To Alexander Hamilton from Louis Le Guen, 30 September 1803
From Louis Le Guen
Morrisville [Pennsylvania] 30. Sepbre. 1803
Cher Géneral
Votre Lettre du 12, timbré du 19,1 ne m’est Parvenue que Le 29, alors Je penssaie inutille de vous Ecrire, vous attendant Le 28; maie désapointée de ne vous Voir point arriver, Je vais vous Prier de me mander En reponse, Sy nous pouvons nous flater du Plaisir de Vous Voir en Peu. Mme. Le Guen Et Moy nous flatonts que vous nous favoriserée de Votre Visite, Et Bien fachée que Madame Et Mlle. Hamilton2 ne Puissent vous accompagner, Veuillée bien Je vous Prie Leurs En témoinger tous nos Regrets, Et Leurs faire agréer nos Compliments, ainsy qu’á Monr. et Madme. Washington Morton.3
J’ai vue par votre Lettre que Le Cel. Burr, a Encorre Renvoyés Le Payement jusqu’a En Aoust Prochain, dieu Veuillent qu’aprés tous Ses Delais il Saquitte Envers Moy.4
Je Suis Bien Reconnoissant a La remise que vous mavès fait faire Par Mr. Ogdon des 500 dollars.5 J’ai depuis recu de Mr. Prime 1900 dollars en deduction des 7000. donc qu’il ne restera me devoir que 5500 d’ollars avec quelques interest.6
Sy Par hazard Vous alliés ou Envoyés a Newyork, Je Vous Serrai Obligée d’envoyer recevoir Les interests que depuis Le 1er. avril au 1er. octobre Sur Les 10244. dollars 30 Cts. dans Les 6 ⅌ %. Stocks, Et aussy, Sil Est agréable à Mr. harrison L’Interest due, d’un ân Sur Les 5000 dollars,7 Le tout à recevoir En Votre qualitée de trustis de conformitée au Contrat de mariage.
Je desire que la Calamitée dont Est Afligée Votre Ville8 disparoissent. Mme. Le Guen à Ettée Constament Malade depuis près de 3 mois, Et qu’oy q’un peu miuy Son Ettat minquiètte Et m’aflige, Et aussy tôt après Vous avoir Vue à Notre Retraite, Je me propose de Lui faire faire un Petit Voyage a Elizabethown et Parterson. Nos trois Petits Enfants9 Sont Bien Et notament Votre Petite Fïeulle.
Agrée, her Géneral, Le Nouvel Assurance de Lattachement Bien Sincere qui Vous a devoue Pour La Vie
Votre bien Obéiss Et Affectionnée Serviteur
L. Le Guen
Géneral Hamilton
ALS, Yale University Library.
1. Letter not found.
2. Le Guen is referring either to Angelica Hamilton, who was born on September 25, 1784, or to Eliza Hamilton, who was born on November 20, 1799.
3. Elizabeth Hamilton’s sister, Cornelia, was married to Washington Morton, a New York City lawyer.
4. Aaron Burr had not paid Le Guen all of the $6,730.13, which had been due on June 1, 1801, and for which Burr had signed a bond dated January 13, 1801. (H to Ezra L’Hommedieu, April 4, 1799; Le Guen to H, May 1, May, December 27, 1800; “Receipt to Louis Le Guen,” January 15, 1801; “Description of Account with Louis Le Guen,” June 8, 1802). At the beginning of 1804 Burr maintained that he owed Le Guen $2,717.37, but Le Guen put Burr’s debt at $2,920.53. For an explanation of Burr’s and Le Guen’s disagreements over the amount of Burr’s debts, see the following letters and document in The Huntington Library, San Marino, California: Le Guen to Thomas L. Ogden, his New York City lawyer, January 18, 1804 (ALS); Ogden to Le Guen, January 12, 1805 (ALS); Burr to Le Guen, July 21 (AL), November 20 (ALS), 1804; Burr’s statement of his account with Le Guen, January 1, 1805 (AD).
Burr repaid part of his debt to Le Guen in three installments, which are cited as follows in the endorsement to Burr’s bond to Le Guen, January 13, 1801 (copy, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California): “July 23, 1801. Received on Account of the within Bond Two thousand Dollars.
for Louis Le Guen
A. Hamilton
2000Ds.
December 28. 1802. Received of A Burr Esquire Twelve hundred and fifty dollars on account.
For Louis Le Guen
A. Hamilton
November 14. 1802. Received of A Burr Esqr. One thousand Seven hundred and fifty Dollars for the Appropriation of General Hamilton, the Employed of Louis Le Guen.
$1750.
Daniel D. Thompson.”
For information on Thompson, see Thompson to H, October 7, 1801.
An entry in H’s Cash Book, 1795–1804, under the heading “Louis Le Guen” and dated March 5, 1803, reads: “This sum paid being ballance of 1250 Ds. received of A Burr 250” (AD, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
5. In this and the following paragraph Le Guen is discussing the disposal of funds in the trust established by his antenuptial contract in February, 1799. See Le Guen to H, December 27, 1800, note 7, January 15, 1801; “Receipt to Louis Le Guen,” January 15, 1801; Aaron Ogden to H, January 15, 1801; “Indenture between Alexander Hamilton of the First Part and Richard Harison and Aaron Ogden of the Second Part,” July 1, 1801; “Bond to Richard Harison and Aaron Ogden,” July 1, 1801; “Account with Louis Le Guen,” June 6, 1802; “Description of Account with Louis Le Guen,” June 8, 1802; “Receipt from Louis Le Guen,” September 10, 1802; “Account of Louis Le Guen,” April 1, 1803; “Receipt from Louis Le Guen,” September 5, 1803.
6. See Le Guen to H, January 15, 1801; “Account with Louis Le Guen,” June 6, 1802; “Description of Account with Louis Le Guen,” June 8, 1802.
9. Louisa, Emily, and Josephine Le Guen.