51To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 31 December 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
You will find annexed hereto the Copy of a letter just received from Charles Bridgen Esqr. and enclosed my Answer, which after reading You will be kind enough to send to him. I suppose myself to be founded in saying that the suit contemplated, cannot be brought against me, otherwise no Man whose Name is on another Mans paper, can be safe, At any rate I request your Aid as a professional Man...
52From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 28 December 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I received yesterday your’s by Post, which I communicated immediately to the Directors of both Banks, that is, so much as concerned each party. It has been very consolatory to the Bank of New York & will do good. All will be well. Mr. Alexander McComb applied, while I was in Office, respecting some land he & Edgar had purchased of the Public and on which they had made a partial payment which...
53From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [23 December 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote to you two days ago on the subject of obtaining an instruction from the Bank of the U States to the Direction of the Office here to prevent a speedy repetition of their call on the Bank of New York. This Bank has so large a proportion of its whole Capital in the power of the Office that if it be not tranquillized on the subject of demands from that quarter, it will be driven to such...
54From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [21 December 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I did not understand by your letter of the 17th. of November whether you meant or not to authorise the immediate commencement of the sale of Stock. If you think this measure will become indispensable, it may be well to anticipate the execution; though indeed sales of Stock are at this juncture nearly impracticable. Yet I imagine it will be agreeable to the Bank to have permission to...
55From Alexander Hamilton to Stephen Higginson, 20 December 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, December 20, 1796. On January 12, 1797, Higginson wrote to Hamilton : “Your Letter of 20 of last month I have received.” Letter not found. ]
56From Alexander Hamilton to William Cooper, [16 December 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter with a Post note of a thousand dollars on account of the Mortgage of the lands formerly Holkers in which Mr. Church is interested. The papers respecting this affair in my possession will be looked up & sent to Mr. Laurance by Mondays Post. This letter will serve you as a Receipt. Yrs. truly ALS , from a typescript furnished by an anonymous donor. Cooper, the founder...
57From Alexander Hamilton to Rufus King, 16 December 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received, my dear Sir, your several letters of the 25 of August 10 & 11th. of Septr. You know my sentiments towards you too well to ascribe my delay in answering them to any other cause than the imperiousness of avocations with which I could not dispense. Public opinion, taking the Country at large, has continued since you left us to travel on in a right direction, and, I trust, will...
58From Alexander Hamilton to Herman LeRoy, William Bayard, and James McEvers, 16 December 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, December 16, 1796. Discusses the Holland Land Company’s interest in Robert Morris’s proposed negotiations with the Seneca Indians. ALS , Gemeentearchief Amsterdam, Holland Land Company. These documents were transferred in 1964 from the Nederlandsch Economisch-Historisch Archief, Amsterdam. LeRoy, Bayard, and McEvers were partners in a New York City mercantile firm which represented...
59To Alexander Hamilton from Luke Codwise, 15 December 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, December 15, 1796. “Mr. J W Delaney & myself having made a settlement of our Accounts you will please discontinue the Suit commenced against him on my Account.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Codwise was a New York sea captain. John William Delaney was a New York merchant. As captain of the brig Glasgow , Codwise left New York on November 25, 1795, for a voyage to the...
60[From Alexander Hamilton to the Citizens of New-York], [13 December 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
The [New York] Argus. Greenleaf’s New Daily Advertiser , December 27, 1796. In reprinting this handbill signed by “A True American,” the Argus stated that on December 13, 1796, “three thousand of the following hand-bill were slily pushed under the knockers and doors of the citizens under cover of the darkness of the night.” The Argus suggests, but does not categorically state, that H wrote...
61Federal Republican, [12 December 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
For the Minerva. To the Citizens of New-York. Fellow Citizens, Elections in Republics are always of importance. The approaching one may with truth be said to be peculiarly so. No one can doubt that the steady and prosperous course of our government, hitherto is very much owing to the well deserved weight and influence of the excellent and beloved patriot, who now fills the presidential chair,...
62To Alexander Hamilton from Stephen Higginson, 9 December 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Letter of 28 of last month I received, & communicated its contents to some of our Electors. a majority of them were at first inclined to throw away their Votes from Mr Pinckney lest he should rise above Adams; but your information as to Vermont; with some observations made to them shewing the danger of so doing decided all but three, who were determined upon interested & personal motives...
