1To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 26 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
By unavoidable Incidents this Letter is delayed beyond the usual Time for which I assure you I am extremely sorry. Your Favor gave great Pleasure as well to the Committee as to several Members of the House who are much pleased with your judicious Caution to distinguish between what you sport as your private Opinion and the weighty Sentiments of the General. No Circumstance could have more...
2To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 11 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Kingston, New York, May 11, 1777. On May 12, 1777, Hamilton wrote to Morris: “I have received the pleasure of your favour of yesterday’s date.” Letter not found. ]
3From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 12 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received the pleasure of your favour of yesterday’s date. The reasons you assign for the interval of silence on your part are admitted as sufficient; though I regret that the principal one exists—the combination of the tories for a general insurrection. But perhaps on the scale of policy I ought rather to congratulate you on the event: That there are too many tories in your state as...
4To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 16 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the Pleasure of your two Favors within two Days of each other and am very happy to find that our Form of Government meets with your Approbation. That there are Faults in it is not to be wondered at for it is the Work of Men and of Men perhaps not the best qualified for such Undertakings. I think it deficient for the Want of Vigor in the executive unstable from the very Nature of popular...
5From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 19 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I this moment received the favour of your letter of the 16th instant. I partly agree and partly disagree with you respecting the deficiencies of your constitution. That there is a want of vigor in the executive, I believe will be found true. To determine the qualifications proper for the chief executive Magistrate requires the deliberate wisdom of a select assembly, and cannot be safely lodged...
6To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 24 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Kingston [ New York ] May 24, 1777. Has no news of the destruction of stores at St. Johns. Speculates on future course of the war and discusses need for maintaining health of troops. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. This letter was written by Morris in his capacity as a member of the New York Committee of Correspondence.
7To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 4 July 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Letter gave me the Pleasure of knowing with Certainty what might be depended upon among the numerous Reports circulated Thro the Country with Relation to the Several movements of the Enemy. That Howe wishes to draw you to a General Action is highly Probable because certainly he hath no other Means of conquering the Country, but the time when he wishes to Engage must depend upon a General...
8From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 6 July 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your favour of the 4th, by express. If I recollect how far my last went, it did not announce the return of the enemy from Westfield to Amboy, nor their evacuation of that place since. After resting and refreshing themselves a night, they decamped the following day and proceeded to Amboy from which place they went to Staten Island as expeditiously as they could; where they still...
9To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, [18 July 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Saratoga, New York, July 18, 1777. On July 22, 1777, Hamilton wrote to Morris: “Your favour of the 18th ⟨from Saratoga reached me⟩ yesterday.” Letter not found. ]
10From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 22 July 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Your favour of the 18th ⟨from Saratoga reached me⟩ yesterday. Your pronouncing Fort Edward among the other forts indefensible surprises me a little, as it is intirely contrary to the representations of several Gentlemen of judgment, who have had an opportunity of seeing and considering its situation, by whom we have been taught to believe, that it would be an excellent post, at least ⟨for⟩...
11From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 1 September 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeable to the intention of the Council I have delivered their inclosed letter to His Excellency who after perusing it has sealed and forwarded it to Mr. Hancock. The relieving Fort Schuyler is a very happy and important event, and will concur with the two happy strokes given by Harkemar and Stark to reverse the face of affairs and turn the scale against Mr Burgoigne. I hope Capt...
12To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 27 January 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
I arrived here on Thursday Evening, after a mighty disagreable Ride, and a mighty whimsical Accident in crossing the Delaware, the Particulars of which I shall reserve till we meet. As I promised to write you the Politics and News of Philadelphia, I will do it this Day; for the Snow Storm rages so incessantly that I can’t go abroad. This you will say bodes a long Letter, and I fear you will...
13From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 21 February 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
I duly received my dear Sir your letter of the 27th: of January and I would have sooner told you how much pleasure it gave me, if I had had time; but legislative folly has afforded so plentiful a harvest to us lawyers that we have scarcely a moment to spare from the substantial business of reaping. Today being sunday I have resolved to give an hour to friendship and to you. Good people would...
14From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, [21 March 1784] (Hamilton Papers)
Permit me to introduce to Your acquaintance and attention Mr Seaton Cashier of the Bank of New York. He is just setting out for Philadelphia to procure materials, and information in the forms of business. I recommend him to you, because I am persuaded you will with pleasure facilitate his object. Personally I dare say you will be pleased with him. He will tell you of our embarrassments and...
