1To Alexander Hamilton from Sarah Alexander, Lady Stirling, 26 June 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, June 26, 1801. The calendar of this letter reads: “Thanks &c dated at New York.” Letter not found. ] Sarah Livingston Alexander was the daughter of Philip Livingston, second lord of the manor, and the widow of William Alexander, self-styled Lord Stirling, a major general in the American Revolution who died in 1783. Philip Hamilton’s calendar of letters “… taken by my brother Alexr...
2To Alexander Hamilton from Joaquim L. Steinbach, 23 November 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, November 23, 1801. Requests Hamilton’s opinion on two marine insurance cases involving the ship Zenobia and the sloop Britton of Barrington . ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. No evidence has been found that H served as Steinbach’s counsel in any case involving either of these ships.
3To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 23 July 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
[ London, July 23, 1802. King’s description of this letter reads: “General Hamilton. Determination to return home &c.” Letter not found. ] Rufus King’s “Memorandum of private Letters, &c., dates & persons from 1796 to Augt 1802,” owned by Mr. James G. King, New York City.
4To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Jones, Junior, 19 October 1803 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] October 19, 1803 . “Mr S. Jones Junior begs leave to remind Gen Hamilton of the case of Mr Remsen adm the corporation of the City of New york respecting the water lots at Burling Slip, which the Gen. has under his consideration.…” AL , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Jones was a New York City lawyer and the second son of Samuel Jones, first comptroller of New York State....
5To Alexander Hamilton from Richard Riker, 18 August 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, August 18, 1801. Encloses £100 as a retainer from Robert and Hamilton Stewart. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Riker was a New York City lawyer. The Stewarts were brokers with offices at 54 Maiden Lane in New York City. This letter concerns the case of Robert and Hamilton Stewart v Martha Eden, Executrix, and Joseph and Medcef Eden, Executors of Medcef Eden, Sr. , which...
6To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Carroll of Carrollton, 19 December 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
Annapolis [ Maryland ] December 19, 1801 . Encloses three drafts of eight thousand dollars each payable to Isaac Bronson. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Carroll paid Isaac Bronson, a New York City businessman, twenty-four thousand dollars for discharging a lien against twelve thousand acres of land which Carroll had purchased from Robert C. Johnson. For information concerning the...
7Daniel Ludlow to Alexander Hamilton and Nicholas Low, 21 June 1803 (Hamilton Papers)
A. Hamilton } Esqrs. N. Low Your favor of the 17th inst. I this day only received and have to assure you that the Settlement of the trust you mention committed to our joint care and under my particular management has been an object I have long had seriously at heart and nothing has prevented the completion thereof on my part but the want of time. The accounts are in hands and nearly arranged,...
8To Alexander Hamilton from Henry Glen, 21 March 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
Albany, March 21, 1801. Repeats earlier requests to Hamilton. States: “I wrote you twice from the City of Washington but mist you going to Alby. & yesterday I came down to this City on purpose But you had Saild. about 2-Hours.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Glen to H, January 27, 1801 . The other letter from Glen has not been found. H had been in Albany attending the New York...
9To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 5 March 1803 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Charleston, South Carolina, March 5, 1803. On March 6, 1803, Pinckney wrote to Hamilton : “I wrote you a few lines yesterday.” Letter not found. ]
10[To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Truxtun], [22 March 1802] (Hamilton Papers)
Copy, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; JCH Transcripts John C. Hamilton Transcripts, Columbia University Libraries. , Columbia University Libraries. In JCHW John C. Hamilton, ed., The Works of Alexander Hamilton (New York, 1851–1856). , XI, 533, this letter is incorrectly addressed to H. Actually, it is a copy in Truxtun’s handwriting of a letter which Truxtun wrote to Aaron Burr and...
11To Alexander Hamilton from William R. Putnam, 1 August 1803 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Marietta, Ohio, August 1, 1803. On September 19, 1803 , Hamilton wrote to Putnam: “I have to thank you for your letter of the 1st of August.” Letter not found. ]
12To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 9 April 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Providence, April 9, 1801. On June 9, 1801, Olney wrote to Hamilton : “I addressed you on the 9 April last.” Letter not found. ]
13To Alexander Hamilton from William P. Van Ness, 23 June 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, June 23, 1804. In describing the events of this day in his narrative, Van Ness wrote: “I sent a Note to Genl Hamilton’s Office and also to his house.” Notes not found. ] “Van Ness’s Narrative,” AD , New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York; ADf , New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.
