1021To Alexander Hamilton from John Fenno, [19 November–3 December 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
In lieu of a narrative in my own writing the enclosed paper, with the marginal addition, contains all the facts. I would have transcribed it, but have not time. You will please Sir, to note the enclosed Account. AL , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Fenno was the editor of the [Philadelphia] Gazette of the United States . H endorsed this letter: “Mr. Fenno concerning his application to...
1022To Alexander Hamilton from Miers and Samuel Fisher, 30 March 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, March 30, 1795. Request Hamilton to serve as their counsel in a suit before the Circuit Court of the United States. LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Miers Fisher, an attorney, and Samuel Fisher were members of a Philadelphia firm of merchants. The Fishers were involved in an equity suit against the “Council of Proprietors of East Jersey & the Heirs & Representatives of...
1023To Alexander Hamilton from Jonathan Fitch, [17 September 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New Haven, Connecticut, September 17, 1792. On September 24, 1792, Hamilton wrote to Fitch concerning the “answer to the question proposed in your letter of the 17th instant.” Letter not found. ] Fitch was collector of customs at New Haven, Connecticut.
1024To Alexander Hamilton from Jonathan Fitch, 13 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
New Haven [ Connecticut ] October 13, 1789 . Encloses a letter describing the navigational aids in the port of New Haven. ALS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “C,” Connecticut and New York, National Archives. This letter is in reply to “Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs,” October 1, 1789 . Fitch was collector of the customs at New Haven. Elias Shipman to...
1025To Alexander Hamilton from John Fitzgerald, 20 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Alexandria, Virginia, June 20, 1791. On June 30, 1791, Hamilton wrote to Fitzgerald : “Yours of the 20th of June came duly to hand.” Letter not found. ] Fitzgerald, a neighbor of George Washington, had served as one of his aides during the American Revolution. In 1793 he succeeded Charles Lee as collector of customs at Alexandria.
1026To Alexander Hamilton from John Fitzgerald, 17 May 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Last evening a British Schooner, from New Providence bound to Norfolk arrived here as prize to the Privateer Sans Culotte. The Prize Master says, she was taken off Cape Hatteras, and by application of the French Vice Consul here is desirous of being admitted to an entry; this I refused until I could hear from you. The necessity of some general rule of conduct on this and similar occasions is...
1027To Alexander Hamilton from John Fitzgerald, [October 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Vessels built in our State for the Tobo. Business are generally constructed for the Stowage of that article & a Ship of 200 Tons ought to carry 400 Hogshead. Vessels of foreign Nations are not always so constructed as to stow in proportion which must depend in a great measure on the trade intended when they are framed but the English French Dutch & Scot[c]h Ships in generally carry in...
1028To Alexander Hamilton from John Fitzgerald, [July 1793] (Hamilton Papers)
By an Act of Congress in the Year 1790, the Gold Coins of France, England, Spain and Portugal were made a legal tender, in the receipt and payment of all monies received and paid by virtue of said Act, at the rate of 89 cents for every penny-weight thereof. By an Act past last Session, the Gold Coins of Britain and Portugal were made a legal tender after the 1st. Instant, at the rate of 100...
1029To Alexander Hamilton from John Fitzgerald, 2 April 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I am duly honored by the receipt of letters of the 21st and 26th. Ulto. to which regular attention has been paid. In yours of the 21st. you say that “Schedules have been received from you up to the 1st. of February which implies as much punctuality as could have been expected.” In this quotation I suppose there must have been an error as a schedule to the first of March was regularly...
1030To Alexander Hamilton from John Fitzgerald, 13 October 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Alexandria, Virginia, October 13, 1794. On October 28, 1794, Oliver Wolcott, Jr., wrote to Fitzgerald: “Your letter of the 13th instant to the Secy of the Treasury has been rec’d in this office.” Letter not found. ] Fitzgerald was collector of customs at Alexandria, Virginia. Wolcott’s letter to Fitzgerald continues as follows: “It is deemed to be a clear principle that no person can become...
1031To Alexander Hamilton from John Fitzgerald, 21 November 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It is with great reluctance I write you particularly as Congress is sitting & I am satisfied you have full employment for every moment of your time, yet I cannot forbear soliciting your kind assistance in favor of establishing a Branch of the National Bank in this town, to effect which a memorial is forwarded to the Directors stating some of the Advantages which would result to the public from...
