To Alexander Hamilton from James Hardie, 2 December 1795
From James Hardie1
Princeton [New Jersey] December 2, 1795. “… During the time of the yellow fever in New York,2 some business called me to that city. A person to whom I had rendered very considerable service served a writ upon me even in his own house & as it happened at a late hour I was sent to jail, where I continued for three days.… The trial will come on, during the Christmas week, when I shall endeavour to be in New York. Should you Sir, condescend, to be my attorney, I am certain that I should obtain justice & this is all I require.…”
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Hardie attended Marischal College, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, from 1779 to 1781, but he did not receive a degree. He was a teacher of languages in New York from 1786 to 1791. In April, 1796, he announced the opening of his academy at No. 90, Fair Street (The [New York] Argus, or Greenleaf’s New Daily Advertiser, April 23, 1796).
2. Late summer and fall, 1795.