31From Alexander Hamilton to Phineas Bond, 15 September 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Two days since a letter was delivered to me with a declaration of the bearer that it came from Mr. Lyston. On opening the cover, I found nothing except a letter from Capt Cochran (which though not addressed would appear to have been written to some public agent of Great Britain) and a declaration of David Wilson and Thomas Marshall respecting the ship Eliza . The superscription of the packet...
32To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 26 July 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, July 26, 1796. On July 30, 1796, Hamilton wrote to Wolcott and acknowledged “the Receipt of your letter of the 26th.” Letter not found. ]
33The Warning No. VI, [27 March 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
It has been seen that the Governt of France has an indisputable title to the culpable preeminence of having taken the lead in the violation of neutral rights; and that the first instance on the part of the British Government is nearly a month posterior to the commencement of the evil by France. But it was not only posterior—it was also less comprehensive. That of France extended to all...
34From Alexander Hamilton to James Greenleaf, 30 July 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I have carefully reflected upon the subject of your letter of the 27th. instant. Though the data which it presents authorise an expectation of large pecuniary advantage and though I discover nothing in the affair which an Individual differently circumstanced might not with propriety enter into—yet in my peculiar situation, viewed in all its public as well as personal relations, I think myself...
35To Alexander Hamilton from Stephen Rochefontaine, 10 May 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
West Point by Peekskill, May 10, 1796. “I have had the honor to transmit to you in the course of last week, a Letter detailing the affair which passed between Mr Wilson, a Lieut. in the Corps, and myself; the Injuries offered on both sides had been settled agreeably to the rules of honor adopted by gentlemen, and in consequence of a Particular agreement made by the two seconds; two days after...
36From Alexander Hamilton to John Marshall, 14 April 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York April 14, 1796. On April 25, 1796, Marshall wrote to Hamilton : “Yours of the 14th only reached me by the mail of this evening.” Letter not found. ] Marshall was practicing law in Richmond, Virginia, at this time. In February, 1796, he had made his first and only appearance before the Supreme Court of the United States as an advocate for the defendant in the case of Ware v Hylton ,...
37From Alexander Hamilton to Hall and Stimpson, 5 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, November 5, 1796. On the back of a letter from Hall and Stimpson, dated October 24, 1796 , Hamilton wrote: “Answered Nov 5, 1796.” Letter not found. ]
38To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 17[–18] April [1796] (Hamilton Papers)
In general I agree in the Course you recommend. Separate Bills will be reported to the House this morning, providing for the Sp. Ind. & Alg. Treaties—they will pass the H. and be sent to the Senate by the middle of the week. I percive no impropriety in adding to the first of these Bills recived by the Senate, and in succession to each of them if requisite, a Provision for the Br. Treaty. Such...
39From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 8 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
A few days since I wrote you my opinion concerning the good policy of supporting faithfully Pinckney as well as Adams . The following extract of a letter from Mr. Wolcott of the 6th instant serves to confirm it— “The Fœderal Ticket is lost in this State. There are still hopes that Mr. Adams will be elected but nothing more. I hope Mr. Pinckney will be supported as the next best thing which can...
40From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [16 June 1796] (Hamilton 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...
41From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [31 January 1797] (Hamilton 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 (Walker’s 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...
42Receipt to Pierre Van Cortlandt, Junior, [17 June 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
Received of Pierre Van Cortlandt Jun Esqr Two hundred Dollars on account of his fathers bond. ADS , Mrs. Robert Crimmins, Darien, Connecticut. Van Cortlandt, son of the first lieutenant governor of New York, had studied law in H’s law office. See H’s Cash Book, March 1, 1782–1791, note 3 . He was a member of the New York Assembly from Westchester County in 1792, 1794, and 1795. An entry in H’s...
43To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 6 February 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive your Letter of the 16. of Decr. and I need not express the Satisfaction which the information that it contained afforded me, the Probable termination of the Election of Pr. the general Temper of the Country, & the Effect likely to be produced by Mr. Adet’s notes are such as I had not only hoped but expected; if by prudence & Firmness, which have hitherto kept...
44From Alexander Hamilton to Herman LeRoy, William Bayard, and James McEvers, 16 December 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, December 16, 1796. Discusses the Holland Land Company’s interest in Robert Morris’s proposed negotiations with the Seneca Indians. ALS , Gemeentearchief Amsterdam, Holland Land Company. These documents were transferred in 1964 from the Nederlandsch Economisch-Historisch Archief, Amsterdam. LeRoy, Bayard, and McEvers were partners in a New York City mercantile firm which represented...
