1To Alexander Hamilton from Jonathan Lawrence, Junior, 4 May 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
The father of his Country being now Invested with the full powers of his Office, I presume he will therefore very soon make the necessary Arrangements in the Revenue, let me entreat you therefore my Dear friend to exert yourself for me, with the President, the Number of Applicants I find are so very many, that it will be necessary to be early for fear of disappointments. Excuse me my Dear Coll...
2From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [5 May 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
In conformity to the intimation you were pleased to honor me with on evening last I have reflected on the etiquette proper to be observed by the President and now submit the ideas which have occurred to me on the subject. The public good requires as a primary object that the dignity of the office should be supported. Whatever is essential to this ought to be pursued though at the risk of...
3To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 5 May 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I beg you to accept my unfeigned thanks for your friendly communications of this date—and that you will permit me to entreat a continuation of them as occasions may arise. The manner chosen for doing it, is most agreeable to me. It is my wish to act right; if I err; the head & not the heart, shall, with justice , be chargeable. With sentiments of sincere esteem & regard I am Dear Sir Your...
4To Alexander Hamilton from Jonathan Lawrence, Junior, 6 May 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been at a stand whether to forward to you the Enclosed, or not, for fear you might Imagine me troublesome. Necessity has at length over Come my delicate feelings, and I have concluded to transmit it to you, with an Anxious hope that you will Interest yourself in behalf of Old Servant to his Country, who has sacrificed health and fortune to Serve his Country and now finds himself reduced...
5From Alexander Hamilton to Walter Livingston, 18 May 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
The interview between us yesterday was altogether unexpected. I thought it proper to be candid. But I trust you will consider what I said as confidential. I mean to consult mutual friends; and to act agreeably to the most scrupulous delicacy. My final determination shall be communicated. If Whatever may be the issue it shall not be my fault, if it causes any interruption of that friendly...
6To Alexander Hamilton from Philip Schuyler, 20 May 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter by last nights post is come to hand, but not that relative to the Election in the Southern district. If there is a majority of 300 in our favor in the Southern district, indeed if the votes there are ballanced, we have every reason to conclude that we shall be victors. We have Accounts here that at the poles in some parts of Westchester and Orange the tickets for Governor Lieut...
7James Barcklay to Alexander Hamilton and Balthazar De Haert, 22 May 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Brookhaven [ New York ] May 22, 1789 . “The Cases between Wells, and Wickham, & myself have been long enough in Court to have been determined, yet by fraudulent delays I know not how they stand.… I mean not to direct, but to desire proper care to be taken to prevent fraudulent tricks and delays, so that I may have my Money which they mean to cheat me out of.…” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of...
8To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Loudon, 22 May 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Tho’ you may have no predilection to serve one printer more than another, as all of them, may have been obliging to you—yet, give me leave to mention a few Arguments, which I shall offer to convince you that my claims are better founded than some others, now candidates for the public printing. 1. I have one of the best offices in this City—consequently, having good hands, can do Printing work,...
9From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [28 May 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
I am miserable My beloved angel that I cannot yet come to you; but this abominable business still detains us & will do it for some days. I would willingly endure the fatigue of a journey to visit you, if it were but for a minute; but such is my situation and the expectation of those for whom I act, that I cannot get away for an hour. It cannot however much longer keep me from my beloved; and...
10To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Smith, 31 May 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Baltimore, May 31, 1789. Acknowledges receipt of a letter from Hamilton enclosing “a Bond from Mrs. Hammond of Baltimore to Thomas & Richard Lee of Leeds bearing date the 20th. Sepr. 1788.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Smith was practicing law in Baltimore at the time this letter was written. In 1801, he was appointed Secretary of the Navy by Thomas Jefferson. Letter not found....
11To Alexander Hamilton from Susanna, Ruth, Joseph, Nelly, and John Cockle, 12 June 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 12, 1789. Authorize Hamilton to “become security to Mr Robert Boyd for a Certain Sum of money left us as a Legacy by our late Grand Father John Cockle of Jamaica on Long Island.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. At the bottom of the letter is a bond in the writing of H and signed by John Cockle.
12To Alexander Hamilton from Josiah Crane, 12 June 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, June 12, 1789. “… [During the American Revolution] I Lodgd. at piramus in New Jersey. Early the Next morning we were Alarmd. by a party of the British, where I narrowly Escapd. with my life, and was Deprived of all I had in the World Except a few Loan office Certificates.… I am now A Ruind. man, and if my Country Shoud. not think that I merit Some Little Relief for the Support of my...
13To Alexander Hamilton from Morgan Lewis, 24 June 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I am informed the Inhabitants of New York have it in Contemplation to make Mr King one of our Senators. Under this Persuasion I have thrown it out in Conversation to several of the Country Members & have found it very generally disapproved of, so much so, that I am satisfied it cannot at present be accomplished. I am afraid, too, it would interfere with the Appointment of Genl. Schuyler, in...
14To Alexander Hamilton from William Hull, 29 June 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Newton [ Massachusetts ] June 29, 1789 . Requests Hamilton to accept “Mr. Charles Jackson, Son of General Michael Jackson,” as a law clerk. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Hull, after service in the American Revolution, practiced law in Newton, Massachusetts.
15Eulogy on Nathanael Greene, [4 July 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Eulogium on the late Major General Greene There is no duty that could have been assigned to me by this Society, which I should execute with greater alacrity than the one I am now called upon to perform. All the motives capable of interesting an ingenuous and feeling mind conspire to prompt me to its execution. To commemorate the talents virtues and exploits of great and good men is at all...
