To Alexander Hamilton from Archibald Mercer, 6 April 1792
From Archibald Mercer1
New Brunswick [New Jersey] April 6th: 1792.
Sir!
The Directors of the Manufacturing Society held their quarterly meeting at this place on Tuesday last. All the Gentlemen from Jersey met,2 but none of the Directors from New York appearing, it was thought of the utmost importance, considering the advanced season of the Year, the confusion our affairs appeared to be in, and the necessity of restoring the public confidence that a full board should be obtained if possible and the situation of our funds investigated & known. We therefore sent to New York requesting some of the Gentlemen to come forward with every information in their Power.3 To this Mr: Walker4 replied “That in this critical moment when every hour brings its misfortunes and the property of every man at hazard none of them can possibly leave town; wishing us to adjourn to New York.” By way of accomodation and in order that the business of the Society may not be wholly neglected this board have adjourned to the 17th: Inst: to meet at Powles Hook.5 From the best information we can obtain there is no Money at Command nor are we wholly satisfied with the application of it, but for want of full information we can only give you this hint. Mr: Peirce6 called upon the board on Tuesday with a letter, which he said was from you. We did suppose it contained some communications for the inspection of this Board but it being directed to Mr: Low,7 we concluded to send it forward by Pearce, who has not since returned.
Mr: Hubbard8 we are informed by Mr. Flint,9 has resigned his appointment as Superintendant General, but in such a Manner as to preserve our confidence in him as a suitable Person for the appointment.
It is natural for us in the present situation of the business, to look up to you as the founder of the institution & from the communications we have received from you, we have no doubt but you have the good of the Society at Heart. Hitherto we have depended on our Governor for the necessary plans to be pursued and which he promised to lay before us, but as a great deal of time has been spent to little purpose, and the critical situation of his private affairs10 will and must prevent his attention to this business, we take the liberty of requesting in the Name of the Society that you will be kind enough to furnish us with your Idea’s and advice on the Subject and assist us in our operations as far as in your power.
At present we think it advisable to confine our attention to the Cotton branches alone, and have at this meeting dismissed several applications for other branches that have been kept in some measure in suspence. At our last meeting the Governor informed us that some steps had been taken by you, & himself, with regard to the procuring of Workmen from Europe, and that the probable expence would be about 20’000 Dollars. We take the liberty to inclose you the resolutions of the board on that Subject,11 and would be glad to know whether you have or can take any measures to accomplish that object—and whether you would recommend any other branch of Manufacture besides the Cotton, to be adopted. We are very apprehensive that from the delay that has taken place, the whole year will be lost with regard to the Printing of Callicoes, and a very great expence and to no purpose, as the fashions may totally Change, and the long-cloaths sent for, lay upon hand til next year.
Mr: Lowrey12 is appointed to wait on you with this letter, and to take in Charge your communications on the Subject. In behalf of the Society for establishing useful Manufactures, I am with perfect respect. sir Your most obedt: and very hum: Servant
Archibald Mercer D.G.
Alexander Hamilton Esqr:
Secretary of the Treasury
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. A resident of Somerset County, New Jersey, Mercer was a lawyer and businessman. He was elected deputy governor of the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures at its first meeting on December 9, 1791.
2. The directors from New Jersey who were present at the April 3, 1792, meeting were Mercer, John Bayard, John Neilson, Moore Furman, and Thomas Lowrey ( 22).
3. At the April 3, 1792, meeting of the directors of the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures the following resolution was adopted: “Resolved, That the Deputy Governor of this Society do write to Elisha Boudinot Esqr: and to Benjamin Walker Esqr. requesting their immediate attendance at this board at their present meeting with the Papers in their possession that relate to the Proceedings of former meetings, with the State of the Society’s accounts” ( 22).
4. Benjamin Walker, a director of the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures.
5. Jersey City, New Jersey, was formerly called Powles Hook.
6. William Pearce.
7. Letter to Nicholas Low not found.
8. Nehemiah Hubbard of Middletown, Connecticut, had been elected superintendent general of the works of the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures on January 21, 1792 ( 19).
9. Royal Flint, a director of the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures, was at this time involved in the failure of William Duer, for whom he had served as agent and business associate in the Scioto Company and with whom he had been associated in various security speculations.
10. For the financial problems of William Duer, the first governor of the society, see Duer to H, March 12, 22, 1792; H to Duer, March 14; Robert Troup to H, March 19, 1792; Philip Livingston to H, March 24, 1792; Philip Schuyler to H, March 25, 1792.
11. At the society’s meeting on January 21, 1792, the directors voted that twenty thousand dollars “be applied under the direction of the Governor, with the advice of the Secretary of the Treasury” ( 20–21).
12. Thomas Lowrey was a director of the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures.