Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 13 September 1792.
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Morris, Gouverneur

Sir
Treasury DepartmentSeptember 13th. 1792.

The Legislature at their last Session having made provision for the paying off the Debt due to foreign Officers, the Interest of which is payable at the house of Mr. Grand, Banker, at Paris; and the President having authorized me to carry that provision into effect, I have concluded to commit such part of the business as is to be transacted at Paris to your Management; not doubting of the chearfulness with which you will render this service to the public and to my particular Department.
The object not regarding your diplomatic mission, and Mr. Jefferson being absent from the seat of Government, I open without scruple a direct communication with you on the subject.
By the tenor of the certificates which were issued the stipulation to pay at Paris is confined to the Interest. The principal is of course payable in the United States.
To enable you to make payment of this Interest Mr. Short is directed to subject to your order in the hands of our Commissioners in Holland, the sum of one hundred and five thousand Guilders.
Inclosed is a list, shewing the names of the persons to be paid, and the amount of principal and interest due to each; computing interest from the 1st. day of January 1789. up to the last of the present year.
The reason of beginning at the first of January 1789. is that Congress placed a fund in the disposition of their then Minister plenipotentiary to make payments up to that time; and though an account of the application of that fund has not been rendered it is understood that the payment provided for was made.

By the list referred to you will find that the sum directed to be placed at your order is adequate to the object.
The instruction of the President to me is to cause the payment to be made in “a mode which will exempt the parties from the loss attendant on the depreciation of the assignats; and at the same time occasion no loss to the United States.”
The line of conduct, which has appeared to me proper to fulfill the spirit of this Instruction is to give to each Creditor his option either to receive payment in bills on Amsterdam, dollar for dollar, according to the intrinsic par of the metals at Paris and Amsterdam, or to receive an equivalent in Assignats according to the current rate of exchange between Paris and Holland, at the time.
To exemplify what is meant by an equivalent suppose the following data—

  1.
  That 2½ Guilders are equal to a dollar according to the intrinsic par of the metals at Paris and Amsterdam.

  2.
  That the current rate of exchange between the two places is 20 ⅌. Cent. against Paris; that is, 100 Guilders at Paris, will bring only 80. at Amsterdam.

  3.
  That the sum to be paid for principal and Interest is 100. Dollars.

The computation to ascertain the equivalent will then stand thus—If 80 be equal to 100—so will 100 be equal to 125
125 × 2½ is = 312½ Guilders which being converted into livres, at Par, will be to be paid in Assignats at their nominal value, livre for livre.
I have made an arrangement to begin the discharge of the principal here at any time after the 15th. of October next upon demand and the production of the certificate by the party or his legal representative or Attorney duly constituted and authorized. Notice will be given that after the last of December next, interest will cease, as to all those, who shall not have made application for their principal by that day.
I request that you will also cause some proper notification of this arrangement to be given in France.
As the Certificates will be required to be produced here; the payment of Interest at Paris must be made without the production of them. Especial care must of course be taken to ascertain that the payments are made to the identical Creditors or their certain Attornies. It will be well that duplicate or triplicate receipts be taken for such payments in order that one or more sets be transmitted with the Accounts Current.
Should there be any who may prefer receiving their whole dues, interest as well as principal here—they may have the option of doing it; but in this case, they must make known their election to you, or to some person whom you shall appoint and must obtain a certificate from you or the person appointed by you of their having made and communicated that election. Should you authorize another person for the purpose, you will please to inform me without delay who he is and send me his signature.
The payments are stipulated to be made at the house of Mr. Grand; and those which have been hereto-fore made have passed through his hands. The same course will be proper, unless there are good reasons to the contrary. You who are on the spot will judge how far any such reasons may have resulted from the tempests which have of late agitated the Kingdom; and you will act accordingly. No body knows better than you how important it is, to make no misteps in money concerns.
With the most respectful consideration   I have the honor to be Sir   Your obedient and humble Servant
Alexander Hamilton
P. S. Herewith you will also find the evidence of a claim which has been lodged at the Treasury on behalf of Mr Claviere that what is right in the matter may be done. A copy of an advertisement from the Treasurer, of the Seventeenth Instant is also in-closed.

Gouverneur Morris Esqr.Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of France.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 13 September 1792
From: Olney, Jeremiah
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Providence, September 13, 1792. “I have received your circular Letter of the 27th of August. The Returns & Abstract therein required shall be regularly transmitted; and due attention paid to the other Matters.”


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 13 September 1792
From: Olney, Jeremiah
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Sir,
Custom House,District of Providence 13th Septemr. 1792.

Since I had, on the 8th Instant, the honor of addressing you, on the Case of the Brigantine Samuel, the Brigantine Harriot, Christr. Bently Master, from Copenhagen, arrived (the Day before yesterday) in this District, being another Vessel of Welcome Arnold Esquire; and her Cargo, like the Samuel’s, was, on the 10th Instant, transferred by him to Mr. Edward Dexter of this Town, Merchant, for the Consideration of Two Thousand pounds Lawful Money. The Master applied at my Office Yesterday, Reported and Entered the Vessel; and Mr. Dexter appeared, with the Instrument of Transfer, to secure the Duties. Not having heard from the District Attorney on this Subject; and the Duties on the Brigt. Samuel’s Cargo having been secured at Newport by Bonds, I deemed it most advisable to adopt Mr. Ellery’s practice, and permit Mr. Dexter to secure thereon the Harriot’s by his Bonds, amounting by Estimate, to Eleven Hundred Dollars.
This Transfer of Property, as in the case of the Saml., has been executed with the sole design to obtain a further Credit by evading the Law; and unless some effectual Check is adopted to prevent this singular mode of evasion, I apprehend it may introduce a more frequent suit of Bonds.
I have the Honor &c.
Jereh. Olney Collr.
N.B. Mr. Arnold has two other Vessels speedily expected from the West Indies.

Alexr. Hamilton Esqr.
Secy of the Treasury.


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 13 September 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Olney, Jeremiah

Treasury Department, September 13, 1792. “I have this day decided upon the case of Thomas Hazard junr. The interest of the United States and of all others in the forfeiture is remitted to him; and he is to pay fifty Dollars to parties, other than the United States, together with costs and charges.…”


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 13 September 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Short, William

Sir
Treasury DepartmentPhiladelphia Septr. 13 1792

Having been authorised by the President to take arrangements for paying off the debt due to foreign Officers, the interest of which is payable at the House of Mr. Grand, Banker at Paris; and having concluded to commit to Governeur Morris Esquire being on the spot the management of the detail as to the payment of interest (that of the principal being to be made here) I am to request that you will instruct our Commissioners in Holland to pay to the order of Mr. Morris the sum of One hundred and five thousand Guilders to be applied to that purpose; and will cause him to be immediately notified of its having been done. A copy of a letter of instructions to Mr Morris is enclosed for your information.
With great consideration   I have the honor to be   Sir   Your Obedt. servant
Alexander Hamilton
William Short Esqr
Minister Resident
at the Hague.


Title: Treasury Department Circular, 13 September 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To:

Sir
Treasury DepartmentSept 13 1792

By an Order of the Senate of the United States, dated 7th of May past, of which a copy is enclosed, it is required of the Secretary of the Treasury to lay before them at their next session a statement of the salaries, fees & emoluments, for one year ending the first of Octo next to be stated quarterly of every person holding any civil office or employment under the United States (except the Judges) and of the actual disbursements & expences in the discharge of their respective Offices & employments for the same period.
To enable me to comply with the requisition of the Senate I have to request that you will furnish me with an account embracing the objects, and stated in the manner & for the period before mentioned as it regards your office as soon after the first of Octo next as can be conveniently done.
I am Sir   With Consideration   Your Ob Servt
A Hamilton


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, [14–21] September 1792
From: Ellery, William
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[Newport, Rhode Island] September [14–21] 1792. “Your circular Letter of the 27th. of the last month, I received on the 14th of this month. Its contents will be duly attended to.… I wish to be informed whether shaken casks exported in order to be set up and filled with West India Produce for importation into the United States; and Hay, Oats or other Provender for Live Stock are to be noticed in the Returns of Exports and their value.…”


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 14 September 1792
From: Lincoln, Benjamin
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Sir
Boston Sept. 14th. 1792

My knowledge of your wishes to support the manufactures of your Country will apologize I hope for the trouble of this Letter on the subject of tipes. Mr. Thomas of this State has it in contemplation to print the bible in two different small sizes. To do it on terms which will give him a profit among the importers he is under the [necessity] of importing tipes sufficient for the whole work before it can be compleated for they cannot do this as in other case set a part & break up the forms they must in order to save them selves set the whole & let the press stand untill the tipes are worn out. This will involve him in an expence of about ten thousand dollars the duties on which is an object. He wishes to know whether all circumstances considered they can be dispensed with. He wishes to procure the tipes of american manufactures but cannot do it.


Title: Treasury Department Circular, 15 September 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To:

Sir,
Treasury Department, September 15, 1792.

A letter directed to William Gardner, Commissioner of Loans for New-Hampshire, containing bills of exchange to the amount of Five Thousand Dollars, drawn by the Treasurer of the United States in favor of the said Commissioner of Loans, was put into the Post-Office at Philadelphia, on the 17th of August last.
As the letter in question however had not reached its place of destination on the 7th instant, and as from the Bills being drawn with blanks for the direction, there is a possibility in case of miscarriage (either from accident or design) that an attempt will be made to address them to persons in the receipt of public monies—I have judged it expedient to apprize you of the circumstance, that in case any draught of the above-mentioned description and numbered as below should be presented to you for payment, you may arrest the same, giving me immediate information thereof.
I am, with consideration,   Sir,   Your most obedient Servant,
A Hamilton


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to William Ellery, [17 September 1792]
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Ellery, William

[Philadelphia, September 17, 1792. On October 1, 1792, Ellery wrote to Hamilton: “I have also to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 15th of last month … and of yours of the 17th. of the same month.” Letter of September 17 not found.]


