1To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, [12 May 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, May 12, 1790. ] Recommends John W. Johnston, a former clerk in Heth’s office, as “a young man of great silence, of rigid truth, and on whom I placed great trust and confidence.” Copy, Papers of George Washington, Library of Congress.
2To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 5 February 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
[ February 5, 1792. On June 7, 1792, Hamilton wrote to Heth : “The same cause … has postponed the acknowlegement of your three private letters of the 5. 27 & 29th of February.” Letter of February 5 not found. ] Heth was collector of customs at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia.
3To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 26 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, November 26, 1792. On January 1, 1793, Heth wrote to Hamilton : “I wrote you very fully the 26th Novr. last.” Letter not found. ]
4To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 10 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Bermuda Hundred [ Virginia ] November 10, 1790 . Acknowledges receipt of Hamilton’s “private letter of the 15th of September last.” States that Mr. Brown was innocent of “intentional falsehood” in swearing that Dennis Butler, an Irishman and master of the ship Bowman , was a citizen of United States. Also states that “Mr. Heathcote … is as conscious of being innocent of an intentional false...
5To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 16 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, June 16, 1791. On June 16, 1791, Heth wrote to Hamilton : “This will be accompanied with a public letter, enclosing a statement of outward tonnage.” Letter not found. ]
6To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 29 February 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
When at Petersburg the other day, I found an Idea prevailing that, Mr Randolph, the present Marshall, & myself, were about to exchange Offices, at which, I was a good deal surprised—tho’ it gave me no concern. But, on coming to Town this morning, it was suggested to me that Mr Randolphs friends might effect this exchange, without my knowledge or consent, by insinuating to the President that I...
7To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 1 January 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Private Pardon me I beseech you, for interrupting you, to beg an answer to my Official letter of the Decr. last, respecting the receiving money in Richmond. With respect to my private concerns, I am in a painful situation because I am in suspence—for, if the scheme of paying, & receiving money, in Richmond, cannot be adopted, the Office must be removed from this place to Petersburg. In which...
8To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 9 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
[ June 9, 1792. “The French Consul at Norfolk has lately adopted a practice of taking the registers of vessels from such Masters belonging to his Nation, as called there to report on their passage to this district. If he has a right so to do, I shall not be surprized, if some Masters should depart from hence without paying tonnage.” Letter not found. ] Extract, letterpress copy, Thomas...
9To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 14 October 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I have only three minutes allowd to ask whether you received a private letter with part of a news paper enclosed some time last Winter addressed to the particular care of Capt Stratton. The piece alluded to was written by yr Hble servt—and the letter contained observations, intended only for yourself. Let me hear from you on this subject I pray. You have herewith one of our papers, containing...
10To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 27 February 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Merchants of Richmond Petersburg & Manchester—by deputation—spent last friday, & saturday, on the Subject of petitioning Congress for the removal of the office from Bermuda Hundred. The scheme will end as I wishd—nothing will be done. It being acknowledged, pretty unanimously that, if there was only tolerable accommodations at the Hundred, they could have no good cause of complaint; it...
11To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 21 February 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have snatched up a pen to drop you a few hasty lines—not that I have any thing of real importance Just now to communicate—but to shew, that I am attentive to my promise. The Executive of this State— to whom is committed the management of the Sinking-fund—on considering your report to Congress, reduced the price which the sd fund was then giving for the Military Certificates of this State,...
12To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 16 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
This will be accompanied with a public letter, enclosing a statement of outward tonnage. Having readily complyed with your wishes in this instance; and as I ever shall be, to furnish you with any information in my power, or which the books or files in this office can afford, you will not I trust be displeased at my asking yr private opinion of the legality of such requests. Is it not requiring...
13To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 11 January 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I should have written to you long since, but from some doubts that a packet to you might excite curiosity, in your Post Office , not knowing of what kidney , your post-master & his clerks may be. Capt Stratton who now takes charge of this, promises to deliver it in person, and tho it is without Signature, you will be at no loss to guess from whom it comes, as it serves to enclose the piece...
