1To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 14 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you inclosed an interesting little piece addressed to Gallatin by a former Citizen of Geneva—if translated and published it may do good. We have no news from the mediterranean since the Capture of Malta, nor can we do more than conjecture the future destination of Buonaparte. Turin with its arsenals is possessed by a french army, so that Sardignia is at the feet of the Directory. The...
2Introductory Note: From George Washington, [14 July 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
This letter contains the first mention in Hamilton’s extant correspondence of the question of who was to serve directly under Washington in his capacity as “Commander in Chief of all the armies raised, or to be raised, in the United States.” When Washington wrote this letter, he assumed that Congress would pass “An Act to augment the Army of the United States, and for other purposes,” which...
3To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [14 July 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 8th. instant, was presented to me by the Secretary of War on the 11th., and I have consented to embark once more on a boundless field of responsibility & trouble, with two reservations—first, that the principal Officers in the line, and of the Staff, shall be such as I can place confidence in; and, that I shall not be called into the field until the Army is in a situation to...
4To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de La Tour du Pin, 15 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
London, July 15, 1798. “j’ai eu l’honneur de vous écrire, Monsieur, vers le mois de mars dernier.… ma lettre en renfermoit une pour Mss. le Roy, Bayard, et mc Evers, et une pour m nicholas olive negotian a newyork. je n’ai recu ni d’eux, ni de vous, monsieur, aucune Reponse, ce qui fait que je viens vous importuner encore une fois. L’objet de la lettre ci jointe a messieurs le Roy &c. est de...
5To Alexander Hamilton from Daniel C. Brent, 16 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Woodstock [ Virginia ] July 16, 1798 . “In a letter which I had the Honor of receiving from you, dated the 26th of Decemr 1793 … you did me the favor to assure me that … I might at all times consider myself as entitled to your good Offices, whenever they could be useful to me … and as I am desirous of obtaining an appointment under the Government at this time, you will give me leave therefore...
6To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 16 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just received from Genl. Washington an answer to my letter which I showed you. The General appears to have contemplated attentively the nature of the impending war with France, and that the southern states (if any part of the Union) will be invaded. Admitting this idea to be correct, the General says, “the inference I am going to draw from placing Colo. Hamilton over General Pinckney,...
7From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, [17 July 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you for your friendly letter by the Post. I had contemplated the possibility that Knox might come into service & was content to be second to him, if thought indispensable. Pinckney , if placed over me puts me a grade lower. I dont believe it to be necessary. I am far from certain that he will not be content to serve under me—but I am willing that the affair should be so managed as that...
8To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 18 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I have before me yours of yesterday. In the morning of yesterday Mc.Henry returned with Genl. Washington’s acceptance of the command of the armies, and a list, in the General’s own hand writing, in which the names of the Inspector General and Major Generals stand thus Inspector General, Alexander Hamilton. Major General, Charles C. Pinckney ditto Henry Knox ditto ditto Henry Lee } for the...
9To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 20 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I retained the inclosed letter which was put into my hands with permission to take a copy of it. I hope every thing has been arranged to your satisfaction, or if not wholly, yet nearly so. I shall transmit you very soon the rules & regulations for the formation & movements of his Britannic Majestys forces, and manual exercise for the same, in order that you may consider and report whether the...
10To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 21 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
[ London, July 21, 1798. Kings notation of this letter reads: “Hamilton. Duplicates of address Gallatin.” Letter not found. ] Letter listed in Rufus King’s “Memorandum of Private Letters, &c., dates & persons, from 1796 to Augt 1802,” owned by Mr. James G. King, New York City. See King to H, July 14, 1798 .
11To Alexander Hamilton from Ambrose Spencer, 21 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Hudson [ New York ] July 21, 1798 . “It is undoubtedly time, that the affair of Avery & others with Proctor, be brought to a close.…” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. For an explanation of the contents of this letter, see Spencer to H, October 30, 1797.
12From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 22 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 20th. instant, inclosing one from General Washington came to hand this day. The object you suggest in it is one, which no doubt deserves a primary attention; and it will be paid to it. But it will be useful, that I should shortly confer with you fully on a variety of subjects, and after receiving an official communication of my appointment, I shall without delay, repair to...
13From Alexander Hamilton to Louis Le Bègue Du Portail, [23 July 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Though it is a great while since I have heard from you, I have not ceased to enquire after you, and I shall never cease to interest myself in your welfare. You have seen the progress of things between this Country and France and you must have made reflections on your own situation. I am aware that the idea of your entering in any way into the Military service of this Country on such an...
14To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Donovan, 24 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, July 24, 1798. “Permit me to Congratulate you most Respectfully on your promotion.… I make one of the number, who can make you no other recompence but my Fervent prayers to the allmighty God, for your Long life and Prosperity.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Donovan owned and operated a tobacco shop in New York City. H endorsed this letter: “Timothy Donavan aged sixty...