15From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, [7 April 1784] (Hamilton Papers)
Pardon me My Dr. Sir for not sooner having obeyed your orders with respect to the inclosed. I part with it reluctantly; for that is so rare an article, that when we get so much of it in so small a compass we can not easily consent to be dispossessed of it. I am very happy to hear of the union of your two banks; for you will believe me when I tell you, that on more deliberate consideration, I...
16To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 30 June 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
This is rather a late Period to acknowlege yours of the seventh of April. I have lived in the constant Intention to answer it & I now execute my Purpose. But why not sooner? Procrastination is the Thief of Time says Doctor Young. I meant to have written fully on the Subject of the Gold. But I waited some Informations from Annapolis on the Probability of a Mint. I afterwards intended a long...
17From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, [19 May 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
I acknowlege my delinquency in not thanking you before for your obliging letter from Richmond. But the truth is that I have been so overwhelmed in avocations of one kind or another that I have scarcely had a moment to spare to a friend. You I trust will be the less disposed to be inexorable, as I hope you believe there is no one for whom I have more inclination than yourself—I mean of the male...
18To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 13 June 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
I am to acknowlege yours of the 19th. of May which reached me a few Days since. Matters are not going so well in this State as the Friends of America could wish. If indeed the Debates in Convention were alone attended to a contrary Inference would be drawn for altho Mr. Henry is most warm and powerful in Declamation being perfectly Master of Action Utterance and the Power of Speech to stir...
19To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 31 January 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I did expect that in congratulating you, which I do most sincerely, upon your Appointment, I should have communicated a Matter which would have administred much Ease and Convenience to the Affairs of your Department. I learn this morning that these Expectations are frustrated from a Quarter and in a Manner which would excite my Surprize had I not long since acquired the Habit of wondering at...
20To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 28 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have lately been compelled to take some of your three per Cent Stocks in order to cover Part of a large Debt very disagreably circumstanced and to replace a Portion of heavy Advances have sold it again and am bound in heavy Penalties to have the Transfer immediately made. This Stock consists of the Arrearage of Interest to the last Day of the last Year on $382.878..60 Cts of liquidated Debt...
21To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 21 March 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
A Vessel just going to New York presents me an Opportunity of saying that I thank you for your Exertions to effect my Appointment. I know you too well my good Friend to make long Speeches on that Subject. I shall acknowlege the Services of my Friends properly on proper Occasions and till then be silent. In patronizing this Appointment you have incurred more Trouble than you was perhaps aware...
22To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 6 April 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
A friend ask’d me some Days ago to calculate for him the true Value of our public funds. I did so and you will find in answer to the Queries No: 1. 2. & 3 the result of my first Enquiries. But my Mind being once in this Train I determined on greater Accuracy at the Expence of a little more Attention, and the Questions I propounded to myself with the Answers are contained in the enclosed Paper...
23Enclosure: [From Gouverneur Morris], [6 April 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
Qu: 1. In what Time will an Annuity of 8 pay 100. Int: at 6 p %. Ansr. 23.7913 Years or 23 Years 288 Days. Qu: 2. What is the present Value of an Annuity of 8 for 23.7913 Years Int: at 4 p %. Ansr. 121.3342 Qu: 3. What principal Sum will in ten Years amount to 121.3342 Int: at 4 p %. Ansr. 81.96914 Qu: 4. In What Time will a quarterly Payment of 2 pay 100. Int: at 1¼ p % quarterly. Ansr:...
24To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 10 April 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I din’d the Day before Yesterday tête a tête with the Russian Minister Count Woranzow who is a very sensible and well inform’d Man. In the Course of an Interesting Conversation after Dinner your Name was Mention’d and he exprest a Desire to see your various Reports to Congress. These he means to transmit to his Brother who is the Minister of Commerce in Russia in Order to undeceive him with...
25From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 22 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Your three letters of the 21st of March, 6th and 10th of April have been received, and gave me great pleasure. I accept your challenge to meet you in the field of mutual confidential communication; though I cannot always promise punctuality, or copiousness. I will however do the best I can. Will it not be a necessary preliminary to agree upon a Cypher? One has been devised for me, which though...
