1From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 26 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Since my last of the 5th. instant a triplicate of which is here inclosed I have received yours of the 30th of August last. I have only time to inform you that I have directed the sum of 1,250.000 florins to be drawn upon our Commissioners in Amsterdam immediately; which will leave a sum in their hands sufficient to face the Interest and other payments falling due up to the 1st. of March next...
2From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 25 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letters of the 25th of April and 14th of May have duly reached me; since the receipt of that of the 22nd of April which was acknowleged in mine of the 30th of June. In consequence of your letter of the 14th of May I have directed drafts on the Commissioners for five hundred thousand Guilders, and as soon as these are sold, I shall cause further drafts to be made to the extent of [five...
3Enclosure: James Swan to William Short, 14 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeably to your desire in your Letter of the 9th. Inst., I have endeavoured all in my power to persuade Messrs. Sweizer Jeanneret & Co., from the pursuit of their plan, & have communicated your Letter to them, in which it appears you do not consider yourself as authorized to accept it, but all without effect—for I find they have determin’d to raise, as they say, every obstacle which can...
4Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 30 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, July 30, 1792. “My last was of the twenty third. I am now favord with yours of the same Date. I receiv’d Yesterday the Account from the Commissioners of the Treasury and as I suppos’d it contains a Credit for the Antwerp Payments at the Current Exchange. From the Letter which accompanies it however I observe that the Commissrs. meant a different Thing, but the Clerks in extracting from...
5From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 30 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Since closing my letter, herewith transmitted, yours of the 4th. of March transmitting a copy of the contract for the last loan has been delivered to me. A ratification of that contract by the President will be forwarded as speedily as possible after his return to the seat of Government which is expected to be in the first week of the next month. There is in a late letter from Messrs. Willinks...
6Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 6 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, August 6, 1792. “My last was of the thirtieth of July since which I am without advices from you. I have agreed with the Commissioners of the Treasury for the present and in Consequence I pray you will give our Bankers an order to pay to Messrs. Hoguer Grand and Company the Sum of one Million six hundred and twenty five thousand florins banco and desire them at the same Time to send me a...
7Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 20 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, August 20, 1792. “Yours of the seventh was long in coming probably mine of the 9th. was equally delayed. You will find by it that I had agreed with the Commissioners as to a pretty considerable Payment on that Day. The Events of the tenth ought not I think to make any Change in that Disposition. I think your Reasoning is good as far as it goes and if the Powers to me had been sufficient...
8From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 3 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I acknowlege the receipt of your letters of the 26th and 27 of July. The fall which you announce in the price of the effects of the United States was certainly artificial. The cause ere this will have been better ascertained to you. ’Tis open to various conjectures. I have thought it adviseable to drop a line to our Bankers in Holland (of which a copy is inclosed) merely to mark my attention...
9From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 31 December 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is duplicate of my letter of the 26th ultimo, mentioning, among other matters, that Treasury drafts had been directed upon the Commissioners in Amsterdam to the amount of 1,250,000 guilders. It will be proper to inform you that this sum has been reduced to 1,237,500 guilders, to be drawn in lieu of the sum first mentioned; and that a further sum of 24,750 guilders has since been...
10From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 23 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
After closing my letter to you of the 14th. instant, the Comptroller, to whom I had submitted for examination the statement of the French Treasury transmitted by you, made some communications to me on that subject, of which copies are here enclosed for your information. My own observations upon it must necessairly be reserved for another opportunity, as Mr. Pinkney who will take charge of my...
11From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 10 April 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
My last letter to you was of the 2nd instant. It is proper that you be informed that a sum of eight thousand, three hundred and twenty five Dollars was paid here on application of Mr. de Ternant the Minister of France to himself and twenty two thousand Dollars to Mr. de la forest the Vice Consul General on the 21st. of February last, and the sum of one hundred thousand Dollars on the 12th. of...
12Enclosure: Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard to William Short, 3 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In reply to your respected favor of 26 Ultimo, We acquaint you, that the Order You purpose giving us to pay One Million of Florins unto the Director-General of the Finances of France, shall be punctually complied with, in the Mode that Minister will desire. All the Bonds of the Loan of March last are now delivered; And We do not doubt, We should be able in the present Moment, to procure a New...
13From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 29 May 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I am honored with your letters of the 28th & 30th, which did not come to my hands ’till the 27th instant. The conduct you have prescribed to yourself in regard to the negociations concerning the Debt of the United States, appears to be very prudent and judicious, and such as will give the United States a convenient election of the measures to be pursued in future. Previously to the receipt of...
