1To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 28 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed is a copy of a letter which I have written to the Secretary of War on the subject of a military Academy. Two reasons have prevented me from communicating it to you at an earlier day. My avocations rendered it impossible for me to complete the letter till very lately, and I had had opportunities of knowing your opinion on the subject generally. Any alterations in the plan which you may...
2To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 18 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your letters of the 26th and 27th of October. General Pinckney happening to be at my house when they were received, I communicated them to him, together with such other letters as had come to hand relating to the same subject—and I have since furnished him with the subsequent information transmitted to me, in order that he might take the proper measures in...
3To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 21 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
On my return from Trenton, the day before yesterday, I found your private letter of the 13th as well as yr public letter of the 15th instant. The News papers have probably informed you that poor Avery is dead of the yellow fever. The President has resolved to send the commissioners to France notwithstanding the change of affairs there. He is not understood to have consulted either of his...
4To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 21 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt two days since of your letter of the 15th instant, at which time I also received one from Col: Parker, informing me of the selection of ground which he had made. You will see by the enclosed letter to him the impression which his communication has made on my mind. I trust that it must be erroneous, since my supposition does not agree with the spirit...
5To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 14 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed abstract was founded on returns actually received in the office of the Adjutant General. From subsequent letters it appears that many recruits have been enlisted since the date of those returns. With the Highest respect I have the honor to be Sir your obt Set LS , DLC:GW ; Df , DLC : Hamilton Papers. Hamilton wrote GW again from Trenton on 17 Oct. before returning to New York on...
6To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 23 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving in due time your letter of the 15th instant. The Suggestions it contains will be maturely weighed. I postpone any thing definitive, till the return of General Wilkinson which is momently expected. The other Documents, besides No. 8, which accompanied his letter, were not material to the consideration of its contents, or they would have been forwarded—Even Number...
7To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 9 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Two days since, I received from General Wilkinson a Report of which I now send you the original. You will find it intelligent and interesting. Perhaps on the score of intrinsic propriety it deserves to be adopted to a larger extent than some collateral and extraneous considerations may permit. I had previously thought of the subject but had purposely limited myself to a few very general ideas,...
8To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 21 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with your letter of the 14th instant. The recommendations of Captains Taylor and Blue will not fail to be considered when the situation of things is mature for the appointment of Brigade Inspectors. Inclosed you will find a General Abstract of the recruiting returns, which at its date were received at the Office of the Adjutant General. Other Information induces me to...
9To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 15 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private Dear Sir New York June 15. 1799 I wrote to you a few days since chiefly to inform you of the progress of the measures respecting the recruiting service & that the symptoms with regard to it were sufficiently promising. The accounts continue favourable. I have just received a letter from General Wilkinson dated the 13 of April, in which he assures me that he will set out in the ensuing...
10To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 7 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the honor to write to you at some length on the 3 of May. I hope the letter got safe to hand. The recruiting service is now in motion, in Maryland, Delaware Pensylvania New Jersey, New York Connecticut and Massachusettes—I might perhaps add Virginia, from the assurances which I have received as to the transmission of supplies—But I am not as yet informed of its actual commencement...
11To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 3 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
At length the recruiting for the additional regiments has begun in Connecticut New York New Jersey Pensylvania and Delaware. The enclosed return of cloathing will sufficiently explain to you that it has commenced at least as soon as the preparations by the Department of War would permit—It might now also proceed in Maryland and Massachusettes, and the next post will I trust enable me to add...
12To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 3 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to your letter of the 25 of March, which with its inclosures have come duly to hand, I have written to the Pay Master General to repair to the Seat of Government. Your letter to Col. Hamtranck goes by the same opportunity. The arrangements for beginning to recruit in the States of Connecticut, New York, Jersey, Pensylvania and Delaware, are so mature that it will be very...
13To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 27 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
At length we are on the point of commencing the recruiting service in five of the States, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania & Delaware. It is hoped, that it will not be long in successively embracing the others, where officers have been appointed. But in our affairs ’till a thing is actually begun, there is no calculating the delay, which may ensue. You have been informed that the...