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, [17 September 1792]
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Jay, John

[Philadelphia, September 17, 1792. On September 27, 1792, Rufus King wrote to Hamilton: “Mr Jay … sent me your Letter of the 17th.” Letter not found.]


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 17 September 1792
From: King, Rufus
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[New York] Sunday 17. Sep: 92

If the enemies of the Government are secret and united we shall lose Mr. Adams. Burr is industrious in his canvass and his object is well understood by our Antis. Mr. Edwards is to make interest for him in Connecticut, and Mr Dallas who is here, and quite in the Circle of the Governor & the Party, informs us that Mr. Burr will be supported as V. President in Pennsylvania. Should Jefferson & his friends unite in the project, the Votes for Mr. A. may be 10 reduced, that though more numerous than those for any other Person, he may decline the Office. Nothing which has hereto-fore happened so decisively proves the inveteracy of the Opposition. Should they succeed in degrading Mr. Adams, much would be to be apprehended in respect to the measures which have received the sanction of Government.
Yrs affectionately
R. King
Col. Hamilton


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 17 September 1792
From: L’Enfant, Pierre Charles
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Dear sir
Paterson [New Jersey] Sept 17 1792

The progress of the business here has been as rapide as the time and a stady pursuit of the differents objects to pursue has permitted in the short space since 22d of last mounth that the director have agreed upon the plan which I propos for the canal. The ground through which this is to be carried is already cleared of all timber and immense Rock removed from the way of operation so that I am in hope in a few weak to be enabled to make a begining of the fundation of the grand acqueduc—also to open the Rock across the ill and to make a begining Every way proportional to the number of hand as shall be collected the which daily Increase in number.
Severals of the principals streets are cut through and about clearing. Stone is Extracting from the quarry and provision of Every sort making to Enable a begining of the principals and most necessary building for the manufacture and the Employed—for whom in waiting til the building are compleated I have ordered a number of barrack to be Erected suitable to the various purposes.
Differently situated here than in a City were were a market of Every materials would have permitted an immediate provision of all necessary—we have Everything to procure from a distance store to Erect Shop for carpenter smith &c to Establish and to the very tools to work with to manufacture so that you must not be surprised if the building will not rise so rapidly as in the city of new york.
They will be pushed on as Expeditiously as possible and Everything will, you may depend be carried in concert to be all ready with the canal—the progress of which will depend greatly of the duration of good weather and tempery of the approaching season. As I have assured to you in my letter of the 21 august I shall Economise the time and the means as far as shall appear to me consistant with the Importance of the object—that of the canal is the principal and in the success of which I shall find a real gratification and nothing shall be spared to make it answerabl to the Interest of the society who will be secured a greater proportion of advantage from the Enlarged sisterne I have proposed than from any of the schemes that had been considered.
Harmony prevail amongst Every one here although possibly Interest in some may differ. Pierce is realy a valuable men and I believe the one upon which much confidence may be placed—time will determine who shall be the best quallified in each different branches—and I shall not here Enter into any particular which I tink usless after the observation before made to you.
A pemphflit of this day came in my hand on Contening some observation on Mr secretary A. by a Farmer, which may have an effect but that it is intended to procure. I am Informed of an other production of the same kind—and of goodill of talk about at a certain quarter in the ancient dominion—a little account to the publick of the progress made in tow mounth mentioning the origining of the fundation for fifty house which are now about diging—and also the number of Family collecting and work men comming from the Eastern, Would lead to paralled with the wonderfull Increase of and the progress made since one year at the grand City which at this moment may be flatering to some feeling and be of some effect for the grand sale of lots announced for october.
You [will] not for this suspect me of hill wish to any—nor doubt of my real concern to the full attainement of the object I am Engaged in and shall Steadily pursue.
Assuring you I remain with respect   dear sir   Your most humble and most obedient servant
P. C. LEnfant
Alexander Amilton secretary to the treasury


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 17 September 1792
From: Washington, George
To: Hamilton, Alexander

(Private)
My dear Sir,
Mount Vernon Sepr 17th: 1792

Your private letter of the 11th, accompanying an Official one of the 9th. came safe—as did your other private letter of the 9th. I feel myself obliged by the observations contained in the first, respecting the Proclamation.
As the former Proclamations, on similar occasions, have been Countersigned by the Secretary of State, I have, for that reason, and for another which has some weight in my mind, thought it best not to depart, in this instance, from the Precedent that has been set; and therefore, as it cannot (unless unforeseen delays happen) be with-held from you more than six days longer than if it had been returned by this days Post, I dispatched by Express the Proclamation to Mr Jefferson for the purpose above-mentioned.
I have no doubt but that the Proclamation will undergo many strictures—and, as the effect proposed may not be answered by it; it will be necessary to look forward in time to ulterior arrangements—and here, not only the Constitution & Laws must strictly govern—but the employing of the Regular Troops avoided, if it be possible to effect order without their aid; otherwise, there would be a cry at once “The cat is let out; We now see for what purpose an Army was raised.” Yet, if no other means will effectually answer, and the Constitution & Laws will authorise these, they must be used, in the dernier resort.
If you remain in opinion that it would be advisable for the President to transmit the Proclamation to the Governors of North & South Carolina—and the Governor of Pennsylvania, I pray you to draught such letters to them, to be forwarded from hence (with the Proclamations which must also be sent to me) as you may think best calculated to produce the effect proposed. I am always
Your Affectionate
Go: Washington
Alexr. Hamilton Esqr.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 17 September 1792
From: Washington, George
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Sir,
Mount Vernon Septr. 17th. 1792.

Your Letters of the 8 and 9. inst: are received. The latter came to me on Saturday morning by Express, from the Post Office in Alexandria. I gave the Proclamation my signature, and forwarded it in the afternoon of the same day, by a special Messenger, to the Secretary of State for his countersign. If no unforeseen delay happens, the return of it may be in time for Friday’s Post, so as to be with you the Tuesday following.
It is much to be regretted that occurrences of a nature so repugnant to order and good Government, should not only afford the occasion, but render such an interference of the Executive indispensably necessary. When these happen, and lenient & temporizing means have been used, and serve only to increase the disorder; longer forbearance would become unjustifiable remissness, and a neglect of that duty which is enjoined on the President. I can have no hesitation therefore, under this view of the case to adopt such legal measures to check the disorderly opposition which is given to the execution of the Laws laying a duty on distilled spirits, as the Constitution has invested the Executive with; and however painful the measure would be, if the Proclamation should fail to produce the effect desired, ulterior arrangements must be made to support the Laws, & to prevent the prostration of Government.
Were it not for the peculiar circumstances of my family, I would return to the Seat of Government immediately; at any rate I hope to do it in the early part of next month, or before the middle thereof.
With esteem & regard   I am &c.
G: Washington


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 17 September 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Washington, George

Treasury Department, September 17, 1792. Recommends John Armistead as “Surveyor of the port of Plymouth and Inspector of the Revenue for the same” to replace Thomas Freeman, who “has been absent from That Port since February last.” States that Senator William Johnston of North Carolina “represents Mr. Armistead as bred to Navigation and acquainted with business, as … not only as a suitable person for the offices to be filled, but the most so of any Inhabitant of Plymouth.”


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 19 September 1792
From: Coxe, Tench
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Sir,
Treasury DepartmentRevenue Office, Septemr. 19th. 1792

I have the honor to in-close to you a letter of the 10th Instant this day received from the Supervisor of Virginia, in answer to a letter of the 23d. Ultimo from this Office. The intention of this communication is to place before you the tenor of any instructions to that officer on the subject of the 9th. Section of the Act of May 1792, concerning the duties on Spirits distilled in the United States (which you will find to be conformable with the Ideas which occured in conference with you) and his intentions in consequence of the discretion which it appeared necessary to allow him.
I have the honor to be   with perfect respect, Sir,   your most obedt. Servt.
Tench Coxe,Commissr. of the Revenue
The Secretaryof the Treasury.


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Richard Harison, 19 September 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Harison, Richard

Sir,
Treasury DepartmentSeptember 19th. 1792

I am to inform you, that for the purpose of discharging the bill drawn on me the 20th. of August last in favor of Robert Boyd & yourself, by John McComb Junr. Contractor for erecting a Light House on Cape Henry, a Warrant has this day passed the Treasury in favor of Jonathan Burrall Esquire Assignee of the said Bill, and which the Treasurer will be directed to pay in New York.
I am with Respectful Consideration Sir Your Most Obedt. Servt.
Alexander Hamilton
Richard Harison Esquire


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 19 September 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Olney, Jeremiah

Sir
Treasury DepartmentSeptember 19th 1792.

I have considered the case which is stated in your letter of the 8th instant concerning Welcome Arnold.
If appearances of the kind continue, I am of opinion that the presumption of a design to evade the law will be sufficiently strong to justify an Officer in refusing the credit. If an action should be brought against the Officer for such refusal, means must be taken to examine all the parties upon Oath; and in the event of damages against the Officer, if he appears to have acted with due caution and upon sufficient ground of probability, it will be incumbent on the government to indemnify him.
I am Sir   Your Obedt Servant.
A Hamilton
Jere. Olney Esqr.
Collr Providence.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from John Steele, [19 September 1792]
From: Steele, John
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[Salisbury, North Carolina, September 19, 1792. On October 15, 1792, Hamilton wrote to Steele: “The letter which you did me the favour to write me of the 19th of September came to hand two days ago.” Letter not found.]