14To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 20 November 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your private favor of the 10th. Inst found me at home. The death of a most tenderly beloved, & only daughter and the Peculiarly distressing situation of my dear companion in affliction, has chiefly confined me here for three weeks past. There has been but little to do at the Office. In conceiving that, I had reasons for apologising in the manner I did, for the frequency of my observations; you...
15To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 14 June 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I am favor’d with your private address of the 3d. Inst. Instead of making use of the Mayor of Petersburg to perfect the Sea letters —I got the favor of a County Magistrate to come down, who very readily, and without scruple, signed & sealed as many as I wished, being a more proper & consistent expedient, than the one suggested before. If I may Judge of the public-pulse , respecting the...
16To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 6 July 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Accept, I pray you, my dear friend, of my sincerest congratulations, on your second, and complete triumph, over the invidious persecutions of a base faction. The report of the Committee of Congress, has turned out precisely, as your friends here, had predicted —“The more you probe , examine, & investigate Hamiltons conduct; rely upon it, the greater he will appear.” But it was a cruel thing in...
17To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 23 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Sickness, loss of Clerks—but more especially, the close attention which I have been obligd to pay to the preparing of my last quarters accounts, has prevented me til now, from complying with the order of the Senate enclosed by you the 31st. August last. The low wages at which, I have hitherto employd my Clerks, has induced me to subjoin a note to my statement of emoluments, which, I hope will...
18To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 19 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Enclosed you have copy’s of a letter from me to the United States Atty for this District, with his answer, which are transmitted at his request. Finding that, several weeks after my first letter—process had not been served upon Horton, I wrote again, repeating the information & beging to know whether my first had been recd—some days ago, I saw him in Richmond, when he gave me the answer, of...
19To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 5 October 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Here am I, my dear Sir, at 8. OC. at night barrd & bolted up, in one end of a dreary Lumber House—after a fatiguing days work—with a smart fever upon me, and not a being on earth, to whom I can speak. And in case necessity Should oblige me to open the door, it is at all times, at the risque of being stab’d or shot, for sake of the cursed dross, contained in the Iron chest. Really, my present...
20To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 28 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Your very friendly & polite favor of the 7th Inst; was received—unsealed—a day or two ago in Richmond with sundry official letters. I beg, my dear Sir, that you will accept of my sincere thanks for the condescending attention which you have paid to my private concerns, and for your assurances of friendship. The business & system of banks, being but new in this country, I have never thought...
21To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 2 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The close application which I have been obliged to pay to the duties of my office, added to the unhealthyness of the place, has confined me at home some days, with a bilious intermittent fever. To this circumstance it is owing, that I have so soon received your very friendly answer of the 23d. Ulto. Believe me Dear Sir, had you been less frank in delivering your Sentiments and opinions—tho...
22To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 14 October 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Private The Distressing dilemma in wch I felt myself when I last addressd you in this way, induced me to turn to the 8th Sect. of the Collection Law. The Surveyor of this Port , was, & still is, laid up himself, unable to come out of his room. But, if he was ever so hearty, he is, as totally incapable of performing any one part of the duties of my Office, as your French valet. He is seldom...
23To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 23 December 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Private At our District Court last Week, a Petition was prescribed to the Judge to be transmitted to you, by Gurdon Backus in the suit which I instituted on the Registry bond for the Sl. Rambler, wch I informed you in July last, was sold in Africa. Tho I am not calld upon specially to make any observations on this case, Yet I hope, my opinion thereon, will not be considerd by you, as an...
24To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 25 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I observe in Fenno’s paper of the 12th. Inst. that a motion was made by Mr Ames “to take into consideration whether any, & what provision shall be made to the Commissioners of Loans in the respective States to defray their extra expences.” It was your opinion when I had the pleasure of seeing you last, that, the Collectors ought at least , to have a Salary eql. to the expences of their...