Alexander Hamilton Papers

From Alexander Hamilton to Louis André Pichon, 6 August 1802

To Louis André Pichon1

New York Aug 6. 1802

Sir

At the request of Capt Du Buisson, I have the honor to send you two documents one of which is the copy of an Arbitration Bond between Mr. Roget and himself, the other the copy of an award, which has been made pursuant to the submission.

As Mr. Roget makes difficulties about the performance of the award (though given unanimously and under circumstances very obligatory upon his candour) Capt du Buisson is anxious that the result may be known to you—in the hope that it may interest your good offices to secure him satisfaction out of the fund still remaining of the proceeds of the Peggy and her Cargo.

He desires it to be understood that he opposes as far as the law will permit the payment in future of any part of that fund to Mr. Roget or to any other person except himself ’till he shall have been satisfied agreeably to his rights under the award.

I regretted very much that the expectation you gave us of a visit to this City was not fulfilled. It would have given Mrs. Hamilton & myself particular pleasure to have received Madame Pichon and yourself at our Country seat2 where we can promise you at least cool and wholesome air.3

With much esteem & consideration   I have the honor to be   Sir   Yr. Obed servt

A Hamilton

Mr. De Pichon &c

ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.

1This letter concerns the case of Joseph Buisson v Brigantine Peggy, libel, which was related to the earlier case of United States v Schooner Peggy, Joseph Buisson, claimant (H to Jedediah Huntington, November 12, 1801; Robert Smith to H, November 20, 1801; H to Aaron Burr, April 1, 1802; H to Pichon, May 10, 1802; H to Simeon Baldwin, May 1, 1802; Baldwin to H, May 8, 1802). While the case of the schooner Peggy was being heard on appeal before the United States Circuit Court for Connecticut, William Cushing, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, ordered an appraisal of the schooner and its cargo. Subsequently, Isaac Roget, a New York City merchant, deposited a security with the court for the amount of the appraisal, and the vessel was restored to Buisson. Buisson sailed the Peggy from New London to New York City, where he arrived on August 9, 1800. Meanwhile, Roget had sold the vessel at auction to John Blagge, who in turn had sold it to Jacob Furtado. Both Blagge and Furtado were New York City merchants. Buisson, a part-owner of the vessel, brought suit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York asking the court to prevent the Peggy from sailing unless he received a security on the vessel. On May 26, 1802, the Court attached the Peggy and proceeded to trial. The case papers for this trial are incomplete (RG 21, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Case Files. Joseph Buisson or Libellants v The Brigantine Peggy, National Archives).

3This letter is endorsed: “Repue Le 12.” Letter not found.

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