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard, 19 September 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Willink, Wilhem,Willink, Jan,Staphorst, Nicholaas van,Staphorst, Jacob van,Hubbard, Nicholas

Gentlemen,
Treasury DepartmentSeptember 19th. 1792.

You will herewith receive duplicates of my letters to you under date the 28th. ultimo.
I have now to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 1st. of June last enclosing your account current with the United States to that day.
Mr. Short has been instructed [to place] with you a credit in favor of our Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of France for one hundred five thousand Guilders. The enclosed letters to Mr. Short and Mr. Morris contain the instructions, and relate to the application of the said sum: which enclosures I, therefore, request you will immediately forward to their respective addresses. I do not give an immediate direction to hold that sum to the order of Mr. Morris; because it might, by possibility, interfere with some arrangement previously made by Mr. Short, in consequence of the discretion, which has been vested in him. Should Mr. Short be at Madrid, the letter to him must, of course, be forwarded thither.
I am &c.
Alexander Hamilton
Messrs. Willink, Van Staphorst and Hubbard
Amsterdam.


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to William Ellery, [20 September 1792]
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Ellery, William

[Philadelphia, September 20, 1792. On October 1, 1792, Ellery wrote to Hamilton: “I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter … of the 20th of the last month.” Letter not found.]


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 20 September 1792
From: Lincoln, Benjamin
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Sir
Boston September 20 1792

Our Cutter proves to be a very dull sailer, after various experiments by altering the Standing of the masts the bowsprit and altering the Sails to make her sail better, is consequently a very improper Vessel for the business assigned her. We have now an opportunity to Sell her for a Sum, with the Saving of the pay & rations for the hands, which would build one of fifty odd tons, a Size large enough for the business & much easier Sailed. If you Should think proper to sell this, another could be ready as early in the Spring, as would be proper for her to be in the Offing. By the Sale there would be a Saving of pay and rations for the Crew in the Winter. As the Season of the year is fast approaching when we expect little or no aid from the Cutter, and as her sails are pretty well worn & She too heavy for the purpose, I thought it my duty to Suggest the matter to you. An early answer will oblige the Gentleman wishing to purchase.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 20 [September] 1792
From: McHenry, James
To: Hamilton, Alexander

My dear Hamilton.
[Baltimore] 20th [September] 1792

I have been confined by a fever to my bed ⟨for⟩ 17 days. Yesterday and to-day I have sat up a little. I have just recd your letter of the 10th Ulto. which arrived du⟨ri⟩ng the hight of my illness after having gone to Fayettville in N. Carolina and back to Philada.
I expect a visit from Bishop Carroll on his return to Balt. which may be next week. I have thought if I shewed him a paragraph in your letter it might have its use; I have therefore delayed destroying it till I hear from you. The paragph is. “Your project with regard to the Presidency, in a certain event, will I believe not have an opportunity of being executed. Happily for the public tranquility the present incumbent after a serious struggle inclines, if I mistake not, to submit to another election. ⟨If it⟩ turns out otherwise I say unequivocally—I will co-operate in running the gentleman you mention as one of the two who are to fill the two great offices. Which of the two may turn up first or second must be an affair of some casualty as the constitution stands. My real respect and esteem for the character brought into view will assure him my best wishes in every event”. Instruct me.
Send me Perry’s letter. Adieu. If I should get to heaven before you I shall remember you. I must go to bed.
Yours affy
James McHenry


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 20 September 1792
From: Olney, Jeremiah
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Providence, September 20, 1792. “I have received your circular Letters of the 31st of August and 8th Instant; and will pay due attention to their Contents.”


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to William Henderson, [21 September 1792]
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Henderson, William

[Philadelphia, September 21, 1792. On September 24, 1792, Henderson wrote to Hamilton: “Your favor of the 21st. inst. I duly received.” Letter not found.]


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Arthur St. Clair, [21 September 1792]
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: St. Clair, Arthur

[Philadelphia, September 21, 1792. On December 5, 1792, St. Clair wrote to Hamilton: “Your letter of the 21st. Septr. enclosing a Copy of an Order of the Senate relative to the Salaries fees and emoluments of Persons holding Offices under the united States … came to hand a few days ago.” Letter not found.]


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Winthrop Sargent, 21 September 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Sargent, Winthrop

Treasury Department, September 21, 1792. Requests information for report ordered by the Senate on May 7, 1792.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 21 September 1792
From: Washington, George
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Sir,
Mount Vernon Septr. 21st. 1792.

Under cover of this Letter you will receive the Proclamation which is just returned to me with the counter signature of The Secretary of State. I have erased the words “dictated by weighty reasons of public exigency,” & scored others with a pencil, which you are hereby authorised to take out or retain as you may think best.
As the Instrument is drawn I could do no other than fill up one of the blanks with the name of the place at wch. I now am; but, as it is to have a general circulation, you may decide upon the propriety of this, & alter or let it stand according to your judgment.
With esteem, I am &c.
G: Washington


Title: [Scourge], [22 September 1792]
From: “Scourge”,Smith, William Loughton
To:

[Philadelphia, September 22, 1792]


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 22 September 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Washington, George

Sir,
Treasury Departmt. Septr. 22d. 1792.

I have been duly honored with your Letters of the 7th and 17th instant, and perceive with much pleasure a confirmation of the expectation which your former communication had given that your view of the measures proper to be pursued respecting the proceedings therein referred to, would correspond with the impressions entertained here.
I flatter myself that the Proclamation will answer a very valuable purpose; but every thing, which the law and prudence will warrant, will be put in train, as circumstances shall indicate, for such eventual measures as may be found necessary. I do not, however, despair that with a proper countenance the ordinary course of legal coertion will be found adequate.
The enclosed copy of a letter from the Inspector of Kentuckey to the Supervisor of Virginia, of the 12th. of July last, and the copy of a letter from one of his Collectors to him of the 1st of June, contain interesting, and comparatively not discouraging matter respecting the state of things in that Survey.

The Supervisor of Virginia in a letter to the Commissioner of the Revenue, of the 10th. instant, expresses himself thus—“I can truly say that the Excise is now fairly on it’s legs in this District—it rests on the good-will of the greater part of the people, and our Collectors are from no cause indisposed to the service, but the apprehension of too much business for too little compensation.” A letter from Mr. Hawkins (Senator) to Mr. Coxe announces favorable symptoms in the part of North Carolina which is in the vicinity of his residence.
On the whole, I see no cause of apprehension, but that the law will finally go into full operation with as much good will of the people as usually attends Revenue Laws.
You will be pleased also to find enclosed a letter from the Commissioner of Revenue to me dated the 12th. instant, submitting an arrangement for compensating the Officers of Inspection for the period antecedent to the commencement of the permanent arrangement which you lately established; and the plan of an Act for that purpose to be passed by the President, if approved by him; together with an Estimate of the total expence of the proposed arrangement.
The law has made provision for a restrospective increase of compensation at the discretion of The President, and as the outset of the business will have been of course the most perplexing and troublesome, nothing can be more equitable than such a retrospection, except in those particulars in which the encreased compensations would either be inapplicable or liable to abuse. It will have besides, the good effect of stimulating the zeal of the Officers by shewing a liberal attention to their past services, hitherto defectively requited.
The Plan submitted is the result of previous consultation between the Commissioner of the Revenue and myself, and appears to me an eligible medium.
The Petition from the Keeper of the Rhode Island Lighthouse has been put in a course of enquiry, and the result will be made known.
The Lighthouse in Virginia being nearly finished, a trusty keeper of it will be speedily necessary. A letter from David M. Randolph Esqr. to Governor Lee, which was transmitted by him to me, and is enclosed, recommends for the purpose the name of John Waller Johnson; but I have no other information concerning him. You will probably recollect, Sir, a person who some time since was recommended by Colo. Parker—a man who it seems was very active during the war and distingushed himself in some water-enterprises; but who appeared much addicted to liquor, a fault peculiarly disqualifying in such a station. I regret that I forgot his name. I believe he was disabled in one of his arms. No other Candidate has been brought forward. A letter has been written to Mr. Newton, mentioning Mr. Johnson to him and requesting him to communicate his opinion of him to you, and of any other character who might occur.
Pursuant to the authorisation in your letter of the 7th. instant, measures have been taken for discharging the Debts due to foreign Officers. Upon a review of the tenor of the Certificates, in order to this, it appeared that the interest only was payable at Paris—the principal here. Had it been clear, that motives of accomodation would render the payment both of principal and interest there desireable, there might have been difficulty in justifying the regularity of the proceeding, and of course hazard of blame, especially if any mistake or accident in the execution had happen’d. But it is very possible that payment in the United States will be most agreeable to the greatest number. The arrangement of course embraces the payment of Interest at Paris, of principal at the Treasury; but with an option to those who choose it to receive both at the Treasury, as will be more particularly seen by the enclosed copy of an Advertisement by the Treasurer.
With the highest respect and the truest attachment, I have the honor to be &c.
Alexander Hamilton
P:S.   I have the pleasure to transmit herewith a letter from Mr. G: Morris which was handed to me by Mr. R. Morris. The Supervisor has been desired to forward to the Circuit Court at York town, such proof as he should be able to collect, addressed to the Attorney General. It will I perceive be satisfactory to that Officer to receive your direction to proceed there. His presence is of importance, as well to give weight to what it may be proper to do, as to afford security that nothing which cannot be supported will be attempted. I submit the expediency of a line from you to him.

A.H.