14To Alexander Hamilton from Elisha Williams, 11 September 1803 (Hamilton Papers)
Hudson [ New York ], September 11, 1803 . “I took the liberty of Stating a Case & inclosing it to you about the 20th of August for your opinion. Not hearing from you I fear the Letter has been intercepted. You will oblige me by informing whether you received that Letter and if you have by forwarding your Answer.…” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Letter not found.
15To Alexander Hamilton from John V. Henry, 29 March 1803 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Albany, March 29, 1803. Henry’s endorsement on Hamilton’s letter to him of March 20, 1803 , reads: “Recd 26 ⟨ansd⟩ 29 ⅌ mail.” Letter not found. ]
16To Alexander Hamilton from Elizabeth Hamilton, 19 October 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, October 19, 1801. On Sunday, October 25, 1801 , Hamilton wrote to his wife: “I was much relieved, My Dear Eliza, by the receipt yesterday morning of your letter of Monday last.” Letter not found. ] See H to Elizabeth Hamilton, October 17–18, 1801 .
17To Alexander Hamilton from Louis Le Guen, 2 May 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Morrisville, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1804. On July 12, 1804, Le Guen wrote to Hamilton : “J’ai hier recu Votre Lettre du 6. mai … La quelle m’accuse reception de la Mienne du 2.” Letter not found. ]
18To Alexander Hamilton from Louis André Pichon, 21 May 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Washington, May 21, 1802. The endorsement on Hamilton to Pichon, May 10, 1802 , reads: “Repue Le 21 mai.” Letter not found. ]
19To Alexander Hamilton from John B. Graves, 8 June 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 8, 1802. Requests Hamilton’s opinion concerning his claim for reimbursement on a premium that he had paid to insure his cargo aboard the schooner Alert . ALS , Montague Collection, MS Division, New York Public Library. Graves was a New York City merchant. For the full text of this letter, related documents, and an explanation of their contents, see Goebel, Law Practice Julius...
20To Alexander Hamilton from Philip Schuyler, 4 December 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Albany, December 4, 1801. On Sunday, December 6, 1801, Schuyler wrote to Elizabeth Hamilton and referred to “a letter of Friday last to my Dear Hamilton.” Letter not found. ] ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
21To Alexander Hamilton from John B. Graves, 31 May 1803 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, May 31, 1803. States that he is acting on behalf of George Scriba who wishes to procure a mortgage in Europe on land in New York State. Requests Hamilton’s opinion on “whether European citizens can hold in their own right a mortgage on real Estate and likewise in case of purchase, if they can hold real Estate in their own name and dispose of it.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of...
22To Alexander Hamilton from Theodore Sedgwick, [24 May 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Stockbridge, Massachusetts, May 24, 1804. On July 10, 1804, Hamilton wrote to Sedgwick : “I have received two letters from you … that of the latest date being the 24 of May.” Letter not found. ]
23To Alexander Hamilton from Gilbert McClaghry, 15 July 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
July 15, 1802. States that he is destitute and asks Hamilton to help him collect the commutation and ration money of his brother, John McClaghry, who died while serving in the Continental Army. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. John McClaghry (McLaughry) became an ensign in the Fifth New York Regiment on November 21, 1776. He was taken prisoner at Fort Montgomery on October 6, 1777,...
24To Alexander Hamilton from William R. Putnam, December 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Marietta, Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, December, 1802. On January 17, 1803, Putnam wrote to H and itemized H’s account, which contained: “1802 Decmr to postage of a letter.” Letter not found. ]
25To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel S. Smith, 18 March 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
Princeton [ New Jersey ] March 18, 1802 . Introduces his son, John Witherspoon Smith, who plans to practice law in New York City. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Smith, a Presbyterian clergyman, had a pastorate in western Virginia in the seventeen-seventies, taught at the College of New Jersey from 1779 to 1795, and served as president of the college from 1795 to 1812. By 1803 John...
26To Alexander Hamilton from Jonathan Lawrence and Jonathan Dayton, 4 March 1803 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 4, 1803. “The foregoing are Copies of our letters to Meeker Denman & Co on the subject of Insurance.…” AL , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Lawrence and Dayton were partners in a mercantile firm at 94 Greenwich Street, New York City. Copies, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. This letter and its enclosures, which concern the case of Lawrence and Dayton v Columbian...
