Part 1
# The works of Alexander Hamilton (vol. 1 of 7) : $b comprising his correspondence, and his political and official writings, exclusive of the Federalist, civil and military. ### By Hamilton, Alexander
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HAMILTON’S WORKS.
VOL. I
[Illustration: HAMILTON.]
THE WORKS OF ALEXANDER HAMILTON; COMPRISING HIS CORRESPONDENCE, AND HIS POLITICAL AND OFFICIAL WRITINGS, EXCLUSIVE OF THE FEDERALIST, CIVIL AND MILITARY.
PUBLISHED FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS DEPOSITED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
BY ORDER OF THE JOINT LIBRARY COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS.
EDITED BY JOHN C. HAMILTON, AUTHOR OF “THE LIFE OF HAMILTON.”
VOL. I.
NEW-YORK: JOHN F. TROW, PRINTER, 49, 51 & 53 ANN-STREET.
M.DCCC.L.
Joint Committee of the Library of Congress.
ON THE PART OF THE SENATE.
JAMES A. PEARCE, of Maryland, _Chairman_. JAMES M. MASON, of Virginia. JEFFERSON DAVIS, of Mississippi.
ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE.
ISAAC E. HOLMES, of South Carolina. HORACE MANN, of Massachusetts. ALFRED GILMORE, of Pennsylvania.
CORRESPONDENCE.
HAMILTON TO EDWARD STEVENS.
St. Croix, Nov. 11, 1769.
This serves to acknowledge the receipt of yours per Capt. Lowndes, which was delivered me yesterday. The truth of Captains Lightbowen and Lowndes’ information is now verified by the presence of your father and sister, for whose safe arrival I pray, and that they may convey that satisfaction to your soul that must naturally flow from the sight of absent friends in health; and shall, for news this way, refer you to them. As to what you say respecting your soon having the happiness of seeing us all, I wish for an accomplishment of your hopes, provided they are concomitant with your welfare, otherwise not; though I doubt whether I shall be present or not, for, to confess my weakness, Ned, my ambition is prevalent, so that I contemn the grovelling condition of a clerk or the like, to which my fortune condemns me, and would willingly risk my life, though not my character, to exalt my station. I am confident, Ned, that my youth excludes me from any hopes of immediate preferment, nor do I desire it; but I mean to prepare the way for futurity. I’m no philosopher, you see, and may justly be said to build castles in the air; my folly makes me ashamed, and beg you’ll conceal it; yet, Neddy, we have seen such schemes successful when the projector is constant. I shall conclude by saying, I wish there was a war.
P. S. I this moment received yours by William Smith, and am pleased to see you give such close application to study.
HAMILTON TO TILEMAN CRUGER.
St. Croix, Nov. 16, 1771.
In behalf of Mr. Nicholas Cruger, (who, by reason of a very ill state of health, went from this to New-York, the 15th ult.,) I have the pleasure to address you by the long-expected sloop Thunderbolt, Capt. William Newton, owned by Messrs. Jacob Walton, John Harris, and Nicholas Cruger, the latter of whom has written you fully concerning her destination, which I need not repeat. She has on board besides a parcel of lumber for yourself, sundry articles on account of her owners as per inclosed bill of lading; and when you have disposed of them, you will please to credit each partner for one third of the proceeds.
Mr. N. Cruger’s proportion of this, and the balance of your account hitherto, will more than pay for his one third cost of her first cargo up; and for the other two, I shall endeavor to place value in your hands betimes. I only wish for a line from you to know what will best answer.
Reports here represent matters in a very disagreeable light, with regard to the Guarda Costas, which are said to swarm upon the coast; but as you will be the best judge of what danger there might be, all is submitted to your prudent direction.
Capt. Newton must arm with you, as he could not so conveniently do it here. Give me leave to hint to you that you cannot be too particular in your instructions to him. I think he seems to want experience in such voyages. Messrs. Walton and John H. Cruger are to furnish you themselves with their respective proportion of the cost of the several cargoes.
The staves on board, if by any means convenient, I beg may be returned by the sloop, they will command a good price here, and I suppose little or nothing with you; could they be got at I would not send them down, but they are stowed promiscuously among other things.
If convenient, please to deliver the hogsheads, now containing the Indian meal, to the captain as water casks, and others should he want them. I supplied him with twenty here. I must beg your reference to Mr. Cruger’s last letter of the 2d ult. for other particulars.
Our crop will be very early, so that the utmost dispatch is necessary to import three cargoes of mules in due time.
TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM NEWTON.
St. Croix, Nov. 16, 1771.
Herewith I give you all your dispatches, and desire you will proceed immediately to Curracoa. You are to deliver your cargo there to Tileman Cruger, Esq., agreeably to your bill of lading, whose directions you must follow in every respect concerning the disposal of your vessel after your arrival.