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Rufus King, 23 September 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: King, Rufus

My Dear Sir
[Philadelphia] Sep. 23. 1792

Though I had had a previous intimation of the possibility of such an event; yet the inteligence contained in your letter of the 17th surprised me. Even now I am to be convinced that the movement is any thing more than a diversion in favour of Mr. Clinton. Yet on my part it will not be neglected. My attention as far as shall be in any degree safe will be directed to every state South of New York. I do not go beyond it; because I presume other influences would be quite as efficacious there as mine.
A good use will be made of it in this state. I wish a letter could be written here stating the plan and Mr. Dallas’s assertion respecting Pensylvania which could be made use of without reserve. You will know who could write such a letter and of course to whom it might be addressed. Mr. Lewis would be the most proper person to be written to. This is a matter of importance and if practicable no time should be lost.
I wrote Mr. Jay a long letter which I fear reached N York after he had set out on the Circuit; informing him that I had concluded to advise a proclamation and my reasons for it, which included some material facts not before communicated. I have not leisure to repeat. The Proclamation has been signed by the President & sent to Mr. Jefferson for his countersignature. I expect it here on Tuesday and have taken correspondent measures. I believe all is prudent & safe.
Yrs. truly & affy
A Hamilton
Rufus King Esq


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [23 September 1792]
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: McHenry, James

[Philadelphia, September 23, 1792. On September 30, 1792, McHenry wrote to Hamilton: “I received your letter of the 23.” Letter not found.]


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 23 September 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Washington, George

Sir
Philadelphia Sepr 23: 1792

I have the pleasure of your private letter of the 17 instant.
I continue in opinion, that it will be adviseable to address a letter with the proclamation to each of the Executives of the States mentioned, and shall prepare a draft of one to be forwarded with the requisite number of copies.
A letter from Mr. King also of the 17 instant surprised me with the intelligence contained in the following extracts—“Burr is industrious in his canvass—Mr. Edwards is to make interest for him in Connecticut—and Mr. Dallas who is here, and quite in the circle of the Governor and the party, informs us, that Mr. Burr will be supported as Vice Presient in Pensylvania. Nothing which has hitherto happened so decisively proves the inveteracy of the opposition. Should they succeed much would be to be apprehended.”
Mr. Burr was here about ten days since and every body wondered what was meant by it. It seems to be explained—Yet I am not certain that this is any thing more than a diversion in favour of Mr. Clinton.
I forbear any further comment on the event—But I thought it of importance enough to apprise you early of it.
With the most respectful and affectionate attachment I have the honor to be   Sir   Your most obedient & humble servant
Alexander Hamilton
The President of The United States


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, [24 September 1792]
From: Delany, Sharp
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[Philadelphia, September 24, 1792. On September 24, 1792, Hamilton wrote to Delany: “In answer to your letter of this day.” Letter not found.]


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 24 September 1792
From: Ellery, William
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Sir,
Collector’s Off: [Newport, Rhode Island]Sept. 24 1792

I have recd. your letter of the 7th. of this month enclosing part of the margin of Certife. of Registry No. 61 and your Circular Letter of the 11th of the same month enclosing an Order of the Senate of the United States, and a wrapper inclosing Letters to the Surveyors of the several ports in this District excepting the Surveyor of this Port. The letters to all the Surveyors, excepting the Surveyor of Pawcatuck, are already sent to them, and the letter to him will be transmitted by to-morrow’s post. I have also written Letters to those Surveyors respectively requestg. them to obtain Documents from the Inspectors, Gaugers Measurers & Weighers of their several Ports similar to the Statemt. required by said Order, in season and to transmit them to me to be forwarded to you immediately after the first of Oct: next, and will furnish you with the Statemt. required of me in due time.
I wish, Sir, to provide at the public expence and with your approbation a pair of Scales & a sett of weights for this Port. The scales & part of the weights which have been hitherto used in this Port belong to the public Gauger, and the unlading of vessels has been sometimes delayed for the want of another pair of scales and sett of weights. Recently a vessel has been obliged to discharge her hands on this account, which has occasioned heavy complaint and there are now three vessels in port with articles which require to be weighed, and besides the public must sustain the loss of several days pay to Inspectors when such delays take place.
Permit me here to suggest the propriety of having a public standard of weights and measures; until this is effected, and public Scalers are appointed to adjust weights and measures, an inequality will exist inconvenient to trade, and probably injurious to the Revenue.
Inclosed is one of the Receipts of the Supervisor for the money I borrowed of him.

I am   Sir   Yr. most obedt. servant
Wm Ellery Colle
A Hamilton Esqe.
Secry of Treasy.


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Jonathan Fitch, 24 September 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Fitch, Jonathan

Sir
Treasury DepartmentSeptember 24th 1792.

In answer to the question proposed in your letter of the 17th instant, I have to observe that the credit for the Duties upon distilled spirits imported, if of the produce of the West Indies is four months; but if of the prod⟨uce⟩ of any other foreign Country the Duties are payable one half in six months, one quarter in nine months and the other quarter in twelve months.
I am Sir   ⟨Your⟩ Obedt Servant
Jonathan Fitch Esqr.
Collr New Haven.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from William Henderson, 24 September 1792
From: Henderson, William
To: Hamilton, Alexander

sir
New York sepr. 24th. 1792

Your favor of the 21st. inst. I duly received. I am sorry to inform you that the tract of Land, of 45000 Acres for which I was in treaty is disposed of. Mr Cazenove is the purchaser and at the price which was asked for the whole. I wrote to the General respecting it the middle of August: and had he not been unfortunately absent on the lock navigation business, I could have easily made the bargain to his, and your satisfaction. I regret its falling into other hands, as it would have been a good purchase; for I am well assured that since the sale, 6/ per acre has been offerred for one half of it. The other tract is not yet sold, and from the description I have lately had of it I think it cannot by any means, be worth the money they ask for it. Had it been good Land I have no doubt Mr. C would have bought it.
The tract which is sold borders on Macomb’s purchase. It is therefore probable that the Land belonging to him adjoining, is nearly as valuable. He has obtained a patent for upwards of a Million of Acres, which is in the hands, and under the controul of Mr Constable who went to England for the purpose of selling it. There is no advice of his having sold more than 25.000 Acres; Altho’ I am informed he offerred a Million as low as a shilling Sterling per acre; if this information be true, Mr Church may make a better purchase from him, than he can from any person here; and of such quantity as he likes. I expect to sail for England at the first Week in the next month and if you think I can serve him in the Negociation I will do it with the utmost pleasure.
I take the liberty of requesting from you as soon as convenient, the Letter to Mr. Pinckney the Minister, which you was so kind as to promise me, when I had last the pleasure of seeing you in Philadelphia.
I am sir with the Greatest respect   Your Humble servt.
Wm Henderson
The Honble. Alexr. Hamilton


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Sarah Mumford, 24 September 1792
From: Mumford, Sarah
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Philadelphia, September 24, 1792. “Necessity alone has induc’d me to address you by Letter, although unknown to you in Person but having heard much of your benevolence and Humanity to the distress’d I have taken the Liberty to ask a favor of you which I hope in the end will not be prejudicial; I have for two years past taken Members of Congress to board, but from their long recess, and having been unfortunate in obtaining others and my Husband having been sick the greater part of the Summer, and at this time confin’d to his Chamber all these Circumstances have reduc’d me to a very distress’d Situation, that my Goods are at this time under Execution by my Landlord for two Quarters Rent, and he has agreed upon my making him up one Quarters Rent to wait for the other until Congress meets, the Quarters Rent is Forty Dollars, and the half of it I have already obtaind from a Friend; Now Sir if you will be so obliging as to advance me the remainder it will be the means of Saving me from Ruin.…”


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 24 September 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Olney, Jeremiah

Sir
Treasury Department Sept 24th 1792

I enclose you duplicate of my letter of the 19th instant, to which I refer you in answer to yours of the 13th.
I shall only add, that it interests the merchants as much as the Public to discountenance such a species of evasion. For could it long succeed, it would render credits for the duties inadmissible. It will be well to let this idea get into circulation among the merchants.
I am Sir Your obedt Servt
A Hamilton
Jere. Olney Esqr
Collector Providence


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 24 September 1792
From: Washington, George
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Sir,
Mount Vernon Septembr. 24th. 1792.

Your Letter of the 17th. instant came to my hands by the last Post. Under your statement of the conduct of Thomas Davis Freeman Surveyor of the Port of Plymouth and Inspector of the Revenue of the same, there can be no question with respect to the propriety of superceding him in Office; and from the character given of Mr. John Armistead of the place by the Collector and Inspector, and more particularly by Mr. Johnston of the Senate, there can be as little doubt of his fitness to fill it. I have no objections therefore to Mr. Armistead’s doing it accordingly—of which you may inform him, and that a Commission will be sent to him for this purpose as soon as circumstances will permit.
With esteem, I am Sir &c.
G: Washington


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from William Denning, 25 September 1792
From: Denning, William
To: Hamilton, Alexander

New York, September 25, 1792. “In addressing you as an old acquaintance and a Friend you will I hope consider the Occasion as a Sufficient apology. My Son William (who has always respected and very much esteemed your person and Character) will between the first and Tenth of next month embark for Europe. His object is information and useful knowledge.… Permit me to request the favor of you Sir to Indulge him with a Line to Such person or persons in London, Paris, Holand, Germany, Russia and any other parts of Europe as you may think proper.…”


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 25 September 1792
From: Morris, Gouverneur
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Dear Sir
Paris 25. September 1792.

