1From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 11 June 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Davies, who appreciates your character as he ought, having expressed a desire to be personally acquainted with you, I promised him a letter of introduction. I comply with this promise with the greater pleasure, as the impressions which this Gentleman has made upon me induce me to believe that you will be glad of the opportunity of making his acquaintance. He is Attorney of the UStates for...
2From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, [30–31 October 1800] (Hamilton Papers)
It is an awkward thing now to tell you that it was early my intention to send you the inclosed. But it is nevertheless true that the idea was repeatedly in my mind with the design of executing it & was as often driven out by the distractions of business &c. Always very truly Dr Sir yr Obed ser ALS , sold by Forest H. Sweet, Battle Creek, Michigan, January, 1958, Lot No. 141. Jay endorsed...
3From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 3 September 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you for your three letters in compliance with my request. They contain what I desired. But as they mingle the fact, respecting the communication of my letter to you to Lord Grenville, which I always understood to be confidential, I will thank you to send me a certificate of the sentiment which you recollect to have been given by me, and I will beg you to let it be as full and as...
4From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 19 August 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have occasion for a public purpose to allude to the reprobated instructions to our commissioners for making peace with Great Britain obliging them to act under the direction of the French Assembly. But though I have a general recollection of their tenor it is not precise enough for my object. I take it for granted your papers can afford the exact information. You will much oblige me by...
5From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 7 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
You have been informed of the loss of our Election in this City. It is also known that we have been unfortunate throughout Long Island & in West Chester. According to the Returns hitherto, it is too probable that we lose our Senators for this District. The moral certainty therefore is that there will be an Anti-fœderal Majority in the Ensuing Legislature, and this very high probability is that...
6From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 4 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
We are all here very anxious for the success of Mr Coleman. We know his abilities and we believe in his integrity. Your good disposition towards him is well understood—Yet it is feared that his pecuniary situation may prove an obstacle. It is undoubtedly a good rule to avoid embarrassed men in appointments—yet this like every other general rule may admit of exceptions in special cases. If I...
7From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 29 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The completion of the works in the vicinity of our City proceeds heavily. Some embarrassment is understood to arise in the War Department from the Question of Appropriations. I beg to be informed whether the sum appropriated by the Legislature of this State will come in aid of the Operation. Limited as that sum is, nothing upon a large scale can be undertaken in reference to it. Its Agency in...
8From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 12 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The survey of this port to the narrows inclusively has been executed and the expence defrayed out of the funds of the Corporation. But it is interesting to the question of the defence of our port to have a survey of the bay below the narrows to Sandy Hook. There are sand banks critically situated which merit consideration as proper sites for fortification. Such a survey was made under the...
9From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 12 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
After a plan for fortifying our port shall have been settled, the execution of it with energy & dispatch will demand a very great portion of the time and attention of a competent character as Superintendant. This task I cannot undertake consistently with my other occupations. Col Burr will be very equal to it and will I believe undertake it, if an adequate compensation be annexed. He would...
10From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, [26–30 January 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 25th. Various circumstances have prevented my being ready to make the Report you desire. The Survey of the Port made while I was at Philadelphia was but partial; not extending beyond the Narrows. A survey of the lower part of the Bay, which presents some objects worthy of Consideration, was effected by some of the Commanders of the British Army—And is in the...
11From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 18 December 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, December 18, 1798. “You may remember that I have heretofore recommended to you Mr. Inglis, who studied the law with me, for the Office of Notary. He entertains an idea that a vacancy for such an appointment now exists, and has reminded me of my promise to be useful to him—I with pleasure reiterate my recommendation.…” ALS , Columbia University Libraries. Space left blank in MS. James...
12From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 19 November 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 5 of November has recently reached me at this place and found me amongst avocations that scarcely leave me a moment to spare. You will probably have learnt from General Clarkson that the survey of the Port has been completed. But I do not recollect that I have had any answer to a suggestion in one of my letters respecting the employment of Engineers to assist in forming the...
13From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 8 November 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
The Attorney General has shewn me, in confidence, a late letter of yours to him and has asked my good offices as far as may consist with my judgment. These I always readily yield to misfortune. I have had a full and minute explanation with him of the money subject, and in my mind, there results a full conviction that there is no cause of reproach from that source, whatever may have been...
14From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 29 October 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I received this day a letter from the President of the United States, requesting me to concert with you the plan, & to superintend the execution of it, for giving effect to the Act of the Legislature of this state for the further Defence of this state and for other purposes. This I am accordingly ready to do, whenever you shall be pleased to require it. With very great respect & esteem I have...
15From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 17 September 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
The death of Mr. Remsen presents a vacancy of Notary which will be sought. Two applications are made to me—one by James Inglis Junr. who has just finished a Clerkship with me & taken a license as Atty in the Supreme Court—the other William Coleman lately connected in law business with Col Burr. Inglis is a young man of handsome abilities, of application & of irreproacheable conduct. He is a...
