1Account with William Backhouse and Company, 18 April 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 18, 1788. Backhouse on this date made the last entry in an account which he had kept with Hamilton who was acting as agent and legal representative for John B. Church. The account deals with bills of exchange which Backhouse discounted for Church. The first entry is February 18, 1788, the last April 18, 1788. D , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. William Backhouse was a...
2To Alexander Hamilton from Paul Bascom, 8 February 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Turks-Island , February 8, 1787 . “I wrote you in July last … respecting the Business of Mrs. Place’s Children, with the Estates of Paul & Stephen Richards at New-York.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Presumably Paul Bascom of Bermuda who had been a searcher of the customs there. Turks-Island is located in the British West Indies. Letter not found.
3To Alexander Hamilton from Catherine Bayard, 24 April 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 24, 1787. “I wish you Could so Much advance the Settlement of My affairs as to Make Me Receive of the Trustees of Bayards Estate a Sum Sufficient to Provide for My Urgent Expences during your Absence and Reimburse you what you so Obliginly have Sent to Me.…” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Catherine Bayard was the widow of Samuel Bayard.
4To Alexander Hamilton from Israel Beach, 13 February 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Newark [ New Jersey ] February 13, 1787 . Requests advice on the payment of certain bonds. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
5To Alexander Hamilton from David Beekman, 7 March 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
St. Croix, March 7, 1787. Requests Hamilton’s opinion on Beekman’s liability for a bail bond he signed with Gilbert Woodward. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Beekman was a partner in the St. Croix firm of Beekman and Cruger.
6To Alexander Hamilton from Theodorick Bland, 20 March 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Richmond, March 20, 1787. Acknowledges receipt of a circular letter from Hamilton, James Duane, and William Duer concerning proposed alterations in the “Institution” of the Society of the Cincinnati and states that it will be reported to the next meeting of the state society. ALS , New-York Historical Society, New York City. Bland wrote in his capacity as vice president of the Virginia Society...
7To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Brailsford, 25 September 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Charleston, South Carolina, September 25, 1787. “Mr Mullett lately transmited me Copy of your Letter to him of the 22d July, together with his answer, which I approve, tho’ he was mistaken in saying that the terms on which Wooldridge has been liberated, were all that I required; as there was another matter of great importance that I wished to accomplish previous to that event, & on which I...
8To Alexander Hamilton from Mary Bryant, 23 April 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 23, 1787. Asks Hamilton’s assistance in securing a disputed legacy left to her by her husband. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Mary Bryant was the widow of Dr. William Bryant of Trenton, New Jersey.
9To Alexander Hamilton from Angelica Church, [2 October 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
You had every right my dear brother to believe that I was very inattentive not to have answered your letter; but I could not relinquish the hopes that you would be tempted to ask the reason of my Silence, which would be a certain means of obtaining the second letter when perhaps had I answered the first, I should have lost all the fine things contained in the Latter. Indeed my dear, Sir if my...
10Appointment as Delegate to the Continental Congress, [2 February 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
State of New York The people of the State of New york by the Grace of God free and Independent To all to whom these presents shall come send Greeting. Whereas our Senate and Assembly on the Twenty second day of January last nominated and appointed the Honorable Ezra L’Hommedieu, Egbert Benson, Alexander Hamilton, Abraham Yates, Junior and Leonard Gansevort Esquires Delegates to represent our...
11Constitutional Convention. Appointment to Committee for Establishing Rules for the Constitutional Convention, 25 May … (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, May 25, 1787. On this date, Hamilton, George Wythe of Virginia, and Charles Pinckney of South Carolina were appointed a committee to prepare “standing rules & orders” for the Constitutional Convention. Hunt and Scott, Debates Gaillard Hunt and James Brown Scott, eds., The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 Which Framed the Constitution of the United States of America....
12To Alexander Hamilton from Daniel Coxe, 4 April 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
London, April 4, 1787. “… Interested as I am in a large landed Property in the State of New Yorke; under former Grants of the Crown, and which not having been confiscated, is considered to be secure to me in virtue of the Treaty, I am anxious to be informed, from a Gentleman of your high Professional merit, whether or not, and how far, the Principle of Alienism , is adopted seriously by your...
13To Alexander Hamilton from Gaspard Joseph Amand Ducher, 26 October 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
je suis arrivé ici apres bien des fatigues et des dangers; je me Repose et j’en ai grand Besoin. Rappelles vous, je vous prie, que vous m’aves promis Deux pièces Relatives à La nouvelle constitution; je les attends avec Le plus grand empressement et je vous scaurai gré de me faire passer tous les pamphlets qui seront imprimés sur ce sujet. mes Respects je vous prie à Madame hamilton. jai...
14To Alexander Hamilton from John Fitch, 29 January 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
Having exausted considerable sums of money in forming a Boat to be propelled by the force of steam a considerable part of which has been expended in experiments in learning to make a Steam Engine that being so useful a Machine for most great works, I humbly flatter myself it is deserving the notice of Congress and that it will in time superceed the greatest part of Water works as well as all...
15To Alexander Hamilton from David Forman, 27 November 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
November 27, 1787. Asks for a statement of the amount due Forman from a judgment secured against Robert Cox. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
16To Alexander Hamilton from Ezekiel Forman, 24 September 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, September 24, 1787. “… I wish to know if the process against Mr. Livingston was served and return made to the … July Term and if any thing more is wanted for the effectual prosecution of that suit. Please to look over the papers I left, and judge, if the accts. stated by the sheriff, and the writing thereon be not sufficient to empower me to carry on a suit.…” ALS , Hamilton...