14To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 14 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send you the extract of a letter of the 8th instant (received two days since) from the Secretary of War, together with the Section of the Act to which it relates. I am entirely of opinion with him, as to the expediency of causing the Pay Master General to reside at the seat of Government—But as the measure is of importance, and especially as the act expressly refers the...
15To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 18 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
Unwilling to take the liberty to ask you to give yourself any particular trouble on the subject I have written the enclosed letters. I beg you to dispose of them as you suppose will best answer the end in view—that is to obtain a speedy distribution of the State into Districts and sub-districts. With the truest attachment I have the honor to be My Dear Sir Your obedt servant ALS , DLC:GW ;...
16To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 16 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private Dear Sir New York Feby 16. 1799 Different reasons have conspired to prevent my writing to you since my return to New York—the multiplicity of my avocations, an imperfect state of health and the want of something material to communicate. The Official letter herewith transmitted will inform you of the disposition of our Military Affairs which has been recently adopted by the Department...
17To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 15 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary at War has communicated to me the following disposition with regard to the superintendence of our Military forces and Posts—All those in the States South of Maryland in Tennessee and Kentucke are placed under the Direction of Major General Pinckney: those every where else under my direction—to which he has added the general care of the Recruiting service. The commencement of the...
18Candidates for Army Appointments from Virginia, November 1798 (Washington Papers)
x A John Cropper + These old officers order of merit by Heth & Carrin[gton] x B Jonathan Clark + x C Robert Porterfield + x D Joseph Swearingen + x E David Stephenson + x f John Blackwell + g Wm Bentley h Otway Bird John Heth (now in service) Carrington thinks him worth considering for Majority 1. A. Gibson mentioned for Majority now in service distinguished at Fort Recovery 2. Laurence Butler...
19To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 29 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Some ill health in my family, now at an end as I hope, interfered with an earlier acknowlegement of your favour of the 21st instant. The contents cannot but be gratifying to me. It is my intention, if not prevented by further ill health in my family, to proceed on the first of November to Trenton—My aid to the Secretary to the full extent of what he shall permit me to afford will not be...
20To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 30 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your obliging favour of the 24th instant has duly come to hand. I see in it a new proof of sentiments towards me which are truly gratifying. But permit me to add my request to the suggestions of your own prudence, that no personal considerations for me may induce more on your part than on mature reflection you may think due to public motives—It is extremely foreign to my wish to create to you...
21To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 20 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
A necessary absence from this City prevented the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant till yesterday. It is very grateful to me to discover in each succeeding occurrence a new mark of your friendship towards me. Time will evince that it makes the impression it ought on my mind. The effect which the course of the late military appointments has produced on General Knox though not very...
22To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 29 July–1 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 14th instant did not reach me ’till after the appointments mentioned in it were made. I see clearly in what has been done a new mark of your confidence, which I value as I ought to do. With regard to the delicate subject of the relative rank of the Major Generals, it is very natural for me to be a partial judge, and it is not very easy for me to speak upon it—If I know...
23To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 8 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
I was much surprized on my arrival here to discover that your nomination had been without any previous consultation of you—convinced of the goodness of the motives it would be useless to scan the propriety of the step. It is taken and the question is—what under the circumstances ought to be done? I use the liberty which my attachment to you and to the public authorises to offer my opinion that...
24To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 2 June 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have before me your favour of the 27 of May. The suggestion in my last was an undigested thought begotten by my anxiety. I have no doubt that your view of it is accurate & well founded. It is a great satisfaction to me to ascertain what I had anticipated in hope, that you are not determined in an adequate emergency against affording once more your Military services. There is no one but...
25To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 19 May 1798 (Washington Papers)
At the present dangerous crisis of public affairs, I make no apology for troubling you with a political letter. Your impressions of our situation, I am persuaded, are not different from mine. There is certainly great probability that we may have to enter into a very serious struggle with France; and it is more and more evident that the powerful faction which has for years opposed the...
