1From John Jay to James Duane, 16 September 1795 (Jay Papers)
I read your kind and affectionate Letter of the 31 July last with great Satisfaction and Sensibility, and I thank you for it. It is pleasing to see Friendship like an Evergreen, bid Defiance to the vicissitude of Seasons.— The opposition to which you allude, except as to its Degree of malignity, was not unexpected. When the mission to England was pressed upon me, it was percieved that there...
2From Thomas Jefferson to James Duane, 10 September 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed papers relate to an event of national importance and they are transmitted to you by the direction of the President of the United States: the district judges being the officers contemplated by law, as best suited to the execution of the 9th. article of the consular convention he thinks it desirable, that all such information, should, if possible be acted upon by the judicial power....
3From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 5 April 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I return herewith the statement sent me in the case of Lemuel Toby and the Ship Lydia, in order that a further enquiry & statement may be had. I am not at present satisfied of the innocence of the transaction, as it respects all the parties, who may be concerned, and as it is a shape in which fraud may present itself with great success, I am solicitous for a pretty strict scrutiny. A Hogshead...
4From Thomas Jefferson to James Duane, 30 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof, Mr. Osmont, is a young gentleman who was very particularly recommended to me from France, and who very particularly deserved it as he is a young man of extraordinary merit and talents. I take the liberty of asking your advice to him in the following case wherein I am not sufficiently informed to counsel him. A Frenchman of the name of Le tonnelier, who was connected with...
5From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 4 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I find myself obliged to remit the proceedings on the Petition of John Osborn in order that a further inquiry be had. Having had occasion heretofore to consult the British Acts of Parliament respecting the admeasurement of vessels, I am satisfied that there must be some incorrectness in the evidence from which it has been stated that the Tonnage, according to the rule prescribed by the British...
6From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, [7 May 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The form of the bill has been changed to day. He is to be paid 7000 Dollars & an annuity for life but the blank is not filled up. Nobody talks of less than 1500 Dollars. The Baron says his contract or nothing; but you & all his friends must join me in telling him that to act upon this would be to act like a boy. This must be done before you leave town. Yr affect & Obling ALS , New-York...
7From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 24 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, September 24, 1789. On September 24, 1789, Duane wrote to Hamilton : “I called upon you within the time limited to give you my answer on the Communication which … you was pleased to make me this morning.” Letter not found. ] Duane was mayor of New York City.
8From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, [3 March 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
It is in my opinion intirely necessary that the Common Council should be convened this day in order to pass an act for appropriating the City Hall to the use of Congress. This act should be published in the papers & notified by yourself, or if you are not well enough by a committee or member of your board to the senators & representatives as they arrive. The Philadelphians are endeavouring to...
9Horatio Gates to Alexander Hamilton, James Duane, and William Duer, 5 February 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
I received The packet you Honoured me with by The Bearer Mr. J. Nourse, and immediately forwarded your Letter with The Books to the State Secretary T. Merriwether Esqr. at Richmond, with a Letter from myself, requesting him to Present it to The Committee, that is appointed to attend The General Meeting in Philadelphia. Previous to my receiving your Letter, I had The Honour to receive a packet...
10From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, [1786] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, 1786. ] Encloses draft of a certificate and asks Duane “to affix the seal of the Corporation” of the City of New York to the draft. ALS , New-York Historical Society, New York City. Duane was mayor of New York.
11From John Jay to James Duane, [11 October 1785] (Jay Papers)
Before your Return I agreed in thinking with the Agents of Massachusetts ^ that such Letters ^ should be written to the Judges as you will find herewith enclosed. We have on both Sides vacant places to fill up, and in my opinion a little Delay will not hurt us, for we expect important papers from England, and tho they will doubtless arrive this fall, yet the exact Time when cannot be...
12From John Jay to James Duane, 30 September 1785 (Jay Papers)
Permit me to request the Favor of you to obtain a Decision this Evening respecting the proposed Regulations of New Street and the Broad Way—The Season will now admit of digging Cellars & preparing Foundations for Houses; and nothing prevents my beginning with mine, but the want of Information respecting the Intention of the Corporation to make or not to make the proposed Amendments to those...
13From George Washington to James Duane, 10 April 1785 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed you have my answer to the Acts of your Corporation, which I pray you to present. I thank you for the Arguments & judgment of the Mayor’s Court of the City of New York in the Cause betwn Elizabeth Rutgars & Joshua Waddington —I have read them with all the attention I could give the subject, and though I pretend not to be a competent judge of the Law of Nations, or the principle &...
14Baron von Steuben to James Duane, [11 October 1784] (Hamilton Papers)
The flattering token of their regard with which the Mayor Recorder & Alderman of the metropolis of a state distinguished for its exertions in the late revolution have honored me, derives additional value from the characters of the respectable individuals who compose that body and from the very obliging manner in which it is conferred. The degree of my zeal for the common cause of America will...