14Enclosure: Comte de Montmorin to William Short, 24 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 19. du mois. Les Srs. Jeanneret et Schwietzer en me communiquant la réponse que vous leur avez faite, m’ont prié d’appuyer auprès du Président des Etats-Unis la proposition que vous vous êtes déterminé à lui transmettre. J’ai fait d’autans moins de difficulté de me prêter à leur demande, que je l’ai entierement...
15From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 14 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Your two letters of the 26th of January and 24th of March have come to hand since mine to you of the 7th of May. For an answer to the first I believe I need do nothing more than refer you to former communications. On the latter some observations arise. You will consider any suggestions which you may find in my letters concerning a rule for adjusting the value of the payments to France rather...
16Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 9 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, August 9, 1792. “I have yours of the fourth but this being Thursday I can but barely acknowlege it. In my last of the sixth I requested you to cause bf 1.625.000 to be paid to Messieurs Hoguer Grand et Compagnie which I now confirm. By a strange Fatality it happens that untill the present Hour I have not had the desired Meeting with the Minister of the Marine. Many appointments have...
17Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 23 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, August 23, 1792. “The last Post was gone before yours of the seventeenth reach’d me. Mine of the sixth was written the Instant I receiv’d that from the Commissioners of the Treasury which was previously necessary. It did not arrive till late and the consequent Hurry was the Cause why I omitted to mention as I intended that the Sum of Bank florins to be paid in Amsterdam was the...
18From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 30 November 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letters of the 23rd. and 31st. of August and 3d of September remain unacknowledged. Mine to you of the 1st. of August 2nd. September and 3rd. of October will much abrige what is necessary to be said at this time. The prices of the public debt here rendering it questionable whether it be any longer the interest of the United States to prosecute the idea of purchases with monies borrowed at...
19From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 14 February 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your several favours of Sept. 23d. Oct. 10th. & Dec. 1st. It appears to me probable that your movement towards Antwerp produced the appearance of a four per cent loan, and I hope from it in the result good effects. Inclosed you will find a copy of a letter of the same date with this to the Commissioners in Holland. You will easily comprehend the motives which dictated the turn...
20From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 2 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Since my last to you of the first of August I have received your several letters of the 3d. 5. 10 & 19th of June. Most of the points mentioned in those letters will find sufficient answers in my several communications of the 9th & 24th of May, June 25 & 30th & the 1st of August, all of which having gone, by duplicates at least, and some by triplicates, I take it for granted have gotten or will...
21From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 2 April 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I am to acknowlege the receipt of your several letters of the 22d of November 23d 28th and 30th of December. The accomplishment, thus early, of a loan at 4 per Cent exceeds expectation as much as it does credit to your exertions. The intelligence of it was received with great satisfaction by the President as well as by myself, and has given no small pleasure to the public at large. You will...
22Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 12 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, September 12, 1792. “I have receivd yours of the seventh. I had previously sent to the Commissioners of the Treasury the Letter from the Bankers at Amsterdam. I certainly have taken no Steps in Respect to that Payment since my first Letter to you desiring that it might be made and certainly I shall not take any for the very good Reasons which will I am sure suggest themselves to you and...
23From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 13 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have recently received your letters of the 2d. December and the 25th. of January. The others to which they refer have not yet come to hand. The manner in which you have proceeded, as detailed in your letter of the 2d. of December, is entirely satisfactory to me and I doubt not will be equally so to the President, when known to him. He is now absent on a journey through the Southern States....
24Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 14 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have already acknowleged yours of the twenty sixth and twenty seventh of last Month. I will now reply to them. And first I have just written to the Commissaries of the Treasury desiring a Copy of the Entry made in their Books of the Payment in question. Secondly I must inform you that my Reluctance has arisen from a Circumstance highly disagreable and which in my Situation you would have...
25From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 25 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I received two days since your letter of the 11th. of March last. Mine to you of the 13th. of April & of the 9th & 24th of May (of which copies are herewith sent) will have informed you of my opinion, concerning the negotiation for the transfer of the debt due to France, will have removed the impediments to your progress on the business committed to you, and will have apprised you of my views...
26Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 24 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, September 24, 1792. “My Letter of Yesterday was written in the Idea that the Business to which it alludes is present to your Recollection but as that may not be the Case I now add in Explanation that there are three Obligations one for 18 Millions one for 10 Millions one for 6 Millions together 34 Millions The first two are payable by Installments of which one Half are due on the...