26To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 28 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
The receipt two days since of your letter of the 21 instant gave me sincere pleasure. The token of your regard, which it announces, is very precious to me, and will always be remembered as it ought to be. Mrs Hamilton has lately added another boy to our Stock. She and the child are both well—She desires to be affectionately remembered to Mrs Washington & yourself. We have nothing new here more...
27To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, c. January 1797 (Washington Papers)
The sitting of the Court and an uncommon pressure of business have unavoidably delayed an answer to your last favour. I have read with attention Mr Pickerings letter. It is in the main a substantial and satisfactory paper, will in all probability do considerable good in enlightening public opinion at home—and I do not know that it contains any thing which will do harm elsewhere. It wants...
28To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 31 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
My late situation exposes me to applications which I cannot resist without appearing unkind. It is understood that Mr Walker is about to resign the place of naval Officer. Mr Jonathan Burrall Mr Rogers (Walkers Deputy) and Col. Giles (the present Marshall) have all three mentioned the subject to me and requested me to express my opinion of their qualifications to you. As to Mr Burrall there is...
29To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 19 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Mrs De Neuville widow of Mr De Neuville formerly of Holland lately passed through this City. On her way she called upon me and announced her intention to make application to Congress on the grounds of the political services rendered the U. States by her husband, as in fact a principal cause of his pecuniary misfortunes—and expressed a wish that I would bring her case under your eye. I told her...
30To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 19 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
I duly received your letter of the 12th instant. My avocations have not permitted me sooner to comply with your desire. I have looked over the papers & suggested alterations & corrections; and I have also numbered the paragraphs I. II. III &c. in the order in which it appears to me eligible they should stand in the Speech. I thought upon full reflection you could not avoid an allusion to your...
31To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 11 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
My anxiety for such a cou[r]se of things as will most promise a continuance of peace to the country, & in the contrary event a full justification of the President; has kept my mind dwelling on the late Reply to Mr Adet & though it is a thing that cannot be undone, yet if my ideas are right the communication of them may not be wholly useless for the future. The more I have considered that paper...
32To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 10 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have been employed in makg and have actually completed a rough draft on the followg heads “ National University, Military Academy, Board of Agriculture, Establishment of such manufactories on public account as are relative to the equipment of Army & navy, to the extent of the public demand for supply , & excludg all the branches already well established in the country—The gradual &...
33To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 5 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday after the departure of the Post I received your letter of the 3d. I have since seen the answer to Adet. I perceive in it nothing intrinsically exceptionable but something in the manner a little epigrammatical and sharp. I make this remark freely, because the Card now to be played is perhaps the most delicate that has occurred in your administration—And nations like Individuals...
34To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 4 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have lately been honored with two letters from you, one from Mount Vernon the other from Philadelphia, which came to hand yesterday. I immediately sent the last to Mr Jay & conferred with him last night. We settled our opinion on one point—(viz.) That whether Mr Adet acted with or without instructi[o]n from his Government in publishing his communication, he committed a disrespect towards our...
35To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 5 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
I return the draft corrected agreeably to your intimations. You will observe a short paragraph added respecting Education. As to the establishment of a University, it is a point which in connection with military schools, & some other things, I meant, agreeably to your desire to suggest to you, as parts of your Speech at the opening of the session. There will several things come there much...
36To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 4 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have received your two late letters, the last but one transmitting me a certain draft. It will be corrected & altered with attention to your suggestions & returned by Monday’s or Tuesday’s post —The idea of the university is one of those which I think will be most properly reserved for your speech at the opening of the session. A general suggestion respecting education will very fitly come...
37To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 10 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
About a fortnight since, I sent you a certain draft. I now send you another on the plan of incorporating. Whichever you may prefer, if there be any part you wish to transfer from one to another any part to be changed—or if there be any material idea in your own draft which has happened to be omitted and which you wish introduced—in short if there be any thing further in the matter in which I...
