To Alexander Hamilton from William Barton, [31 December 1791]
From William Barton1
[Philadelphia, December 31, 1791]
Sir,
The sheets which compose the pamphlet,2 herewith inclosed, will be comprized in the third Volume of the Philosophical Society’s Transactions, now in the press.3 Being favored by the printer with a few Copies of this part, (with the addition of a Title page), I beg, Sir, Your Acceptance of One.
If some additional Observations on the same subject, resulting from the Census, which have been read in the Society, should be deemed worthy of a place in their Transactions, I shall take the liberty of sending You a Copy, when printed.
I have the Honor to be, With great Respect, Sir, Your Most Obedt. And Most Hble. Servt.
W. Barton
| Market street, |  |
| Dec. 31st. 1791. |
The Honble. A. Hamilton, Esq;
Secry. of the Treasury
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Barton, a Philadelphia attorney, was the nephew of two distinguished scientists, David Rittenhouse and Benjamin Barton, the botanist. Both men were members of the American Philosophical Society. Barton was also a counselor of the society.
2. William Barton, Observations on the Progress of Population, and the Probabilities of the Duration of Human Life, in the United States of America. Read before the American Philosophical Society held at Philadelphia, for Promoting Useful Knowledge (Philadelphia, 1791).
3. Barton’s paper was read before the society on March 18, 1791, and is printed in Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, Held at Philadelphia, for Promoting Useful Knowledge (Philadelphia, 1793), III, 25–62.