63The Answer, [8 December 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
For The Minerva. The French republic have, at various times, during the present war, complained of certain principles, and decisions of the American government, as being violations of its neutrality, or infractions of the treaty made with France in the year 1778. These complaints were principally made in the year 1793, and explanations, which, till now, were deemed satisfactory, were made by...
64To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 8 December 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I intended to have sent you Bank notes. Disappointments which are in this City day by day happening have prevented, but the above draft of Joseph Higbie in favor of Garrett Cottringer for $1000 will be honored and you can have it discounted, so that I hope this Remittance will answer the Purpose and you will Credit me for the same. I am truly Yrs J Higbies draft 8 Decr at 30 ds on Robinson &...
65To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [8 December 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I have recd. your Letter of Decr. 6th. The Warrant for the sum due to the Bank of New York was issued punctually, by some neglect or accident in the Treasurers Office, it remained undischarged. I have taken measures for the payment. By a Letter from Mr. Wilkes I find that the Bank claim a payment of Interest by way of discount and the 200.000 Dollars continued on Loan on the security of a...
66From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [6 December 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
The President of the Bank of New York called upon me yesterday and manifested considerable anxiety about the State of the Bank. It seems the course of things lately, and their large accommodation to the Government, have produced a heavy ballance against them in favor of the Office of Discount at this place, which has lately called for 100000 Ds in specie & it is apprehended may speedily call...
67To Alexander Hamilton from Catharine Miller, 3 December 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I regret that I have only time to tell my beloved friend Colo Hamilton what he already knows—that my best affections—my liveliest gratitude, and purest friendship are his and that I send him a Small Box of Oranges from My Own Garden. I hope they may arrive Safe—and if the frost should spare them, I will insure them to be exlent. With My Compliments to Mrs Hamilton and love to the Dear Children...
68From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, [1 December 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I have lately received a line from you. I had been apprised of the machination to cheat us into Mr Burr but I have no apprehension of its success. My chief fear is that the attachment of our Eastern friends to Mr. Adams may prevent their voting for Pinckney likewise, & that some irregularity or accident may deprive us of Adams & let in Jefferson. Judge Tichener in passing through informed me...
69To Alexander Hamilton from Henry Sadler and Company, November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, November, 1796. “We take the liberty of inclosing Copy of an obligation given for payt. of Commission on a certain contract made with the Agents of the French Republic —copy of which contract you have also herewith. As the F Republick would not pay for the Leather immediately on delivery—nor in Specie, and not having yet paid for the Amount of Leather delivered agreeable to said...
70To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 30 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
The Arch Duke having expelled Jourdan & Moreau from Germany the Parties are in respect to territory in this Quarter where they were when the campaign began. Buonaparte by the latest accounts from Italy is critically circumstanced, and it seems not improbable that he likewise will be compelled to retire from Lombardy. The mission of Lord Malmesbury remains undecided, and though the negotiation...
71From Alexander Hamilton to Stephen Higginson, 28 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, November 28, 1796. On December 9, 1796, Higginson wrote to Hamilton : “Your Letter of 28 of last month I received.” Letter not found. ] Higginson, who had commanded a privateer during the American Revolution and had been a delegate to the Continental Congress from Massachusetts in 1782 and 1783, was one of Boston’s wealthiest merchants and a prominent Federalist.
72From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 22 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you for your Note sending me Adet’s letter. The present is in my opinion as critical a situation as our Government has been in—requiring all its prudence all its wisdom all its moderation, all its firmness. Though the thing is now passed, I do not think it useless to say to you that I was not well pleased with the Secretary of State’s answer to Adets note communicating the order...
73To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 21 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Having written to you on Saturday the 11th. instant (accompanying it with enclosures) without hearing any thing from you in the course of last week, or by the Mail of this day, I begin to have uneasy sensations for the fate of my letter. To this cause, & to my solicitude to have the Papers returned, you must ascribe the trouble of receiving this letter. If my last got safe to your hands, &...
74To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 19 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I am but just returned from the City of Washington after a long absence, and find your letter of the 10 Inst with others awaiting me, as yet I hardly know my Position, what I can or cannot do, but after looking round and counting Claims & Resources I will write to you again and you may rest assured that I will do all I can for your Convenience, for I am your constant & faithful Friend & Servt...
