51To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Totten, 31 July 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
Stamford [ Connecticut ] July 31, 1786 . “Be pleased to inform me what prospect you realy have of softening the present insolvent act of new York, and if you suppose my well known situation may have any claim to … indulgence with the representatives of the state of new York. I am determined not to venture myself into a goal and be at the caprice of a few of my creditors; every thing else I...
52To Alexander Hamilton from David Forman, 27 November 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
November 27, 1787. Asks for a statement of the amount due Forman from a judgment secured against Robert Cox. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
53To Alexander Hamilton from William Cooper and Andrew Craig, 9 May 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Burlington [ New Jersey ] May 9, 1785 . Ask for information and advice on the progress being made in the sale of 40,000 acres in the Otsego Patent. LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Cooper, who later founded Cooperstown, New York, was the father of James Fenimore Cooper. From 1776 to 1786 Cooper and Craig, both of Burlington, New Jersey, purchased the greater part of the Otsego...
54To Alexander Hamilton from John D. Coxe and Tench Coxe, 21 May 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, May 21, 1785. Request Hamilton to represent them and to provide information on lands in dispute between John and Tench Coxe and Robert Lettis Hooper and James Wilson. Request Hamilton to forward certain legal documents to the commissioners of the Land Office of New York. LS , in writing of John D. Coxe, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. John D. Coxe, a Pennsylvania lawyer,...
55To Alexander Hamilton from Augustus Van Cortlandt, 29 December 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
Yonkers [ New York ] December 29, 1784 . Sends a citation from Morris Hazard, and a copy of the proceedings against Rufus Herrick. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Van Cortlandt was a New York landowner.
56To Alexander Hamilton from Jacob Hardenbergh, 16 December 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
New Brunswick [ New Jersey ] December 16, 1786 . Wishes to retain Hamilton as an attorney in an ejection suit against a tenant. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
57To Alexander Hamilton from John Lowell, 9 November 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, November 9, 1785. States that there is no bankruptcy act in Massachusetts and sends information concerning the transfer of property by a citizen of Massachusetts to a New York creditor. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. This letter is in reply to H to Lowell, October 30, 1785 .
58To Alexander Hamilton from Hercules Mulligan, 7 January 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, January 7, 1785. At the bottom of an itemized account of money owed Mulligan by Philip Schuyler, Mulligan signed the following receipt: “Recd payment (by the hands of Col. Hammelton) in full.” ADS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Despite the reliance by H’s biographers on Hercules Mulligan’s narrative of the life of H (written sometime between 1810 and 1815), this receipt and...
59To Alexander Hamilton from Philip Schuyler, 11 July 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Albany ] July 11, 1786 . “A passage of thirty two hours brought me to my family. Mrs. Schuyler … altho mending is still not perfectly in health. Inclose you the mortgage which Mr. Loudon is to assign to me. Pray as soon as you can send Mr. Renselaer the papers I requested; his tenants seem at present in good humour and anxious for their leases.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress....
60To Alexander Hamilton from Israel Beach, 13 February 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Newark [ New Jersey ] February 13, 1787 . Requests advice on the payment of certain bonds. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
61To Alexander Hamilton from Clement Richard, 24 June 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 24, 1784. Discusses a legal controversy between Richard and Gommes. Agrees to give half of any damages received from Gommes to the New York City poorhouse. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. This letter is in French. Richard was a merchant of Santo Domingo. This could be either Isaac Gomez or Moses Gomez, both of whom were New York City merchants.
62To Alexander Hamilton from Ezekiel Forman, 31 May 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, May 31, 1785. Asks Hamilton to return John Philips’s bond. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
63To Alexander Hamilton from Theodorick Bland, 20 March 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Richmond, March 20, 1787. Acknowledges receipt of a circular letter from Hamilton, James Duane, and William Duer concerning proposed alterations in the “Institution” of the Society of the Cincinnati and states that it will be reported to the next meeting of the state society. ALS , New-York Historical Society, New York City. Bland wrote in his capacity as vice president of the Virginia Society...
64To Alexander Hamilton from John Chaloner, 20 October 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, October 20, 1788. On November 26 Hamilton wrote to Chaloner : “Hurry of business has prevented my complying with the desire of your letter of the 20th. Ulto.” Letter not found ].
65To Alexander Hamilton from John Auldjo, November 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, November, 1785. “You have herewith the papers relating to the dispute with Mr. Rhinelander, but lest the business should still be treated with the same trifling attention it has hitherto had, I beg you to press for an explicit answer whether Mr. Rhinelander is seriously disposed to bring it to a hearing.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Auldjo was a partner of the house...
66To Alexander Hamilton from Hugh Seton, 8 January 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ England, January 8, 1785. On February 2, 1785, Seton wrote to Hamilton : “I also wrote you a few Lines the 8th of this Month.” Since Seton wrote this letter on February 2, he must have been referring to January 8. Letter not found. ]
67To Alexander Hamilton from Phineas Howell, 24 March 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Newburgh [ New York ] March 24, 1789 . States that a meeting of freeholders of Newburgh “by a very great majority” had nominated Robert Yates for governor and Pierre Van Cortlandt for lieutenant governor. The [New York] Daily Advertiser , March 30, 1789. Howell was chairman of a meeting to consider a circular letter from “a committee of the citizens of the city and county of New-York, of the...
