To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 27 February 1797
From Robert Morris1
Philada. Feby 27th. 1797
Dear Sir
Mr Tilghman2 authorizes me to tell you that our Law respecting endorsements is exactly the same as the Law of England & that 20 ⅌ Ct is the Amot of Damages on protested Bills drawn here upon Europe.3
Mr. Nicholson is returned to this City & I think the holders of his bill should Apply to him for payment. I think he would make some arrangement with them so as to secure the payment and allow compensation for time. I wish you would mention this to them; I will aid the Negotiation if they will open one.
I am very anxious to have the affair of the Genesee Tract settled as proposed in my last,4 that is, to have the Chancery Suit withdrawn or dismissed and the Deed or Mortgage assigned to Mr. Cottringer, or done away so that the property Revest in me, one or the other I pray to have done immediately & give preferrance to that which you may think best for me. But I pray that no longer delay may be offered as my intended operations require it & are essential. Let me hear from you & be assured of the Esteem & regard of Dr Sir
Your Obed Servt.
Robt Morris
Alexr Hamilton Esqr
New York
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; LC, Robert Morris Papers, Library of Congress.
1. The first two paragraphs of this letter refer to a threatened suit by William Talbot and William Allum against Morris over a bill which had been drawn by John Nicholson and which Morris had endorsed. See Morris to H, December 31, 1796; January 23, February 9, 1797, note 4.
The last paragraph concerns a debt which Morris owed to William Pulteney and William Hornby and Morris’s efforts to pay or secure this debt. For this debt and the negotiations concerning it, see the introductory note to Morris to H, April 27, 1796. See also Morris to H, May 3, 10, 17, 31, 1796, January 7, 23, February 9, 1797; H to Charles Williamson, May 17–30, 1796.
3. For an explanation of the contents of this paragraph, see Herbert Alan Johnson, The Law Merchant and Negotiable Instruments in Colonial New York: 1664–1730 (Chicago, 1963), 39–40.