To Alexander Hamilton from Walter Stewart, [27 November 1793]
From Walter Stewart1
[November 27, 1793. “The Secretary of the Treasury sent for my information a letter to him from General Stewart,2 of 27. Nov. stating that in his present situation he doubted whether the law constituting the office of Surveyor, woud allow him, being concerned in commerce vessels &c. to hold that office—says, however, if he can be allowed to act in that office now, he can he thinks acquit himself of all mercantile concerns in about 7 months. Promises to make no new engagements in trade, & to wind up the old ones as soon as possible.”3 Letter not found.]
1. During the American Revolution Stewart had served as an aide to Major General Horatio Gates and as a colonel in several Pennsylvania regiments. He was brevetted a brigadier general. At the time this letter was written Stewart was a Philadelphia merchant.
On November 22, 1793, Henry Knox informed George Washington that Stewart had declined “the Office of Inspector. He says he would have done the same by the naval office, and that he was induced to make the application to please his father in Law; but that he intended this day to have come to me to withdraw it, as his commercial prospects are exceedingly good …” (ALS, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress).
2. Stewart’s letter was enclosed in H to Washington, November 30, 1793.
3. , 244–45.