1To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 3 March 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
On the day I wrote you last, Mr Westerloe left at my House Yours of the 23d. I expect the pleasure of his company soon. I hope Mr Bridgon’s Clients will as was proposed in my last letter to you come or send to Mr Nicholson who is disposed to put their demand upon the most satisfactory footing in his power, & I expect the business may be so settled as that the Money will be forth coming sooner...
2To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 27 February 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Tilghman authorizes me to tell you that our Law respecting endorsements is exactly the same as the Law of England & that 20 ⅌ Ct is the Amot of Damages on protested Bills drawn here upon Europe. Mr. Nicholson is returned to this City & I think the holders of his bill should Apply to him for payment. I think he would make some arrangement with them so as to secure the payment and allow...
3To Alexander Hamilton from Gerard Bancker and Philip Livingston, 22 February 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, February 22, 1797. “In our Character of Executors, we are Trustees for a Number of persons who do not think the Claims of Mr. & Mrs. Ricketts well founded, and who would suppose us blameable, if we afforded them any Facilities, Whatever therefore may be our own inclinations, we are advised to put the Claimants to their Bill for discovery, and to submit ourselves to the Chancellor,...
4To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 9 February 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Your favour of the 4th only reached me Yesterday. I will get Mr Tilghman or Mr Lewis to write to you on the point you desire. In the mean time as I am anxious to have the Land business settled, I think it best to have the papers assigned to Mr Garrett Cottringer in such manner as to Vest him with the right for the present and as that he may release or convey to me my or my order hereafter. The...
5To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 6 February 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive your Letter of the 16. of Decr. and I need not express the Satisfaction which the information that it contained afforded me, the Probable termination of the Election of Pr. the general Temper of the Country, & the Effect likely to be produced by Mr. Adet’s notes are such as I had not only hoped but expected; if by prudence & Firmness, which have hitherto kept...
6To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, [4 February 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
[ London, February 4, 1797. Letter not found. ] Letter listed in Rufus King’s “Memorandum of private Letters, &c., dates & persons, from 1796 to Augt 1802,” owned by Mr. James G. King, New York City.
7To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 1796–January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, 1796–January, 1797. At this time, McHenry “suggested to Hamilton the establishment of a permanent navy yard, and enclosed a draft of his departmental report in which he tried not to censure his predecessors.” Letter not found. ] Steiner, James McHenry Bernard C. Steiner, The Life and Correspondence of James McHenry (Cleveland, 1907). , 180, note 1. Although Steiner dates this...
8To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 30 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
I am sorry to have so long delayed an answer to your letter of the 23d. but we have been unusually occupied, and the decrees you referred to were not readily found: that of the 28th of May 1793 I have now discovered in a printed volume of the proceedings of the Convention for that month. So I now inclose you copies— 1st of the decree of May 9th 1793, violating our treaty, by rendering neutral...
9To Alexander Hamilton from John Dunn, 28 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Dublin [ Ireland ] January 28, 1797. “I take the liberty of enclosing to you an account current furnished to me by Mr. John Barclay of Philadelphia relative to a fund in his hands by me anxiously desired to be entrusted to your care—A late account of some unfortunate circumstances occurring in Mr. Barclay’s affairs makes me anxious in the extreme that the Property in his hands should be...
10To Alexander Hamilton from Fisher Ames, 26 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
My last was written hastily & under some impressions of the moment which I had not time to unfold. The close respecting your taking a seat in the next house (to be elected) would pass for an awkward compliment if you did not know me (and yourself) too well for such an interpretation. You desire an inside view of our stage. I begin with the outside . Our relations with France are serious. All...
11To Alexander Hamilton from Gerrit Boon, 26 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Oldenbarneveld [ New York ] January 26, 1797. Discusses the case of Herman LeRoy, William Bayard, and Boon v Peter Servis and others . ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Boon, a native of the Netherlands, was an agent of the six Dutch banking firms which formed the Holland Land Company on February 13, 1796. H was an attorney for the company. For background to this letter, see...
12To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 23 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 21st inst. is just received none of a previous date in reply to mine of 31st Ulto ever reached me, nor have I received from you any acknowledgement of the receipt of my letter to you of 7th Inst. which was sent by Captn Williamson in order to have the mortgage to Colo Smith removed & the suit in Chancery brought by Colo Walker discharged. This latter is a very important...
