since, I requested Mr. Duer to mention to you, that I believed it would depend upon yourself to be President of the bank here. Since my coming to Town I find you are elected director; and I have no doubt you may be President if you please. I will be much obliged to you to let me know in confidence whether the appointment if made will be accepted. You may...
96From Alexander Hamilton to Ezekiel Forman, 17 June 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, June 17, 1785. On the back of a letter that Forman wrote to Hamilton on May 31, 1785, Hamilton wrote : “Answered June 17th. 1785.” Letter not found. ]
97From Alexander Hamilton to James Hamilton, 22 June 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 31st of May last, which, and one other, are the only letters I have received from you in many years. I am a little surprised you did not receive one which I wrote to you about six months ago. The situation you describe yourself to be in gives me much pain, and nothing will make me happier than, as far as may be in my power, to contribute to your relief. I...
98From Alexander Hamilton to William Floyd, [7 July 1785] (Hamilton Papers)
Received of William Floyd Esquire Fifty seven pound and ten shillings being the amount of a note of hand with Interest from him to John Carter alias John Church for Fifty pound New York Currency dated in Philadelphia sometime about the last of April in the year One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty three and which note has been mislaid in my hands. New York July 7th 1785 ADS , Mrs. J. T....
99From Alexander Hamilton to Richard Varick, 28 July 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] July 28, 1785 . Asks Varick to suggest names for a commission to examine witnesses in a case pending between John Wardrop and Alexander Macaulay. ALS , Estelle Doheny Collection in the Edward L. Doheny Memorial Library at St. John’s Seminary, Camarillo, California.
100From Alexander Hamilton to Angelica Church, [3 August 1785] (Hamilton Papers)
You have been much better to me My Dear friend since you left America, than I have deserved, for you have written to me oftener than I have written to you. I will make no apology; for I am sure you will attribute it to any thing else rather than to a defect of pleasure in writing to you. Mr. Van Schaik delivered me your last; if he were not a man of merit (as he is) your patronage would be a...
101From Alexander Hamilton to Stephen J. Schuyler, 5 August 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] August 5, 1785 . “… some time since … Hannah Brewer or rather her assignee John J. Skidmore … paid the £200 part of the purchase money of the farm in the possession of Doctor Perry. The deed is now wanting. If you will send that to me I will have the mortgage to you executed here.” ALS , Lloyd W. Smith Collection, Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, New Jersey.
102Certificate for Lieutenant Thomas Pool, [30 September 1785] (Hamilton Papers)
I certify that I was privy to the Petitioners being employed by the Commander in Chief in the manner he mentions and that he made several trips to New York before he was taken up by the British. I further certify that from the accounts repeatedly received at Head Quarters of the treatment he experienced there is no reason to doubt he suffered every thing he could bear without loss of life. ADS...
103[Elegy on the Death of the Honorable Samuel Hardy, Esq.], [20 October 1785] (Hamilton Papers)
The New-York Journal, or Weekly Register , October 20, 1785. For a discussion of H’s possible authorship of this poem, see Burnett, Letters Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (Washington, 1921–1938). , VIII, 239. According to a correspondent of Burnett, tradition ascribes the poem to H. There is no other evidence that he wrote it. Samuel Hardy was a former...
104From Alexander Hamilton to John Lansing, Junior, 22 October 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, October 22, 1785. Requests information concerning several cases in which Hamilton was serving as an attorney. ALS , New-York Historical Society, New York City.
105From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, [29 October 1785] (Hamilton Papers)
I have intended for some time to write to you on the subject of the bank of North America; but my absence from town and multiplied engagements have delayed my doing it. You of course know that the State of Pensylvania has repealed its act of incorporation. What do you intend to do or what would you advise to be done for Mr Church? To sell unless at a great disadvantage is not practicable. To...
106From Alexander Hamilton to Nicholas Low, 30 October 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, October 30, 1785. “Since you were here I concluded to write a line in answer to Mr. Lowell which I send you open to be forwarded in your letter to Mr Russell. Yr Obed. Ser., A. Hamilton.” Letter not found. ] ALS , sold by Thomas F. Madigan, December, 1935, Lot 107. See H to John Lowell, October 30, 1785 . Extract taken from manuscript dealer’s catalogue.
