1831From Alexander Hamilton to Israel Ludlow, [13 May 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 4th of November though a considerable time on the way has some time since been received and is the only one I find among my letters on the subject. I request that either Mr Martin or yourself would as speedily as may be come on to this place and bring with you the returns of survey and Maps, which you mention to be ready. Expenditures will then be adjusted. I am Sir Your...
1832From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 26 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your several letters of the 12th., 13th, & 15th. inst: which finding me in the act of removal from New York to Philadelphia, I have been prevented from the due acknowledgement of their reception at an earlier moment. The Baron Perin’s claim shall be examined as soon as the Officers of the Treasury can complete the arrangement of their Books & papers, which I...
1833To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Hamilton, 15 January 179[3] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Hamilton presents his Compliments to Mr. Jefferson. The inclosed letter written by his Clerk will, it is hoped, express his wish sufficiently to render it unnecessary to remodel it. As Col. Rochefontane informs him the vessel, by which the letter is intended to be sent, departs tomorrow Morning he will be obliged by its being returned to him with the proper certificate this Evening. RC (...
1834From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [11 October 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The Post of this day has brought me your letter of the 7th. instant, the commands of which shall with great care & no less pleasure be executed. I wrote you on the sixth a letter; of which the enclosed is a copy. With the truest & most respectful attachment, I have the honor to remain Sir, &c. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Letter not found.
1835From Alexander Hamilton to Angelica Church, 23 October 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I am thus far my dear Angelica on my way to attack and subdue the wicked insurgents of the West. But you are not to promise yourself that I shall have any trophies to lay at your feet. A large army has cooled the courage of those madmen & the only question seems now to be how to guard best aganst the return of the phrenzy. You must not take my being here for a proof that I continue a quixot....
1836From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 28 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Act imposing duties on the Tonnage of Ships or Vessels declares that this charge shall accrue when vessels “shall be entered in the United States from a foreign port or place.” That entry can never have preceded the application for a Register for a new Ship, and consequently the Tonnage cannot be then demanded. New Vessels applying for coasting licences are charged upon a different...
1837From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 14 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I am informed that a Brig which frequents Your port, and was, or is now the Hope, of Baltimore, is owned by a Mr Gernon. It is my wish to be informed whether it appears, and how, that Mr Gernon is a Citizen of the United States, how long he appears, by the Register, to have owned the Hope, and whether she goes and comes between Your District and any one particular foreign port or island. There...
1838Enclosure: Points to be Considered in the Instructions to Mr. Jay, Envoy Extraordinary to G B, [23 April 1794] (Hamilton Papers)
I Indemnification for the depredations upon our Commerce according to a rule to be settled. The desireable rule is—that which theoretical Writers lay down as the rule of the law of Nations (to wit) that none but articles by general usage deemed contraband shall be liable to confiscation and that the carrying of such articles shall not infect other parts of a cargo, nor even a vessel carrying...
1839From Alexander Hamilton to Joseph Whipple, 24 June 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, June 24, 1794. On July 9, 1794, Whipple wrote to Hamilton : “Your letters of the 23d & 24th. Ultimo … I have received.” Letter of June 24 not found. ] “Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs,” May 23, 1794.
1840From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Lee, 26 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I had this morning the honor of a Message from the President of the United States signifying his wish, that the Monies for which he may have occasion during his absence from the seat of Government may be found in your office. I have therefore to request that you will pay to the order of the President of the United States any monies he may desire. I am Sir Your Obedient Servant Copy, RG 56,...
1841Report Relative to the Additional Supplies for the Ensuing Year, 16 March 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to a Resolution of the House of Representatives of the 8th instant directing the said Secretary to report to the House his opinion of the best mode of raising the Additional Supplies requisite for the ensuing year, respectfully submits the following report. The sum which is estimated to be necessary for carrying into effect the purposes of the Act for...
1842From Alexander Hamilton to John Rice, 5 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 20th of September has duly come to hand. In regard to the enquiry you make, I am of opinion that the Law does not intend to allow a Vessel to proceed from one District to another, without paying or securing the Duties in the first; except when originally bound to another, and obliged from necessity to put into the Port at which she arrives as provided for in the twelvth...
1843From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 29 March [1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I wish the inclosed could have been sent in a more perfect State. But it was impossible. I hope however it can be made out & may be useful. It required more time to say all that was proper in a more condensed form. In considering the course to be pursued by the President it may be well he should be reminded that the same description of men who call for the papers have heretofore maintained...
1844From Alexander Hamilton to Robert Troup, 23 March 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Albany, March 23, 1795. On March 31, 1795, Troup wrote to Hamilton : “I have just this moment recived yours of the 23rd inst.” Letter not found. ] Troup, a close friend of H since the time when they had been students at King’s College, was a New York City and Albany attorney. A veteran of the American Revolution, he served as secretary of the Board of War (1778–1779) and secretary of the...
1845To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 31 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send you the copy of a Letter of the 27 instant from the Collector of Philadelphia—of another letter of the 30 ultimo from that officer to the Atty of the District of Pennsylvania, and of a deposition of Charles Hemes taken before Judge Peters. These documents establish an improper attempt of Mr Petri the French Consul to evade a Law of the United States, and allow a...
