Alexander Hamilton Papers

To Alexander Hamilton from Horace and Seth Johnson and Company, 9 April 1795

From Horace and Seth Johnson and Company1

New York, April 9, 1795. “Mr Harison2 acquaints us that it is ⟨y⟩our intention to resume the practice of the Law in this State. One A Craigie,3 & ourselves wishing to retain you as our counsel, we inclose a Bank note for $100.”4

LS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.

1Horace and Seth Johnson were New York City merchants.

2Richard Harison, United States attorney for the District of New York, was a close friend of H.

3Andrew Craigie. See H to Robert Morris, March 18, 1795, note 19. In the seventeen-nineties Craigie and the Johnsons were partners in stock and land speculation. See H to John Holker, January 29, 1789; William Short to H, November 30, 1789, January 28–31, 1790; Fisher Ames to H, August 15, 1791. For information on the joint activities of Craigie and the Johnsons, see Davis, Essays description begins Joseph Stancliffe Davis, Essays in the Earlier History of American Corporations (“Harvard Economic Studies,” XVI [Cambridge, 1917]). description ends , I, 124–338.

4H endorsed this letter: “Answer. No objection, if under no opposite engagement which a minute of the cause from Mr. Harrison will enable me to judge.” H’s reply has not been found.

An entry in the “Memoranda of Retainers” in H’s Law Register, 1795–1804, under the date of April 22, 1795, states that the Johnsons sent H fifty dollars (D, partially in H’s handwriting, New York Law Institute, New York City; also in Goebel, Law Practice description begins Julius Goebel, Jr., ed., The Law Practice of Alexander Hamilton: Documents and Commentary (New York and London, 1964– ) description ends , forthcoming volumes).

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