26To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 17 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Short just before he left this City left with me a memoire in Dutch respecting the Mint. I was to get it translated for you, but not having been able to find a Person acquainted with the Dutch and English languages, I have now determin’d to send you the Original which you will find here enclosed. I hope it may prove useful, and answer the end you had in view. I have transmitted to Mr....
27From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 13 September 1792. (Hamilton Papers)
The Legislature at their last Session having made provision for the paying off the Debt due to foreign Officers, the Interest of which is payable at the house of Mr. Grand, Banker, at Paris; and the President having authorized me to carry that provision into effect, I have concluded to commit such part of the business as is to be transacted at Paris to your Management; not doubting of the...
28To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 21 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I receive this Instant a Letter from a very respectable Commercial House of Rouen Messieurs Le Couteulx and Company. By the bye before I mention the business I will tell you an Anecdote of them. Louis the fourteenth desirous of encouraging Commerce and breaking down the Barriers which Prejudice had raised against it, offered to this House which was even then of great Antiquity to give the...
29To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 25 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I transmitted on the sixteenth of last month Copies of my correspondence with the Commissaries of the Treasury to Mr. Jefferson, and on the seventeenth I inform’d you thereof. I now enclose to you my Correspondence on the same Subject with Mr. Short so that you may see exactly how that Matter stands and be able to act knowingly if called on to take any steps in relation to it. You will see...
30To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 24 October 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have receiv’d yours of the twenty second of June & am in the hourly Hope to hear farther from you. I need not tell you that it will give me Pleasure. Enclosd you will find the Copy of a Letter which I wrote to Mr. Jefferson the seventh of November 1791. This with some other Communications at the same Epoch he never acknowledged, I know not why, but I think the Paper enclosd in that Letter...
31To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 2 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I sent you on the twenty fifth of September my Correspondence with Mr. Short respecting the Debt of the United States to this Country. I now transmit a Letter from Mr. Le Brun with my Answer of the twenty seventh and twenty eighth of September which were not forwarded with my other Correspondence on that Subject to Mr. Jefferson. It is not necessary to make thereon any Comment. LC , Gouverneur...
32To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 23 December 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have written to you on the seventeenth of August, twenty-first, and twenty-fifth of September, and second of November. If any of these Letters should be missing, be so kind as to mention it to me, excepting always that of the twenty-first of September, which was on a meer private Affair of a mercantile House at Rouen. I did hope that my last contain’d the End of all Correspondence with Mr....
33To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 24 December 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote to you on the twenty fourth of October and have not since receivd any of your Letters. In that I acknowleged yours of the 22d of June. You will have seen from the public Prints the Wonderful Success of the french Arms arising from the following Causes. 1st. That the Enemy deceiv’d by the Emigrants counted too lightly on the Opposition he was to meet with. 2ly That from like...
34To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 16 January 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I shall transmit herewith Copy of what I had the Honor to write to you on the twenty third of last Month. I have since after much difficulty or rather many difficulties adjusted the Mode of payment on Certificates to foreign Officers. Messieurs Grand and Company could not be prevail’d on to deal in Specie because it might have exposed them to Plunder and personal Danger. Similar Feelings would...
35To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 16 February 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
My last was of the sixteenth of January of which I now enclose a Copy. It has so happened that a very great Proportion of the french Officers who served in America have been either opposed to the Revolution at an early Day, or felt themselves oblig’d at a later Period to abandon it. Some of them are now in a State of Banishment and their Property confiscated. Among these last there are a few...
36To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 11 April 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
In mine of the sixteenth of February I mentioned to you the Case of Colo. Laumoy and that I would write in Answer to his Applications that I am not authoriz’d to make payment but on Production of the Certificate. I do not know how I came to misunderstand you so egregiously as I find upon reading over your Letter to have been the Case. In the present State of the Business however I think it...
37To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 12 April 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote to you Yesterday and mentioned the affair of General Laumoy. A View of that Gentlemans very disagreable Situation and the sincere Desire of releiving him from it have suggested to my Mind an Expedient and I have in Consequence written the Letter to our Bankers in Amsterdam of which a Copy is enclosed and by which he will be I hope enabled to receive his Due. For his Capital however he...