1846From Alexander Hamilton to John Hopkins, 2 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] April 2, 1791 . Authorizes Hopkins to send Thomas Williams to Hillsboro, North Carolina, to testify in a case concerning the alteration of North Carolina certificates. States “The expences of his Journey will be repaid to him.” Extract, RG 217, Miscellaneous Treasury Accounts, 1790–1894, Account No. 4289, National Archives. Hopkins was commissioner of loans for Virginia. This...
1847From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 4 September 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving two days since your letter of the 31 Ulto. A great press of business and an indifferent state of health have put it out of my power sooner to attend to it. The incidents which have lately occurred have been every way vexatious and untoward. They render indispensable a very serious though calm and measured remonstrance from this Government, carrying among others...
1848From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 6 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It has been represented to me by Messrs. Sherman & Procter of New Bedford, that some things which they deem improper have taken place. The Substance of the information is that their Brig Hawk, Hathaway Master, was remeasured in Baltimore altho she had been measured in New Bedford prior to her sailing [and was possessed of a Register of the U States] that she was registered anew in Baltimore,...
1849From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [7–10 March 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed are two letters which I will thank you to hand on. I have just seen Livingston’s Motion concerning Instructions &c. My first impression is that the propriety of a compliance with the call, if made, is extremely doubtful. But much careful thought on the subject is requisite. Yrs truly PS. I hand you also a letter from Mrs. Church to Mr. Beametz —which I will thank you to send to Mr....
1850From Alexander Hamilton to Tench Coxe, 24 December 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Your obliging favours of the 30th of November, and 16th instant, with the communications accompanying them, have been duly received. Accept my best acknowledgments for the attention you have paid to my request; and believe that I mean not a mere compliment, when I say that your compliance with it has procured me much useful information, and many valuable observations. I have not leisure to add...
1851From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, 9 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I came to this place my beloved Betsy a day or two since to meet some Gentlemen from New York on business. Since you left me I have received but one letter from you, which informed me of the indisposition of My Dear James and left me in no small anxiety on his account. I hope on my return to Philadelphia I shall find a letter from you & Heaven Grant that it may assure me of your being all...
1852To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 29 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury begs leave respectfully to inform the President of the United States of America, That, in order to be able to furnish in the course of the ensuing month for the compensation of the members of Congress, & the officers and Servants of the two houses, a sum of about sixty thousand dollars; for the payment of the Salaries of the Civil List to the end of the present...
1853From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 1 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, June 1, 1791. “Your letter of the 24th Ultimo has been received. I approve the intention of the Surveyor to use generally the substitute for Dycas’s Hydrometer, the difference being so small. Yet, in any case, where that difference would convert one class of proof into another, Dycas’s must govern; unless it should appear by any imported Hydrometer of Dycas’s, which you...
1854From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 10 March 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the honor duely to receive Your Excellency’s letter of the 4th instant. I did not immediately answer it from an indistinct and confused recollection that a state of things existed in reference to the opposite party which did not permit my being concerned for the State. It now appears that I was not mistaken, and that I cannot with propriety execute Your Excellency’s desire. With perfect...
1855From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 1 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Post of to day brought me your letter of the 29th of October, which I immediately communicated to the President, and hasten to make known to you his consent to your undertaking the voyage recommended to you. It is not doubted that due care will previously be taken to secure the proper management of the public business in your absence. My most sincere and cordial wishes for the restoration...
1856Alexander Hamilton’s Proposed Presidential Message to Congress, March–May 1794 (Washington Papers)
In my speech to the two houses of Congress at the opening of the session I urged the expediency of being prepared for war as one of the best securities to our peace —Events which seem dayly to be unfolding themselves press still more seriously upon us the duty of being so prepared, indicating that the calamities of war may by a train of circumstances be forced upon us, notwithstanding the most...
1857From Alexander Hamilton to Frederick A. C. Muhlenberg, 30 January 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I beg leave, through you, to inform the House of Representatives, that pursuant to the duty enjoined by law upon the head of this department, I have prepared a report, containing Some suggestions for the improvement and better management of the Several branches of the actual revenues of the United States, which is ready to be communicated, as the House may please to direct. With perfect...
1858From Alexander Hamilton to Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard, 12 March … (Hamilton Papers)
This serves to desire, that the interest, which will become payable on the Dutch loans, upon the first day of June next, may be discharged out of the funds, which will remain in your hands, of the last loan of three millions of Florins. I am &c. Copy, RG 233, Reports of the Treasury Department, 1792–1793, Vol. III, National Archives. This letter was enclosed in H’s “Report on Foreign Loans,”...
1859From Alexander Hamilton to ———, [20] November 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Some embarrassment has arisen on the subject of a fit person for District Attorney of Rhode Island. Mr. Howel has been strongly recommended on the one hand and positively objected to on another—and Mr. has been proposed in opposition. Your opinion does not appear on either side. The President is desirous of further information and I have undertaken to procure it for him. In addressing myself...
1860From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, [12–14 November 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
November 12. 1789 The above is a copy of a letter transmitted you some days since. I am just favoured with your’s of the 6th instant; and have informed Mr. Butler of the train in which the business has been put and referred him to you. I did not think it adviseable to take arrangements with him here, as I could not be certain, but that in consequence of my letter you would commence operations....