Alexander Hamilton Papers

To Alexander Hamilton from Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard, 18 November 1793

From Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob
Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard

(Duplicate)

Amsterdam 18 November 1793

Sir!

Confirming our last Respects of 14 Ultimo, we have now but to announce to you, that immediately upon learning from Mr. Short1 the passage thro’ the Straights of an Algerine Fleet of cruizers against the Vessels of the United States2 We communicated same to the Masters of the American Ships here and likewise to the Minister at Paris3 and consul at Bordeaux,4 for the information of the Captains who might be in any of the Ports.

We are extremely sorry for this Event, as it will deprive the united States in a great measure of the Benefits their Trade and Navigation derived from the observance of Neutrality in the Present War, and it besides tends to decline the Prices of their Bonds here, which are now selling by small Parcels, at 99½ á ¾ for the Five Per cents and 89 for the four Per cents. It is much to be wished on all Accounts that a small Fleet of Frigates or Stout Privateers wel armed, could be stationed between Cadiz and Cape Finisterre to protect your Commerce from the Depredations of those Pirates!

We are Respectfully.   Sir!   Your most obd. hble Servt.

Wilhem & Jan Willink

N & J. Van Staphorst & Hubbard

Alex: Hamilton Esqr.

LS, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford.

1. William Short.

2. This is a reference to a fleet of seven Algerian vessels which on October 5, 1793, sailed into the Atlantic to prey on shipping of states which did not have treaties with Algiers. Before this time a Portuguese fleet patrolling the Straits of Gibraltar had prevented the ships of the Barbary corsairs from venturing into the Atlantic, but as a result of a truce between Algiers and Portugal in the autumn of 1793 the Algerian fleet was free to move into the Atlantic (ASP description begins American State Papers, Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States (Washington, 1832–1861). description ends , Foreign Relations, I, 295–300).

3. Gouverneur Morris.

4. James Fenwick.

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    Source Project
    Hamilton Papers
    Title
    To Alexander Hamilton from Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard, 18 November 1793
    Authors
    Willink, Wilhem
    Willink, Jan
    Van Staphorst, Nicholaas
    Van Staphorst, Jacob
    Hubbard, Nicholas
    Recipient
    Hamilton, Alexander
    Date
    18 November 1793

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To Alexander Hamilton from Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard, 18 November 1793,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-15-02-0323. [Original source: The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, vol. 15, June 1793 – January 1794, ed. Harold C. Syrett. New York: Columbia University Press, 1969, pp. 400–401.]