1032To Alexander Hamilton from John Fitzgerald, 20 November 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
The Surveyor of this District having some time ago sent in his resignation to the President and a few days since gone to live out of the District, I found myself under the necessity of making a temporary appointment, and have accordingly nominated Mr. Vincent Gray to act until your instructions arrive, which I flatter myself will not be disagreeable to you. The President will of course have...
1033To Alexander Hamilton from John Fitzgerald, 20 August 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Alexandria [ Virginia ] August 20, 1793 . Acknowledges receipt of Hamilton’s “Circular letter to the Collectors of the Customs of the 4th. Instant.” Copy, RG 56, Letters to and from the Collector at Alexandria, National Archives.
1034To Alexander Hamilton from John Fitzgerald, 2 August 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Alexandria [ Virginia ] August 2, 1794 . “A violent Rheumatic complaint, by which I am afflicted without intermission, obliges me to have recourse to the Berkley Springs.… Mr Gray will superintend the business of my Office during my absence.…” Copy, RG 56, Letters to and from the Collector at Alexandria, National Archives; typescript furnished by the National Society, Daughters of the American...
1035To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas FitzSimons, 13 August 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
August 13, 1793. “I am informed (by a letter Just now received) of the death of Mr Ballard Surveyor of Baltimore, and am strongly Urged by some Respectable people there to apply for your Interest for a Mr Robert Walsh of that Place as his Successor …” ALS , RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters, 1790–1799, National Archives. FitzSimons was a Federalist member of the House of Representatives from...
1036To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas FitzSimons, [6 November 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The difficulty of makeing provision by a Genl. Law for the Regulation of Pilots and the Superintendence of the light houses, Buoys &c. appear to me to be insurmountable otherwise than by the Appointment of Commrs. in Each State (say 3) to reside at the principle port to give them Certain powers in the Act and authority to make bye Laws Subject to the Revision of the Presidt of the US. or...
1037To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas FitzSimons, 21 March 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, March 21, 1795. “I have been desirous of writing to you for some days past about Mr Churchs Mortgage And only waited till I thot. you sufficiently settled As I am Anxious to put it on a different footing to What it stands on at present—I have allready Liberated the Estate from Prices mortgage which was paid off besides Which the Land has risen So much in Value that a part of it...
1038To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas FitzSimons, 18 November 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, November 18, 1789. “Our Collector is much embarrassed on Account of the dutys on the Goods imported into this port between the 1st. of August when the Continental Impost was to take place and the 7th when he received his Commission. He Continued to act as an officer of the State till the latter Period and took bond for the payment of the dutys during that time. I need not point...
1039To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas FitzSimons, 14 July 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I ought to have answered your favor of the 10th sooner but I have not been able to lay my hand on some papers which would enable me to state the Matter in dispute between Holker & Mr Church —indeed I have been very much Engaged in Getting Certificates proofs &c to send to England Where I hope to recover the Amount of a Valuable Vessell & Cargo taken from me in 1793. Bayard writes me that he...
1040To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas FitzSimons, 6 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, September 6, 1790. On September 15, 1790, Hamilton wrote to FitzSimons : “The hurry of business has prevented my thanking you sooner for your letter of the 6th.” Letter not found. ]
1041To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas FitzSimons, 17 December 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, December 17, 1795 . “Inclosed is the state of the Case depending between Mr. Church & Hollker, taken from the information given to me & submitted to Hollkers attorney here.… I have stated the facts as they Appear & in a Way that requires no evidence. If you approve them, after you have Named a Professional Man I will Name some other & let them chuse a third so that their decision...
1042To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Fleury, 28 May 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I hope you have not quitte forgotten an old friend of yours; almost escaped to the misfortunes of our bloody revolution. I have preserved till now my head, but lost the greatest part of my fortune, and my most assured and important propriety is now, what is due to me by the united states. Till the year 1789 I have touched at paris, by the hands of their banker grand the interests of what was...
1043To Alexander Hamilton from Royal Flint, 21 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, December 21, 1791. “This letter will be presented you by Dr. Hopkins of Connecticut. He is on his way to Philadelphia, and while he is in that City, I feel a desire that you become acquainted with him. The literary talents of this gentleman, and the liberal way of thinking, he adopts on all public questions of importance, will render him not only a valuable, but a pleasing...
1044To Alexander Hamilton from Royal Flint, 14 June 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 14, 1790. Discusses the qualifications of various residents of Rhode Island who were candidates for positions in the Treasury Department. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Originally a resident of Connecticut, Flint became a prominent New York businessman. In the seventeen-eighties he had been closely associated in several ventures with William Duer and Jeremiah Wadsworth.