13To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 23 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, January 23, 1797. On February 6, 1797, Hamilton wrote to Pickering : “I duly received your letter of the 23 of Jany.” Letter not found. ]
14To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 22 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 19th. instant was received yesterday. From the general impression on my mind, relative to Mr. De Neuvilles claim on the justice of this country, a delay, or a refusal to administer it, would be hard; but I must add, that I am too little acquainted with the particulars to form a correct opinion, and were it otherwise, I do not see how I could, with propriety, appear directly...
15From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 22 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 19th instant was received yesterday. From the general impression on my mind, relative to Mr De Neuvilles claim on the justice of this country, a delay, or a refusal to administer it, would be hard; but I must add, that I am too little acquainted with the particulars to form a correct opinion, and were it otherwise, I do not see how I could, with propriety, appear directly or...
16To Alexander Hamilton from Angelica Church, [20 January 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I would have you to understand Mon tres cher Monsieur that my eyes have recovered all their former lustre, and that they have been ineffectually employed in searching for the grace and elegance of your friend, nor have I yet been able to discover that ease and je ne sais quoi by which Sterne observes the gentleman may be so readily ascertained. As to his capacity for Bargain making that I...
17To Alexander Hamilton from Stephen Higginson, 12 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Letter of 20 of last month I have received. The election of Mr. Adams seems to be secured, but with an excess only of one vote, which is close work indeed. This, while it avoids the point I before stated to you, will involve another, I fear, more dangerous & difficult. The blind or devoted partisans of Mr. Adams, instead of being satisfied with his being elected, seem to be alarmed at the...
18To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 7 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
I have arranged with Capt Chas Williamson for the debt Contracted with Colo Wm S. Smith in August 1791 of which fifty Thousand Dollars. in Six ⅌ Ct Stock remains to be transferred and delivered & for the performance thereof I have given to Capt. Williamson Assignee of Colo Smith a satisfactory Security, in Consequence Whereof that Tract of Land in the Genesee Country for which I gave Colo...
19To Alexander Hamilton from Edward Carrington, 3 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Richmond, January 3, 1797. “I have just now seen Mr Wade Mosby of my Neighbourhood in the Country, whose Agent … has just returned from N. York where he has employed you in a Suit to which Mr Mosby is a party. He wishes me to say to you what his Character & circumstances are. I have known him from his Childhood to this day, and can with confidence say he is a man who has supported the...
20To Alexander Hamilton from Wade Mosby, 1 January 179[7] (Hamilton Papers)
Richmond, January 1, 179 [ 7 ]. Acknowledges message that Hamilton will serve as his attorney in the suit brought against him in New York by Leeds and Mumford. States: “I am sure that when you are fully possessed of all the circumstances relative thereto you will find [it] to be one of the most Rascally proceedings you ever were witness to.… I wait your answer hoping that you will quickly put...
21To Alexander Hamilton from James Ricketts, 1 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Elizabethtown, New Jersey ] January 1, 1797 . “I feel you will think that I have not paid proper attention to your letter. Immediately on the receipt of it I wrote to Mr. Livingston to send me an account of the Dividends which he had made, and the proportions which he had paid me on acct. of his Sisters Legacy, his answer I recd. the day before yesterday which is as follows: ‘I have recd....
22To Alexander Hamilton from Ann Mitchell, [1796] (Hamilton Papers)
My Father—James Lytton Senr. deceased—Planter of the Island of St Croix in the year 1769—In his Will confirmed by his Majesty—he bequeathed ¹⁄₇ of his Estate to my Brother James Lytton Junr.— ²/₇ths to his Children to be divided when the youngest was of age—²/₇th to my deceased Sisters Son John Hallwood—and in consequence of my being married to a man unfortunate in his conduct—he nominated my...
23To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 31 December 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
You will find annexed hereto the Copy of a letter just received from Charles Bridgen Esqr. and enclosed my Answer, which after reading You will be kind enough to send to him. I suppose myself to be founded in saying that the suit contemplated, cannot be brought against me, otherwise no Man whose Name is on another Mans paper, can be safe, At any rate I request your Aid as a professional Man...
24To Alexander Hamilton from Luke Codwise, 15 December 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, December 15, 1796. “Mr. J W Delaney & myself having made a settlement of our Accounts you will please discontinue the Suit commenced against him on my Account.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Codwise was a New York sea captain. John William Delaney was a New York merchant. As captain of the brig Glasgow , Codwise left New York on November 25, 1795, for a voyage to the...
