27431From Alexander Hamilton to Samuel Ogden, 15 December 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, December 15, 1788. Discusses estate of Philip Ogden. Letter not found. ] ALS , sold at Henkel’s, March 27, 1914, Lot 465.
27432To Alexander Hamilton from William Livingston, 22 December 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
Elizabethtown [ New Jersey ] December 22, 1788 . Discusses the settlement of the estate of Philip Livingston. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
27433To Alexander Hamilton from Henry Knox, 28 December 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
As you are going to Albany I beg your assistance in arranging the following business for me. I am a purchaser with you and others in certain Lands on the St Laurence, the patents for which have been taken out of the Land office in the name of Alexr Macomb Esqr. Independent of the purchase of the state, there were certain locations made by Genl Schuyler and others, which were to be paid for by...
27434From Alexander Hamilton to Richard Varick, [31 December 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Commodore Nicholson tells me this evening that they are nearly at a stand for want of funds. I commit the guardianship of my poor bantling to you. Pray dont let it suffer. Another thousand by the corporation will relieve all our difficulties. Yrs. sincerely ALS , MS Division, New York Public Library, New York City. Varick at this time was recorder for New York City. On September 30, 1788, the...
27435To Alexander Hamilton from John Chaloner, [1788] (Hamilton Papers)
[Philadelphia, 1788.] Discusses proposals for the settlement of John Holker’s “protested Bills the property of Mr. Church— amt—£1500 Stg.” LC , Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. This letter concerns the complicated affairs of Daniel Parker and Company in which both John Holker and John B. Church were involved. As the negotiations and litigations for the settlement of Parker’s...
27436To Alexander Hamilton from Henry Banks, 1 January 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Richmond, January 1, 1789. “I recd. your letter of the 12 Ulto.… I suppose I shall be entitled to Costs of Suit with Foltz & Lorenz for the recovery of which ’tis my wish that you either take or cause measures to be taken.… Mr. Constable has a mercantile Reputation.… I shall at present leave him cloak’d under that Reputation until I see a fit oppy to attack him and it more seriously than to...
27437To Alexander Hamilton from Theodore Sedgwick, 4 January 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ January 4, 1789. On January 29, 1789, Hamilton wrote to Sedgwick : “I thank you for your two letters of the 4th and 7th instant.” Letter of January 4 not found. ]
27438To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Rush [5 January 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
A worthy friend of mine, & formerly my pupil Dr Rodgers has lately removed from our city to New York. Permit me to solicit a small share of your extensive influence in his favor. I do not expect that former medical connections should be given up to serve him. It will be eno’ from you—if when his name is mentioned in company you bear a testimony from his old preceptor that he is a gentleman of...
27439To Alexander Hamilton from Moses Hazen, 6 January 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, January 6, 1789. Solicits Hamilton’s aid as an attorney in a controversy with one of the officers who served under Hazen during the Revolution and who was trying to collect a “Note of hand” from Hazen. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Hazen was brevetted a brigadier general during the Revolution. He settled in Vermont where he owned land.
27440To Alexander Hamilton from Theodore Sedgwick, 7 January 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ January 7, 1789. On January 29, 1789, Hamilton wrote to Sedgwick : “I thank you for your two letters of the 4th and 7th instant.” Letter of January 7 not found. ]
27441From Alexander Hamilton to Samuel Jones, [21 January 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
As in our conversations on the important subject of a representation in the ensuing Congress I had the pleasure to perceive that you were inclined to pursue a moderate and accommodating line of conduct; and as I have reason to believe that representations will be made of the sense of this city calculated to nourish a spirit of pertinacity in the Majority of the Assembly which may counteract...
27442To Alexander Hamilton from William Constable, 22 January 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] January 22, 1789 . “… I called at your House to see You but found you surrounded with so many people on Business that I would not interrupt you. I hand you Gouverneur’s power of attorney which authorizes me to mortgage his Estate.…” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Isaac Gouverneur.
27443To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, [23 January 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Our city are about applying to the legislature for an incorporation, and among other lights have availed themselves of the corporation act of your city. As experience points out many defects, wch. do not at first strike the observation, you will very much oblige me by noting such things as you would advise us to avoid. If there are any matters which have been omitted, or if there are any...
27444From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, [25 January 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, January 25, 1789. ] On February [5–28], 1789, Wadsworth wrote to Hamilton : “Your favor of the 25 Jany came in good time.” Letter not found. ]
27445From Alexander Hamilton to James Wilson, [25 January 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
A degree of anxiety about a matter of primary importance to the new government induces me to trouble you with this letter. I mean the election of the President. We all feel of how much moment it is that Washington should be the man; and I own I cannot think there is material room to doubt that this will be the unanimous sense. But as a failure in this object would be attended with the worst...
27446To Alexander Hamilton from George Webb, 28 January 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Richmond, January 28, 1789. “Some discoveries which I have made since my return from New York respecting the conduct of Mr. Simon Nathan, in the Business confided to his management by Mr. Foster Webb junr and myself, enduces me to trouble you.… The discoveries … fully evince the fraudulent Intentions and Practices of Mr. Nathan, and at the same time afford evidence which will substantiate a...