38To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 20 May 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
You have annexed Copies of my Letters of the eleventh and twelfth of last month since which I have received from Amsterdam the receipts of Col. Laumoy which are lodged with Mr. Grand. I learn at the same Time that the Creditors of the United States have consented to postpone the reimbursement due to them in June so that the Difficulties in that quarter are removed to my no small Satisfaction...
39To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 23 June 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
The annexed is Duplicate of what I had the Honor to write on the twentieth of May. For your better understanding of it I will here add a short explanation of the Plan I had formed and would have carried into Effect. It was to open a loan for Stg £300000 of which the Interest of 4p% was to be paid here annually and the Capital at the End of fourteen years. For the Interest one of the first...
40From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 25 July 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, July 25, 1793. On October 17, 1793, Morris wrote to Hamilton and acknowledged the receipt of “yours of the 25th. of July.” Letter not found. ]
41To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 17 October 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Moscow Livingston delivered to me yours of the 25th. of July. He says that you alone gave him an Idea of this Country like the Reality. His Astonishment proves that he did not beleive you and would you hear him you might in your Turn be astonished to find that your sound Understanding while it grasp’d the future Event had never contemplated the progressive Circumstances. I leave to others...
42To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 29 October 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
My friend Colo. Hamilton will thank me for procuring him the acquaintance of Mr. DeVolney the Gentleman who will deliver this Letter. A Splendid reputation in the literary world will command his ready admittance to all good Company his agreable qualities will render him a desireable guest and a valuable acquaintance. LC , Gouverneur Morris Papers, Library of Congress. Constantin François...
43To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 23 April 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
In Conformity to the directions contained in your letter of the 13 Sepr. 1792 sundry payments have been made. I pray your Reference to that list while you examine the enclosed note of those payments. The numbers refer to the order in which the names stand on your list. Moreover as I transmit the Sums both in Dollars and livres I think there will be no difficulty in making the needful Entries....
44To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 18 May 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
In the list I sent you of payments made by our Bankers here I did not include the Sum of bf. 5997. paid by the Bankers at Amsterdam on the 12. April 1793 and which at the then agio of 1½ p % amounted to f. 6086.19. as you will find by their account being for No. 26. in your list sent me amounting to livres 13327.14.10 equal to Dollars 2468. 1. The party to whom this payment was made writes me...
45To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 25 July 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the Honor to transmit to you on the twenty third of last April an Account of the payments made in Consequence of your letter of the 15th. of September 1792. Since which I have written to correct an Omission in that account of a payment made in Holland by my Order of the Amount due to the person who stands the twenty sixth in the list you sent me. On the fifth Instant and in Consequence...
46To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 4 March 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just now written to the President to communicate some Intelligence lately receiv’d from Paris. This I have done in Abstract but my Correspondent has written to me as follows: “The Government here are highly displeas’d with ours. You may easily guess the Reason. It is come to a very serious State. A Fleet is to be sent to our Shore with a new minister. A definitive Answer must be given...
47Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to Alexander Hamilton, 4 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have just now written to the President to communicate some Intelligence lately received from Paris. This I have done in abstract but my correspondent has written to me as follows “The Government here are highly displeased with ours. You may easily guess the Reason. It is come to a very serious pitch. A fleet is to be sent to our shore with a new minister. A definitive answer must be given in...
48To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 19 December 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
In Company this Day I heard much said about the Treaty brought to us by Mr. Davie, wherefore as it is a Subject of public Conversation those Restraints which I had impos’d on myself are remov’d and I take the earliest Opportunity of saying one Word about it to you. The Negotiation appears to have been very well conducted on the Part of France and the Result is probably equal to her Wishes. It...
49From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 24 December 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I will run the risk with you of giving countenance to a charge lately brought against me, though it has certainly had a very false direction—I mean that of being fond of giving advice. Several friends at Washington inform me, that there is likely to be much hesitation in the Senate about ratifying the Convention with France. I do not wonder at it, and yet I should be sorry that it should...
50From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 26 December 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
The post of yesterday gave me the pleasure of a letter from you. I thank you for the communication. I trust that a letter which I wrote you the day before the receipt of yours will have duly reached you as it contains some very free & confidential observations ending in two results—1 That The Convention with France ought to be ratified as the least of two evils 2 That on the same ground...