27From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 30 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have before me your letter of the 22nd. of April last. As I doubt not the details of the projected mangement will leave sufficient latitude, as to time, to avoid embarrassment to the Treasury, it cannot but be satisfactory. A bill has been drawn in favour of the Secretary of State on our Commissioners for One hundred and twenty three thousand, seven hundred and fifty Guilders, which,...
28From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 1[–2] August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Since my last letter to you, yours of the 4th. of May has come to hand. Pursuant to instructions recently received from the President of the United States, I am at liberty to authorise you “to open at your discretion loans at such times and places and for such sums as you may find advisable within the limitations of the respective laws authorising the loans” and which have been transmitted to...
29Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 28 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, June 28, 1792. “Yours of the eighteenth is just come to Hand & I have but an Instant to reply to it. The Changes of Administration and other Circumstances have prevented me from setling with the Commissaries. It will soon be done. I see in the Gazette that the Assembly has authorized the minister of the Marine to concert with me the Means of supplying their Colonies out of the Debt...
30Enclosure: Comte de Montmorin to William Short, 30 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Vous m’avez informé, Monsieur, que le Congrès avoit pris la résolution de faire un emprunt de 10 millions de Dollars dans la vuë de faire face à Ses dettes étrangeres; vous m’avez ajouté que vous etiez chargé de la négociation relative à cet emprunt, et que c’etoit là l’objet de votre Sejour à Amsterdam. Les Srs. Schwietzer Jeanneret and Compagnie, Banquiers à Paris, instruits de ces faits, et...
31From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 16 April 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The fluctuation of the price of the Stocks in the United States is a circumstance that cannot have failed to attract your attention nor to excite a temporary feeling in the minds of foreigners. Tho’ I doubt not it will be well explained by the Agents of those Citizens of other Countries who have vested their Monies in our funds, I think it necessary that some ideas should be communicated to...
32From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 1 November 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have barely time by this opportunity to inform you That I have directed the Treasurer to draw for One Million of florins on account of the last loan of six millions and towards the close of the present month shall direct him to draw for another million. I calculate that the whole amount of the loan will have been received before the second set of draughts are presented. I remain with great...
33Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 5 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, July 5, 1792. “I wrote to you on the twenty eighth and have since receiv’d yours of the same Date. I call’d on the Minister the Day before yesterday and he promis’d me to come to a Settlement of the Accounts in a few Days and to adjust at the same Time the Object of the late Decree. As the Affair is now left to the Responsability of the Executive I presume they will not longer delay it...
34From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 28 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
It has been represented to me by the accounting Officers of the Treasury that a regular account of all the monies which have been received by you from our Commissioners in Europe, or which have been paid by them by your direction, would be requisite in the examination and adjustment of the accounts of the said Commissioners. I have therefore to request that you will furnish me with an account,...
35Enclosure: Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard to William Short, 14 February … (Hamilton Papers)
We have the honour to inform you that it has not been possible to procure such Bills upon Spain as we could have wished, and it was only today that we got the 23 inclosed amounting in all as ⅌ particulars annexed to f 17650.8.9—which we forthwith remit you, and shall continue our exertions to add to the same on every favorable opportunity. You are no doubt acquainted that War has taken place...
36From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 1[–15] October 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
On my arrival here, upon an excursion of a few days, I find the intelligence of a suspension of the King of France, and of a new revolution in that country. I take it for granted, that after such an event, no further payments will have been made to France. It is now impossible to calculate anything concerning the affairs of that country, and of course the validity, as well as the utility to...
37From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 1 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Two Acts of the Legislature of the fourth and twelfth of August, of which I inclose you copies, authenticated according to law, empower the President to cause to be borrowed on their behalf Fourteen Millions of dollars; subject to certain restrictions and qualifications: to be applied in payment of such part of our foreign debt as shall have become due, and to a new modification of the...
38Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 6 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, July 6, 1792. “The above is Copy of what I wrote yesterday. After the Post was gone I receivd a Letter from the Minister of the Marine praying an Interview in order to adjust the Business which he says was entamé in your Time.…” LC (extract), Gouverneur Morris Papers, Library of Congress. Jean de Lacoste served as Minister of Marine from March 15 to July 21, 1792.