17Constitutional Convention. Second of Benjamin Franklin’s Motion that Proposed Executive Serve Without Pay, 2 June 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, June 2, 1787. On this date Benjamin Franklin moved that the expenses of the proposed Executive should be paid but that he should receive “no salary, stipend fee or reward whatsoever” for his service. “The motion was seconded by Col. HAMILTON with the view he said merely of bringing so respectable a proposition before the Committee, and which was besides enforced by arguments that...
18Horatio Gates to Alexander Hamilton, James Duane, and William Duer, 5 February 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
I received The packet you Honoured me with by The Bearer Mr. J. Nourse, and immediately forwarded your Letter with The Books to the State Secretary T. Merriwether Esqr. at Richmond, with a Letter from myself, requesting him to Present it to The Committee, that is appointed to attend The General Meeting in Philadelphia. Previous to my receiving your Letter, I had The Honour to receive a packet...
19New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act for the Relief of Merchants in the City of New York, [20 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Col. Hamilton supposed that it was agreed on all hands, that some relief should be granted—there was, he said two questions before the committee, one, if they would put them on a footing with the other citizens; and the other, if they did not merit something more. If said he, you receive their certificates, and grant them your own, you extend to them only that relief which you have already...
20New York Assembly. Remarks on the Quotas to be Assigned the Several Counties of New York, [22 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Col. Hamilton did not suppose that any arguments would have much influence on the decision of this question. There is no criterion to go by and we fall into the greatest uncertainty—a gentleman has told us plainly, that he has been intriguing, and making the best bargain he could for his county. He would not say that New-York had made any conditions—he hoped that the intrigues might not have...
21Constitutional Convention. Remarks on the Number of Votes Required in Congress to Override a Presidential Veto, [12 … (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton added his testimony to the fact that 2/3 in N. York had been ineffectual either where a popular object, or a legislative faction operated; of which he mentioned some instances. Hunt and Scott, Debates Gaillard Hunt and James Brown Scott, eds., The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 Which Framed the Constitution of the United States of America. Reported by James Madison (New...
22New York Assembly. Report on the Petition of Margaret Livingston, 13 February 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, February 13, 1787. On this date Hamilton reported on behalf of a committee of which he was chairman on a petition from Margaret Livingston and others: “Proprietors in part of the Township of New-Stamford, in the County of Ulster, praying leave to present a bill for the partition of the said Township.” New York Assembly Journal Journal of the Assembly of the State of New York...
23New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act Granting to Congress Certain Imposts and Duties, [15 February 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
There appears to me to have been some confusion in the manner of voting on the two preceding clauses of this bill; the first, for granting the impost to the United States, having been carried by a majority of one, and the last, for making the officers employed in the collection accountable to them, having been lost by a much larger majority. I was induced to hope, from the success of the first...
24From Alexander Hamilton to John B. Church, 6 December 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, December 6, 1787. On December 6, 1787, Hamilton wrote to Angelica Church “I this morning wrote a short and hasty line to your other self.” Letter not found. ]
25Constitutional Convention. Remarks on the Necessity for a National Government, [19 June 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Col. Hamilton , assented to the doctrine of Mr. Wilson. He denied the doctrine that the States were thrown into a State of Nature. He was not yet prepared to admit the doctrine that the Confederacy, could be dissolved by partial infractions of it. He admitted that the States met now on an equal footing but could see no inference from that against concerting a change of the system in this...
26New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act to Institute an University Within This State, [24 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Col. Hamilton hoped the house would not recommit the bill. There was no doubt he said but the legislature possessed the right to give this power. There were frequent examples of the kind in Great Britain, where this power has been granted. No disadvantage he said could arise from it; on the contrary, many would be the benefits. He therefore wished the bill might be finished—as no doubt existed...
27Constitutional Convention. Remarks on Signing the Constitution, [17 September 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton expressed his anxiety that every member should sign. A few characters of consequence, by opposing or even refusing to sign the Constitution, might do infinite mischief by kindling the latent sparks which lurk under an enthusiasm in favor of the Convention which may soon subside. No man’s ideas were more remote from the plan than his were known to be; but is it possible to...
28From Alexander Hamilton to William Neilson, 21 September 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] September 21, 1787 . “You will recollect the cause of Hayton against van Kleeck put into my hands by you.… I hope it will not be inconvenient to you [to] take care of my Costs.” ALS , Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Neilson was an alderman and merchant of New York City.
29New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act for Settling Intestate Estates, Proving Wills, and Granting Administrations, [14 … (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton said that he did not rise to oppose the motion of the gentleman who last spoke. He should probably vote with him on the question; but he confessed he did not view it in quite so clear a light as that gentleman appeared to do. There appeared to him to be difficulties in the case, which he would candidly lay before the house to assist its judgment. The objection is that a new court...
30New York Assembly. Resolution on the Call of a Convention of the States, [17 February 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Resolved , (if the Honorable the Senate concur) that the Delegates of this State, in Congress of the United States of America, be, and they hereby are instructed, to move in Congress for an Act recommending to the States composing the Union, that a Convention of Representatives from the said States repectively, be held, and meet at a time and place to be mentioned in such recommendation, for...