271From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, [14 September 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
The enclosed was delivered me by Doctr. Schuyler with a request to transmit it to one of the delegates of the state for patronage. He assures me that what he asks has been done in similar cases; particularly for some Hospital surgeons belonging to the State of Pensylvania. If so there will prob⟨ably⟩ be no difficulty in the case. I beg l⟨eave⟩ to recommend it to your attention. Doctor Schuyler...
272From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [30 September 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
I think I may address the subject of this letter to Your Excellency with more propriety than to any other person, as it is purely of a military nature, as you are best acquainted with my services as an officer, and as you are now engaged in assisting to form the arrangements for the future peace establishment. Your Excellency knows that in March 82, I relinquished all claim to any future...
273Constitutional Convention. Nomination of William Jackson as Secretary of the Constitutional Convention, 25 May 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, May 25, 1787. On this date Hamilton nominated Major William Jackson as secretary of the Constitutional Convention. Gaillard Hunt and James Brown Scott, eds., The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 Which Framed the Constitution of the United States of America. Reported by James Madison (New York, 1920), 18. Of the many editions of Madison’s notes of debates in the...
274Constitutional Convention. Notes Taken in the Federal Convention, [1–26 June 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Notes for June 1, 1787] [Madison] 1— The way to prevent a majority from having an interest to oppress the minority is to enlarge the sphere. Madison 2— Elective Monarchies turbulent and unhappy— Men unwilling to admit so decided a superiority of merit in an individual as to accede to his appointment to so preeminent a station. If several are admitted as there will be many competitors of...
275New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act for Regulating Elections, [6 February 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton observed that when the discriminating clauses admitted into the bill by that house, were introduced, he was restrained by motives of respect for the sense of a respectable part of the house, from giving it any other opposition, than a simple vote. The limited operation, they would have, made him less anxious about their adoption: but he could not reconcile it to his judgment, or...
276From Alexander Hamilton to Egbert Benson, 8 June 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, June 8, 1784. The catalogue description of a letter to Benson from Hamilton reads: “Mainly on legal business, concluding: ‘No thing new here except that the Whigs by way of eminence (as they distinguish themselves) are degenerating fast into a very peaceable set of people.’” Letter not found. ] ALS , sold at Anderson Galleries, May 9, 1912, Lot 65.
277Oration before the New York State Society of the Society of the Cincinnati, 4 July 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, July 4. 1786. According to the transactions of the New York State Society, the meeting of the society was “opened by an oration delivered by Colonel Hamilton.” John C. Schuyler, Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati John Schuyler, Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati, Formed by the Officers of the American Army of the Revolution, 1783 (New York, 1886). , 89.
278From Alexander Hamilton to William Duer, 18 July 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Poughkeepsie, New York, July 18, 1788. On July 19, 1788, Hamilton wrote to James Madison: “Yesterday I communicated to Duer our situation which I presume he will have communicated to you.” Letter not found ]. Duer was a financier and merchant who was appointed Secretary of the Board of Treasury in 1786 and in the same year became a member of the New York Assembly.
279Petition of John Lamb, [1–9 February 1785] (Hamilton Papers)
To The Honorable The Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled. The Memorial and Petition of John Lamb of the State of Connecticut humbly sheweth That Your Memorialist believing it to be the interest of the United States to form some treaty of amity and Commerce with the States of Barbary; and inferring from the general sense of persons with whom Your Memorialist has...
280From Alexander Hamilton to John B. Church, 18 June 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, June 18, 1784. On July 24, 1784, Church wrote to Hamilton : “Two Days since Coll Clarkson arrived and brought me your Favor of the 18th June.” Letter not found. ]
281From Alexander Hamilton to Egbert Benson, [1785–1787] (Hamilton Papers)
[ 1785–1787. ] Recounts the facts in the case of Mary Franklin, Executor of Henry Franklin v Teunis Slingerlands . LS , from a photostat in the New York State Library, Albany. Benson, a New York lawyer, was a member of the first New York State Assembly in 1777, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1781 to 1784, and attorney general of New York from 1777 to 1787. He was a member of the...
282From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, [25 January 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, January 25, 1789. ] On February [5–28], 1789, Wadsworth wrote to Hamilton : “Your favor of the 25 Jany came in good time.” Letter not found. ]
283From Alexander Hamilton to John Sullivan, 6 June 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
You will no doubt have understood that the Antifederal party has prevailed in this State by a large majority. It is therefore of the utmost importance that all external circumstances should be made use of to influence their conduct. This will suggest to you the great advantage of a speedy decision in your State, if you can be sure of the question, and a prompt communication of the event to us....
284New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act Acknowledging the Independence of Vermont, [14 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
The public have reason to regret your indisposition, as it deprives them of the satisfaction they would otherwise have received from reading verbatim , the judicious speech of that zealous patriot Col. Hamilton, on his bill for recommending to Congress to admit into the union the assumed state of Vermont. As there has and still continues to be much contrariety of opinion on this interesting...
285Petition to the Corporation of the City of New York in Common Council, 21 March 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 21, 1787. Hamilton was one of eighteen petitioners who, on this date, requested the New York City Common Council to remove a statute of William Pitt located “in the most central Part” of Wall and Smith Streets. The statue, the petition stated, “greatly obstructs the free Passage of Carriages &c., through both Wall & Smith Streets.” DS , Municipal Archives and Records Center,...