You know it is intended that you shall go from thence to the main for a load of mules, and I must beg if you do, you’ll be very choice in the quality of your mules, and bring as many as your vessel can conveniently contain--by all means take in a large supply of provender. Remember, you are to make three trips this season, and unless you are very diligent you will be too late, as our crops will be early in. Take care to avoid the Guarda Costas. I place an entire reliance upon the prudence of your conduct.
NEW-YORK, AUGUST 31, 1776.
PAY-BOOK
OF THE
_State Company of Artillery_,
COMMANDED BY
Alex’r Hamilton.
Specimen of Notes scattered throughout this Pay-Book.
Rousseau’s Emilius. Smith’s History of New-York. Leonidas. View of the Universe. Lex Mercatoria. Millot’s History of France. Memoirs of the House of Brandenburgh. Review of the characters of the principal Nations of Europe. Review of Europe. History of Prussia. History of France. Lassel’s Voyage through Italy. Robinson’s Charles V. Present State of Europe. Grecian History. Baretti’s Travels. Bacon’s Essays. Philosophical Transactions. Hobbe’s Dialogues. Plutarch’s Morals. Cicero’s do. Orations--Demosthenes. Cudworth’s Intellectual System. Entick’s History of the late War. European Settlements in America. Ralt’s Dictionary of Trade and Commerce. Winn’s History of America. Montaigne’s Essays.
The Dutch in the Greenland fishery have from 150 to 200 sail and ten thousand seamen.
It is ordered that in their public prayers they pray that it would please God to bless the Government--the Lords--the States and their great and small fisheries.
* * * * *
Hamburgh and Germany has a balance against England--they furnish her with large quantities of linen. Trade with France greatly against England.
The trade with Flanders in favor of England.
A large balance in favor of Norway and Denmark.
* * * * *
Rate of Exchange with the several Nations in 52, viz.:
To Venice, Genoa, Leghorn, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Hamburgh.
To Paris--Loss, Gain.
* * * * *
Postlethwaite supposes the quantity of cash necessary to carry on the circulation in a State one third of the rents to the land proprietors, or one ninth of the whole product of the lands.
See the articles Cash and Circulation.
* * * * *
Messagers in his Secret Memoirs says, that when he returned with an account to Lewis XIV. that the Spaniards would not come into his project for attacking Jamaica, the Monarch was much chagrined at their refusal, and said, “They were the most stupid wise people in the world.”
The par betwen, land and labor is twice the quantity of land whose product will maintain the laborer. In France one acre and a half will maintain one. In England three, owing to the difference in the manner of living.
Aristotle’s Politics, chap. 6, definition of money, &c.
* * * * *
The proportion of gold and silver, as settled by Sir Isaac Newton’s proposition, was 1 to 14. It was generally through Europe 1 to 15. In China I believe it is 1 to 10.
* * * * *
It is estimated that the labor of twenty-five persons, on an average, will maintain a hundred in all the necessaries of life.
* * * * *
Postlethwaite, in his time, supposes six millions of people in England. The ratio of increase has been found by a variety of observations to be, that 100,000 people augment annually, one year with another, to----. Mr. Kerseboom, agreeing with Dr. Halley, makes the number of people thirty-five times the number of births in a year.
* * * * *
Extracts from Demosthenes’ Orations.
Philippic 1. “As a general marches at the head of his troops, so ought wise politicians, if I dare use the expression, to march at the head of affairs; insomuch that they ought not to wait _the event_, to know what measures to take; but the measures which they have taken ought to produce the _event_.”
“Where attack him? it will be said. Ah, Athenians--war, war itself will discover to you his weak sides, if you seek them.”
Sublimely simple. Vide Long. c. 16.
* * * * *
Are the limits of the several States and the acts on which they are founded ascertained, and are our ministers provided with them? What intelligence has been given to Congress by our ministers of the designs, strength by sea and land, actual interests and views of the different powers in Europe?
* * * * *
The Government established (by Lycurgus) remained in vigor about five hundred years, till a thirst of empire tempted the Spartans to entertain foreign troops, and introduce Persian gold to maintain them; then the institutions of Lycurgus fell at once, and avarice and luxury succeeded.
* * * * *
He (Numa) was a wise prince, and went a great way in civilizing the Romans. The chief engine he employed for this purpose was religion, which could alone have sufficient empire over the minds of a barbarous and warlike people to engage them to cultivate the arts of peace.
* * * * *
Doctor Halley’s Table of Observations exhibiting the probabilities of life; containing an account of the whole number of people at Breslau, capital of Silesia, and the number of those of every age from one to a hundred. [Here follows the Table, with comments by A. H.]
* * * * *
When the native money is worth more than the par in foreign, exchange is high; when worth less it is low.
Portugal trade--Spanish trade--Artificers--Money--Exchange--Par of exchange--Balance of trade--Manufactures--Foundry--Coin--Gold-- Silver--Naval power--Council of trade--Fishery.