25To Alexander Hamilton from Stephen Higginson, 9 December 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Letter of 28 of last month I received, & communicated its contents to some of our Electors. a majority of them were at first inclined to throw away their Votes from Mr Pinckney lest he should rise above Adams; but your information as to Vermont; with some observations made to them shewing the danger of so doing decided all but three, who were determined upon interested & personal motives...
26To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 8 December 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I intended to have sent you Bank notes. Disappointments which are in this City day by day happening have prevented, but the above draft of Joseph Higbie in favor of Garrett Cottringer for $1000 will be honored and you can have it discounted, so that I hope this Remittance will answer the Purpose and you will Credit me for the same. I am truly Yrs J Higbies draft 8 Decr at 30 ds on Robinson &...
27To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [8 December 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I have recd. your Letter of Decr. 6th. The Warrant for the sum due to the Bank of New York was issued punctually, by some neglect or accident in the Treasurers Office, it remained undischarged. I have taken measures for the payment. By a Letter from Mr. Wilkes I find that the Bank claim a payment of Interest by way of discount and the 200.000 Dollars continued on Loan on the security of a...
28To Alexander Hamilton from Catharine Miller, 3 December 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I regret that I have only time to tell my beloved friend Colo Hamilton what he already knows—that my best affections—my liveliest gratitude, and purest friendship are his and that I send him a Small Box of Oranges from My Own Garden. I hope they may arrive Safe—and if the frost should spare them, I will insure them to be exlent. With My Compliments to Mrs Hamilton and love to the Dear Children...
29To Alexander Hamilton from Henry Sadler and Company, November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, November, 1796. “We take the liberty of inclosing Copy of an obligation given for payt. of Commission on a certain contract made with the Agents of the French Republic —copy of which contract you have also herewith. As the F Republick would not pay for the Leather immediately on delivery—nor in Specie, and not having yet paid for the Amount of Leather delivered agreeable to said...
30To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 30 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
The Arch Duke having expelled Jourdan & Moreau from Germany the Parties are in respect to territory in this Quarter where they were when the campaign began. Buonaparte by the latest accounts from Italy is critically circumstanced, and it seems not improbable that he likewise will be compelled to retire from Lombardy. The mission of Lord Malmesbury remains undecided, and though the negotiation...
31To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 21 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Having written to you on Saturday the 11th. instant (accompanying it with enclosures) without hearing any thing from you in the course of last week, or by the Mail of this day, I begin to have uneasy sensations for the fate of my letter. To this cause, & to my solicitude to have the Papers returned, you must ascribe the trouble of receiving this letter. If my last got safe to your hands, &...
32From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 21 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
Having written to you on Saturday the 11th instant (accompanying it with enclosures) without hearing any thing from you in the course of last week, or by the Mail of this day, I begin to have uneasy sensations for the fate of my letter. To this cause, & to my solicitude to have the Papers returned, you must ascribe the trouble of receiving this letter. If my last got safe to your hands, &...
33To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 19 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I am but just returned from the City of Washington after a long absence, and find your letter of the 10 Inst with others awaiting me, as yet I hardly know my Position, what I can or cannot do, but after looking round and counting Claims & Resources I will write to you again and you may rest assured that I will do all I can for your Convenience, for I am your constant & faithful Friend & Servt...
34To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus Putnam, 19 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
The eight acre Lot No. 305 belong to one of the rights Drawn in your Name in the Ohio Companys Purchas Lies adjoining to one owned by Commedore Abraham Whipple (Late of Rhode Island) who is desierous of purchasing it from you, Commedore Whipple after being much reduced in his property (by the failure of public Credit: like most of us who Served there Country in the late War), has retired to...
35To Alexander Hamilton from Theodore Sedgwick, 19 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
The letters inclosed will explain themselves. I will only add one fact—the young man “who was going to transact some business up the north river” came directly here in the stage which communicates with New York and of course went not nigh the river at all & is now waiting only for my answer. I need not say that this information must be kept secret, for however proper it may be, and I esteem it...
36To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 17 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
You must feel interested in knowing how our affairs stand with France, I give you a summary of them. The Note to Colo. Pickering contains a summary of all the complaints of France since the commencement of the present War. They are as follows. That the Courts of the United States have taken Cognizance of Prizes to French Vessells. That the Treaty has been misconstrued, by permitting the...
