1To Alexander Hamilton from William M. Smith, [1796–1800] (Hamilton Papers)
Your kindness in taken me under your Paternage claims my warmest returns of Gratitude. let me beg that you Receive the thanks of that sincere heart, that never has, nor I hope never will be ungratefull. I believe in the worse of Time’s when Men Soul’s trembled at danger, when most was Alarm’d at a for boding Storm. a few, a Virtuous few Stood. I humbly trust I am one of them. remember that...
2To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 1796–January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, 1796–January, 1797. At this time, McHenry “suggested to Hamilton the establishment of a permanent navy yard, and enclosed a draft of his departmental report in which he tried not to censure his predecessors.” Letter not found. ] Steiner, James McHenry Bernard C. Steiner, The Life and Correspondence of James McHenry (Cleveland, 1907). , 180, note 1. Although Steiner dates this...
3From Alexander Hamilton to ———, [1796] (Hamilton Papers)
Poor Duer has now had a long & severe confinement—Such as would be adequate for no trifling crime. I am well aware of all the blame to which he is liable and do not mean to be his apologist—though I believe he has been as much the dupe of his own imagination as others have been the victims of his projects. But what then? He is a man—he is a man with whom we have both been in habits of friendly...
4To Alexander Hamilton from Ann Mitchell, [1796] (Hamilton Papers)
My Father—James Lytton Senr. deceased—Planter of the Island of St Croix in the year 1769—In his Will confirmed by his Majesty—he bequeathed ¹⁄₇ of his Estate to my Brother James Lytton Junr.— ²/₇ths to his Children to be divided when the youngest was of age—²/₇th to my deceased Sisters Son John Hallwood—and in consequence of my being married to a man unfortunate in his conduct—he nominated my...
5Petition of Merchants and Masters of Vessels Trading from the City of Albany to the City of New York, [1–19 January … (Hamilton Papers)
To the Congress of the United States The Memorial & Petition of the Subscribers respectfully sheweth That Your Memorialists are Owners or Masters or both of coasting vessels employed ordinarily and exclusively in transporting articles between the Cities of New York and Albany. That by a late Act of Congress constituting the City of Hudson a Port of Entry the Port of Albany has been annexed to...
6The Defence No. XXXVI, [2 January 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
It is now time to fulfil my promise of an examination of the constitutionality of the Treaty. Of all the objections which have been contrived against this instrument, those relating to this point are the most futile. If there be a political problem capable of complete demonstration, the constitutionality of the Treaty in all its parts is of this sort. It is even difficult to believe that any...
7To Alexander Hamilton from William Duer, 2 January 179[6] (Hamilton Papers)
New York, January 2, 179 [ 6 .] “Will you pardon me, my dear Sir, in requesting of you if you can make it Convenient, a second Loan of Fifty Dollars in the Course Ten Days. I shall be able to return it to you, and first Fifty you was kind Enough lend me.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Duer, a prominent New York City businessman and speculator, had served as Assistant to the...
8From Alexander Hamilton to Jonathan Dayton, 4 January 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, January 4, 1796. On January 15, 1796, Dayton wrote to Hamilton : “Your letter of the 4th is before me.” Letter not found. ] Dayton, a veteran of the American Revolution, had served in the New Jersey Assembly in 1786, 1787, and 1790 and was a Federalist member of the House of Representatives from 1791 to 1799. Dayton was Speaker of the House from March 4, 1795, to March 3, 1799.
9From Alexander Hamilton to Jedidiah Morse, [4 January 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
You will confer a favour upon me by permitting me to render you the little service which may be in my power on the present occasion & without compensation. Be assured it will give real pleasure & let that be my recompence. Mr. Kent & I have conferred on your affair. It is necessary for us to see the book in question in order to a safe opinion. Can one be had? With respect & esteem Sir Your...
10The Defence No. XXXVII, [6 January 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
It shall now be shewn, that the objections to the Treaty founded on its pretended interference with the powers of Congress tend to render the Power of making Treaties in a very great degree if not altogether nominal. This will be best seen by an enumeration of the cases of pretended interference. I The power of Congress to lay taxes is said to be impaired by those stipulations which prevent...
11The Defence No. XXXVIII, [9 January 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
The manner in which the power of Treaty as it exists in the Constitution was understood by the Convention, in framing it, and by the people in adopting it, is the point next to be considered. As to the sense of the Convention, the secrecy with which their deliberations were conducted does not permit any formal proof of the opinions and views which prevailed in digesting the power of Treaty....
12Certificate on Robert Lenox, [11 January 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I certify, that I have an impression on my memory as strong as a circumstance so remote, and of such a nature admits, of my having towards the close of our late war with Great Britain, understood from some of the officers charged on the part of the United States, with the affair of prisoners and from officers of our army, who had been prisoners with the British, that Robert Lenox, now of this...
13To Alexander Hamilton from William Heth, 11 January 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I should have written to you long since, but from some doubts that a packet to you might excite curiosity, in your Post Office , not knowing of what kidney , your post-master & his clerks may be. Capt Stratton who now takes charge of this, promises to deliver it in person, and tho it is without Signature, you will be at no loss to guess from whom it comes, as it serves to enclose the piece...
14To Alexander Hamilton from John Patterson, 12 January 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Lansingburgh [ New York ] January 12, 1796 . “A Journey to Kinderhook on particular business prevented my receiving the pleasure of your letter untill my return two days ago.… I enclose this to my oldest son who will wait upon you with it and receive your commands for his Brother John. Having said so much I must beg to add a few words more as to your intended Pupil.… I must request you will...