39From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 5 February 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
The spirit of party has grown to maturity sooner in this country than perhaps was to have been counted upon. You will see a specimen of it in the inclosed speech of Mr. Giles, a member from Virginia. The House of Representatives adopted the resolutions proposed by him, nemini contradicente . The object with a majority was to confound the attempt by giving a free course to investigation. I send...
40Enclosure: Schweizer, Jeanneret and Company to William Short, [14 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
Sur la communication qui nous a été donnée par Monsieur swan, de la lettre que vous lui avez fait l’honneur de lui écrire Le 9 de ce mois, nous avons pris la décision de surmonter tous les obstacles raisonnables qui pourront s’élever sur les propositions que nous avons eu l’honneur de vous faire Ministerielment par le canal de Monsieur Le Contrôlleur Général des finances et de Monsieur de...
41Enclosure: James Swan to William Short, 12 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Fearing that my Letter of this date by the way of Antwerp may have missed, I shall only beg leave to trouble you with one or two points in it essential for you to know. I acquainted you, how I was inform’d, that a M. Jubert had made proposals to pay the whole entirely, & instantly: but I can find no foundation for it, either in the Committee of Finances or of Liquidation, that is, there has...
42From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 29 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
You are already apprised of the loan which was commenced in the united Netherlands, by Messrs. Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicholas & Jacob van Staphorst and Hubbard, with a view on their part to the service of the United States, and that the same has been submitted to our Government for their acceptance. On due consideration of the circumstances of that Loan and the views with which the above...
43From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 12 August 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
It is thought expedient to take measures for obtaining a loan in Holland of three millions of florins; though it should not be obtainable on lower terms than five per cent interest and four per cent charges. With a view to this, and not expecting your presence at the Hague, at the time this letter shall reach Holland, I have addressed the requisite instructions for the purpose, immediately to...
44From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 21 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Treasury Department, January 21, 1792. Letter listed in dealer’s catalogue. Letter not found. ] LS , sold by Stan V. Henkels, Jr., October 11, 1927, Lot 170.
45Enclosure: Diego de Gardoqui to William Short, [7 December 1793] (Hamilton Papers)
Con el papel de VS. de 30 de Noviembre ultimo he recivido la letra de cambio qe. me dirige de DS 1276.3. 1 á cargo de Vercruysse Herms. á cuenta de la deuda que los Estados unidos de America tienen á favor de la Rl. Hazda. de España, con cuia cantidad me dice VS. queda completo el pago de dha deuda, pero sin embargo de que aun no me han llegado las noticias totales para acreditar la mencionada...
46Enclosure: Antoine Bernard Caillard to William Short, 4 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Le Gouvernement de france a grand interet de Savoir Si l’emprunt que font en ce moment à Amsterdam les Etats unis de l’Amerique par votre ministere a pour objet le reboursement d’une partie des sommes qu’ils doivent à la france, et il me charge de vous demander un mot d’eclaircissement à ce Sujet. J’ose vous prier, Monsieur, le vouloir bien m’honorer d’une reponse Sur cela—et de me mettre en...
47Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 27 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, August 27, 1792. “I wrote to you on the twentieth and twenty third. Yours of the twenty first is receiv’d. I mentiond to you in one of my preceeding Letters that I had receivd the Account of the Commissaries in which the several Payments are credited in Livres which is unavoidable in Book-Keeping. I have also told you that the last Payment was the Equivalent of six Millions. By the...
48Enclosure: Ferdinand Grand to William Short, [25 February 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
Jaime a croire Monsieur que vous ne vous etes pas rappelle les conditions du traité passé dans le temps entre le roi & Monsieur Francklin il porte que le remboursement des Sommes pretées aux etats unis Seront faites a mon domicile pour etre ensuite versées au tresor royal, j’ai appris avec peine que cette condition na pas été observée dans le payement qui S’est effectué dernierement,...
49From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 5 March 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Since my last of the 14th ultimo I have the pleasure of your two letters of the 8th & 12th of Novemer. The reimbursement of the Spanish Debt will be perfectly acceptable, but there will be matter for regret, if before this reaches you the sum claimed by the Farmer’s General has been paid to them. There is certainly a million of livres in the pecuniary transactions between the United States and...
50From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 4 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Since my last to you of the 25th Ultimo, I have received a letter from our Commissioners at Amsterdam, informing me of their having recently instituted another loan for the United States, of three millions, at four per Cent interest, to be dated the first of June last. I have concluded to destine the money arising from this loan towards payment of the debt due to France, and you will...