107From Alexander Hamilton to John Lowell, 30 October 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, October 30, 1785. States that “Mr. Lowe has delivered me your letter of the 19th. Instant.” Discusses the laws governing the attachment of property in New York State and the applicability of Massachusetts bankruptcy laws in New York. ALS , Lloyd W. Smith Collection, Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, New Jersey. This letter was enclosed in H to Nicholas Low, October 30,...
108From Alexander Hamilton to Neil Jamieson, 3 November 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] November 3, 1785 . Encloses a document relating to the case of Samuel Griffin adsm. John Cottringer and asks Jamieson to provide bail for Mr. Griffin. Copy, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
109From Alexander Hamilton to John De Ponthieu Wilkes, 8 November 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
The message which you sent me yesterday, and your letter today, were conceived in terms to which I am little accustomed. Were I to consult my feelings only upon the occasion, I should return an answer very different from that which I have, in justice to my own conduct, resolved upon. But in whatever light we are to view each other hereafter, and however harsh and indelicate I may think the...
110From Alexander Hamilton to Theodorus Bailey, 20 November 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, November 20, 1785. On January 17, 1786, Bailey wrote to Hamilton : “An indisposition which has confined me the chief of the time since the receit of your favor of the 20th of november, has prevented me from giving it an earlier attention.” Letter not found. ] Bailey, a major in the New York Militia, was practicing law in Poughkeepsie, New York.
111From Alexander Hamilton to John B. Church, 24 November 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, November 24, 1785. On April 5, 1786, Church wrote to Hamilton : “I am in your Debt and have to thank you for your Letters of the 24 Novr. 6 Decr. & 1st Feby.” Letter of November 24 not found. ]
112From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [25 November 1785] (Hamilton Papers)
Major Fairly is just setting out on a visit to You I believe on some business relating to the Cinninnati. The society of this state met some short time since and took into consideration the proposed alterations in the original frame of the Institution. Some were strenuous for adhering to the old constitution a few for adopting the new and many for a middle line. This disagreement of opinion...
113To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 25 November 1785 (Washington Papers)
Major Fairly is just setting out on a visit to You I believe on some business relating to the Cincinnati—The society of this state met some short time since and took into consideration the proposed alterations in the original frame of the Institution— Some were strenuous for adhering to the old constitution a few for adopting the new and many for a middle line—This disagreement of opinion and...
114From Alexander Hamilton to Helena Brasher, 6 December 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, December 6, 1785. “I am instructed by your brother Mr. Laurence Kortright to make the following proposal to you; to wit—that if you will pay him the amount of his account for money and other articles supplied you druing your residence in the Jerseys in the course of the war and will deliver him up his bond for £200 to be paid you at the death of his mother, he will then give you a...
115From Alexander Hamilton to John B. Church, 6 December 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, December 6, 1785. On April 5, 1786, Church wrote to Hamilton : “I am in your Debt and have to thank you for your Letters of the 24 Novr. 6 Decr. & 1st Feby.” Letter of December 6 not found. ]
116From Alexander Hamilton to Richard Varick, 20 December 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] December 20, 1785 . “In the cause of Macaulay v. Ludlow … I will thank you to take the suit to yourself and carry it on.” ALS , Pierpont Morgan Library, New York City.
117From Alexander Hamilton to John Sullivan, [25 December 1785] (Hamilton Papers)
Permit me to introduce to you Mr. Ducher a French Gentleman who is appointed to reside as Vice Consul at Portsmouth in the State of New Hampshire. You will find him an intelligent speculative man. He came to this Country attracted by an affinity of principles and with a view to a philosophical retirement; but having been shipwrecked with a loss of part of himself and a much larger part of his...