45From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 28 December 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I received yesterday your’s by Post, which I communicated immediately to the Directors of both Banks, that is, so much as concerned each party. It has been very consolatory to the Bank of New York & will do good. All will be well. Mr. Alexander McComb applied, while I was in Office, respecting some land he & Edgar had purchased of the Public and on which they had made a partial payment which...
46To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 4 March 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just now written to the President to communicate some Intelligence lately receiv’d from Paris. This I have done in Abstract but my Correspondent has written to me as follows: “The Government here are highly displeas’d with ours. You may easily guess the Reason. It is come to a very serious State. A Fleet is to be sent to our Shore with a new minister. A definitive Answer must be given...
47To Alexander Hamilton from Hall and Stimpson, 20 September 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, September 20, 1796. On October 24, 1796, Hall and Stimpson wrote to Hamilton : “We wrote you the 20th. Septr.” Letter not found. ] James Hall and Charles Stimpson were partners in a mercantile firm located at No. 67, Long Wharf, Boston.
48From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [28 July 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I have not lost sight of the negotiation with the Bank though it labours & I have thought it best to let it lie bye till the President returns. Mc.Cormick is violent against it & plays on little jealousies, & what is still more efficacious private interests; representing the consequent inability of the Bank to accommodate the Merchants, many of whom from the unfortunate issue of some late...
49From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 30 July 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I had written you a short line previous to the Receipt of your letter of the 26th to which indeed I can add nothing material. It will, as things stand, be imprudent to push the point of a further loan till the President arrives —for though a majority of the Directors are well disposed to the thing, they are afraid of McCormick’s clamours and want the sanction of the President to controul &...
50To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 15 May 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
On this day week, I wrote you a letter on the subject of the information received from G—— M——, and put it with some other Papers respecting the case of Mr. De la Fayette, under cover to Mr Jay: to whom also I had occasion to write. But in my hurry (making up the dispatches for the Post Office next morning) I forgot to give it a Superscription; of course it had to return from N: York for one,...
51From Alexander Hamilton to Richard Harison, 17 May [1796] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] May 17 [ 1796 ]. “I have seen Mr. Blanchard. He will do what we talked of, except as to the loan of the further sum, which he intirely declines. I will thank you to send for Bouvier and ascertain his final determination; in order that it may be known whether hostilities must ensue or not.…” ALS , New-York Historical Society, New York City. Richard Harison was United States...
52To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 6 November 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I fear that your opinion of Nov. 3d has been founded on a partial view of the case. You will remember that it has all along been a recd. opinion that the French had a right by Treaty to enjoy an indefinite asylum in our Ports: but that they could not claim the privilidge of selling Prizes in our Ports . The privilidge of an indefinite asylum in was also granted to British Ships of War &...
53To Alexander Hamilton from Woodbury Langdon, 18 April 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Portsmouth [ New Hampshire ] April 18, 1796 . “I conceive it will be necessary for you to have the original note which I hold against Michael Wentworth deceased, in order to settle matters with Mr. Edward Goold. I intended to have left it with you on my return from Philadelphia, but forgot it when I was with you last.…” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Langdon was a Portsmouth, New...
54From Alexander Hamilton to Robert Morris, [10 November 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, November 10, 1796. On November 19, 1796, Morris wrote to Hamilton : “I … find your letter of the 10 Inst.” Letter not found. ]
55The 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...
56From Alexander Hamilton to Angelica Church, [19–20 June 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
If you knew the power you have to make happy You would lose no opportunity of writing to Betsey & me; for we literally feast on your letters. But our impatience increases as the prospect becomes more promising; and you must permit us ever to chide Mr. Church for his tardiness. Expectations must be converted into realities. Life is too short to warrant procrasti[nati]on of the most favourite...
57The Warning No. II, [7 February 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
Independent of the commands of honor, the coolest calculations of interest forbid our becoming the instruments of the Ambition of France, by associating with her in the War. The question is no longer the establishment of liberty on the basis of Republican Government. This point, the enemies of France have ceased to dispute. The question now is whether she shall be aggrandized by new...
58From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [21 December 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I did not understand by your letter of the 17th. of November whether you meant or not to authorise the immediate commencement of the sale of Stock. If you think this measure will become indispensable, it may be well to anticipate the execution; though indeed sales of Stock are at this juncture nearly impracticable. Yet I imagine it will be agreeable to the Bank to have permission to...
59From 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...
60To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Morris, 6 March 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I am glad to see by your line of yesterday that you had got safe home. I am at present in treaty for the Sale of some Lands of Pennsa & perhaps some of the Tracts I proposed to you may be included in the sale. If they are, others shall be Substituted & you may rely that I will not lose a day unnecessarily in preparing & transmitting the Mortgages, but instead of putting the whole into one...