31From 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...
32From 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. ]
33From 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...
34From 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...
35From 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...
36[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...
37Federal 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,...
38The 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...
39From 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...
40From 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...
41From 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.
42From 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...
43From 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...
44From 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...
45From 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. ]
46From 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 &...
47Draft 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...
48From 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...
49From 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...
50From 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...
51From 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...
52From 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...
53From 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. ]
54From 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...
55From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [4 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I have lately been honored with two letters from you, one from Mount Vernon the other from Philadelphia, which came to hand yesterday. I immediately sent the last to Mr. Jay & conferred with him last night. We settled our opinion on one point—(viz) That whether Mr Adet acted with or without instruction from his Government in publishing his communication, he committed a disrespect towards our...
56From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [3 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I have more carefully examined our Treaty with G Britain & I return to the opinion given you from Albany. My hesitation yesterday arose from the terms of the 24th article which were confined to privateers , a word that has an appropriate sense, meaning ships of private persons commissioned to cruise . But the following article contains the equivalent one to that with France, upon which we...
57From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [1 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote you a line from Albany expressing an opinion from Memory , that our Treaty with G B prohibitted the sale of prizes made by French National Ships. Being just returned to Town I have looked into the article which relates to the point & I fear that opinion was wrong. In a day or two I will write you more particularly. Adets late communication demands a very careful & well managed answer....
58From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 27 October 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 17th instant found me at Albany attending the Supreme Court. I have no copy of the Treaty with G B at hand, but I am well satisfied from memory that the true interpretation of that Treaty, enforcing in this respect the true Rule of neutrality, forbids our permitting the sale of a prize taken & brought in by a French National Ship, equally as if by a Privateer —and that the...
59From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [26 October 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote you yesterday by Mr. Rensselaer. Since that I received yours of Friday last which gave me much pleasure. I was consoled to hear that you & our darling little ones were well—though I shall be anxious till I rejoin you lest there should be a relapse or some new attack. Your father is really better and as I hope in no present danger. His breaking out looks less & less like mortification &...
60From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, 25 [October] 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
The extreme hurry in which I have been My Dear Eliza since my arrival here has prevented my writing to you. This serves merely to inform you that my health is as good as when I left you & let me add that your father is much better than he was & the rest of your family in good health. I need not add that I am impatient to be restored to your bosom & to the presence of my beloved Children. Tis...
61From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Walker, 15 October [1796] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] October 15 [ 1796 ]. “Troupe & I have conferred. We think, considering the magnitude of the concerns, the diversifications of it into sub-branches—the ability of parties &c.—We may reasonably expect each of us as a Retainer for each of your principals £50. that is to To Hamilton NY Curry For Pulteney £50 For Horneby 50 Same to Troupe £100 = 250 Ds. We shall consider this as a...
62From Alexander Hamilton to Théophile Cazenove, [12 October 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, October 12, 1796. ] “I have received two letters of the 6th & 10th of October from Judge James Wilson respecting certain tracts of land … to which I reply That some of the conditions in the Contracts between Mr. Wilson & the Holland Company not being yet fulfilled they are not at present obliged nor prepared to make the elections which those contracts reserve to them.… I cannot...
63From Alexander Hamilton to Nicholas Low, [12 October 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton will thank Mr. Low if not inconvenient for the loan of 100 Dollars for a few days. AL , The Sol Feinstone Collection, Library of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. Low, a New York City merchant and land speculator, had been a director of the Bank of New York and of the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures. In 1796 he was a director of the New York Office of...
64Account with Archibald Drummond, 4 October 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Col: Hamilton To Archibd Drummond, Dr. 1795 Decr. 22d. 1 large slate 4/6 £ “ 2 Pencils 2/6 1 Copy 2/0 11.6 1 Ashes Grammr. 2/6 24 1 Espinasses 1.18 . 4 papers ink powdr.
65From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 29 September 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Permit me to introduce to your acquaintance and recommend to your Civilities the bearer of this, Mr. Hoffman, our Atty General who goes to Connecticut on the question of the Connecticut Gore. He will wish to engage the assistance of one of your Lawyers; will you assist him with your advice? Yrs. Affectly ALS , Blumhaven Library and Gallery, Philadelphia. Wadsworth, a friend of H for many...
66From Alexander Hamilton to Angelica Church, [24 September 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
At length, Dear Angelica our apprehensions are realized and your coming is deferred. But though life is too short to render it agreeable to lose even a winter in the passage from hope to enjoyment in any thing which materially interests us—yet if you do really come in the Spring and bring with you Mr. Church it will afford us consolation, because it will leave less ultimately at hazard and may...