75To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus Putnam, 19 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
The eight acre Lot No. 305 belong to one of the rights Drawn in your Name in the Ohio Companys Purchas Lies adjoining to one owned by Commedore Abraham Whipple (Late of Rhode Island) who is desierous of purchasing it from you, Commedore Whipple after being much reduced in his property (by the failure of public Credit: like most of us who Served there Country in the late War), has retired to...
76To Alexander Hamilton from Theodore Sedgwick, 19 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
The letters inclosed will explain themselves. I will only add one fact—the young man “who was going to transact some business up the north river” came directly here in the stage which communicates with New York and of course went not nigh the river at all & is now waiting only for my answer. I need not say that this information must be kept secret, for however proper it may be, and I esteem it...
77Enclosure: Theodore Sedgwick to Jonathan Dayton, [19 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
Last evening, my dear sir, I had the pleasure to receive your favours of the 12th. & 13th. insts. accept for them and for your friendly congratulation on my appointment to a seat in the senate, my sincere acknowledgments. Believe me, that event, however grateful to my friends, is not pleasing to me. I preferred a seat in the house to any public station whatever, but I had firmly decided to...
78From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [19 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I duly received your letter of the 12th. instant. My avocations have not permitted me sooner to comply with your desire. I have looked over the papers & suggested alterations & corrections; and I have also numbered the paragraphs I. II. III &c in the order in which it appears to me eligble they should stand in the Speech. I thought upon full reflection you could not avoid an allusion to your...
79To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 17 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
You must feel interested in knowing how our affairs stand with France, I give you a summary of them. The Note to Colo. Pickering contains a summary of all the complaints of France since the commencement of the present War. They are as follows. That the Courts of the United States have taken Cognizance of Prizes to French Vessells. That the Treaty has been misconstrued, by permitting the...
80To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 17 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, November 17, 1796. On December 21 1796, Hamilton wrote to Wolcott : “I did not understand by your letter of the 17th. of November whether you meant or not to authorise the immediate commencement of the sale of the Stock.” Letter not found. ]
81To Alexander Hamilton from John C. Glover, 16 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, November 16, 1796. Asks what action should be taken in regard to damages “sustained” by the ship Mary “in case the Broker will not pay the damages when due.” L, in the handwriting of Richard Hughes, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Glover was a New York City merchant. John Henry, an insurance broker. Under the date of November 12, 1796, the following entry appears in H’s Cash...
82To Alexander Hamilton from David Ross, 16 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Being engaged in electioneering prevented my writing as soon as I intended that a Mr. Reese (formerly of Baltimore & now connected with a Whole sale Store in Philadelphia) is said to have circulated in George Town, that he had seen, or heard of, a letter of yours to your friends in one of the West India Islands, in which you boasted of the hand you had in promoting our General Government but...
83Enclosure: Jonathan Dayton to Theodore Sedgwick, [13 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
This will be delivered to you by a young man who was going to transact some business up the North river, & whom, since writing the other letter, I have engaged to call upon you with it, & to bring me your answer. Every moments reflection serves only to impress me more with the importance of our fixing upon some plan of cooperation to defeat the designs of Mr. J——’s friends. If Mr. A. cannot...
84To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, [12 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
Owing to the absence of Mr Whelen the matter with his concern was not settled till just before my late illness. I am now just getting out. The Pattersons take back their balance, about 10,000 Ds in their Lands and we take a moiety of the remainder. Out of these Mr Church will have to the amount of his remaining 17¾ tracts, taking none but what have been ours, and by a fair draughting Lot. I...
85To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, 12 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Vous recevres en même tems que cette letter une réclamation de M. de beaumarchais qui se confie avec un entier abandon a vous pour obtenir de l’amerique une justice qu’il invoque infructueusement depuis 20 ans. Vous aves apprécié dans le tems les services qu’il a rendus a votre pays. Il pense qu’un nouvel examen de son affaire conduiroit encore a des resultats plus favorables. Je n’ai pas...
86To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 12 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
In due time, and in good order, I received your letters dated the 4th 5th & 10th. instt: and shall be mindful of their contents. What construction do you put upon the information received through the assistant of D——r B——? and what notice, if any, should it meet with now , or hereafter, if application should be made for leave, or the event take place without? Having sometime since, called upon...