I transmitted on the sixteenth of last month Copies of my correspondence with the Commissaries of the Treasury to Mr. Jefferson, and on the seventeenth I inform’d you thereof. I now enclose to you my Correspondence on the same Subject with Mr. Short so that you may see exactly how that Matter stands and be able to act knowingly if called on to take any steps in relation to it. You will see that by an unfortunate Coincidence of Events some Ground is given for question in one of the Cases which may be supposed to result from the late Overset of the Constitution. Mr. Shorts zeal for the Interests of the United States led him to insist on Conditions unsuited to the State of Affairs, and as he afterwards gave up the Point it might be argued that this payment was made to a Party which he had already declared incompetent &c. &c. My answer of the twentieth to Mr. Lebruns letter of the ninth (of both which Copies are enclos’d) is calculated, as you will see, to stifle that question in the Birth. I prefer sending this Correspondence directly to you, instead of passing it thro the Secretary of States Office, because the letter from Mr. LeBrun has too much the air of a Complaint against Mr. Short for me to transmit it in a Channel which may give it any publicity: and this for two reasons, first that the Obloquy to which the Servants of Government are exposed has sufficient Aliment and more than sufficient already, and next that even if Blame were due I would not be instrumental in calling it forth.


Title: Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 18 June 1792
From: Short, William
To: Morris, Gouverneur

The Hague, June 18, 1792. “… I suppose you will before this have seen the commissaries of the Treasury, I will thank you to let me know whether you have settled with them the manner of counting the payments made from Antwerp. There will be a considerable sum at Amsterdam probably soon at the disposition of the U.S. for being applied to the French debt. I shd. suppose no time ought to be lost, & as little as possible double interest paid & I have thoughts of directing the commissioners to remit it unless you have fixed on some other mode of paying it to them. I hope to hear from you on this subject daily.…”


Title: Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 28 June 1792
From: Morris, Gouverneur
To: Short, William

Paris, June 28, 1792. “Yours of the eighteenth is just come to Hand & I have but an Instant to reply to it. The Changes of Administration and other Circumstances have prevented me from setling with the Commissaries. It will soon be done. I see in the Gazette that the Assembly has authorized the minister of the Marine to concert with me the Means of supplying their Colonies out of the Debt therefore it is best to leave the funds in the Hands of the Bankers but write me I pray you or order them to write to me the Amount which they now have and the Sums to be receivd that I may stipulate with the Government here accordingly.…”


Title: Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 5 July 1792
From: Morris, Gouverneur
To: Short, William

Paris, July 5, 1792. “I wrote to you on the twenty eighth and have since receiv’d yours of the same Date. I call’d on the Minister the Day before yesterday and he promis’d me to come to a Settlement of the Accounts in a few Days and to adjust at the same Time the Object of the late Decree. As the Affair is now left to the Responsability of the Executive I presume they will not longer delay it but I shall stimulate them to a Conclusion.…”


Title: Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 6 July 1792
From: Short, William
To: Morris, Gouverneur

The Hague, July 6, 1792. “I recieved yesterday your letter of the 28th. of June, & am glad to find that the settlement with the commissaries of the treasury will soon be made. The extract of the letter from the sec. of the Treasury, which I in-closed to you in mine of the 28th. ulto. will shew you his desire relative thereto. I am happy that the business is now in your hands & am persuaded that the U.S. will feel the benefit of it from the arrangement you will make with the commissaries. I hope the secy. of the Treasury will easily excuse my having postponed settling this business myself, from my desire to leave such operations of delicacy (as could not suffer from a short delay) to the exertions of a person enjoying a greater degree of the confidence of the government of the U.S. You inform me that the assembly has authorized the minister to concert with you the means of supplying the colonies out of the American debt & that therefore it will be best to leave the funds in the hands of the bankers & to inform you of the amount, that you may stipulate accordingly. You know that of the two last loans of three millions each, no part has yet been applied to France, the delay from Jany. last arising from the daily prospect of the amount or a part being applied towards succours to the islands—the whole of the first loan has been recd. by the bankers & about half of the second—the other half will be recd. successively—the undertakers as you know, are not obliged to pay so soon but they have a right to do it. The whole must be paid at the end of five months from the date of the loan, & no doubt will be sooner. The payments which have been already made by the bankers on general orders, or draughts from the Secy. of the Treasury—together with the sums which he has directed me to hold at his disposition—will leave out of the two loans a surplus of near three millions of florins, to be applied to France, except only such sums as it would be found prudent to apply to the interest of the loan in Septr. in the case of new loan being opened—as it is probable will not be done before that period. The bankers have already on hand upwards of four millions—or thereabouts—of course my intention had been to apply immediately two or two & an half millions to France—counting on the balance in their hands & the sums to be recd. by them of the undertakers to answer the draughts already made by the secy. of the Treasury, & the amount he has directed me to hold at his future disposition, & wch. he cannot dispose of for some time to come. When you consider what large sums are on hand & how long a dead interest has been paid on a part of them, from the daily expectation held out by a former minister to you, during my absence—by you to me, & then by the succeeding ministry to me at Paris—you will no doubt feel the necessity of pressing the matter & not letting it remain longer on a meer prospect however flattering. The present unsettled state of affairs at Paris, which would tend naturally of itself to protract this business is a reason the more for our avoiding delay, as well in this matter as that relative to the late payments from Antwerp. I know not what mode you will adopt but you will I shd. imagine so contrive it that the U.S. shd. have credit immediately for the sum you engage to supply, so that they may not longer pay an useless interest on the sums in hand. It may be proper to mention to you also that the Secy. of the Treasury has informed me of his having paid to M. de Ternant or le Forest on acct. of the French debt 100,000 dollars—on the 12th. of March—& engaged to make three further payments of 100,000 dollars each, on June 1.—Sep. 1.—& Dec. 1. & also in-closed me an acct. of articles furnished on same acct. to the amount of 8962 dollars. He had formerly paid two sums one of 8325 dollars & the other of 22,000 dollars.…”


Title: Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 6 July 1792
From: Morris, Gouverneur
To: Short, William

Paris, July 6, 1792. “The above is Copy of what I wrote yesterday. After the Post was gone I receivd a Letter from the Minister of the Marine praying an Interview in order to adjust the Business which he says was entamé in your Time.…”


Title: Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 10 July 1792
From: Short, William
To: Morris, Gouverneur

The Hague, July 10, 1792. “I have this inst. recd. your letter of the 5th as you there acknowlege the rect. of mine of the 28th. of June. I have nothing further to add, to what I said in that & my last letter, than simply to mention that the decree of the assembly on wch. you count seems to me not to have advanced the business at all. As far as I can understand it, it limits to four millions of livres, what the former decree passed in the time of M. de le Coste, had left at a larger sum—& this restriction appears to me [to] be the result of the explanation he asked of the assembly as to enlarging the sum—& I shd. apprehend also that the sums already advanced by the U.S. in America as succours to the islands will be made to enter into it. You will be able to judge how far & how long it will be proper to wait on such an expectative. As the sums on hand at Amsterdam & those which may be soon expected at Antwerp, will however surpass the amount of four millions of livres tournois, it will be proper to take measures as to their payment. I do not write to the commissaries of the treasury, as it is much more natural that you shd. concert the business with them. I cannot help however renewing to you my anxiety at still leaving on hand such large sums on which the U.S. have been so long drawn on from day to day to pay a dead interest. I will thank you to let me know as soon as any thing is settled. I am persuaded your experience & particularly your opinion of the manner of doing business at Paris will prevent you from being drawn on to delay by probabilities or promises.”


Title: Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 16 July 1792
From: Morris, Gouverneur
To: Short, William

Paris, July 16, 1792. “… I wrote to you on the ninth and it appears that while I was writing the Ministry resign’d to a Man. This Measure is connected with Circumstances which are not generally known and it was entirely unexpected. I did not know it till about seven oClock in the Evening for I had been at Home till six and then went by Appointment to the Minister of the Marine who was with the King. They all hold now by Interim only. I have nevertheless urg’d the Office of foreign Affairs and Monsieur Bon Carére assures me that the Commissaries of the Treasury are now making out the Account desir’d. Apropos, I wish you would direct the Bankers of the United States to send me a Note of their various Remittances on this Account. You shewed me a Statement which you had and it ran in my Head that you had left it with me but I have look’d over all my Papers without finding it. You will see the Necessity of enabling me to check their Account. I have that from DeWolf. I will again apply both personally and by Letter to the Office of foreign Affairs on this Subject and if it be possible to make them do their Duty Things shall be immediately put in Train. I mention’d in a Postscript to mine of the ninth that I thought it important to take up our Obligations. If a new form of Government should take Place which may easily happen during the next three Months there might be some Cavil about the past Transactions not justifiably but unpleasantly.…”


Title: Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 17 July 1792
From: Short, William
To: Morris, Gouverneur