1045To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Forrest, John Nicholson, and Others, Public Creditors, 6 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, May 6, 1791. In a letter dated May 27, 1791 , and addressed to “Thomas Forrest, John Nicholson and others, Public Creditors,” Hamilton wrote: “I have received your letter of the sixth instant.” Letter not found. ] Forrest was “a purchaser of certificates and paper money” (Clement Biddle, The Philadelphia Directory [Philadelphia, 1791], 42). Nicholson was comptroller general of...
1046To Alexander Hamilton from Uriah Forrest, 7 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is the copy of what Mr. William Bayley lately gave Dr. Steuart to forward to the President of the United States in consequence as Steuart told Bayley of a letter from the President requesting it the Doctor having before mentioned to him the circumstances to which it alluded. I only heard of it yesterday and sent today to Bayley who furnished me a copy he is a man of fair character and...
1047To Alexander Hamilton from Nathaniel Fosdick, 12 January 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Portland, District of Maine, January 12, 1790. On February 8, 1790, Hamilton wrote to Fosdick : “I have received your letter of the twelfth of January.” Letter not found. ]
1048To Alexander Hamilton from Nathaniel Fosdick, 30 December 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Portland, District of Maine, December 30, 1789. On February 8, 1790, Hamilton wrote to Fosdick “Your letter of the thirtieth of December, 1789.” Letter not found. ] Fosdick was collector of customs at Portland and Falmouth.
1049To Alexander Hamilton from Theodore Foster, [4 August 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
[ August 4, 1791. On September 1, 1791, Hamilton wrote to Foster : “I have had the pleasure of receiving your two letters of the 23rd July & 4th of August.” Letter of August 4 not found. ] Foster, a Providence, Rhode Island, lawyer, had served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1776 to 1782, as town clerk of Providence from 1775 to 1787, and was appointed judge of the Court of...
1050To Alexander Hamilton from Theodore Foster, 23 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ July 23, 1791. On September 1, 1791, Hamilton wrote to Foster : “I have had the pleasure of receiving your two letters of the 23rd July & 4th of August.” Letter of July 23 not found. ] Foster, a Providence, Rhode Island, lawyer, had served in the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1776 to 1782, as town clerk of Providence from 1775 to 1787, and was appointed judge of the Court of...
1051To Alexander Hamilton from Theodosius Fowler, 13 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Immediately on the receipt of your favour of the 9th. instant, I waited on Mr. Duer and informed him it was necessary to forward to Philadelphia without delay all the papers in his possession that any ways concerned the late Expedition under Genl. St. Clair that real facts might be Established. He in answer assured he would write to you on the subject and forward every Paper in his possession...
1052To Alexander Hamilton from Theodosius Fowler, 2 February 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I have observed lately in the public prints another Report of a Committee of Congress on the failure of the Expedition under the Comd of Genl St Clair. I take the liberty of writing to you in Confidence and beg you to favor me with the particular situation of the Contract that Mr William Duer acted under, whether he has fulfilled on his part and if he has produced Vouchers and other documents...
1053To Alexander Hamilton from George Fox, 14 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I did myself the honor of waiting on you to mention some difficulties which have occurred in transacting business at the Treasury under a Power of Attorney received from some Gentlemen in London. As I was not fortunate enough to meet with you I will beg permission briefly to state the circumstances of the case in hopes that some mode may be suggested to enable me to fulfill their intentions....
1054Account with Andrew G. Fraunces, October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, October, 1790. This account lists the payments made for moving “15 Loads of Goods” from New York City to Philadelphia. D , New-York Historical Society, New York City. Fraunces was a clerk in the Treasury Department.
1055To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Francis, 7 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
There is no question you can Ask that I will not most chearfully Answer, nor any Commands that you may be pleased to Honor me with that shall not to the best of my Abilities be attended to with pleasure. When our Bank first began its Operations, a Set of Chambered weights were provided for ascertaining the Number of dollars by weighing. We then found that 500 drs weighed 433. oz 12 wt 12 grs...
1056To Alexander Hamilton from Andrew G. Fraunces, 4 August 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
My father delivered me this morning your letter of yesterday, which is the third I have received in answer to mine of the 2d. instant. On mature consideration, I find myself warranted in deferring as particular an answer as might be given to them. It is not my intention to make any communication to you, but in your official capacity, and it appears to me these are considered by you as private...