15From John Jay to the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the City of New York, [4 October 1784] (Jay Papers)
To the worshipful the Mayor Alderman & Commonalty of the City of NYork Gent accept my warmest Thanks for your affect e . Congratulation and ^ on ^ my Return to my native Country, and ^ for ^ the particular mark of approbation with w h . you have honored my Endeavours to do my Duty in promoting its Welfare. I consider the Day on w h . I again landed on these Shores, as one of
16From George Washington to James Duane, 15 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am extremely happy to have it in my power to inform you, that Sir Guy Carleton has announced to me his intention, to relinquish the Posts he holds on York Island from Kingsbridge to McGowens pass inclusive, on the 21st instant, Herricks & Hampstead with all to the Eastward on Long Island, on the same day, and if possible to give up the City with Brooklyn on the day following; and Paulus...
17From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 26 September 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
I received last night your letter of the 8th. instant, accompanied by one from Mr. L’hommedieu and yourself to Mr. Floyd and myself. I shall in consequence write to the Governor on the subject; though if I recollect right, I did in an official letter to him mention all that I can now say though perhaps at greater length—to wit that the resolutions of the senate & Assembly were committed for...
18From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, [14 September 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
The enclosed was delivered me by Doctr. Schuyler with a request to transmit it to one of the delegates of the state for patronage. He assures me that what he asks has been done in similar cases; particularly for some Hospital surgeons belonging to the State of Pensylvania. If so there will prob⟨ably⟩ be no difficulty in the case. I beg l⟨eave⟩ to recommend it to your attention. Doctor Schuyler...
19From George Washington to James Duane, 7 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have carefully perused the Papers which you put into my hands relating to Indian Affairs. My Sentiments with respect to the proper line of Conduct to be observed towards these people coincides precisely with those delivered by Genl Schuyler so far as he has gone in his Letter of the 29th July to Congress (which, with the other Papers is herewith returned)—& for the reasons he has there...
20From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 20 August 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
Albany, August 20, 1783. Requests information concerning 40,000 acres of land in Tryon County on which Abel James holds a mortgage. ALS , New-York Historical Society, New York City.
21From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, [5 August 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
Mrs. Schuyler having some business in this city obliged me to pass into it. I do not find that the definitive treaty is here, though I am inclined to believe that definitive orders have been received respecting the evacuation, and advice of the sailing of a fleet of transports for that purpose. A new embarkation of German troops is going on. But upon the whole I do not imagine the evacuation...
22From George Washington to James Duane, 30 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I shall be obliged to you, or some friend in Congress, to inform me what has been, or is like to be done, with respect to my reference of the case of Captn Huddy? I cannot forbear complaining of the cruel situation I now am, & oftentimes have been placed in, by the silence of Congress in matters of high importance—and which the good of Service, & my official duty, has obliged me to call upon...
23Appointment as Delegate to the Continental Congress, 22 July 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
Poughkeepsie, New York, July 22, 1782. On this date the New York legislature passed the following resolution: “ Resolved , That the Honorable James Duane, William Floyd, John Morin Scott, Ezra L’Hommedieu and Alexander Hamilton, Esquires, be, and are hereby declared duly nominated and appointed Delegates, to represent this State in the United States in Congress assembled, for one Year, from...
24From George Washington to James Duane, 9 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
Baron de Steuben, who will have the honor of presenting this Letter to you, feeling himself in a disagreeable situation, has made a representation of it to Congress, in expectation that that Honble Body will releive him from present distress, & place him—especially with respect to half pay—upon a more permanent footing than the thing appears to be with him at present, having no State to resort...
25From George Washington to James Duane, 19 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
The recpt of your letter of the 29th Ulto, and of a former by the Marqs De la Fayette I have the honor to acknowledge and to return you my thanks for them. The contents of that of the 29th are very important. it presents a fair field, capable of yielding an abundant harvest if it is well improved—Skilful labourers are all that are wanting, & much depends upon a judicious choice of them. Men of...
26From George Washington to James Duane, 26 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received with much thankfulness your confidential letter of the 9th Instt, and am greatly obliged by the affectionate expressions of personal regard which are contain’d in it—an unreserved communication of sentiments, accompanying such information as you may be at liberty to give, will ever be pleasing to me, & cannot fail of being useful—In this light I view, & value your last letter; some...
27From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 18 October 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Since my last to you, I have had the pleasure of receiving two letters from you. I am sorry to find we do not seem to agree on the proper remedies to our disorder, at least in the practicability of applying those which are proper. Convinced, as I am, of the absolute insufficiency of our present system to our safety, if I do not despair of the Republic, it is more the effect of Constitution...
28George Washington to James Duane, 4 October 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Tappan [ New York ] October 4, 1780 . Criticizes proposed Congressional plan for raising a permanent army. Is concerned that slightest success “will lull us into security.” States that “the history of the war is a history of false hopes and temporary expedients.” Fears this winter “will open a still more embarassing scene.” Reports that interview at Hartford produced nothing conclusive. Df ,...
29From George Washington to James Duane, 4 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I thank you My Dear Sir for your letter of the 19th of Sepr. I should have been happy in the information you give m⟨e⟩ that some progress had been made in the business of raising a permanent army had it not been intimated to me through other channels that in the resolutions framed on this article, the fatal alternative of, for one year has been admitted. In my letter to Congress of the 20th of...
30From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 6 September 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
The letter accompanying this has lain by two or three days for want of an opportunity. I have heard since of Gates defeat, a very good comment on the necessity of changing our system. His passion for Militia, I fancy will be a little cured, and he will cease to think them the best bulwark of American liberty. What think you of the conduct of this great man? I am his enemy personally, for...