The Hague, July 17, 1792. “The last post, (which brought your letter of the 9th.) arrived too late in the day for me to answer it, by the post of that day. I observe by it that you recd. a note from the minister desiring a rendezvous on the 6th. & that on the 9th. you had heard nothing further from him. He cannot have been collecting the accts. as you suppose for they were made out & stated long ago, except the payments from Antwerp, which have of course [been] regularly enregistered on the books of the commissaries of the Treasury. My two last letters of July 6. & 10. will have expressed to you my apprehensions on this subject & informed you, according to your desire of the amt. of desponible cash at Amsterdam. M. de Wolf has lately been here. He was obliged to acknowlege that he could not have fulfilled the engagement he took as to the time of completing the last loan & although he assured me as he had assured you that he would in future make no promises with which he could not comply, yet he pressed for a loan of three millions—agreeing however that instead of 600,000 florins a month which he formerly agreed for he could not now count on more than 250,000. The absurdity of so large a loan with so small sums by the month, he was at length obliged to acknowlege—still he would have had no hesitation in promising three millions in the course of a year & opening a loan in consequence. When I came to talk to him however about promises not sufficing, & that in future the engagement must be complete with his undertakers, &c. & that the loan must be closed at the end of six months, so as not to leave the credit of the U.S. dragging on the market, he thought it best to return & concert measures more fully with those he employs. I agreed to give him a loan of 1½ million at 250,000 a month, to which he assented—he was to write me immediately & although he has been now gone eight days, I have not heard from him. I apprehend he finds difficulty in getting the undertakers to engage—although he would not have had the smallest difficulty in premising double the sum & opening a loan in consequence thereof. He first told you he shd. make the loan on recepisses—at Paris he told me it wd. be best for the first loan to have the bonds in the beginning—he now tells me there is no example of a loan on recepisses of the banker to be afterwards exchanged for bonds of the government, & that if I insist on it he must renounce the loan. I am therefore to supply him with the bonds successively if he can get the loan contracted for. You will thus see how that matter stands—M. Hamilton having declared his preference of loans at Amsterdam, having held out himself & desired me also to hold out the hope of concentering them there on certain conditions, I should not have chosen on that acct., if there was no other reason, to have opened a loan for 12. months at Antwerp & for so large a sum—still I think it just & politic also to give de Wolf, the loan of 1¼ million. If it becomes necessary it may be represented to the bankers of Amsterdam as rather a continuation of the former than the opening a new loan—or if proper, may be employed to keep their fears alive as to our resources out of Holland. As yet it is useless for me to say any thing about your idea of contracting with the French government for the bonds at Antwerp, not knowing whether the loan will be opened. As soon as I know what Wolf does, I will give you my opinion by letter as I have formerly done viva voce—adding however, that it would be improper that my opinion should influence you. Your powers with respect to the French debt will certainly be competant thereto, judging from the expressions of the general powers of the Prest. to the Sec. of the Treasury, communicated to me in the beginning of this business. My own opinion of your superior knowlege on all subjects & particularly money subjects & my knowlege of your possessing a greater degree of the confidence of government would necessarily make me consider it as their wish & my duty to assent to what you shall judge most advantageous for the public interests. These considerations only prevent me from repeating the propriety & urgency of settling 1. the rate at which the payments of the Antwerp loan shd. be credited to the U.S. & adding the arguments in favor of their having a considerable profit even after allowing the real depreciation of the assignats & 2. fixing on the best mode of speedily carrying to the credit of the U.S. on acct. of the French debt the large sums which have been so long on hand & at a dead interest at Amsterdam.…”


Title: Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 23 July 1792
From: Morris, Gouverneur
To: Short, William

Paris, July 23, 1792. “I am favord with yours of the seventeenth.… The History you give of DeWolf proves clearly that his Hopes outrun his Judgment. You are however in a Position to see clearly and I am persuaded that however he may deceive himself he cannot deceive you. It appears to me a fortunate Thing that he cannot undertake for large Sums because his Operations will only stimulate the Exertions of the People at Amsterdam. You will be able to feel how their Pulses beat upon it and to act accordingly. You urge me much upon the Subject of the Monies lying in our Bankers Hands, but what can I do? I have already written and said to Monsieur Chambonas that unless a speedy Settlement takes Place the Money intended for them shall be otherwise disposed of. I have received a Letter from the Commissioners of the Treasury desiring to know what Bankers they are to apply to for Money which they say they learn thro different Channels is intended to pay them. I have sent them Copy of what I had written to Monsieur Chambonas. I have no Doubt but that the Payments made in Antwerp are duly registered in their Books as you mention. But how? It seems to me that they must be carried out at some Rate of Exchange and if they mean honestly and know how to act up to their meaning this Rate must be that which they have really obtained. In that Case the Rule for Settlement furnishes itself. And it is with a View to these Circumstances that I desire an Account from them. You tell me that my Powers respecting the french Debt will certainly be competent thereto but yet I do not find any particular Power or Instruction on that Subject unless by Implication under what is said respecting the Payments to be made in America. Mr Hamilton has never written a Syllable to me and I shall perhaps be told here-after that I have meddled with Matters not confided to me. You are indeed so kind as to tell me that I possess a greater Share of the Confidence of Government but this is a Point which I much doubt of. The general Presumption is that all the Servants of Government enjoy their Confidence. If we get out of that general Position and come to particular Circumstances I should conclude the Reverse of what you advance and certainly in what regards the present Object your Mission is much more evident than mine. It is our Duty and I am sure it is our Inclination to serve the United States in the most effectual Manner which we can and perhaps it might be well to apply the Monies in Holland to the Payment of a Part of what we owe there. One of the Loans was at six per Cent Interest or more when the Premiums are calculated and if we have as you once mention’d to me the Right of paying it I think it would be very well to begin there and let the Creditors know that they might either receive their money or charge their Obligations for others bearing only a common Interest of four per Cent. A similar Operation might be made afterwards on our five per Cent Loans and I am thoroughly convincd that we should keep Possession of the greater Part of the Cash so as to be ready to make Payments here in due Season and yet reduce all our Holland Debt to a plain four Per Cent Interest.…”


Title: Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 23[–24] July 1792
From: Short, William
To: Morris, Gouverneur

The Hague, July 23[–24,] 1792. “In consequence of your letter of July 16. I have written to the bankers to desire them to furnish you the state of the payments they have made to France. I can inform you however in the mean time that they told me the statement made by the French treasury was just.… I in-close you two reciepts of the French agent at Antwerp which complete the payments made by de Wolf. I am sorry to find you have connected the settlement of these payments with the former ones, as it will necessarily occasion delay—& they are on quite a different footing—delay cannot injure the settlement of the payments from Amsterdam—they were made previously to the promise of making up depreciation. Their sum in livres tournois is fixed & the U.S. will be credited for their amount whether settled with the present or any other government of any other complexion whatsoever. As to the payments from Antwerp they are expressed you know in florins & livres tournois—as a guide—the depreciation of assignats is promised on them—& the amount which will be carried to the credit of the U.S.—depends altogether on the settlement to be made. It is urgent to ascertain the real value of the assignats with their own fathers, as they will of course be more favorable to them than any others. I do not doubt you have proper reasons for connecting the two affairs. My own opinion would have been for avoiding every thing that could possibly occasion delay in the settlement of the Antwerp payments. I do not presume to add to the various arguments which will certainly occur to you for shewing that the loss wch. the French government would have sustained in recieving & employing the assignats in France where we had a right to pay them was without comparison less than the fall in the exchange & of course will leave a considerable gain to the U.S. after having made up to France the real depreciation on assignats at home—as may be seen by a comparison of their value with the price of all articles in France during the time of these payments. The Sec. of the treasury mentions also the loss which we sustained in recieving this money by remittances from France during the time of our assignats. I am exceedingly anxious that the business should be well settled & advantageously for the U.S.—of which I cannot but have the best grounded hopes since it is in your hands—& which will shew to our government the propriety of my having postponed settling it myself from the prospect of its being committed to better care. Another circumstance which I am anxious about & which I should suppose would aid in adjusting that already mentioned, is the sum we have now in Amsterdam. It would seem to me it would be a very expeditious operation to say to the minister—we have money to pay you—we will pay you at Amsterdam where you want it—let us therefore settle immediately at what rate the U.S. are to be credited for the payments already made at Antwerp—& at what rate you will recieve the florins at Amsterdam. This would certainly avoid all delay & put you on a ground much to be desired. It would be more desirable than waiting for the uncertain event, which has already drawn us so long, of appropriating this money to the succours of the colonies—& particularly now that we see they have voted so small a sum & with so many restrictions. I really know not how to justify myself to our government at keeping so long, so large sums on hand at a dead interest. Should the ministry be still par interim—yet I think they would not refuse the mode of settlement mentioned above—or if they should the commissaries of the treasury, who are a more permanent body, & to whom it will be ultimately referred, would not, & particularly as money is always wanted by them in Amsterdam. I have said a great deal several times on these subjects—viz. the settlement of the Antwerp payments & the mode of paying expeditiously & advantageously for the U.S. the sums on hand at Amsterdam. You will naturally concieve my anxiety, & also that if nothing definitive be soon done I shall consider myself under the necessity of directing the bankers to begin their remittances to France by bills of exchange, although the mode above mentioned being much more expeditious would be much more agreeable.… I have just recd. your note of July 18 inclosing a letter from Carmichael. I see you are no further with the minister than a “promise to hasten the settlement of accts.” I must beg you to wait no longer on a promise—& if you cannot settle the mode of payment immediately to say so that I may direct the bankers to remit the money at our disposition. The Commissaries however wd. certainly be glad to recieve it at Amsterdam & of course willingly fix the rate at which they wd. recieve it & of course agree to the rate for the sums already pd. at Antwerp. If you wait for a settlement of the whole acct. I predict the affair will not be settled with this government—& if you confine your self to the five essential points—it may & certainly can be done without any delay.…”


Title: Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 30 July 1792
From: Morris, Gouverneur
To: Short, William

Paris, July 30, 1792. “My last was of the twenty third. I am now favord with yours of the same Date. I receiv’d Yesterday the Account from the Commissioners of the Treasury and as I suppos’d it contains a Credit for the Antwerp Payments at the Current Exchange. From the Letter which accompanies it however I observe that the Commissrs. meant a different Thing, but the Clerks in extracting from their Books have placed the matter on the footing which I wish’d. I shall therefore write to them this Morning to know whether they chuse to receive Money in Amsterdam or Paris and if there is the least Difficulty I will direct Grand’s House to draw on the Commissrs. at Amsterdam and pay to the Treasury. You will recollect that by our Contract we are to pay at Grand’s House. But I suppose we shall have no Difficulty. When I say I will direct Grand’s House to draw I know that Somewhat less will be gain’d than by Remittances but the State of Things here is such that Remittances on Paris are by no Means sure and Mr ⟨–⟩ whom you know and who is careful enough of his own Concerns tells me that he has for some Time past preferred Drafts to Remittances not chusing to part with his Money but for valuable Consideration. Now that which is prudent for the small Sums of an Individual is far more so for the large Concerns of a Nation. The Commissioners have sent me a Note of Investments made in Specie of f1,350,000 at Amsterdam in July and August 1791. And of f1.073.552 at Antwerp in January 1792 So that you see they wish to bring into Consideration the early as well as the late Payments. They state the Loss on the latter Sum at Livres 1.368.939₶. I shall tell them that these Losses and the Compensations if any will form a Subject for the Consideration of our Governmt. whose orders I shall ask.”