15To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 25 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I am directed to inform you that the President of the United States, by, and with the advice and consent of the Senate, has appointed you Inspector General, with the rank of Major General; and to transmit you your commission made out accordingly. It may be proper to mention that the nominations to the Senate for the General Officers of the established, and provisional army were presented on...
16Enclosure: Commission as Major General, [19 July 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
John Adams, President of the United States of America. To all who shall see these Presents Greeting: Know Ye, That reposing special Trust and Confidence in the Patriotism, Valour, Fidelity and Abilities of Alexander Hamilton I have nominated and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate do appoint him Inspector General of the Army with the rank of Major General in the Service of the...
17Enclosure: Appointments by Authority, [25 July 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Alexander Hamilton, of New York, to be Inspector General of the Army with the rank of Major General. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina to be a Major General Henry Knox of Massachusetts to be a Major General Henry Lee of Virginia to be a Major General of the provisional army. Edward Hand of Pennsylvania to be a Major General in the provisional army. John Brooks of Massachusetts to...
18To Alexander Hamilton from Lewis Murarius, 25 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, July 25, 1798. “… When I had the honor to wait upon you some time ago, I neglected to present you the Testimonies of my Military Conduct, which by your Leave I hereby ref. to your perusal. I take the Liberty to recommend myself to your favor.…” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. The enclosure, which is dated March 27, 1784, and is entitled “Dismission for Captain Murarius...
19To Alexander Hamilton from Jonathan Dayton, 27 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Elizabethtown, New Jersey, July 27, 1798. On August 6, 1798, Hamilton wrote to Dayton : “I received at Philadelphia your letter of the 27th of July.” Letter not found. ]
20To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 28 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Since I left N York I have had the Satisfaction of seeing your late appointment announced in the Papers; but I have seen nothing that decides your Rank in Relation to other Majr. Generals. Doubts on such a point ought not to remain. Many will doubtless apply for Commands in the army, & it is to be wished that a judicious Selection may be made. There is a Gentleman (who for your Information I...
21From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 28 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I last Evening had the honor of receiving your letter of the 25 instant, announcing to me my appointment as Inspector and Major General. At a crisis like the present I esteem it my duty to obey the call of the Government. Feeling too, as I ought, the value of the high confidence which is reposed in me, I beg you to convey to The President my most cordial acknowlegements and the assurance of my...
22From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 28 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you a number of applications for Military appointments with br[i]ef notes of my opinion. Allow me to remind you in writing of my nephew Philip Church whom I warmly recommend for a Captaincy in the Infantry. He is the eldest son of his father, has had a good education is a young man of sense of genuine spirit and worth—of considerable expectation in point of fortune. I shall esteem his...
23From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [28 July 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, July 28, 1798. Letter not found. ] “List of Letters from General Hamilton to General Washington,” Columbia University Libraries.
24From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 29 July [–August 1] 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 14th instant did not reach me ’till after the appointments mentioned in it were made. I see clearly in what has been done a new mark of your confidence, which I value as I ought to do. With regard to the delicate subject of the relative rank of the Major Generals, it is very natural for me to be partial judge, and it is not very easy for me to speak upon it. If I know myself...
25To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 30 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
You must be fully aware how liable the Executive is to be misled in forming a just estimate of the character of candidates for military appointments, when it must, so often, depend upon recommendations that may have been obtained by the importunity of applicants, from a desire to oblige some friend, or to avoid creating an enemy or, perhaps given in the hope that the army may serve to suppress...
26From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 30 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Scruples of delicacy have occasionned me to hesitate about offering to you certain ideas which it appears to me on mature reflection cannot be witheld consistently either with friendship to you or regard to the service. They are these— I observe you plunged in a vast mass of details. I know from experience that it is impossible for any man whatever be his talents or diligence to wade through...
27To Alexander Hamilton from Uriah Tracy, 30 July 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
I meant to have called upon you on my way home from Philada—but was prevented by finding an uncommonly good & speedy passage. I have now troubled you, to call yr. attention to a subject, with which I was not then as well acquainted as I am now. I find Col. Tallmadge will accept of an appointmt in the Army of which I was doubtful untill I saw him. He will draw after him, in this State, more of...
28To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, [31 July 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
You will believe that I have been much gratified with the late intelligence from home. France has calculated all her plans on our decisions, and the expectation that her friends if not more numerous, would be more active, and possess greater energy, than the friends of our Government—or rather she has believed that our Government like that of every country, that she has succeeded to overturn...
29To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, [1 August 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
[ London, August 1, 1798. Letter not found. ] Letter listed in Rufus King’s “Memorandum of Private Letters, &c., dates & persons, from 1796 to Augt 1802,” owned by Mr. James G. King, New York City.
30From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [1–2 August 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed are sundry recommendations for appointments with notes of mine concerning them. I do not recollect whether I have heretofore mentioned to you Mr William Armstrong. This gentleman was a British Officer and served in the British army in America last War. But for a number of years he has been a citizen of this State—having also married in America and being the father of a Family. He...