118From Alexander Hamilton to ——— Townsend, [27 December 1785] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, December 27, 1785. ] Instructs Townsend on how to proceed with the execution of a conveyance. AL , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. This letter concerns the settlement of the estate of Noah Townsend, a resident of Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York. The “Mr. Townsend” to whom it is addressed was either William Townsend or Micajah Townsend, two of Noah Townsend’s four executors....
119From 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.
120From Alexander Hamilton to Cornelius Hendrickson, [1786] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, 1786. ] “Mr. Laurence Kortright of this City has requested me to write to you concerning a suit in Chancery which has been depending between Mr Cornelius P. Lowe and himself on a matter in which the estate of his brother to which You are an Executor is concerned; and in which suit Mr. B Livingston of this place and myself were employed as Council for Mr. Kortright. I send you...
121Inhabitants of the City of New York to the Legislature of New York State, [January–March 1786] (Hamilton Papers)
To The Honorable The Legislature of the State of New York The Petition of the Subscribers Inhabitants of the City of New York respectfully sheweth That Your Petitioners anxious for the welfare of the community of which they are members have seen with peculiar regret the delay which has hitherto attended the adoption of the Revenue system recommended by Congress in their resolutions of the That...
122Pieter Johan Van Berckel, William Edgar, Sampson Fleming, William Denning, and Alexander Hamilton (for John Barker … (Hamilton Papers)
The step lately taken by the Legislature of Pensylvania in repealing the act by which the government of that state had incorporated the Bank of North America has given rise to questions of a delicate and important nature. We observe with regret that the very existence of the Institution as a corporate body has by this proceeding been drawn into controversy: a circumstance which we consider in...
123From Alexander Hamilton to Samuel H. Parsons, 11 January 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] January 11, 1786 . “Some time since I transmitted you a Commission issuing out of the Court of Appeals in cases of Capture the object of which was to examine you on the subject of a certain Agreement stated in your letter and affidavit that no prejudice should arise from not lodging the appeal in time in the cause of the Brig Hope.… Not having yet had the pleasure of hearing from...
124Receipt to Andrew Craig and William Cooper, 23 January 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, January 23, 1786. Receipt for a deed to a tract of land in George Croghan’s Otsego Patent. ADS , anonymous donor. Cooper, who later founded Cooperstown, New York, was the father of James Fenimore Cooper, the novelist. Cooper and Craig were residents of Burlington, New Jersey, and both were land speculators. For the text of this document and an explanation of its contents, see the...
125From Alexander Hamilton to John B. Church, 1 February 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, February 1, 1786. On April 5, 1786, Church wrote to Hamilton : “I am in your Debt and have to thank you for your Letters of the 24 Novr. 6 Decr. & 1st Feby.” Letter of February 1 not found. ]
126From Alexander Hamilton to Robert Milligan, 4 February 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, February 4, 1786. On February 18, 1786, Milligan wrote to Hamilton : “I am much obliged by your polite favour of the 4th. instant.” Letter not found. ]
127Conveyance. Isaac Moses, Nicholas Low, Daniel Ludlow, and Alexander Hamilton to Alexander Macomb, 15 February 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, February 15, 1786. “… Isaac Moses of the City of New York Merchant of the first part Nicholas Low and Daniel Ludlow Merchant and Alexander Hamilton Counsellor at law all of the same place assignees of the real and personal estate of the said Isaac Moses … for and in consideration of the sum of Four thousand four hundred and fifty pounds New York currency to them in hand paid by …...
128From Alexander Hamilton to Isaac Gouverneur, Junior, [March 1786] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Bremar last evening delivered me your Letter inclosing a Copy of your Correspondence with Mr Lewis. In a personal Altercation between two Gentlemen where their passions have evidently become pritty warmly engaged, and for both whom I always had Esteem, I should not be willing to give my Opinion on the conduct of one of them, especially when the appeal was not made to me by both. On this...
129From Alexander Hamilton to John Chaloner, [1 March 1786] (Hamilton Papers)
I inclose you a letter to Mr. Wilcox which after reading and noting the contents please to deliver to him. There are three ships I think in which Mr. Church is concerned ⅛ with Mr. Wilcox and others. You will oblige him if you will endeavour to sell his interest for any thing short of giving them away. I have full power to convey & will do whenever you can find a pur⟨chaser⟩. Perhaps Mr....