1057To Alexander Hamilton from Andrew G. Fraunces, 1 July 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
On the 10th ult. I wrote to you concerning the payment of certain warrants of the late Board of Treasury, drawn as follows: No. 236—On Nathaniel Appleton, for 3500 } dollars. No. 1155—On Michael Hillegas, for 2000 In which letter I requested an answer to certain questions stated therein, to which I received from you a verbal answer, that the thing required further consideration, or that...
1058To Alexander Hamilton from Andrew G. Fraunces, 30 July 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, July 30, 1793. On August 2, 1793, Fraunces wrote to Hamilton : “As I informed you on the 30th.” Letter not found. ]
1059To Alexander Hamilton from Andrew G. Fraunces, 10 June 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your letter of the 18th ult. I observe what you advice with respect to the warrants of the late Board of Treasury, and shall lodge those I possess in the proper office, agreeably to the act quoted by you. Having purchased these warrants from an idea that they would immediately be paid on presentation, I feel a little embarrassed at receiving information that they...
1060To Alexander Hamilton from Andrew G. Fraunces, 16 May 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Warrants for a considerable amount of the late Treasurer of the United States, and on certain Loan-Officers, drawn by the late Board of Treasury, are put into my hands, in order that I may obtain a settlement from the Treasury of the United States. In turning over the laws relative to appropriations, I observe provision was made in the year 1789, for this purpose. As I do not wish to make a...
1061To Alexander Hamilton from Andrew G. Fraunces, 2 August 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
As I informed you on the 30th. instant, I have written to the President, and have stated the claim I hold upon the public, on account of the Treasury warrants presented by me to you for acceptance, to which I have received no answer. I now inform you that I shall, unless I receive a more satisfactory answer than I have from you (seeing I have received none from the President) state every thing...
1062To Alexander Hamilton from John Fry, 2 November 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The interest you must necessarily take in all information relative to the state of American Credit in Europe, having so essentially contributed to its establishment, induces me to communicate some facts, which from peculiar circumstances I am possibly better acquainted with than most others. The American Funds had inspired no Confidence in this market ’till they had acquired a high price at...
1063To Alexander Hamilton from George Gale, 20 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
[ January 20, 1792. On February 1, 1792, Hamilton wrote to Gale : “I have received your letter of the 20th. Ultimo.” Letter not found. ] Gale was supervisor of the revenue for the District of Maryland.
1064To Alexander Hamilton from George Gale, 25 September 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Baltimore, September 25, 1794. On September 28, 1794, Hamilton wrote to Gale : “Your two letters of the 25th. are before me.” Neither letter has been found. ]
1065To Alexander Hamilton from George Gale, 23 August 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Baltimore, August 23, 1794. On August 27, 1794, Hamilton wrote to Gale : “I have received your letter of the 23d. instant.” Letter not found. ] Gale, who was supervisor of the revenue for the District of Maryland, was in charge of supplying the Maryland militia.
1066To Alexander Hamilton from George Gale, 20 December 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
When I was first Officially informed by Mr Coxe of the Division of the District of Maryland into three Surveys I was led to beleive that if the President had conceived he could constitutionally appoint the Inspector during the recess of the Senate the Appointment would have immediately taken place. As nothing has been done in this Business since the Meeting of Congress I am becoming very...
1067To Alexander Hamilton from William Gardner, 24 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Portsmouth, New Hampshire, June 24, 1792. On July 13, 1792, Hamilton wrote to Gardner : “I duly received your letter of the 24th ult.” Letter not found. ]
1068To Alexander Hamilton from William Gardner, 9 January 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Portsmouth, New Hampshire, January 9, 1794. On January 22, 1794, Hamilton wrote to Gardner : “I duly received your letter of the 9th inst.” Letter not found. ] Gardner was commissioner of loans for New Hampshire.
1069To Alexander Hamilton from Horatio Gates, [23 October 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
If I am too troublesome in making the following Request, it is your own Fault, for you have encouraged me to do it. My agent, Mr. William Alexander, Mercht: in Richmond, Virginia, has by my direction, placed in the Hands of The Commissioner of Loans of that State Military Certificates, belonging to me, ammounting 14037 Dollars, & 52 Cents, to be Funded in my Name. I have lately sent Mr....
1070To Alexander Hamilton from Philemon Gatewood, 19 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Norfolk, Virginia, October 19, 1789. On November 7, 1789, Hamilton wrote to Gatewood : “I have duly received your letter of the 19th. of October.” Letter not found. ] Gatewood was naval officer at Norfolk and Portsmouth.