From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 14 February 1792
To William Short1
Treasury Department
February 14. 1792
Sir
I have received your several favours of Sept. 23d. Oct. 10th. & Dec. 1st.
It appears to me probable that your movement towards Antwerp produced the appearance of a four per cent loan, and I hope from it in the result good effects.
Inclosed you will find a copy of a letter of the same date with this to the Commissioners in Holland.2 You will easily comprehend the motives which dictated the turn of it.
As to the charges on the six million loan3—though you had a right to insist on the point which you made with the Commissioners, and did right to insist upon it till there was a concession of the principle, y⟨et⟩ it appears upon the whole to be more interest⟨ing⟩ to the United States to keep the Commissioners in good humour, in order to a cheerful cooperation in the more important point of a reduction of interest than to make so small a saving in the charges. I have obtained the consent of the President of the United States to authorise you to allow on the whole loan of six millions the same charges as attended the preceding loan.4
With great consideration and esteem, I have the honor to be Sir Your most obedt. servt.
Alex Hamilton
Wm Short Esq.
LS, William Short Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Short’s appointment as United States Minister to The Hague had been confirmed by the Senate on January 16, 1792.
2. Willink, Van Staphorst, and Hubbard were the United States bankers in Amsterdam. See H to Willink, Van Staphorst, and Hubbard, February 14, 1792.
3. For a description of the September, 1791, Holland loan for six million florins, see Short to H, August 31, 1791. For Short’s attempt to reduce the commission charges on this loan, see Short to H, August 8, 23, 31, September 3, 23, October 10, 1791.
4. The Holland loan of March, 1791, had carried charges of four percent. For a description of this loan, see Short to H, February 17, 1791.