87Enclosure: Jonathan Dayton to Theodore Sedgwick, [12 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I cannot forbear my dear friend to congratulate you on your appointment to a seat in the Senate, altho it is impossible for me not to lament your separation from the House of Representatives where you could have been more useful. I know you too well to suppose that you can regard with indifference the preparations which are making for the approaching election of a President. Is not the success...
88To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [11 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, November 11, 1796. On November 21, 1796, Washington wrote to Hamilton : “Having written to you on Saturday the 11th. instant.” Letter not found. ]
89From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [11 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
My anxiety for such a course of things as will most promise a continuance of peace to the country, & in the contrary event a full justification of the President, has kept my mind dwelling on the late Reply to Mr. Adet & though it is a thing that cannot be undone, yet if my ideas are right the communication of them may not be wholly useless for the future. The more I have considered that paper...
90From Alexander Hamilton to Robert Morris, [10 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, November 10, 1796. On November 19, 1796, Morris wrote to Hamilton : “I … find your letter of the 10 Inst.” Letter not found. ]
91From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [10 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I have been employed in making and have actually completed a rough draft on the following heads “ National University, Military Academy, Board of Agriculture, Establishment of such manufactories on public account as are relative to the equipment of army & navy, to the extent of the public demand for supply , & excluding all the branches already well established in the country.—The gradual &...
92Draft of George Washington’s Eighth Annual Address to Congress, [10 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
That among the objects of labour and industry, Agriculture considered with reference either to individual or national welfare is first in importance may safely be affirmed without derogating from the just and real value of any other branch. It is indeed the best basis of the prosperity of every other. In proportion as nations progress in population and other circumstances of maturity this...
93From Alexander Hamilton to Tench Coxe, [10 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I beg the favour of you to let me know what if any thing has been settled with Messrs. Wheelen & Miller or whereabouts that affair is. I expect with certain[ty] Mr. Church early in the spring, and should be grieved to have to inform him of an unsettled state of this business. I am Sir Yr. very hum. servant ALS , Papers of Tench Coxe in the Coxe Family Papers at the Historical Society of...
94From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [9 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I received yesterday your letter of the 6th & immediately wrote some additional letters to the Eastward enforcing what I had before written. Pensylvania does not surprise me. I have reconsidered the opinion given to you on the 3d, & see no reason to change it. The reasoning which leads me to the conclusion has not been sufficiently explained. I will therefore be more particular. The articles...
95From Alexander Hamilton to ———, [8 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
Our excellent President, as you have seen, has declined a reelection. ‘T is all-important to our country that his successor shall be a safe man. But it is far less important who of many men that may be named shall be the person, than that it shall not be Jefferson. We have every thing to fear if this man comes in, and from what I believe to be an accurate view of our political map I conclude...
96From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 8 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
A few days since I wrote you my opinion concerning the good policy of supporting faithfully Pinckney as well as Adams . The following extract of a letter from Mr. Wolcott of the 6th instant serves to confirm it— “The Fœderal Ticket is lost in this State. There are still hopes that Mr. Adams will be elected but nothing more. I hope Mr. Pinckney will be supported as the next best thing which can...
97To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 6 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I fear that your opinion of Nov. 3d has been founded on a partial view of the case. You will remember that it has all along been a recd. opinion that the French had a right by Treaty to enjoy an indefinite asylum in our Ports: but that they could not claim the privilidge of selling Prizes in our Ports . The privilidge of an indefinite asylum in was also granted to British Ships of War &...
98From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, [6 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I perceive you are an elector. In this state we support unanimously John Adams and Thomas Pinckney; on the principle of taking a double chance against Jefferson , deeming it far more important that be shall not be the President than who of the two men, Adams and Pinckney, shall be the President. The Government and the national interests will be perfectly safe in the hands of either of these...
99From Alexander Hamilton to Hall and Stimpson, 5 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, November 5, 1796. On the back of a letter from Hall and Stimpson, dated October 24, 1796 , Hamilton wrote: “Answered Nov 5, 1796.” Letter not found. ]
100From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [5 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
Yesterday after the departure of the Post I received your letter of the 3d. I have since seen the answer to Adet . I perceive in it nothing intrinsically exceptionable—but something in the manner a little epigrammatical and sharp . I make this remark freely, because the Card now to be played is perhaps the most delicate that has occurred in your administration. And nations like Individuals...