68To Alexander Hamilton from Jarvis Coles, 7 June 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ June 7, 1785. According to the catalogue description of this letter, Coles, on Hamilton’s orders, had occupied a house for military purposes. Coles, who after the war was sued by the owner for rent, requested Hamilton to defend him. Letter not found. ] ALS , sold at Swann Galleries, March 5, 1943, Lot 37.
69To Alexander Hamilton from John Wilcocks, 24 March 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, March 24, 1786. Sends an account of the cargo of the St. Anne and a statement of the amount owed to John B. Church, owner of one-eighth of the cargo. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. For an explanation of the account between Wilcocks and Church, see H to John Chaloner, March 1, 1786 ; Wilcocks to H, March 5, 1786 ; H to Chaloner, March 10, 1786 ; and H to Wilcocks,...
70To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Broome, 18 August 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
New Haven [ Connecticut ] August 18, 1786 . Encloses “an order on The Honble. Nathan Miller Esquire a Delegate in Congress from the State of Rhode Island in your favor for £110.18.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
71To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Howe, 8 December 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
December 8, 1785. “Mr. & Mrs. Wilson … are in very embarassed Circumstances. As I know you have the direction of Baron Polnitz’s House now Empty, if you could acommodate them with a few Rooms thro’ the winter it would be of espestial service to them.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Howe, who had been a major general during the Revolutionary War, resigned in 1783 and returned to...
72To Alexander Hamilton from Ezekiel Forman, 24 September 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, September 24, 1787. “… I wish to know if the process against Mr. Livingston was served and return made to the … July Term and if any thing more is wanted for the effectual prosecution of that suit. Please to look over the papers I left, and judge, if the accts. stated by the sheriff, and the writing thereon be not sufficient to empower me to carry on a suit.…” ALS , Hamilton...
73To Alexander Hamilton from Jacob Sarly, 24 December 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] December 24, 1785 . Asks Hamilton “the date of the protest for non payment” of a bill of exchange. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Sarly was a member of the New York merchant firm known as Sarly and Barnewell.
74To Alexander Hamilton from John Chaloner, 26 January 178[5] (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, January 26, 178 [ 5 ]. Requests the opinion of Hamilton on “a Transaction in which Mr Church is deeply interested,” and in which the protested bills of John Holker are involved. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Chaloner mistakenly dated this letter January 26, 1784. John B. Church.
75To Alexander Hamilton from James Madison, 20 November 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, November 20, 1788. On November 23, 1788, Hamilton wrote to Madison : “I thank you My Dear Sir for yours of the 20th.” Letter not found. ]
76Moses Myers to Nicholas Low, Daniel Ludlow, and Alexander Hamilton, 23 November 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, November 23, 1786. Describes his efforts in Baltimore and Philadelphia to collect money to cover his firm’s debts. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. For background to this letter, see “Conveyance. Isaac Moses, Nicholas Low, Daniel Ludlow, and Alexander Hamilton to Alexander Macomb,” February 15, 1786, note 1 (printed in this volume).
77To Alexander Hamilton from Andrew P. Skene, 10 August 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Montreal, August 10, 1785. Asks about the possibility of recovering property seized under the New York confiscation laws. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Philip Skene, the founder of Skenesborough, Vermont, and his son Andrew were Loyalists. They were both attainted and their lands confiscated. Early in the war Andrew P. Skene was captured and imprisoned in Connecticut.
78To Alexander Hamilton from Peter Pillet, 14 May 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, May 14, 1786. States that he has been “recommended by Mr. Jon. Chaloner of this City to put my interest into your hands.” Describes a controversy which Pillet wishes Hamilton to settle. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
79To Alexander Hamilton from Ezekiel Forman, 21 January 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, January 21, 1786. Informs Hamilton of progress in various litigations in which Hamilton and Forman were concerned as attorneys. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
80To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Pearsall, 16 March 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 16, 1785. “I have thy Letter of this date. I recollect thy Application to me with a Copy of Oliver Arnolds Judgment obtained against me in Rhode Island for the Outfit of my Quarter of Sloop Diana. My present Determination is … not to pay it, as … I never gave Orders either in Writing or Verbally for the outfit.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Pearsall was a partner...
81To Alexander Hamilton from David Forman, 18 October 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Auburn, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1786. On November 7, 1786, Forman wrote to Hamilton : “I wrote you from Auburn (near Philada) on the 18th. ult.” Letter not found. ] Brigadier General David Forman of New Jersey who became a judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Monmouth, New Jersey.
82To Alexander Hamilton from John Chaloner, 20 August 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, August 20, 1788. Sends Hamilton an abstract of John Holker’s “title to lands in N York State offered by him as a substitute to Mr Church & others who have commenced suits against him for protested bills in place of his bail in said suits.” Asks Hamilton about the validity of this title. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Chaloner wrote to H in the latter’s capacity as...
