1To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 20 November 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your private favor of the 10th. Inst found me at home. The death of a most tenderly beloved, & only daughter and the Peculiarly distressing situation of my dear companion in affliction, has chiefly confined me here for three weeks past. There has been but little to do at the Office. In conceiving that, I had reasons for apologising in the manner I did, for the frequency of my observations; you...
2To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 29 February 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
When at Petersburg the other day, I found an Idea prevailing that, Mr Randolph, the present Marshall, & myself, were about to exchange Offices, at which, I was a good deal surprised—tho’ it gave me no concern. But, on coming to Town this morning, it was suggested to me that Mr Randolphs friends might effect this exchange, without my knowledge or consent, by insinuating to the President that I...
3To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 14 June 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I am favor’d with your private address of the 3d. Inst. Instead of making use of the Mayor of Petersburg to perfect the Sea letters —I got the favor of a County Magistrate to come down, who very readily, and without scruple, signed & sealed as many as I wished, being a more proper & consistent expedient, than the one suggested before. If I may Judge of the public-pulse , respecting the...
4To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, [12 May 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, May 12, 1790. ] Recommends John W. Johnston, a former clerk in Heth’s office, as “a young man of great silence, of rigid truth, and on whom I placed great trust and confidence.” Copy, Papers of George Washington, Library of Congress.
5To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 1 January 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Private Pardon me I beseech you, for interrupting you, to beg an answer to my Official letter of the Decr. last, respecting the receiving money in Richmond. With respect to my private concerns, I am in a painful situation because I am in suspence—for, if the scheme of paying, & receiving money, in Richmond, cannot be adopted, the Office must be removed from this place to Petersburg. In which...
6To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 6 July 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Accept, I pray you, my dear friend, of my sincerest congratulations, on your second, and complete triumph, over the invidious persecutions of a base faction. The report of the Committee of Congress, has turned out precisely, as your friends here, had predicted —“The more you probe , examine, & investigate Hamiltons conduct; rely upon it, the greater he will appear.” But it was a cruel thing in...
7To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 11 May 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Petersburg [ Virginia ] May 11, 1799 . “… I cant forego the present oppy of congratulating you, and our Country, on the election of General Marshall, as well as on the success which hath attended the federal cause throughout the State. I dont mean by this, to say that we have obtained a majority in Congress, or in the State Legislature —the members to the latter, not being yet all known—but we...
8To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 20 June 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Petersburg [ Virginia ] June 20, 1799 . “Your most obliging favor of the 6th found me a day or two ago at the commencement of my spring harvest, the crop of which, I fear will not be very abundant. This kind answer, Tho has settled all my Jealousies, and made me happy. But you must really drop me a line now and then , merely to prove that you some times think of a man, who scarce lets a day...
9To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 9 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
[ June 9, 1792. “The French Consul at Norfolk has lately adopted a practice of taking the registers of vessels from such Masters belonging to his Nation, as called there to report on their passage to this district. If he has a right so to do, I shall not be surprized, if some Masters should depart from hence without paying tonnage.” Letter not found. ] Extract, letterpress copy, Thomas...
10To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 23 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Sickness, loss of Clerks—but more especially, the close attention which I have been obligd to pay to the preparing of my last quarters accounts, has prevented me til now, from complying with the order of the Senate enclosed by you the 31st. August last. The low wages at which, I have hitherto employd my Clerks, has induced me to subjoin a note to my statement of emoluments, which, I hope will...
11To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 14 October 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I have only three minutes allowd to ask whether you received a private letter with part of a news paper enclosed some time last Winter addressed to the particular care of Capt Stratton. The piece alluded to was written by yr Hble servt—and the letter contained observations, intended only for yourself. Let me hear from you on this subject I pray. You have herewith one of our papers, containing...
12To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 5 February 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
[ February 5, 1792. On June 7, 1792, Hamilton wrote to Heth : “The same cause … has postponed the acknowlegement of your three private letters of the 5. 27 & 29th of February.” Letter of February 5 not found. ] Heth was collector of customs at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia.
13To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 27 February 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Merchants of Richmond Petersburg & Manchester—by deputation—spent last friday, & saturday, on the Subject of petitioning Congress for the removal of the office from Bermuda Hundred. The scheme will end as I wishd—nothing will be done. It being acknowledged, pretty unanimously that, if there was only tolerable accommodations at the Hundred, they could have no good cause of complaint; it...
14To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 21 February 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have snatched up a pen to drop you a few hasty lines—not that I have any thing of real importance Just now to communicate—but to shew, that I am attentive to my promise. The Executive of this State— to whom is committed the management of the Sinking-fund—on considering your report to Congress, reduced the price which the sd fund was then giving for the Military Certificates of this State,...
15To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 16 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
This will be accompanied with a public letter, enclosing a statement of outward tonnage. Having readily complyed with your wishes in this instance; and as I ever shall be, to furnish you with any information in my power, or which the books or files in this office can afford, you will not I trust be displeased at my asking yr private opinion of the legality of such requests. Is it not requiring...