27447From Alexander Hamilton to John Holker, [29 January 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
I certify that I am willing and do hereby accept the brief reposed in me as a Commissioner by virtue of a certain instrument bearing date the thirty first day of December in the year one thousand seven hundred and Eighty Eight made between Daniel Parker by his Attorney Andrew Craigie John Holker William Duer Samuel Rogers by the said Andrew Craigie Royal Flint and divers Creditors of the...
27448From Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Sedgwick, [29 January 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you for your two letters of the 4th and 7th instant which arrived here during my absence at Albany from which place I have but recently returned. I believe you may be perfectly tranquil on the subject of Mr. Adam’s election. It seems to be certain that all the middle states will vote for him to Delaware inclusively and probably Maryland. In the South there are no candidates thought of...
27449To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Wadsworth, [5–28] February 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Your favor of the 25 Jany came in good time. Our Votes were given agreeably to your wishes Washington 7—Adams 5. Governor Huntington 2. By letters from Carrington I learn that Clinton is the antifederal Vice President but I think we have nothing to fear. I believe N Hampshire will give Adams 4. Massachusetts 6—Georgia 6 as letters from Georgia say he will have at least so many—which with ours...
27450From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas McKean, 10 February 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, February 10, 1789. “I duly received the letter which you did me the honor to write me of the 2d of Decr. last.… With regard to your Bond against Dowdle, when I first received it I made diligent inquiry after him, but I found that his situation and principles were equally desperate & that to make any attempt to recover the money would be to add fruitlessly to your loss.…” ALS ,...
27451To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Turnbull, 10 February 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Petersburg, Virginia, February 10, 1789. “I am possessed of a Bill on you … dated the 10th May 1788 for £57 Virga. money, being endorsed … to me.… You will be so obliging as to give me Information, how this matter stands and what probability there is, of any recovery being made.…” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Turnbull was a merchant of Petersburg, Virginia.
27452Appointment as Member of Committee of Correspondence, 11 February 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, February 11, 1789. On this date Hamilton and twelve others were appointed “a committee to correspond with the other counties on the subject” of the election of Robert Yates as governor and Pierre Van Cortlandt as lieutenant governor of New York State. New-York Packet , March 3, 1789. The committee of correspondence was appointed “at a numerous and respectable meeting of citizens at...
27453From Alexander Hamilton to Pierre Van Cortlandt, [16 February 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
By the direction of the Committee I transmit you the inclosed letter. I doubt not Sir you will believe me to be sincere when I assure you that I should be much more happy if circumstances permitted me to be the channel of a very different application. But such is the situation of our state that personal attachments are obliged to yield to public necessity. As I allow myself to hope Sir that...
27454From Alexander Hamilton to the Supervisors of the City of Albany, [18 February 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
The last Tuesday of April next being the day appointed by law for the election of a Governor for the ensuing three years; the great importance of making a wise choice in the present peculiar situation of our local and national affairs, appears to have made a deep impression on the minds of considerate men in the different parts of the state. On the eleventh instant, a numerous meeting of...
27455To Alexander Hamilton from the Electors of Queens County, 19 February 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Jamaica [ New York ] February 19, 1789 . Several “electors and freeholders” of the County of Queens on this date informed “the Committee of Correspondence of New-York” that they had received a letter “from some members of your committee.” As recommended by the New York Committee, the “electors and freeholders from Flushing, North Hempstead, Jamaica, and Newtown” had nominated Robert Yates for...
27456Introductory Note: H. G. Letters, [20 February 9–April 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
There is little doubt that Hamilton wrote the “H.G.” letters. Although he never said as much, many anonymous newspaper writers stated that he wrote them. For example, “William Tell,” whose attacks on Hamilton were so scurrilous that Francis Childs finally refused to print them in The [New York] Daily Advertiser , repeatedly named Hamilton as the author of the “H.G.” letters (see The Daily...
27457H. G. Letter I, 20 February 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 18th instant, has duly come to hand, and entitles you to my particular thanks. In return I shall endeavor fully to comply with your request, and furnish you, in a series of letters, with all the materials in my power, to enable you to judge what conduct it will be proper for you to pursue, in relation to the ensuing election for Governor. Your influence is considerable; and...
27458H. G. Letter II, 21 February 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Shortly after the breaking out of the war with Great-Britain, Mr. Clinton received an appointment as brigadier-general, in which capacity he served until he was elected governor of the state, some time in the early part of the year 1777. In both these situations, from the condition of the state, which, during the greatest part of the war was its principal theatre, Mr. Clinton was frequently...
27459H. G. Letter III, 22 February 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
You mention towards the close of your letter, two reports circulating in your county, which you say operate to the advantage of Mr. Clinton; the one, that at the time he first took the chair of government, “the great men” as they are insidiously called, declined the station, through apprehension of the dangers that might attend it. Not less willing then to set him up as a mark for the...
27460Election Circular, [23–28 February 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
As it will evidently be of great use in the ensuing election to have some Gentlemen of activity in each ward to superintend the business and promote activity among the electors the Committee appointed to forward the election of John Laurence Esquire will be much obliged by your assistance for those purposes, in the ward to which you belong, and request the same accordingly. With this view they...