67From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 21 September 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Some time since Mr. McCormick spoke to me about the case of his Kinsman Mr. Pitcairn whom Mr. Monroe had prevented from exercising the functions of Consul. I can, in justice, inform you that this Gentleman is well considered in our City and that his political principles have been understood to be very friendly to the French Revolution; nor have we any doubt that his sentiments towards our own...
68From Alexander Hamilton to John Steele, 20 September 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, September 20, 1796. On September 23, 1796, Steele wrote to Hamilton : “I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of the 20th. inst.” Letter not found. ] On July 1, 1796, when Congress was not in session, Timothy Pickering informed John Steele, a Federalist member of the House of Representatives from North Carolina from 1789 to 1793, of his appointment as comptroller of the...
69From Alexander Hamilton to Phineas Bond, 15 September 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Two days since a letter was delivered to me with a declaration of the bearer that it came from Mr. Lyston. On opening the cover, I found nothing except a letter from Capt Cochran (which though not addressed would appear to have been written to some public agent of Great Britain) and a declaration of David Wilson and Thomas Marshall respecting the ship Eliza . The superscription of the packet...
70From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, [12 September 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter transmitting me a draft on H & S Johnson & Co. for 857 Dollars & 14 Cents on account of Kinloch’s debt to Mr. Church. Lest I should not see you here give me leave to request information in whose care the affairs of Mr. Church have been left by you—& whether any thing more has been done with Mrs Cattle’s alias Bowman’s note. The above bill has been accepted. I...
71From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 8 September 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 6th. by the bearer. The draft was sent forward by Post on Tuesday. I shall prepare a paragraph with respect to the University & some others for consideration respecting other points which have occured. With true respect & attachment I have the honor to be Sir Yr. very obed serv ALS , MS Division, New York Public Library. For background to this letter, see...
72From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 5 September 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I return the draft corrected agreeably to your intimations. You will observe a short paragraph added respecting Education . As to the establishment of a University, it is a point which in connection with military schools, & some other things, I meant, agreeably to your desire to suggest to you, as parts of your Speech at the opening of the session. There will several things come there much...
73From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 4 September 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your two late letters, the last but one transmitting me a certain draft. It will be corrected & altered with attention to your suggestions & returned by Monday’s or Tuesday’s post. The idea of the university is one of those which I think will be most properly reserved for your speech at the opening of the session. A general suggestion respecting education will very fitly come...
74From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [May–August 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, May–August, 1796. ] “I have been applied to for an opinion concerning the Georgia Claim.… I will thank you for the Report of the Attorney General on that subject, to Congress.…” Copy, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford. This is a reference to the claims of the Georgia Yazoo land companies which were organized in 1795. For information on these land grants and their revocation,...
75From Alexander Hamilton to Stephen Van Rensselaer, 25 August 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, August 25, 1796. “I embrace with pleasure the opportunity of making you acquainted with Mr. Adet Minister P: of the French Republic, for whom it is unnecessary for me to ask your particular attentions as they are equally due to his public and personal character. I will only add that I shall take a particular interest in whatever you may do to render his visit to Albany agreeable to...
76From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [10 August 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
About a fortnight since, I sent you a certain draft. I now send you another on the plan of incorporating. Whichever you may prefer, if there be any part you wish to transfer from one to another any part to be changed—or if there be any material idea in your own draft which has happened to be omitted and which you wish introduced—in short if there be any thing further in the matter in which I...
77Enclosure: Draft on the Plan of Incorporating, [10 August 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
The strength of my desire to resume a private station had led, previous to the last election, to the preparation of an address to declare it to you, which it was my intention to have published in the year 1792 early enough to have made the knowlege of it general in due time for that Election. But mature reflection on the very critical and perplexed posture of our affairs with foreign nations...
78From Alexander Hamilton to Richard Hatfield, 9 August 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, August 9, 1796. “I have in my hands two bonds one from Joseph Lyon of White Plains, in WestChester for £ 82.10 dated the 9th of Feby 1770—the other from Joseph Lyon and Daniel Lyon dated the 2nd. of may in the year 1768 both to General Schuyler.… As well from finding your name mentioned in the matter as from the belief that you are more likely than any other to know the situation of...
79From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [5 August 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
The Bank of New York is willing to make the loan of 324 000 Dollars to you (I mean the exact sum of about this amount, if you desire it, which one of the laws you mentioned authorises to borrow) on these terms to advance all but two hundred thousand Dollars when you please—to advance the two hundred thousand Dollars, by way of reloan, when that sum, payable in October, becomes due. The term of...
80From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [3 August 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 1st. I deplore the picture it gives and henceforth wish to forget there is a Bank or a Treasury in the U States, though I shall not forget my regard to individuals. I do not see one argument in any possible shape of the thing for the sale of Bank Stock or against that of the other stock, which does not apply vice versa & I shall consider it as one of the most...