83To Alexander Hamilton from Walter Livingston, 3 September 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, September 3, 1785. “… the House of De Lande and Fynje of Amsterdam have stopt Payment with a Considerable Sum in their hands belonging to the United States. I shall be glad of Your Opinion as Counsel what legal measures I can pursue for securing any Property belonging to that House, which may be in the Hands of Persons in this State.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress....
84From James Madison to Alexander Hamilton, ca. 10 March 1788 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 10 March 1788, Philadelphia. Acknowledged in Hamilton to JM, 3 Apr. 1788 . Discusses points to be raised in The Federalist concerning the judiciary.
85To Alexander Hamilton from Ezekiel Forman, 1 December 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, December 1, 1788. “It is with reluctance I give you the trouble of this Letter, and were it not, that you had promised me every assistance in your power, relative to my Claim upon the Estate of the Late Mr. Livingston, consistant with the trust you had taken upon you, I should have immediate recourse to the Law, without any further or other trial for an amicable Settlement.…” ALS...
86To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Milligan, 15 January 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, January 15, 1786. Encloses documents necessary for instituting a suit to recover money owed by a client. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Milligan was a Philadelphia attorney.
87To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Broome, 2 [October] 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
New Haven [ Connecticut, October ] 2, 1786 . Requests Hamilton to collect the balance of a debt owed to Broome by Nathan Miller. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
88To Alexander Hamilton from Cleland Kinloch, 20 September 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Belvoir near Charlottesville, Virginia, September 20, 1785. Discusses measures taken to pay John B. Church the amount of a bond given by the executors of Kinloch’s father’s estate. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Cleland Kinloch was the brother of Francis Kinloch, a South Carolina planter and member of the Continental Congress.
89To Alexander Hamilton from Augustus Van Cortlandt, 29 April 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Yonkers, New York, April 29, 1787. Requests that Hamilton take legal steps to secure the payment of money owed Van Cortlandt. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
90To Alexander Hamilton from William Donaldson, 29 May 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, May 29, 1786. Seeks Hamilton’s aid as an attorney in a controversy concerning the seizure of property by a landlord to whom Donaldson owed money for the rent of a house. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Presumably William Donaldson, a brazier of 90 Queen Street, New York City.
91To Alexander Hamilton from John Lansing, Junior, 28 October 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
Albany, October 28, 1786. States that the sheriff of Montgomery County who “has been attached for a Contempt in proceeding to the Sale of Croghan’s Land,” wishes Hamilton “to take the necessary Steps to defend him.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
92To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Mullett, 23 July 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, July 23, 1787. Advises Hamilton to accept the settlement which has been arranged in a cause pending between Samuel Brailsford and Thomas Wooldrige. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
93To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 2 May 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, May 2, 1787. On May 3, 1787, Hamilton wrote to Jay : “I this morning received your letter of yesterday.” Letter not found. ]
94To Alexander Hamilton from John Chaloner, [1788] (Hamilton Papers)
[Philadelphia, 1788.] Discusses proposals for the settlement of John Holker’s “protested Bills the property of Mr. Church— amt—£1500 Stg.” LC , Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. This letter concerns the complicated affairs of Daniel Parker and Company in which both John Holker and John B. Church were involved. As the negotiations and litigations for the settlement of Parker’s...
95To Alexander Hamilton from Isaac Gouverneur, Junior, 24 February 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, February 24, 1786. “… I wish to have you my principal attorney for what I may have occasion to do in the law way.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Gouverneur was the son of Samuel Gouverneur and was called Junior to distinguish him from his uncle, Isaac Gouverneur.
96To Alexander Hamilton from Ezekiel Forman, 18 October 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, October 18, 1784. “I am favored with your letter of the 20th past and … one written the 4th. August. I want you to Write Wade and [John] Philips of Philadelphia, demanding payment of their Bond.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Neither letter has been found.
97To Alexander Hamilton from John Lowell, 19 October 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, October 19, 1785. On October 30, 1785, Hamilton wrote to Lowell : “Mr. Lowe has delivered me your letter of the 19th. Instant.” Letter not found. ] Lowell, a judge of the Massachusetts Court of Appeals, was serving as a member of the New York-Massachusetts commission to settle the boundary dispute between those states.
98To Alexander Hamilton from Matthew Visscher, 27 May 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
May 27, 1784. Lists persons against whom judgments have been entered under the Confiscation Law. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Visscher was an Albany lawyer who was clerk of the city and county of Albany.
99To Alexander Hamilton from Theodore Sedgwick, 4 January 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ January 4, 1789. On January 29, 1789, Hamilton wrote to Sedgwick : “I thank you for your two letters of the 4th and 7th instant.” Letter of January 4 not found. ]
100To Alexander Hamilton from David Forman, 7 November 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
Middle Town Point [ New Jersey ] November 7, 1786 . “I wrote you from Auburn (near Philada) on the 18th. ult.” Asks when “the Monies from Robt. Cocks would probably be Recd. &c.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Letter not found.