From Alexander Hamilton to Richard Varick, 12 [May] 1795
To Richard Varick1
Albany [May]2 12, 1795
Dear Sir
The last post but one brought me your letter transmitting me a certificate of the freedom of the City of New York. Among the precious testimonies, I have received, of the approbation of my immediate fellow Citizens, none is more acceptable or more flattering to me than that which I now acknowlege. I beg you to convey to the Board the expressions of my high sense of the honor they have done me (which I shall be happy in every opportunity of manifesting) as well as of my sincere respect for themselves.
With true friendship and regard I have the honor to be Dr Sir
Your very obed servant
Alexander Hamilton
Richard Varrick Esqr
Mayor of the City of New York
ALS, Municipal Archives and Record Center, New York City; ALS (facsimile), Columbia University Libraries.
1. For background to this letter, see Varick to H, April 30, 1795.
2. H incorrectly dated this letter “April.” This is, of course, an error, for Varick’s letter to H was not written until April 30, 1795. On the back of H’s letter to Varick is written “recd & filed May 18th: 1795.”
On the day after H wrote this letter to Varick, he and Henry Glen, a resident of Schenectady, New York, and a former member of the New York Assembly, took a week’s trip to Cooperstown, New York. Glen’s account of the trip reads:
“A Journall on a Rout to the westward with Colo Hamilton Sett of from Schonectady with the said Colo on the 13. May 1795. Being of a Wednesday in the morning. H Glen
“1st. days march. Brackfast 7. mile from Schonectady at Albert Veeders dinnerd. at F Putman on tripe. Hills 25 miles from Schonectady. Got that day to Major Freys—being 36 Miles.
“2d. days Brackfast at M. Freys dind. at White Town & Got that Eveing within a Mile of Fort Stanwix being 54. miles—laid with Colo. Colbraths.
“3d. days whent in the morning to F Stanwix & to wood Creek fiewed the old Fort &c &c their is a Small Block House in the Center of the old Fort with a fine Cannon the Coular weare Hist on the Flagg staff by order of Colo Colbrath. as a Compliment to Colonel Hamilton & my self, then Returnd. to whites Town their dind. with Mr. Jonas Platt same day sett of for the widow Schomakers ware we Loadged.
“4th. day sett of for Copper Town Brackfastd, at ⟨–⟩ 7 miles Got to Coppers. Town at 4. OClock being 28 miles dind. with Judge Copper the Same day laid at the Judges took a flew of the place Licke &c Saw the River Called Susquehannah—ware Lake Otsago Emptys in & Large boats may Go down for hundreds of miles Saw one Go down Said River.
“5th. day being monday left Copper Town about 2. oClock laid that night at Colo Frys the
“6th. being Tusday went to Stonrabie & Johnstown laid at Capt. deGraffe—13. miles from Schonectady
“7th. wednesday Got home at ten oClock Colo Hamilton Remained till Tursday morning then whent for Albany.
“PS. Saw the Lake Called Schuylers Lake a Very pretty one its about 6 miles Longe & 2 wide Otsago 9 longe & 2 wide.
“NB. Saw a boy of Colo. whites in whites Town of 14. years & Some months was only High 2. feet & 11. Inches by apparence he weighs about 80. pounds.” (ADS, New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.)