From Alexander Hamilton to Major Nicholas Fish, [March 1782]
To Major Nicholas Fish1
[Albany, March, 1782]2
Dr. Fish
I am sorry that for want of a person to send them with, I have been obliged to detain your horses till now. The articles I shall want from Duychinks3 are:
four pint decanters if to be had, if not two Quart do.
a dozen wine glasses
two ale-glasses to hold about a pint each, if not to be had,
two tumblers.
You will oblige me by procuring these articles as soon as possible, having them carefully packed up in a small box and forwarded to Major Kearse.4 I shall also thank you to speak to him in your way to Camp about forwarding them as soon as they arrive by water; beg his particular care. I shall not be able to give a friend a glass of wine ’till these arrive, for they are not to be had here. Let me know what they cost by the first opportunity.
Adieu my Dr friend Yrs.
A Hamilton
Perhaps you may meet with some friend coming directly up whose Portmanteau may not be too much crowded to receive them.
Send my horses by return of the bearer, unless they should be in too bad plight to travel. In this case, be so good as to put them out where they will be taken care of, and at the same time will not cost much for keeping.
ALS, Nicholas Fish Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Fish was a major in the Second Regiment of New York and, according to the address on the envelope, was at Poughkeepsie, New York.
2. This letter is undated. The endorsement reads “recd. April 1st. 82.” It probably was written early in the last week of March.
3. G. Duychink was a merchant whose “medicine store” was at 13 Water Street (, 27).
4. H is presumably referring to John Keese, a major in the quarter-master general’s department.