16To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Troup, [12 July 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
I arrived here on Friday night. I can do no business with the court of errors so anxious is the Legislature to adjourn. It is generally thought that the appointmen⟨t⟩ of Senators will be completed tomorrow or next day at farthest after which nothing will keep the members together except some Indian business which has just turned up. When our friends met it seems they judged it most prudent to...
17From Alexander Hamilton to Rufus King, [15 July 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
I received your letter by the last Post but one. I immediately sat about circulating an idea, that it would be injurious to the City to have Duane elected—as the probability was, that some very unfit character would be his successor. My object was to have this sentiment communicated to our members. But a stop was put to my measures, by a letter received from Burr, announcing that at a general...
18To Alexander Hamilton from John Adams, [21 July 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Charles Adams, my second son, the Bearer of this Letter, I beg leave to introduce to you. He took his degree at our University of Cambridge this year, and is destined to the Study of the Law. I wish to get him into some office in New York, and should give the Preference to yours. But there are two Contingencies, one possible the other probable in the way. The first is that Congress may...
19Promissory Note from William Duer, [29 July 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Forty days after Date I promise to pay to Alexander Hamilton on order for Value received the Sum of Two thousand Specie Dollars. ADS , New-York Historical Society, New York City. Duer, financier and merchant, had been appointed secretary of the Board of Treasury in March, 1786. He was soon to serve under H as Assistant to the Secretary of the newly organized Treasury Department. H’s signature...
20Receipt from John Murray, 15 August 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, August 15, 1789 . On this date Hamilton wrote and Murray signed a receipt which reads as follows: “the above account is in consequence of directions given me by Mr. Hamilton from motives of Charity to provide for the burial of Abbe Mott & the amount is now paid to me by him Aug 15. 1789.” DS , in writing of H, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Murray was a New York City merchant....
21Alexander Hamilton’s Nomination by George Washington for the Office of Secretary of the Treasury of the United States … (Hamilton Papers)
New York, September 11, 1789. On this date Washington submitted to the Senate the following nominations for the Treasury Department: “Alexander Hamilton (of New York) Secretary. Nicholas Eveleigh (of So. Carolina) Comptroller. Samuel Meredith (of Pensylvania) Treasurer. Oliver Wolcott Junr: (of Connecticut) Auditor. Joseph Nourse (in Office) Register.” LS , RG 46, First Congress, 1789–1791,...
22Conversation with Comte de Moustier, [13 September 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Projet de M. hamilton, pour liquider les arrérages de la dette tant domestique qu’Etrangére des Etats Unis. Observations de M. de Moustier à ce sujet. Le 13. de ce mois, M. Hamilton à qui j’avois été faire la veille mon compliment sur sa nomination à la place de Secretaire du Departement des Finances, vint chés moi et m’entretint du projet qu’il avoit de proposer que le Congrès fit un emprunt...
23From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 13 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, September 13, 1789. On September 19, 1789, Delany wrote to Hamilton : “I acknowledge the recpt of Yours … of the 13th Inst, one by the Post covering a Letter to the Comptrolle[r].” Letter not found. ] Delany was appointed collector of customs at Philadelphia on August 4, 1789.
24From Alexander Hamilton to Samuel Meredith, 13 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Permit me to congratulate you on your appointment as Treasurer of the United States, and to assure you of the pleasure I feel in anticipating your co-operation with me in a station, in which a character like yours is so truly valuable. I need not observe to you how important it is, that you should be on the ground as speedily as possible. The call for your presence you will be sensible, is...
25Treasury Department Warrant No. 1, [13 September 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
To the President, Directors & Company of the Bank of New York. Pay to Samuel Meredith Treasurer of the United States, or Order, the Sum of Twenty thousand Dollars; being the Amount of a Loan agreed to be made by the said Bank to the Secretary at War, in pursuance of an Appropriation made by an Act of Congress of the twentieth day of August 1789: for which this shall be your Warrant. Given...
26From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Willing, 13 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
You will probably have learned ere this reaches you, my appointment to the Office of Secretary of the Treasury. To the acceptance of this arduous trust, I have been not a little encouraged by the hope that my inviolable attachment to the principles which form the basis of public credit is so well and so generally understood as to insure me the confidence of those who have it most in their...
27From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [13 September 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
It is with pleasure I am able to inform you that you have been appointed Auditor in the Department of the Treasury. The salary of this office is 1500 Dollars. Your friends having expressed a doubt of your acceptance, I cannot forbear saying, that I shall be happy to find the doubt has been ill founded; as from the character I have received of you, I am persuaded you will be an acquisition to...
28From Alexander Hamilton to Arthur Lee, Walter Livingston, and Samuel Osgood, [14 September 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Having in consequence of my appointment as Secretary of the Treasury determined on William Duer Esquire as my Assistant, I have concluded from his situation with the late board that a delivery of the books papers and seal belonging to the department should be made to him. If this mode is agreeable to you I need only add that he is authorised on my part to carry it into execution. I have the...
29Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 14 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
The exigencies of Government require that I should without delay be informed of the amount of the Duties which have accrued in the several States, and of the Monies which have been already received in payment of them, and the periods at which the remainder will fall due. In this absolute precision is not expected, but a General Statement accurate enough in the main to be relied on. I request...
30To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Walker, 15 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I have not had much time to consider the Subject on which I promised to give you my opinion nor to make the necessary previous enquiries. I will however give you my thoughts as they occur at the moment. The public Accounts under the old System were divided into several branches say 1st. The Army Accounts.—comprehending only the Pay & Commutations of the Line of the Army. 2d— the Accounts of...