1Description of a Cipher, [23 May 1803] (Hamilton Papers)
Pour se servir de l’Echiquier cy inclus, en place d’un Chiffre, afin d’empecher la decouverte de votre correspondance; employer la maniere suivante. Ayant ecris votre lettre comme de coutume; vous prepárerez le papier sur lequel vous ētes intentioné a coucher votre copie secrete de la meme grandeur que le carré en Echiquier, lequel ētant placé sur le dit papier, vous l’y fixerez par les quatre...
2To Alexander Hamilton from Sarah Alexander, Lady Stirling, 26 June 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, June 26, 1801. The calendar of this letter reads: “Thanks &c dated at New York.” Letter not found. ] Sarah Livingston Alexander was the daughter of Philip Livingston, second lord of the manor, and the widow of William Alexander, self-styled Lord Stirling, a major general in the American Revolution who died in 1783. Philip Hamilton’s calendar of letters “… taken by my brother Alexr...
3Associates of the Jersey Company to Alexander Hamilton and Josiah Ogden Hoffman, [20 April 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
[ April 20, 1804. “Probably it will be wholly out of our power to induce Mr. Van Vorst, from whom we purchased, to accept to any other property instead of a mortgage of the premises to secure his annuity, and he will certainly not allow it to be extinguished by accepting any equivalent. We are therefore obliged to provide the best security to purchasers which the case will admit, and we are...
4Associates of the Jersey Company to Alexander Hamilton and Josiah Ogden Hoffman, 19 April 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
[ April 19, 1804. “Sometime since Powles Hook was purchased for our mutual benefit from Mr. Van Vorst at a rent charge upon the whole of $6000 per annum forever. We have agreed to lay it out into town lots and dispose of it to purchasers, receiving a rent charge upon each lot. We are desirous to give to each purchaser a good and sufficient deed of conveyance, and also to provide for the...
5To Alexander Hamilton from Simeon Baldwin, 8 May 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New Haven, Connecticut, May 8, 1802. The dealer’s description of this letter reads: “Legal.” Letter not found. ] The Collector: A Magazine for Autograph and Historical Collectors , LIX, No. 1 (January, 1946), 20. Baldwin wrote this letter in reply to H to Baldwin, May 1, 1802 .
6To Alexander Hamilton from James A. Bayard, 8 March 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
I left Washington the 5th. and arrived here last evening. The letter which you did me the honor to write the 22d Ult. reached me on the 4th when I was occupied in arrangements for leaving the Seat of government. I remained in Washington on the 4th. thro’ necessity tho not without some curiosity to see the inauguration & to hear the speech. The scene was the same as exhibited upon former...
7To Alexander Hamilton from James A. Bayard, 29 December 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
Washington, December 29. 1801. States that “the cause of Messrs. Graves & Barnwell in which you were so obliging to mention my name as Counsel to the Plaintiffs” was argued in the Supreme Court of the United States and decided in favor of the defendant. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. The case of Graves et al. v The Boston Marine Insurance Company was heard before the Supreme Court...
8To Alexander Hamilton from James A. Bayard, 25 April 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
I have considered with a great deal of Attention the project recommended in your last letter of connected associations in the different States for the support of our Constitution & religion. The plan is marked with great ingenuity, but I am not inclined to think that it is applicable to the state of things in this Country. Such an association must be bottomed upon a stronger & more active...
9To Alexander Hamilton from James A. Bayard, 12 April 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
The apprehensions you appear to entertain of the effect of the intrigues of a certain person, if you will take my word for it are wholly without ground. I[n] fact little had been attempted & nothing accomplished. I answer only for the time present because I believe the Gentleman is waiting to see the result of the new state of things more completely developed, before he decides upon the Course...
10Egbert Benson, Richard Harison, and Alexander Hamilton to Charles Williamson, 6 August 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, August 6, 1802. Propose that Williamson go to England to settle his dispute with William Hornby and Patrick Colquhoun. Copy, Rochester Historical Society, Rochester, New York. Benson, Harison, and H were Williamson’s attorneys. See William Hornby to H, September 15, 1801 . Benson, a Federalist, was attorney general of New York from 1777 to 1788, a member of the New York Assembly from...