16To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 26 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, November 26, 1792. On January 1, 1793, Heth wrote to Hamilton : “I wrote you very fully the 26th Novr. last.” Letter not found. ]
17To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 19 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Enclosed you have copy’s of a letter from me to the United States Atty for this District, with his answer, which are transmitted at his request. Finding that, several weeks after my first letter—process had not been served upon Horton, I wrote again, repeating the information & beging to know whether my first had been recd—some days ago, I saw him in Richmond, when he gave me the answer, of...
18To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 5 October 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Here am I, my dear Sir, at 8. OC. at night barrd & bolted up, in one end of a dreary Lumber House—after a fatiguing days work—with a smart fever upon me, and not a being on earth, to whom I can speak. And in case necessity Should oblige me to open the door, it is at all times, at the risque of being stab’d or shot, for sake of the cursed dross, contained in the Iron chest. Really, my present...
19To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 10 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Bermuda Hundred [ Virginia ] November 10, 1790 . Acknowledges receipt of Hamilton’s “private letter of the 15th of September last.” States that Mr. Brown was innocent of “intentional falsehood” in swearing that Dennis Butler, an Irishman and master of the ship Bowman , was a citizen of United States. Also states that “Mr. Heathcote … is as conscious of being innocent of an intentional false...
20To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 28 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Your very friendly & polite favor of the 7th Inst; was received—unsealed—a day or two ago in Richmond with sundry official letters. I beg, my dear Sir, that you will accept of my sincere thanks for the condescending attention which you have paid to my private concerns, and for your assurances of friendship. The business & system of banks, being but new in this country, I have never thought...
21To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 2 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The close application which I have been obliged to pay to the duties of my office, added to the unhealthyness of the place, has confined me at home some days, with a bilious intermittent fever. To this circumstance it is owing, that I have so soon received your very friendly answer of the 23d. Ulto. Believe me Dear Sir, had you been less frank in delivering your Sentiments and opinions—tho...
22To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 6 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Captain Edmund H. Taylor of the 8th. regiment, wishing the appointment of Inspector to the brigade to which his regt. belongs, has apply’d to me on my passing thro’ this town, for a letter of recommendation to you. Knowing but little of this gentleman personally, it became my duty to make the necessary enquiries. Colo Parker, who wishes him to receive the appointment—and several others in whom...
23To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 11 January 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I should have written to you long since, but from some doubts that a packet to you might excite curiosity, in your Post Office , not knowing of what kidney , your post-master & his clerks may be. Capt Stratton who now takes charge of this, promises to deliver it in person, and tho it is without Signature, you will be at no loss to guess from whom it comes, as it serves to enclose the piece...
24To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 14 October 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Private The Distressing dilemma in wch I felt myself when I last addressd you in this way, induced me to turn to the 8th Sect. of the Collection Law. The Surveyor of this Port , was, & still is, laid up himself, unable to come out of his room. But, if he was ever so hearty, he is, as totally incapable of performing any one part of the duties of my Office, as your French valet. He is seldom...
25To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 14 January 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It is some days since I was made happy by the receipt of your kind favor of the 18th. Ulto. A man of your lively feelings, can easily guess what my sensations were, on receiving this letter, when I tell you, that I had actually concluded you had forgotten me: and not so much on account of your not acknowledging the rect of my pamphlet of June last as having two, if not three, other...
26To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 23 December 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Private At our District Court last Week, a Petition was prescribed to the Judge to be transmitted to you, by Gurdon Backus in the suit which I instituted on the Registry bond for the Sl. Rambler, wch I informed you in July last, was sold in Africa. Tho I am not calld upon specially to make any observations on this case, Yet I hope, my opinion thereon, will not be considerd by you, as an...
27To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 8 July 179[9] (Hamilton Papers)
Having seen our friend Carrington within the last few days, I find that he had, on writing to you on the subject of an aide-de camp , made a mistake in mentioning a Capt. Elias Parker of this Town, as a suitable person. It arose thus. On a conferrence which Carrington and myself had some weeks ago, on a communication made to us, in conjunction with Marshall, by General Washington—I put Capt....
28To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 16 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, June 16, 1791. On June 16, 1791, Heth wrote to Hamilton : “This will be accompanied with a public letter, enclosing a statement of outward tonnage.” Letter not found. ]
29To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 18 January 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
When I wrote you a long letter the other day, I as little expected to intrude upon you again so soon, as that, our domestic tranquility would so soon , be seriously threatened. Leave has been given within a few days past, in our Legislature, to bring in a bill, authorising persons taken up under the sedition Law, to be removed to State Courts, or to be released , should our Judges see cause....
30To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 25 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I observe in Fenno’s paper of the 12th. Inst. that a motion was made by Mr Ames “to take into consideration whether any, & what provision shall be made to the Commissioners of Loans in the respective States to defray their extra expences.” It was your opinion when I had the pleasure of seeing you last, that, the Collectors ought at least , to have a Salary eql. to the expences of their...