37To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 17 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, November 17, 1796. On December 21 1796, Hamilton wrote to Wolcott : “I did not understand by your letter of the 17th. of November whether you meant or not to authorise the immediate commencement of the sale of the Stock.” Letter not found. ]
38To Alexander Hamilton from John C. Glover, 16 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, November 16, 1796. Asks what action should be taken in regard to damages “sustained” by the ship Mary “in case the Broker will not pay the damages when due.” L, in the handwriting of Richard Hughes, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Glover was a New York City merchant. John Henry, an insurance broker. Under the date of November 12, 1796, the following entry appears in H’s Cash...
39To Alexander Hamilton from David Ross, 16 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Being engaged in electioneering prevented my writing as soon as I intended that a Mr. Reese (formerly of Baltimore & now connected with a Whole sale Store in Philadelphia) is said to have circulated in George Town, that he had seen, or heard of, a letter of yours to your friends in one of the West India Islands, in which you boasted of the hand you had in promoting our General Government but...
40To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, [12 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
Owing to the absence of Mr Whelen the matter with his concern was not settled till just before my late illness. I am now just getting out. The Pattersons take back their balance, about 10,000 Ds in their Lands and we take a moiety of the remainder. Out of these Mr Church will have to the amount of his remaining 17¾ tracts, taking none but what have been ours, and by a fair draughting Lot. I...
41To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, 12 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Vous recevres en même tems que cette letter une réclamation de M. de beaumarchais qui se confie avec un entier abandon a vous pour obtenir de l’amerique une justice qu’il invoque infructueusement depuis 20 ans. Vous aves apprécié dans le tems les services qu’il a rendus a votre pays. Il pense qu’un nouvel examen de son affaire conduiroit encore a des resultats plus favorables. Je n’ai pas...
42To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 12 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
In due time, and in good order, I received your letters dated the 4th 5th & 10th. instt: and shall be mindful of their contents. What construction do you put upon the information received through the assistant of D——r B——? and what notice, if any, should it meet with now , or hereafter, if application should be made for leave, or the event take place without? Having sometime since, called upon...
43From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 12 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
In due time, and in good order, I received your letters dated the 4th, 5th & 10th instt; and shall be mindful of their contents. What construction do you put upon the information received through the assistant of D——r-B——? and what notice, if any, should it meet with now , or hereafter, if application should be made for leave, or the event take place without? Having sometime since, called upon...
44To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [11 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, November 11, 1796. On November 21, 1796, Washington wrote to Hamilton : “Having written to you on Saturday the 11th. instant.” Letter not found. ]
45To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 6 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I fear that your opinion of Nov. 3d has been founded on a partial view of the case. You will remember that it has all along been a recd. opinion that the French had a right by Treaty to enjoy an indefinite asylum in our Ports: but that they could not claim the privilidge of selling Prizes in our Ports . The privilidge of an indefinite asylum in was also granted to British Ships of War &...
46To Alexander Hamilton from Robert G. Harper, 4 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
In passing thro’ this state, My dear sir, and South Carolina, I have taken some pains to ascertain the state of public opinion respecting the leading points of federal politicks, and have enjoyed considerable opportunities of doing so, particularly in the latter state. I believe it will not be disagreeable or wasteful to you to hear the result. I do not believe the states east of the Hudson...
47To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 3 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
After my letter of yesterday was despatched to you, the draught of the answer to Mr. Adet was presented for my approbation, with the opinions of the Gentlemen about me, that it would be expedient to publish it, and without delay. It appeared also, by information from the Secretary of State, that as far as public opinion had been expressed on the occasion, that this measure was looked to, &...
48From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 3 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
After my letter of yesterday was despatched to you, the draught of the answer to Mr Adet was presented for my approbation, with the opinions of the Gentlemen about me, that it would be expedient to publish it, and without delay. It appeared also, by information from the Secretary of State, that as far as public opinion had been expressed on the occasion, that this measure was looked to, &...
49To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 2 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
On Monday Afternoon I arrived in this City, and among the first things which presented themselves to my view, was Mr. Adets letter to the Secretary of State, published by his order, in the moment it was presented. The object in doing this is not difficult of solution; but whether the publication in the manner it appears, is by order of the Directory, or an act of his own, is yet to be learnt....
50From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 2 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
On monday Afternoon I arrived in this City, and among the first things which presented themselves to my view, was Mr Adets letter to the Secretary of State, published by his order, in the moment it was presented. The object in doing this is not difficult of solution; but whether the publication in the manner it appears, is by order of the Directory, or an act of his own, is yet to be learnt....