* * * * *
Money coined in England from the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
* * * * *
Short rule to determine the average interest per annum, for any sum of money for a given term of years, at a given rate--discharging annually an equal proportion of the principal. Example.
* * * * *
Quere. Would it not be advisable to let all taxes, even those imposed by the States, be collected by persons of Congressional appointment; and would it not be advisable to pay the collectors so much per cent. on the sums collected?
HAMILTON TO THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS OF NEW-YORK.
New-York, May 26, 1776.
Gentlemen:
I take the liberty to request your attention to a few particulars, which will be of considerable importance to the future progress of the company under my command: and I shall be much obliged to you for as speedy a determination concerning them as you can conveniently give. The most material is respecting the pay. Our company, by their articles, are to be subject to the same regulations, and to receive the same pay, as the Continental Artillery. Hitherto I have conformed to the standard laid down in the Journal of the Congress, published the 10th May, 1775; but I am well informed that, by some later regulation, the pay of the Artillery has been augmented, and now stands according to the following rates: Captain, £10. 13. 4. Captain-Lieutenant, £8. Lieutenants, each, £7. 6. 8. Sergeants, £3. 6. 8. Corporals, £3. 1. 4. Bombardiers, £3. 1. 4. Gunners, £3. Matrosses, £2. 17. 4. Drummers and Fifers, £3. By comparing these with my pay-rolls, you will discover a considerable difference; and I doubt not you will be easily sensible that such a difference should not exist.
I am not personally interested in having an augmentation agreeably to the above rates, because my own pay will remain the same as that it now is: but I make this application on behalf of the company; as I am fully convinced such a disadvantageous distinction will have a very pernicious effect on the minds and behavior of the men. They do the same duty with the other companies, and think themselves entitled to the same pay. They have been already comparing accounts; and many marks of discontent have lately appeared on this score. As to the circumstance of our being confined to the defence of the colony, it will have little or no weight; for there are but few in the company, who would not as willingly leave the colony on any necessary expedition, as stay in it: and they will not, therefore, think it reasonable to have their pay curtailed on such a consideration. Captain Beauman, I understand, enlists all his men on the above terms; and this makes it difficult for me to get a single recruit: for men will naturally go to those who pay them best. On this account, I should wish to be immediately authorized to offer the same pay to all who may incline to enlist. The next thing I should wish to know, is, whether I must be allowed any _actual expenses_ that might attend the enlistment of men, should I send into the country for that purpose. The expense would not be great; and it would enable me to complete my company at once, and bring it the sooner into proper order and discipline.
Also, I should be glad to be informed, if my company is to be allowed the frock which is given to the other troops as a bounty? This frock would be extremely serviceable in summer, while the men are on fatigue; and would put it in their power to save their uniform much longer. I am, gentlemen, with the greatest respect,
Your most obedient servant, Alexander Hamilton, Captain.
HAMILTON TO THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
July 26, 1776.
Gentlemen:
I am obliged to trouble you, to remove a difficulty which arises respecting the quantity of subsistence which is to be allowed my men. Inclosed you have the rates of rations, which is the standard allowance of the whole continental, and even the provincial, army; but it seems Mr. Curtenius cannot afford to supply us with more than his contract stipulates; which, by comparison, you will perceive is considerably less than the forementioned rate.
My men, you are sensible, are, by their articles, entitled to the same subsistence with the continental troops: and it would be to them an insupportable discrimination, as well as a breach of the terms of their enlistment, to give them almost a third less provisions than the whole army besides receives. I doubt not you will readily put this matter upon a proper footing.
Hitherto we have drawn our full allowance from Mr. Curtenius; but he did it upon the supposition that he would have a farther consideration for the extraordinary supply.
At present, however, he scruples to proceed in the same way, till it can be put upon a more certain foundation. I am, gentlemen,
With the utmost esteem and respect, Your most ob’t and most humble serv’t, A. Hamilton, Captain of New-York Artillery.
HAMILTON TO THE HONORABLE CONVENTION OF NEW-YORK.
New-York, August, 1776.
It is necessary I should inform you that there is at present a vacancy in my company, arising from the promotion of Lieut. Johnson to a Captaincy in one of the new Gallies (which command, however, he has since resigned for a very particular reason). As Artillery officers are scarce in proportion to the call for them, and as myself and my remaining officers sustain an extraordinary weight of duty on account of the present vacancy, I shall esteem it a favor, if you will be pleased, as soon as possible, to make up my deficiency by a new appointment. It would be productive of much inconvenience should not the inferior officers succeed in course, and from this consideration I doubt not you will think it proper to advance Mr. Gilleland and Mr. Bean, and fill up the third lieutenancy with some other person. I would beg the liberty _warmly_ to recommend to your attention Thomas Thompson--now first Sergeant in my company--a man highly deserving of notice and preferment. He has discharged his duty in his present station with uncommon fidelity, assiduity, and expertness. He is a very good disciplinarian--possesses the advantage of having seen a good deal of service in Germany, has a tolerable share of common sense, and will not disgrace the rank of an officer and gentleman. In a word, I verily believe, he will make an excellent Lieutenant, and his advancement will be a great encouragement and benefit to my company in particular, and will be an animating example to all men of merit to whose knowledge it comes. Myself and my officers will be much obliged to the Hon. the Convention to favor us with our commissions with all convenient speed, as they may be highly requisite under some circumstances that may possibly hereafter arise.