27To Alexander Hamilton from Jacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer, [25 March 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
[ March 25, 1804. The calendar description of this letter reads: “presenting a pair of horses.” Letter not found. ] Philip Hamilton’s calendar of letters “taken by my brother Alexr Hamilton from the House of my sister E[liza] H Holly immediately after her death without any colour of right or authority,” December 30, 1859 ( AD , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress). Van Rensselaer, a resident...
28To Alexander Hamilton from John Murray, 13 July 1803 (Hamilton Papers)
Baltimore, July 13, 1803. Requests Hamilton’s opinion concerning his father’s claim to lands in New York State. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. This letter is printed in full in Goebel, Law Practice Julius Goebel, Jr., and Joseph H. Smith, eds., The Law Practice of Alexander Hamilton: Documents and Commentary (New York and London, 1964– ). , I, 263–64. John Murray, fourth Earl of...
29To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 25 September 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Bedford, New York, September 25, 1801. Letter not found. ] “List of Letters from Mr. Jay …” to H, Columbia University Libraries.
30To Alexander Hamilton from Louis Le Guen, 10 January 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, January 10, 1804. On January 18, 1804, Le Guen wrote to Hamilton and referred to “La Lettre … que jai la Lhonneur de vous Ecrire Le 10.” Letter not found. ]
31To Alexander Hamilton from Elisha Williams, 20 August 1803 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Hudson, New York, August 20, 1803. On September 11, 1803, Williams wrote to Hamilton : “I took the liberty of Stating a Case & inclosing it to you about the 20th of August for your opinion.” Letter not found. ] A Federalist and a member of the New York bar, Williams practiced law in Spencertown, New York, from 1793 to 1800, when he moved to Hudson. He was a member of the New York Assembly...
32To Alexander Hamilton from Simeon Baldwin, 8 May 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New Haven, Connecticut, May 8, 1802. The dealer’s description of this letter reads: “Legal.” Letter not found. ] The Collector: A Magazine for Autograph and Historical Collectors , LIX, No. 1 (January, 1946), 20. Baldwin wrote this letter in reply to H to Baldwin, May 1, 1802 .
33To Alexander Hamilton from Daniel D. Thompson, 7 October 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, October 7, 1801. States that financial reverses had forced him to leave his native England for Jamaica, where he had worked for sixteen months as a bookkeeper, and that he had been in New York City for nine weeks without work. Asks Hamilton’s assistance in securing employment. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. In 1803 Thompson served as H’s representative in transactions...
34To Alexander Hamilton from Nathaniel Terry, 2 April 1803 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Hartford, April 2, 1803. On April 21, 1803, Hamilton wrote to Terry and referred to “Your letter of the 2d instant.” Letter not found. ] Terry was a Hartford, Connecticut, lawyer.
35To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 9 June 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
I addressed you on the 9 April last & not having the pleasure of hearing from you Since—I presume my letter has Miscarried. I therefore take the liberty to trouble you with a copy of said Letter & Respectfully Sir ask your attention to my request. I am Sir your very obed. Servt. ADfS , Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence. Letter not found.
36To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Wadsworth, 26 April 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Hartford, April 26, 1802. On May 19, 1802, Hamilton wrote to Wadsworth : “I have the pleasure of receiving your letter of the 26th. of April.” Letter not found. ]
37To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas H. Cushing, 1 July 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of War has directed me to enquire whether Lieut. Patrick McCarty of the third Regt. of infantry obeyed the order of the War department of the 2nd. of Sepr. 1799, directing all absent Officers of the 1st. Regt. of Artillerists & Engineers and of the first, second, third & fourth Regiments of Infantry to Report themselves to you within four months, and if so, whether any particular...
38To Alexander Hamilton from Philip Schuyler, 15 [June] 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
On Sunday a letter from Mrs. Church announced the happy delivery of My Dear Eliza, and that She and the child, were in as good health as could be expected and wished for. On this Event, I must Sincerely congratulate you and her. May I soon learn that she is perfectly restored. It is more than probable that soon after my return to albany I shall have the pleasure of seeing [you] at New York....
39To Alexander Hamilton from George Clinton, 29 February 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
This is the first moments leisure I have had to answer your Letter of the 27th Instant which was handed to me yesterday. I have carefully perused the Papers it inclosed under the signature of Mr. James Kane and find the statement of the transaction aluded to as admitted by Judge Purdy to be correct as far as my Name is implicated, and I believe it contains as reduced by Judge Purdy the...