Title: Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 6 August 1792
From: Morris, Gouverneur
To: Short, William

Paris, August 6, 1792. “My last was of the thirtieth of July since which I am without advices from you. I have agreed with the Commissioners of the Treasury for the present and in Consequence I pray you will give our Bankers an order to pay to Messrs. Hoguer Grand and Company the Sum of one Million six hundred and twenty five thousand florins banco and desire them at the same Time to send me a Note of the Interest paid by the United States for Money lying in their Hands that I may bring it forward in the final adjustment of Compensation.…”


Title: Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 7 August 1792
From: Short, William
To: Morris, Gouverneur

The Hague, August 7, 1792. “I was obliged to answer with much precipitation your letter of the 30th. ulto recd. here the 4th. inst—as the post sat out from hence immediately after the arrival of yours. I hoped to have learned from you by the post of to-day what had been decided on between you & the commissaries or at least what was the answer which you expected from them at the departure of your last letter. Not having heard from you to-day I think it not amiss to mention what has been suggested to me by the last paragraph of your letter—namely that you shall tell the commissaries that the compensation if any will form a subject for the consideration of government whose orders you shall ask. As to a compensation it has been promised by our government & the footing on which you now put it with the commissaries seems to me to necessitate a delay which will occasion the subject to be finally settled not with the present government, wch. created the assignats—but with another which will have no scruple in depreciating them. It has always seemed to me on the contrary essential to the interests of the U.S. that this business shd. be finally settled with the present government—and as there is probably no time to lose I think you wd. do well to propose to the commissaries to deduct a certain per cent (from the number of livres credited on acct. of the Antwerp payments) for depreciation—& proportion this depreciation to the rise in the price of commodities in France at the time of these payments, or rather than leave it unsettled at a mean between the rise in the price of commodities—& of gold & silver which you know was greater considerably than of commodities. This wd. be a more advantageous arrangement than can be expected in future & if you propose this to the commissaries coupled with an immediate payment from Amsterdam somewhat in the same way—viz. fixing the number of livres for each florin according to the present rate of exchange & deducting therefrom for depreciation, a certain p. cent according to the present rise of commodities in the market, I think they wd: accept it in which case you would do well to make them credit the U.S. on the back of each of their bonds in their possession to avoid all questions here-after. In that case they might immediately authorize their bankers to recieve the florins wch. shd. be pd. them by ours at Amsterdam.”


Title: Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 9 August 1792
From: Morris, Gouverneur
To: Short, William

Paris, August 9, 1792. “I have yours of the fourth but this being Thursday I can but barely acknowlege it. In my last of the sixth I requested you to cause bf 1.625.000 to be paid to Messieurs Hoguer Grand et Compagnie which I now confirm. By a strange Fatality it happens that untill the present Hour I have not had the desired Meeting with the Minister of the Marine. Many appointments have been made in every one of which he has fail’d.…”


Title: Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 20 August 1792
From: Morris, Gouverneur
To: Short, William

Paris, August 20, 1792. “Yours of the seventh was long in coming probably mine of the 9th. was equally delayed. You will find by it that I had agreed with the Commissioners as to a pretty considerable Payment on that Day. The Events of the tenth ought not I think to make any Change in that Disposition. I think your Reasoning is good as far as it goes and if the Powers to me had been sufficient I should probably have done something very like what you mention. Nay if I could have brought the Minister of foreign Affairs to treat about it I would have strain’d a Point and concluded a general Bargain for the whole of what is yet due by us to be paid by Delivery of Obligations for florins because I think with you that the Moment was favorable but the Commissioners could not settle this Matter and the Minister of foreign Affairs could not find Time to think of it so that unless I had bargaind with myself all Agreement was impossible. Add to this that in these same Money Matters I do not like to step out of the Line prescribd to me unless I can render effectual Service and compleatly for there [are] always Suspicions on such Subjects.…”


Title: Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 21 August 1792
From: Short, William
To: Morris, Gouverneur

The Hague, August 21, 1792. “I hoped that the post of this day which has just arrived would have brought me a letter from you but it has not. I know therefore nothing further with respect to your arrangements with the commissaries than was contained in a simple paragraph, saying you had agreed with the commissaries for the present & desire one million &c. to be paid. Was the depreciation settled? viz. is it fixed how many livres the U.S. are to have credit for these florins? If not & I shd. fear it from an expression in your letter, the same thing might have been done six months ago—viz a payment of florins made to Mess. Hogguer & Co. I wish to know that the arrangement has been made & that it is an advantageous one for the U.S. If not I shall certainly blame myself for the delay & probably be blamed by our government. The suspension of the King seems to have made no effect on you with respect to this payment … (& yet it seems to me a very serious thing). I therefore did not hesitate to give the orders to our bankers. I desired them at the same time to take receipts from Hogguer, expressing that this money was paid on acct. of the debt due his Christian Majesty & to be held at his orders. I imagined that Hogguer wd. have been glad of such a clause to have saved him from the orders of the new unconstitutional ministry. He has taken time to consider of this clause as our bankers write me by a letter recd. this morning, but I don’t doubt he will like it. If you had explained the nature of the agreement made by you with the commissaries I shd. have known better how to act—for instance if you have not settled the depreciation it wd. be proper to express the rect. in livres as well as florins according to the exchge of the day—as at Antwerp.… I do not know that Hogguer has yet recd. information from the commissaries or orders wch. is very extraordinary.”


Title: Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 23 August 1792
From: Morris, Gouverneur
To: Short, William

Paris, August 23, 1792. “The last Post was gone before yours of the seventeenth reach’d me. Mine of the sixth was written the Instant I receiv’d that from the Commissioners of the Treasury which was previously necessary. It did not arrive till late and the consequent Hurry was the Cause why I omitted to mention as I intended that the Sum of Bank florins to be paid in Amsterdam was the equivalent of six Millions of Livres. I did not stipulate for a Part in current Money as I might have done because that would have consum’d a Time extremely precious as Events have demonstrated and because the Commissioners can pay at their Leizure. It occurs to me that Hoguer’s House may feel themselves embarrass’d about this Payment and therefore may not incline to receive the Money but if they do receive it all is strait as to us.…”


Title: Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 27 August 1792
From: Morris, Gouverneur
To: Short, William

Paris, August 27, 1792. “I wrote to you on the twentieth and twenty third. Yours of the twenty first is receiv’d. I mentiond to you in one of my preceeding Letters that I had receivd the Account of the Commissaries in which the several Payments are credited in Livres which is unavoidable in Book-Keeping. I have also told you that the last Payment was the Equivalent of six Millions. By the Account they sent me the Ballance due was 6.560,145₶ on the first of July. I have made some Observations to them on that Account which will I think reduce this Ballance but as we are paying 300000 Dollars in America it is evident that on the broadest Basis the whole of the Installments now due is paid. The question of Depreciation and consequent Compensation remain entire. I have written to Mr Jefferson that I cannot consistently with my Instructions treat it untill I receive further orders unless Necessity should compel me. Now as to future questions I am quite tranquil. What was done was done by Consent both of King and Country so that all is well done let which ever of them get the better which Fate or Fortune may chuse. If, as is very possible, we loose on future Payments it will be a sufficient Reason to withhold Compensation on the past. If we do not loose then we can come forward with a gratuitous Sum and let who will be King or Minister those who bring Money will be well receivd therefore I think you may rest in Peace as to that Affair. I do suppose however that you will be considerd here as an Aristocrat for having directed the Receipt to be given in Part of a Debt to his most Christian Majesty and to be held subject to his orders. I doubt whether Hoguer will give it. Had it been necessary I should certainly have desird the Receipt to be taken in florins equivalent to livres &ca. but I had previously written to you that I would give the Commissaries the Option to receive at Amsterdam or at Paris and if there was the least Difficulty would direct Bills to be drawn &ca. Of Course it follwd when I desird the Payment of bank florins at Amsterdam without any Mention of Exchange &c. that the Sum of Livres was agreed on. I do not write to you in very great Minutiousness because I rely on your Sagacity to understand even at Half a Word.…”


Title: Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 4 September 1792
From: Short, William
To: Morris, Gouverneur