11To Alexander Hamilton from William Bingham, 21 July 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
Having a Packet of Papers which by your Desire were deposited with me, & which have long laid dormant in my Possession, & being about embarking in a Short time for Europe, permit me to return them to you. You will gratify me exceedingly, by furnishing me with an opportunity of rendering you any services during my Stay in Europe. I request you to make my respectfull Complements acceptable to...
12Indenture: Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Hamilton to Catherine Bleecker, John R. Bleecker, Elizabeth Brinckerhoff … (Hamilton Papers)
Albany, March 10, 1804. Convey to the heirs of Rutger Bleecker the land in Cosby Manor which Hamilton had purchased in trust for them in 1797. DS , Oneida County Clerk’s Office, Utica, New York. Bleecker had been an Albany merchant. See “Deed from Peter Goelet, Robert Morris, and William Popham,” April 4, 1797 . See also the introductory note to Philip Schuyler to H, August 31, 1795 , and...
13To Alexander Hamilton from Cornelius Bogert, 29 March 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] March 29, 1802. Discusses the facts in the “causes of Vanderheuvel against the Columbian Insurance Company.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Bogert was a New York City lawyer. H made the following entry in his Law Register, 1795–1804: “Columbian Insur: } Of Counsel with Bogert Company Adsm J Vandenheuvel Retainer 100” ( D , partially in H’s handwriting, New York Law...
14Coroner’s Inquest, [13 July–2 August 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
City & County of Newyork } ss An Inquisition Indented taken for the People of the State of Newyork At the third Ward of the City of Newyork in the County of Newyork, the thirteenth day of July in the year of Our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and four, and Continued by adjournment until the Second day of August in the year Aforesaid, before me John Burger Coroner for the Said City and County...
15Aaron Burr to David Hosack, [12 July 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Burr’s respectful Compliments. He requests Dr. Hosack to inform him of the present state of Genl. H. and of the hopes which are entertained of his recovery. Mr. Burr begs to know at what hours of the [day] the Dr. may most probably be found at home, that he may repeat his inquiries. He would take it very kind if the Dr. would take the trouble of calling on him as he returns from Mr....
16To Alexander Hamilton from Aaron Burr, 18 June 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
I send for your perusal a letter signed Ch. D. Cooper which, though apparently published some time ago, has but very recently come to my knowledge. Mr Van Ness who does me the favor to deliver this, will point out to you that Clause of the letter to which I particularly request your attention. You might perceive, Sir, the necessity of a prompt and unqualified acknowledgment or denial of the...
17To Alexander Hamilton from Aaron Burr, 22 June 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. V Ness has this evening reported to me Verbally that you refuse to answer my last letter, that you consider the course I have taken as intemperate and unnecessary and some other conversation which it is improper that I should notice. My request to you was in the first instance proposed in a form the most simple in order that you might give to the affair that course to which you might be...
18To Alexander Hamilton from Aaron Burr, 15 November 1803 (Hamilton Papers)
I have paid to Mr Thompson Seventeen hundred and fifty dollars, taken up the Leases of Ross & Duzenbury and left the Titles to the house in Chapel & Murray St. It was my intention now to have paid the Whole—But having ordered this house (cor. of Chap. & Murray) to be sold which has not been effected the balance of about 2000 Ds. is left to be discharged by Sale of the house. James Clapp who is...
19To Alexander Hamilton from Aaron Burr, 21 June 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 20th. inst. has been this day received. Having Considered it attentively I regret to find in it nothing of that sincerity and delicacy which you profess to Value. Political opposition can never absolve Gentlemen from the necessity of a rigid adherence to the laws of honor and the rules of decorum: I neither claim such priviledge nor indulge it in others. The Common sense of...
20Aaron Burr’s Instructions to William P. Van Ness, [22–23 June 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
⟨–⟩ of withdrawing the Letter. Impossible unless in lieu of it I should send a Challenge vid. the Hypothesis the defiance a. b. so uncommunicative that p. s. did not till now know his impressions of a H. letter, except by Conjecture. No 7 a. b. far from conceiving that rivalship authorises a latitude not otherwise justifiable, always feels greater delicacy in such cases & would think it...