16From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 8 September 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I beg your pardon for having omitted to attend earlier to the suggestion in your letter of the 30th. of August respecting the defence of our ports. I am sincere in saying that a charge of this kind would on various accounts be unpleasant to me among the rest as likely to involve ill natured & foolish criticism. But I shall not decline the trust if you think proper to repose it provided the...
17From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 27 August 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I was very sorry when at Albany not to have seen you. I called the day after my arrival but you were then indisposed or abroad & the rest of my stay I was very unwell. An apprehension is excited here that in consequence of the Petitions of the Militia Officers the persons named to the new Companies will not be appointed. I take it for granted that this must be a groundless apprehension as far...
18From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 24 April 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your two favours of the 19th instant. I feel as I ought the mark of confidence they announce. But I am obliged by my situation to decline the appointment. This situation you are too well acquainted with to render it necessary for me to enter into explanation. There may arrive a crisis when I may conceive myself bound once more to sacrifice the interest of my family to public...
19From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 10 March 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the honor duely to receive Your Excellency’s letter of the 4th instant. I did not immediately answer it from an indistinct and confused recollection that a state of things existed in reference to the opposite party which did not permit my being concerned for the State. It now appears that I was not mistaken, and that I cannot with propriety execute Your Excellency’s desire. With perfect...
20From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 4 June 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
The session of Congress is about to close much better than I expected. All mischievous measures have been prevented and several good ones have been established. Among these additional provisions of revenue & some of force are not the least important. But as more immediately connected with the objects of your mission you will learn with satisfaction that the bill which had passed the senate...
21From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 6 May 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you herewith sundry papers and documents, which contain information that may be not useless to you in your mission. I had wished to have found liesure to say many things to you but my occupations permit me to offer only a few loose observations. We are both impressed equally strongly with the great importance of a right adjustment of all matters of past controversy and future good...
22From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 28 April 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed are communications from the Collector of this Port & from Mr. Seton of New York respecting a vessel for your accommodation. Mr. Trumbal at my request has visited the vessels here & thinks there is none but the Andriana (American) which will answer your purpose. Will you be so good as to decide as shall appear to you best upon the vessel you would like & if at New York Mr. Seton is...
23Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox to John Jay, 29 November 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Notwithstanding the information of this Morning respecting the Insertion in Dunlap’s Paper on Monday, certain reasons determine us rather to return to you the Paper with our certificate. You will find that we have altered nothing material to your purpose. The omission of what concerned the President has proceeded from a scruple about official propriety. We are with respect & esteem Dr Sir ...
24Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox to John Jay and Rufus King, 27 November 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
We have received your Letter of the 26th instant. We take to day to revise it and tomorrow or the day after we expect to hand it to some Printer for publication with our Certificate. We are with respect and esteem Your obedient servants John Jay } Esquires. Rufus King LS , in the handwriting of H, Columbia University Libraries. For background to this letter, see the introductory note to H to...
25From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 9 April 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
When we last conversed together on the subject we were both of opinion that the Minister expected from France should be received. Subsequent circumstances have perhaps induced an additional embarrassment on this point and render it adviseable to reconsider the opinion generally and to raise this further question—Whether he ought to be received absolutely or with qualifications? The King has...
26From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 9 April 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I have already written you by this Post. A further Question occurs. Would not a proclamation prohibitting our citizens from taking Comns. &c on either side be proper? Would it be well that it should include a declaration of Neutrality? If you think the measure prudent could you draft such a thing as you would deem proper? I wish much you could. Truly as Ever ALS , Columbia University Libraries.
27From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 18 December 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Your favours of the 26 of November & 16 instant have duly come to hand. I am ashamed that the former has remained so long unacknowleged; though I am persuaded my friends would readily excuse my delinquencies could they appreciate my situation. Tis not the load of proper official business that alone engrosses me; though this would be enough to occupy any man. Tis not the extra attentions I am...
28From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, [17 September 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, September 17, 1792. On September 27, 1792, Rufus King wrote to Hamilton : “Mr Jay … sent me your Letter of the 17th.” Letter not found. ]
29From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 3 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The proceedings at Pittsburgh, which you will find stated in the in-closed paper and other incidents, in the Western parts of this state, announce so determined and persevering a spirit of opposition to the laws, as in my opinion to render a vigorous exertion of the powers of government indispensable. I have communicated this opinion to the President and I doubt not his impressions will accord...
30From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 30 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The bearer of this is Lt Colonel Toussard, a French Officer, who lost his arm in our service during the late war. He is now Lt Colonel of the Regiment Du Cape , and lately from St Domingo with his family. Being desirous of purchasing some lands in our State, he is setting out on a journey to N York and has requested a line introducing him to you. This I readily comply with, as he is generally...