15From Alexander Hamilton to Angelica Church, 13 January 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, January 13, 1796. On February 19, 1796, Angelica Church wrote to Hamilton : “Your letters of January the 13th are received.” Letters not found. ] Angelica Church was Elizabeth Hamilton’s sister and the wife of John B. Church, an Englishman. H managed Church’s business affairs in the United States.
16To Alexander Hamilton from Jonathan Dayton, 15 January 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, January 15, 1796. “Your letter of the 4th is before me.… There cannot, I presume, exist a doubt as to my right to a portion of the Certificates alluded to in your letter.… Mr Stevens the elder declared before his death to my father that he would transfer them to me.… The short Interrogatory respecting our political prospect with which you conclude your letter, cannot be answered...
17To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 15 January 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote to you on the 16 Novr & on the 18th Decemr. You have not acknowledged the receipt of either of those letters, but as they were sent by Post I must suppose they got to your hand. Should that be the Case and any part of the Contents are not satisfactory, explain yourself freely, for I am entirely disposed to act in conformity with your desires in the business depending between us. I...
18To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 15 January 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
The question upon the Constitutionality of the Act imposing duties on Carriages, will I expect be determined by the Supreme Court the next month. I request you if possible to attend the trial as Counsel for the United States. Mr. Lee the Attorney General is now here & will be able to inform you of the time when the trial will come on, and will concert with you the measures proper to be...
19From Alexander Hamilton to Maturin Livingston, [18 January 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I have been informed that not long since at Philadelphia, in presence of a number of persons, you made mention of the altercation which happened between us on the Eighteenth of July last, and by direct comments or insinuations endeavoured to convey the idea that I had acted with want of spirit on that occasion. I owe it to myself to inquire of you what foundation, if any , there may be for...
20From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [19 January 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
The Bearer of this letter is Doctor Bolman whom you have heared of as having made an attempt for the relief of the Marquis la Fayette which very nearly succeeded. The circumstances of this affair, as stated by Doctor Bolman & Mr. Huger, son of B Huger of St Carolina deceased, who assisted, do real credit to the prudence management and enterprise of the Doctor and shew that he is a man of sense...
21To Alexander Hamilton from Maturin Livingston, [20 January 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I this moment received your note of the 18th instant, and do not hesitate to give it an immediate answer. It is so long since the conversation alluded to in it took place, (and in which many of the company joined) that I can not now charge my memory with all that then passed. I well remember however generally, that the procedure of the town meeting at New York on the subject of the treaty, and...
22From Alexander Hamilton to Maturin Livingston, [21 January 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
It is not my wish to cavil nor can I as a reasonable man have any desire to pursue the question between us further than a due regard to my own delicacy may demand. But having weighed maturely the contents of your letter of yesterday I am obliged to think that it is not sufficiently explicit. The course of your own ideas and conduct hitherto must afford you a consciousness whether on the...
23From Alexander Hamilton to Théophile Cazenove, 22 January 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, January 22, 1796. “Upon Sounding the members of the Legislature, I find that great difficulties will attend a bill so formed as to confirm absolutely & without limitation, existing titles, notwithstanding the alienisation of those who may have acquired Lands —But that a proposition to confirm them, upon the condition of a transfer, within a term of 15 a 20 years, to Citizens, or of...
24From Alexander Hamilton to Robert Morris, 22 January 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, January 22, 1796. On February 10, 1796, Morris wrote to Hamilton : “I was preparing to answer your favour of the 22d ulto.” Letter not found. ]
25From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 22 January 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Give me leave to recommend to your civilities Mr. Winstanly the bearer of this an English Gentleman who came to this City some years. After former generosity and carelessness of temper disposes of a little fortune, he has assumed the business of Landscape Painting and in pursuance of his plan visits your County, which also he is desirous through curiosity of seeing before he goes to Europe. He...
26Certificate on John Hanson by Anthony L. Bleecker, Peter S. Curentius, Alexander Hamilton, John Lamb, and Hercules … (Hamilton Papers)
We the Subscribers do certify that we were acquainted with Capt John Hanson deceased in his life time, and at an early period of the Revolution of the United States, and have satisfactory grounds to believe that he was firmly attached to the cause of the Revolution and to the liberties of this Country. We also certify, that we particularly recollect as eye Witnesses his conduct on a certain...
27To Alexander Hamilton from Jonathan Burrall, [25 January 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
Our practice is to demand payment of Notes which fall due on the 4th. July, the day before, as in case of Sundays and Christmas days. This practice has prevailed in this Office and at the New York Bank from their first establishment. Yours respectfully ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Burrall was the cashier of the New York Office of Discount and Deposit of the Bank of the United...
28To Alexander Hamilton from Théophile Cazenove, 25 January 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, January 25, 1796. Acknowledges receipt of Hamilton’s letter of January 22, 1796 . Discusses legislation necessary for the ownership of land in New York State by aliens. LC , Gemeentearchief Amsterdam, Holland Land Company. These documents were transferred in 1964 from the Nederlandsch Economisch-Historisch Archief, Amsterdam. This letter, which is in French, was addressed to H in...
29To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Wilkes, [25 January 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
It has been the constant practice of the Bank, to demand payment on the 3d of July, for all notes which become payable on the 4th—that day being, by the regulations of the Bank, a holiday. I am with great respect Your obet Servt ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Wilkes was cashier of the Bank of New York. H needed this information for the case of Lewis v Burr . See Jonathan Burrall...
30From Alexander Hamilton to Rufus King, [29 January 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
If the News Papers till truth it would appear that Massachusettes has anticipated New York. But it is intended by our friends in the Legislature to give some pointed discountenance to the propositions. It was expected that it would have been done to day, but by the divergings of some men who seek popularity with both sides, they have gotten into an unnecessary debate upon the propositions in...