21Aaron Burr to William P. Van Ness, [9 July 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
I should with regret pass over another Day. It is left however to your discretion. If the Fort is agreed on, it will [be] impossible to make an early business without fatigue. What you shall do will be satisfactory to me—except an early Morning hour. I have no predilection for time. From 7 to 12 is the least pleasant—but anything so we but get on. If you go out, leave a line for me with your...
22Aaron Burr to William P. Van Ness, [25 June 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
I am disappointed of my ride. If xxx should propose to charge you with any verbal message, you may reply, that being authorised for a particular purpose, you cannot so far exceed your power and assume upon your self as to present to your principal an overture for negociation on a new basis—that you consider the negociation in which you engaged, as concluded and that it would be highly improper...
23Aaron Burr to William P. Van Ness, [26 June 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
The last propn. of gen H. is a worse libel than even the letter of Dr C & throughout manifests a disposition to evade. A “letter properly adapted”—Who is to judge of this—Mr B. will judge for himself & thinks his two letters very properly adapted & having expressed himself definitively on that point he is surprized to find it again brought in question. “any particular instance of dishonorable...
24To Alexander Hamilton from Madame de Caradeux Lecaye, 6 March 1803 (Hamilton Papers)
Qu’il m’est peinible d’avoir à vous apprendre par Cette lettre, Monsieur le Général, que je N’ai plus l’éspoire de revoir mes Amis de l’Amérique comme je m’en flattois pour ce Printems; Vous qui avez été témoins de mes regrets en les quittant, Vous jugerez aisement de mon Chagrin d’être obligée de renoncer au doux espoire de ma réunion avec eux, je ne Croyois pas pouvoir le Sentir aussi...
25To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Carroll of Carrollton, 19 December 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
Annapolis [ Maryland ] December 19, 1801 . Encloses three drafts of eight thousand dollars each payable to Isaac Bronson. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Carroll paid Isaac Bronson, a New York City businessman, twenty-four thousand dollars for discharging a lien against twelve thousand acres of land which Carroll had purchased from Robert C. Johnson. For information concerning the...
26Partition Deed among John Laurance, John B. Church, and Alexander Hamilton, 28 June 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 28, 1804. Describes the lots in the townships in Scriba’s Patent which Hamilton, Church, and Laurance had drawn by lot from land which they had purchased from Jacob Mark and Company in 1796 and from Robert Gilchrist and Theodosius Fowler in 1802. Copy, Oneida County Clerk’s Office, Deeds, Vol. X, 499–502, Utica, New York. For background to this document, see “Mortgage by John...
27Mortgage by John Laurance, John B. Church, and Alexander Hamilton to Robert Gilchrist, 21 August 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, August 21, 1802. Laurance, Church, and Hamilton give a mortgage to Gilchrist on an undivided one-half of Townships 9, 10, a portion of 17, and certain lots in Townships 21 and 15, all located in Scriba’s Patent, as security for the payment of $21,765. By the terms of the mortgage each is to pay Gilchrist $7,255 in five equal annual payments with interest from May 18, 1802. Copy,...
28Deed of Trust to John B. Church, John Laurance, and Matthew Clarkson, [6 July 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
This Indenture made the Sixth day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and four Between Alexander Hamilton of the City of New York Counsellor at Law of the one part and John B. Church John Laurance and Matthew Clarkson of the City of New York Esquires of the other part Witnessth That the Said Alexander Hamilton for and in consideration of one Dollar to him in hand paid by...
29Bill for Alexander Hamilton’s Coffin, [13 July 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
The Committee Appointed by the Corporation to Conduct the Funeral of the Late General Hamilton Dr 1804 To Fenwick Lyell July 13 To a Mahogany Coffin £10..0..0 $25 D , Historical Documents Collection, on deposit at Queens College, City University of New York. On July 13, 1804, the Common Council of the City of New York “Resolved unanimously that the Common Council of the City of New York...
30Draft of a Resolution for the Legislature of New York for the Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, [29 … (Hamilton Papers)
Resolved , as the sense of the Legislature, that the following amendments ought to be incorporated into the Constitution of the United States as a necessary safeguard in the choice of a President and Vice President against pernicious dissensions as the most eligible mode of obtaining a full and fair expression of the public will in such election. 1st. That Congress shall from time to time...