The Hague, September 4, 1792. “… Hogguer refuses to accept the money any other way than as has hitherto been practised, viz by giving a draught or bill on the commissaries of the treasury for the amt.—or on a reciept where it shall be expressed that at my requisition he engages himself to hold the money until the King’s free consent can be obtained for its disposal. He refuses even giving a rect. in general terms—viz. so much recd. on acct. of the debt of the U.S—without the clause mentioned above—as he says it will embarass him in deciding to whom he is to pay the money—whereas if he gives a draught on the treasury as usual the embarassment does not exist. I have been waiting every day in hopes of his giving a reciept which would leave the matter so that no future government could blame us & at the same time would be a means of securing us against the payt. of interest on the sum. I was in hopes also that your letters would say something which might point out some unexceptionable way of getting out of this difficulty occasioned by the King’s suspension—but you seem to have no doubt as to the propriety of the payment, insomuch as wd. make me suppose my doubts without foundation—if it were possible to shut my eyes on its being neither more or less than the case of a bond given to A. being robbed by B, or obtained by fraudulent or violent methods—now would you or could you knowing that, pay the money to B & consider yourself honestly discharged from A? This manner of viewing the subject by me, on one hand—your making no question on the other—added to its being important for us to save an interest on six millions of livres all together embarass me beyond measure & disgust me more than ever with having any thing do with matters of that kind. I should wait still to hear from you if the time wd. admit of it but I fear the commissaries might in that case be no more—or be removed from Paris. I shall accordingly relying on your judgment & from confidence in your knowlege of such matters & the precautions you will have taken for securing that this sum shall have been properly & inevitably carried to the credit of the U.S. direct the bankers to make the payt. to Hogguer. I cannot describe to you my anxiety on this subject but as you have made the engagement with the commissaries & as you seem to see no danger & even have no doubt on the subject I cannot but subscribe thereto. Let me beg of you however my dear Sir to have this matter so arranged that there may be no discussion here-after. Such parts of the principal of the debt for instance as have been paid would it not be proper to withdraw the original obligations given therefore & wch. are deposited in the national treasury? I believe it is said in the original agreement that these several obligations are to be paid off a proportion of each but as we have the privilege of paying off the whole or any part I shd. imagine you might so arrange it, that the parts of principal paid shd. be applied all towards an obligation as far as necessary to annul that obligation & so on—(giving preference to the 5 p. cts.—after paying what is due on the 4 p. cts.) so that there shd. remain in the national treasury only such obligations as were still due. In calculating this the charges made in the commissaries acct. of the debt to the farmers general &c shd. be left out, because we say in America that they are not due. It is only therefore the debt existing on the obligations in the public treasury, which shd be taken notice of—of course the cash pd. by 1st. Mr. Grand—2d. at Amsterdam—3d. at Antwerp—& 4thy. the present payt. of six millions shd. be applied 1st. to the payt. of the interest of the original debt of 34.000,000 wch. as I mentioned in my last was 13,953,611₶—& then all the rest to the reduction of that principal—as the compensation is to be here-after discussed. I hope you will find means of withdrawing the original obligations now in the treasury to the amt of the sums thus applied to the reduction of that principal. I lament now most sincerely that the payments from Amsterdam have been thus deferred since the last winter without any one good end obtained by it. I never expected that you would mention the want of power to settle the affair of depreciation: after what passed betwixt us at Paris I thought you only waited for the form of your installation, & particularly as my powers were sufficient & as I offered in consequence thereof to subscribe to whatever you should agree to.…”


Title: Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 7 September 1792
From: Short, William
To: Morris, Gouverneur

The Hague, September 7, 1792. “… In my last I informed you of Hogguer’s refusing to recieve the payment you had agreed for with the commissaries in any other than the mode he has hitherto practised; namely by giving a draught for the amount on the national treasury; & of my finally (after the rect. of your letter) directing our bankers to make the payment to him, not withstanding my own particular opinion was that there was danger if not impropriety in the measure. I now in-close you the second of the bill given by Messrs. Hogguer which the bankers have sent me to forward to you. They inform me also that they have by way of precaution in-closed you the first instead of sending it directly to the commissaries. I hope you will recieve them in due time & have the U. S. properly credited for the six million of livres—this I consider essential because whatever depreciation may be here-after allowed, the interest will certainly be considered as stopped on the six million paid & so also of the prior payments in assignats. I think & trust you will have so arranged this matter that all the payments hitherto made as mentioned in my last will be deducted from the interest fallen due & then from the principal of the debt of 34 millions, & that such part of the obligations as correspond with the principal thus paid off, will have been withdrawn from the public treasury. In this manner after the resurrection every thing will stand on a clearer & better ground for the U.S. I intreat you to let me hear from you on the accomplishment of this payment of the six millions. Your agreement with the commissaries, fixing the value of the florins will of course have been in writing so that it will appear that the U.S. have a right to the credit of six millions. I hope that this disagreeable affair will end well, though I own to you I still have uneasiness respecting it at least I hope I shall not be obliged to trouble you with any other letter on the subject.…”


Title: Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 12 September 1792
From: Morris, Gouverneur
To: Short, William

Paris, September 12, 1792. “I have receivd yours of the seventh. I had previously sent to the Commissioners of the Treasury the Letter from the Bankers at Amsterdam. I certainly have taken no Steps in Respect to that Payment since my first Letter to you desiring that it might be made and certainly I shall not take any for the very good Reasons which will I am sure suggest themselves to you and which of Course I will not enumerate.…”


Title: Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 18 September 1792
From: Short, William
To: Morris, Gouverneur

The Hague, September 18, 1792. “I answered in much haste & confusion in my last letter of the 14th. yours of the 9th. It would admit of a greater degree of developement, but it seems unnecessary in the present moment. I have recieved your letter of the 12th. in which you acknowlege the reciept of mine of the 7th & the only observation you make thereon is that you had previously sent to the commissioners of the treasury the letter from the bankers at Amsterdam—that you certainly have taken no step in that business since your letter desiring the payment—& that you certainly shall not take any for the very good reasons which will suggest themselves to me & which you of course do not enumerate. I must own to you they do not suggest themselves to me nor can I concieve on what ground you now refuse to take measures for consummating the arrangement which you begun & which must I imagine have some need yet of your ministry, unless the arrangement, was as I hope completely settled by you—for instance you gave directions for the paying 1,625,000 florins banco, in consequence of your agreement that the U.S. should be credited therefore to the amount of 6 000,000 of livres—the payment was accordingly made in florins—now certainly you have taken measures that the U.S. should be really credited for these six millions of livres & not have here-after to ascertain the value of the florins you ordered to be paid. It is useless to go into the reasons in favor of this as they will necessarily suggest themselves to every body. Let your present ideas with respect to your powers be what they may I am sure you cannot mean to leave such an object unsettled or rather unascertained & therefore as you have taken & are decided to take no step in this business since the first letter desiring, I cannot but take it for granted that you had previously settled it so as to leave no future doubt or difficulty. This is independent of any question arising out of the late suspension of government—the payment being now made it is our business to maintain its validity & I trust the reasons which you consider as so cogent will be found proper. As to my part I shall now of course fortify them by whatever depends on me—not withstanding the light in which this subject presented itself to me from the beginning. So much for this payment about which I am sorry to have been forced by my anxiety to importune you so often. I shall cease it from hence having nothing that it becomes essential to add with respect to it at present. The depreciation having unfortunately not been settled before the suspension I suppose it out of the question to think of it at present. It seems to me therefore that it will take this turn—after the payments shall have been consummated the U.S. will give a certain sum by way of indemnity—it is for that reason that it is to be desired that they should be credited for the nominal sum of livres tournois at present—it will leave a less sum unpaid of the French debt on which the U.S. will have to pay interest. If you think with me that it is proper for the U.S. & advantageous also by way of facilitating the future settlement of their debt that they should withdraw from the treasury such part of the obligations as they have extinguished—then I repeat here my request to you to do it & lest you should have any scruples as to your powers I will ask you at present in consideration of its utility to be the agent in doing this at my request. I will take it on myself & consider it as my act to which you only give the instrumentality which your geographical position puts you in the way of & which I am persuaded you will consider a duty if you think it will be advantageous for the U. S. as I do. It is in that hope that I repeat what I have formerly mentioned that the debt to the farmers general &c. in the commissaries acct. is to be left out of the question & only the debt of 34. millions taken up. The parts exigible Jan 1. 92 were for interest 13.953.611₶ & principal 14,000,000₶. The several payments made 1. by M. Grand 2. from Amsterdam & 3. Antwerp including also the late six millions should be applied first to the interest due & then to sink as much as possible of the principal as to the part of the principal exigible. It gives its own rule—for such part as is not exigible & which may be sunk we should of course give the preference to that which is at 5. p. cent interest. This being simply an affair of addition requiring no settlement & of course not giving scope for scruples, I hope you will, on my responsability if you do not chuse to act otherwise withdraw those obligations which the commissaries cannot refuse giving up.…”


Title: Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to Pierre Henri Hélène Marie Lebrun-Tondu, 20 September 1792
From: Morris, Gouverneur
To: Lebrun-Tondu, Pierre Henri Hélène Marie

Paris, September 20, 1792. “J’ai eu l’honneur de recevoir hier votre lettre du dix neuf. J’apprends par la Copie que vous avez eu la bonté d’y joindre de celle de Monsieur Maulde qu’il s’est élevé quelques Difficultés sur le paiement de la Somme de seize cent vingt cinq mille florins de banque dont je suis convenu avec Messieurs les Commissaires de la Tresorerie au Commencement D’Aout, et que je priois Monsieur Short d’éffectuer par une lettre du Six du dit Mois ce qu’il a fait faire le cinq du courant. Il en est resulté un delai de quelques jours dont je suis bien faché, et d’ou j’espère cependant, Monsieur, qu’il ne vous arrivera aucun inconvenient. Les Liaisons des Ministres etrangérs a la Haie dont se plaint Monsieur Maulde provienent, je crois, du locale, qui en ne leur presentant que peu de ressources pour la Societé les force en quelque Sorte a une intimité plus grande que celle qui subsiste ailleurs; et peutêtre aussi Monsieur le Zele de Monsieur Maulde a t’il pu lui faire voir avec peine une chose indifferente en elle même.”