40To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 4 December 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
I sincerely condole with Mrs. Hamilton and you on the loss which you have sustained in the death of your beloved son Philip. I can well conceive of the distress this event has occasioned, and the tender recollections that his memory must long continue to excite. I lost my eldest child, a daughter, after she had discovered whatever can promise to flattter parental expectations. Is there ought...
41To Alexander Hamilton from Baron von Humboldt, [27 June 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
Il aurait été un moment bien interessant pour moi que celui de Vous être présenté personnellement, et de Vous offrir le temoignage respectueux de mon devouement. Une reunion de circonstances et l’obligation que j’ai de ne pas retarder la Publication de mes travaux litteraires me font partir pour Paris sans jouir du plaisir de Vous admirer de près et de voir le Cercle interessant dans lequel...
42To Alexander Hamilton from Abraham Du Buc de Marentille, 23 May 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
Si, comme je l’espère, vous avez trouvé mon manuscrit, Je vous Serai obligé de vouloir bien le remettre à la personne qui vous délivrera cette lettre Sous mon couvert. J’ai l’honneur d’être avec les Sentimens les plus distingués, Monsieur, Votre très humble et très obeissant serviteur ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Du Buc de Marentille had served in the French army during the...
43To Alexander Hamilton from Ernst Frederich von Walterstorff, 31 May 1803 (Hamilton Papers)
I will now according to my promise when I left St: Croix acquaint You of my safe arrival at Portsmouth the 27th. instant and write You a few lines about the present state of politics. You may think of our surprize, Sir, when we learned from an English Brig of war in the Channel that England had declared war against France and that hostilities had actually commenced. Who can foretell what will...
44To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Truxtun, 10 July 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
I pray you to accept a Copy of the medal voted me by Congress as a Small token of the great Respect and esteem with which I have the honor to be Dear Sir Your very obt. st. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Truxtun was appointed a captain in the United States Navy in 1794 and ranked fifth among the six captains appointed at that time. During the undeclared war with France, he...
45To Alexander Hamilton from John Johnston, 1 June 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
June 1, 1804. “You may recollect that previous to Mr Caines marriage with my sister Mrs Verplanck, I applied to you and Mr Charles Wilkes to become trustees together with Mr Keese in a marriage settlement.… I am induced to request you to take such steps as you may think necessary to secure the property vested in you by the settlement.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. George Caines,...
46To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 1 March 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
Since my letter of the 24th. I have recd. yrs. of the same date; and after maturely reflecting upon the subject, and consulting one or two of our friends here I am confirmed in the Sentiment that I ought not to consent to be a candidate for the Govr. shd. the federalists think of offering me. This being my determination, it is right that I shd apprize you of it, in order that our friends may...
47To Alexander Hamilton from John Dickinson, [30 November 1801] (Hamilton Papers)
A sense of thy services to our Country, and the satisfaction I have received from our acquaintance, cause me to take an Interest in every Thing that importantly concerns thy Happiness. This Disposition compells me with a heart-felt love, most deeply to sympathize with thee and thy family in your present affliction. Could I add to this regretful Testimony any Arguments to soothe your Minds,...
48To Alexander Hamilton from William Bingham, 21 July 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
Having a Packet of Papers which by your Desire were deposited with me, & which have long laid dormant in my Possession, & being about embarking in a Short time for Europe, permit me to return them to you. You will gratify me exceedingly, by furnishing me with an opportunity of rendering you any services during my Stay in Europe. I request you to make my respectfull Complements acceptable to...
49To Alexander Hamilton from Abraham Van Vechten, [13–21 March 1801] (Hamilton Papers)
I am enjoined by the genl. Committee to tax your Goodness to prepare a short, temperate & pertinent supplementary Address by way of reply to that of our Opponents. This tax will be levied & collected without communicating whence it is derived. Yours &c. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Van Vechten, an Albany lawyer and Federalist, served in the New York Senate from 1798 to 1805. In...
50To Alexander Hamilton from Aaron Burr, 18 June 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
I send for your perusal a letter signed Ch. D. Cooper which, though apparently published some time ago, has but very recently come to my knowledge. Mr Van Ness who does me the favor to deliver this, will point out to you that Clause of the letter to which I particularly request your attention. You might perceive, Sir, the necessity of a prompt and unqualified acknowledgment or denial of the...