130From Alexander Hamilton to John Wilcocks, 1 March 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, March 1, 1786. On March 5, 1786, Wilcocks wrote to Hamilton : “I have your favor of the 1st.” Letter not found. ]
131From Alexander Hamilton to Francis Upton, 2 March 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] March 2, 1786 . States that Upton’s title to lands in New York is clear and advises Upton on measures to be taken to assure possession. ADfS , Lloyd W. Smith Collection, Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, New Jersey. See Upton to H, December 6, 1785 .
132From Alexander Hamilton to Andrew Craig and William Cooper, 2 March 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 2, 1786. Advises Cooper and Craig how to secure their interest in their portions of George Croghan’s Otsego Patent. ALS , anonymous donor. For the text of this letter and an explanation of the contents, see the discussion of the Otsego Patent of George Croghan in Goebel, Law Practice Julius Goebel, Jr., and Joseph H. Smith, eds., The Law Practice of Alexander Hamilton:...
133From Alexander Hamilton to John Chaloner, [10 March 1786] (Hamilton Papers)
On the subject of the Ships I am to request you will sell them on the best Terms you can. I would mean one eighth of them absolutely as they now stand, without any consideration of expences incurred, for all these must come of course into a general account between the concerned. If Mr. Wilcox will give me as much as another so much the better. You may accommodate him as to the time of payment...
134From Alexander Hamilton to John Wilcocks, [10 March 1786] (Hamilton Papers)
Your favour of the fith Inst. duly came to hand. I assure you Sir though the business does not concern myself it gives me pain that you should experience any inconvenience from a diversity in the views of those with whom you are Concerned in the Ships; but you will be sensib⟨le⟩ as mere agent in a Case of this kind I could not with propriety do any thing to engage Mr. Church further than he...
135Memorial to Abolish the Slave Trade, 13 March 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 13, 1786. On this date, H and other memorialists signed a petition to the New York legislature urging the end of the slave trade, “a commerce so repugnant to humanity, and so inconsistent with the liberality and justice which should distinguish a free and enlightened people.” New-York Packet , March 13, 1786. For information on H’s membership in the Manumission Society, see...
136Report on a Bond Due Columbia College, 14 March 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] March 14, 1786 . Reports with other members of a committee to the regents of the University of the State of New York the circumstances of a supposed tender of money by Robert C. Livingston to Columbia College. ADS , Columbia University Libraries. At this time the regents of the University of the State of New York controlled Columbia College. Robert Cambridge Livingston was the...
137From Alexander Hamilton to John Chaloner, [16 March 1786] (Hamilton Papers)
March 16th. The above is copy of mine which went by a private hand inclosing the original of a letter to Mr. Wilcox of which the inclosed is a Copy. Yrs ALS , Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. H to Chaloner, March 10, 1786 . H to John Wilcocks, March 10, 1786 .
138From Alexander Hamilton to Ezekiel Forman, 22 March 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 22, 1786. Encloses a bond and requests Forman to send “a receipt for it as a payment on account of the legacy in which you are interested.” Copy, in writing of Pierre Van Cortlandt, Jr., Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
139From Alexander Hamilton to John Laurance, 23 March 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] March 23, 1786 . Plans to bring the cause of Benjamin Paine, et al. v. Peter Mesier, Jr. and Jacob Van Voorhees to trial at the next term of the Supreme Court. Copy, Mr. Otto Madlener, Hubbard Woods, Illinois.
140From Alexander Hamilton to the Mayor and Corporation of the City of New York, 28 March 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 28, 1786. Signs, with 136 other petitioners, a memorial asking that the “Mayor and Corporation of the City of New York” improve the street in front of the Coffee House, “the usual place of resort for your Memorialists and the merchants of this City.” The memorialists complained that the street “for want of proper regulation and the great concourse of Carts is coverd with filth...