1From Alexander Hamilton to Melancton Smith, 18 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, December 18, 1791. On December 23, 1791, Smith wrote to Hamilton : “I am favored with yours of the 18th Instant.” Letter not found. ] Smith was a New York City merchant who had a contract in partnership with Hendrick Wykoff with the United States Government for supplying West Point. He had been H’s principal opponent at the New York Ratifying Convention in 1788 and was among...
2From Alexander Hamilton to Melancton Smith, 27 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I accept your proposals for Supplying the post of West point for the ensuing Year, at nine and one half cents per ration, pursuant to your letter of the 23rd. instant. I am Sir Your Obt. Sert. Copy, RG 217, Miscellaneous Treasury Accounts, 1790–1894, Account No. 2052, National Archives; LS , sold at Swann Galleries, November 3, 1949, Lot 52.
Being apart at some distance when your favor was received it has not been in our power sooner to give you a joint answer. We are now in a situation which enables us not only to compare our own ideas on the subject but to profit of some recent information from our seat of government where the State legislature is in session. Without going into details, which would be both tedious and...