38To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 30 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to send you herewith a certan draft which I have endeavoured to make as perfect as my time and engagements would permit—It has been my object to render this act importantly and lastingly useful, and avoiding all just cause of present exception, to embrace such reflections and sentiments as will wear well, progress in approbation with time, & redound to future reputation—How...
39To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 5 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
I was in due time favoured with your letter of the 26 June & consulted the Gentleman you name on the subjects of it. We are both of opinion there is no power in the President to appoint an Envoy Extraordinary, without the concurrence of the senate, & that the information in question is not a sufficient ground for extraordinarily convening the senate—If however the President from his...
40To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, c.16 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have received information this morning of a nature which I think you ought to receive without delay—A Mr Le Guen , a Frenchman, a client of mine and in whom I have inspired confidence, and who is apparently a discreet and decent man, called on me this morning to consult me on the expediency of his becoming naturalized, in order that certain events between France and the U. States might not...
41To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 1 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 29th was delivered me by Mr King yesterday afternoon. I thought I had acknowleged the Receipt of the paper inquired for in a letter written speedily after it—or in one which transmitted you a draft of a certain letter by Mr Jay. I hope this came to hand. I am almost afraid to appear officious in what I am going to say; but the matter presses so deeply on my mind that fearing...
42To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 20 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
A belief that the occasion to which they may be applicable is not likely to occur, whatever may have been once intended, or pretended in terrorem , has delayed the following observations in compliance with your desire—and which are now the result of conferences with the Gentleman you named. The precise form of any proposition or demand which may be made to or of the Government must so...
43To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 10 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
When last in Philadelphia you mentioned to me your wish that I should re dress a certain paper which you had prepared—As it is important that a thing of this kind should be done with great care and much at leisure touched & retouched, I submit a wish that as soon as you have given it the body you mean it to have that it may be sent to me. A few days since I transmitted you the copy of a letter...
44To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 9 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
It gives me great pleasure to have the opportunity of announcing to you one whom I know to be so interesting to You as the bearer of this Mr Motier La Fayette. I allow myself to share by anticipation the satisfaction which the Meeting will afford to all the parties—the more, as I am persuased, that time will confirm the favourable representation I have made of the person & justify the interest...
45To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 2 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
The express is this morning gone off with your letter to Young La Fayette. I foresaw when in Philadelphia certain machinations on this subject. I rejoice in the decision you have come to, in regard to the papers. Whatever may happen, it is right in itself—will elevate the character of the President—and inspire confidence abroad. The contrary would have encouraged a spirit of usurpation the...
46To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 29 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I wish the enclosed could have been sent in a more perfect State. But it was impossible—I hope however it can be made out & may be useful. It required more time to say all that was proper in a more condensed form. In considering the course to be pursued by the President it may be well he should be reminded that the same description of men who call for the papers have heretofore maintained that...
47To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 28 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I am mortified at not being able to send you by this post a certain draft—But the opinion that reasons ought to be given & pretty fully has extended it to considerable length & a desire to make it accurate as to idea & expression keeps it still upon the anvil—But it is so far prepared that I can assure it by tomorrow’s Post—Delay is always unpleasant. But the case is delicate & important...
48To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 26 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I perceived by the News Paper that the resolution has been carried I have not been idle as far a⟨s⟩ my situation would permit but ⟨it⟩ will not be in my power as I had hoped to send you what I am preparing by this day’s Post. The next will carry it It does not however appear necessary that the Executive should be in a hurry. The final result in my mind, for reasons I shal⟨l⟩ submit in my next...
49To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 24 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to receive yesterday your letter of the 22. The course you suggest has some obvious advantages & merits careful consideration—I am not however without fears that there are things in the instructions to Mr Jay which good policy, considering the matter externally as well as internally, would render it inexpedient to communicate. This, I shall ascertain to day—A middle course is...
50To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 7 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I found young La Fayette here and delivered him your letter, which much releived him. I fancy you will see him on the first day of April. Mr Livingston’s motion in the House of Representatives concerning the production of papers has attracted much attention —The opinion here of those who think is that if the motion succeeds, it ought not to be complied with—Besides that in a matter of such a...