286From Alexander Hamilton to Cornelius Hendrickson, [1786] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, 1786. ] “Mr. Laurence Kortright of this City has requested me to write to you concerning a suit in Chancery which has been depending between Mr Cornelius P. Lowe and himself on a matter in which the estate of his brother to which You are an Executor is concerned; and in which suit Mr. B Livingston of this place and myself were employed as Council for Mr. Kortright. I send you...
287From Alexander Hamilton to John Chaloner, 8 February 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, February 8, 1784. On February 12, 1784, Chaloner wrote to Hamilton : “Your two favours of the fifth & Eighth Instant are both reced.” Letter of February 8 not found. ]
288Report on a Bond Due Columbia College, 14 March 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] March 14, 1786 . Reports with other members of a committee to the regents of the University of the State of New York the circumstances of a supposed tender of money by Robert C. Livingston to Columbia College. ADS , Columbia University Libraries. At this time the regents of the University of the State of New York controlled Columbia College. Robert Cambridge Livingston was the...
289From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, September 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Excellency’s friendly and obliging letter of the 28th Ulto. came safely to hand. I thank you for your assurance of seconding my application to General Morgan. The truth of that affair is, that he purchased the watch for a trifle of a British soldier, who plundered Major Cochran at the moment of his fall at York Town. I should be deeply pained my Dear Sir if your scruples in regard to a...
290From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 26 September 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
I received last night your letter of the 8th. instant, accompanied by one from Mr. L’hommedieu and yourself to Mr. Floyd and myself. I shall in consequence write to the Governor on the subject; though if I recollect right, I did in an official letter to him mention all that I can now say though perhaps at greater length—to wit that the resolutions of the senate & Assembly were committed for...
291Constitutional Convention. Remarks in Favor of a Motion Increasing the Number in the House of Representatives, [8 … (Hamilton Papers)
Col: Hamilton expressed himself with great earnestness and anxiety in favor of the motion. He avowed himself a friend to a vigorous Government, but would declare at the same time, that he held it essential that the popular branch of it should be on a broad foundation. He was seriously of opinion that the House of Representatives was on so narrow a scale as to be really dangerous, and to...
292From Alexander Hamilton to Major General Nathanael Greene, [1 October 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
By this time I presume My Dear General you have returned to your ancient residence. I had the pleasure of seeing Mrs. Greene at New York; and was induced by her to hope you would be prevailed upon to become a fellow citizen of ours. I know you have long had a partiality for our state; but I have been afraid, and have not yet banished my apprehensions, that your new Mistress would detach you...
293Constitutional Convention. Remarks on the Ratification of the Constitution, [10 September 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton . No Convention convinced of the necessity of the plan will refuse to give it effect on the adoption by nine States. He thought this mode less exceptionable than the one proposed in the article, and would attain the same end. Hunt and Scott, Debates Gaillard Hunt and James Brown Scott, eds., The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 Which Framed the Constitution of the United...
294From Alexander Hamilton to John B. Church, 24 November 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, November 24, 1785. On April 5, 1786, Church wrote to Hamilton : “I am in your Debt and have to thank you for your Letters of the 24 Novr. 6 Decr. & 1st Feby.” Letter of November 24 not found. ]
295Subscription to the New-York Manufacturing Society, [17 March 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, March 17, 1789. ] On this date Hamilton’s name was listed as one of the subscribers to the New-York Manufacturing Society. The [New York] Daily Advertiser , March 17, 1789. The New-York Manufacturing Society had been organized on January 7, 1789. At a later meeting it was resolved to raise a fund by subscription for the establishment of a woolen factory, the shares to be £10 each....
296New York Assembly. Report on a Petition from George Fisher, [8 February 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton, from the Committee to whom was referred the petition of George Fisher, reported, that they have enquired into the circumstances of his case, and are of opinion that it will be proper to grant him relief, either by taking back the land mentioned in his petition, and returning the deposit money, or by setting off to him so much of the land as will amount to the deposit money, in...
297Receipt to Andrew Craig and William Cooper, 23 January 1786 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, January 23, 1786. Receipt for a deed to a tract of land in George Croghan’s Otsego Patent. ADS , anonymous donor. Cooper, who later founded Cooperstown, New York, was the father of James Fenimore Cooper, the novelist. Cooper and Craig were residents of Burlington, New Jersey, and both were land speculators. For the text of this document and an explanation of its contents, see the...
298From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas McKean, 10 February 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, February 10, 1789. “I duly received the letter which you did me the honor to write me of the 2d of Decr. last.… With regard to your Bond against Dowdle, when I first received it I made diligent inquiry after him, but I found that his situation and principles were equally desperate & that to make any attempt to recover the money would be to add fruitlessly to your loss.…” ALS ,...
299Alexander Hamilton’s Account with the Government of the United States, 7 March 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I A March 7th. 1789 Army in old Emissions Dr. To John Pierce Pay Master General, his account old emissions For Five thousand six hundred and twenty nine dollars 30/90 old Emissions that Lieut Col: Hamilton late aid de Camp to General Washington, credits on the settlement of his account at the Treasury the 2nd instant the specie value of which deducted from the amount in Specie 5.629.30 O.E....
300From Alexander Hamilton to Hugh Seton, [1 January 1785] (Hamilton Papers)
I presume Mr. Jones has ere this informed you of the disagreeable turn of your affair with Mr. Wilkes; but as you first committed it to my management I think it proper to give you some account of its conclusion. As Mr. Jones does not at this time practice, he employed Mr. Burr to issue process against Mr. Wilkes upon which he was put into confinement; pursuant to your expectation that his...