A. Hamilton, Captain of New-York Artillery.
LT. COL. HAMILTON TO THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.
Morristown, March 6, 1777.
Gentlemen:
It is necessary I should inform you of the changes which have happened in your Company of Artillery, which should have been done long ago, had I not been prevented by sickness, from which I am but lately recovered.
General Washington has been pleased to appoint me one of his Aids-de-Camp. Captain-Lieutenant James Moore, a promising officer, and who did credit to the State he belonged to, died about nine weeks ago. Lieutenant James Gilleland, some time before that, resigned his commission, prompted by domestic inconveniences, and _other_ motives best known to himself. There remain now only two officers, Lieutenants Bean and Thompson, and about thirty men. The reason that the number of men is so reduced, besides death and desertions, was owing to a breach of orders in Lieutenant Johnson, who first began the enlistment of the company; and who, instead of engaging them during the war, according to the intention of the State, engaged them for the limited term of a twelvemonth. The time of those enlisted by him has expired; and for want of powers to re-engage them, they have mostly entered into other corps.
I have to request you will favor me with instructions as to your future intentions. If you design to retain the company on the particular establishment of the State, it will be requisite to complete the number of officers, and make provision to have the company filled by a new enlistment. In this case, I should beg leave to recommend to your notice, as far as a Captain-Lieutenancy, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Bean is so incurably addicted to a _certain failing_, that I cannot, in justice, give my opinion in favor of his preferment. But if you should determine to resign the company, as I expect you will, considering it as an extraordinary burthen, without affording any special advantages, the Continent will readily take it off your hands, so soon as you shall intimate your design to relinquish it. I doubt not you will see the propriety of speedily deciding on the matter, which the good of the service requires.
I am, with the sincerest respect, gentlemen, Your most ob’t and most humble servant, Alex. Hamilton.
THE COMMITTEE OF CONVENTION TO HAMILTON.
Kingston, March 17, 1777.
Dear Sir:
We are to inform you, that Robert R. Livingston is, with us, a committee appointed by Convention to correspond with you at Head Quarters. You will give us pleasure in the information that His Excellency is recovered from the illness which had seized him the day before Messrs. Cuyler and Taylor left Head Quarters. Any occurrences in the army which may have happened, you will please to communicate.
In answer to your letter to the Convention, of the sixth of March instant, we are to inform you, that it is determined to permit that company to join the Continental Army, for which you will take the necessary steps. At the same time, you will take some notice of the disposition of our guns, which, as you well know, are all in the Continental service; and unless some little attention is paid to them, we may, perhaps, never see them again.
We are, Sir, Your most obed’t and humble servants, Gouv. Morris, Wm. Allison.
GOUVERNEUR MORRIS TO HAMILTON.
Kingston, 26 March, 1777.
Sir:
By unavoidable incidents, this letter is delayed beyond the usual time; for which I assure you I am extremely sorry. Your favor gave great pleasure, as well to the committee as to several members of the House, who are much pleased with your judicious caution, to distinguish between what you sport as your private opinions, and the weighty sentiments of the General.
No circumstance could have more contributed to our happiness, than to hear of the General’s recovery; which, believe me, gave universal joy. Be pleased to make my most respectful compliments to his lady.
That the enemy are willing to desert, can hardly be doubted; and a variety of sufficient reasons may easily be assigned.
Want of success is not among the least considerable: add also the want of pay, the want of plunder. I think the situation of the enemy clearly demonstrates the want of political wisdom, and knowledge of war, at the fountain head. To pass over the succession of other blunders they committed, from their attempt on Long Island to their present disposition, their treatment of the soldiery is a monument of folly. First, to prevent their foreign mercenaries from deserting, they kept back arrearages of pay. And secondly, to prevent mutiny, and silence murmurings, they allowed the plundering of a country they intend to conquer. Here common sense alone would have informed them, had they listened to her dictates, that by irritating they would never subdue; and that an indulgence in excesses would relax all discipline. Taught by experience, they begin now to wind up the cords; but as it was said of James the First, they are always either too high or too low. Instead of liberal discipline, they ask servile obedience. Would it not be wise to meet this with taunting insult? To encourage our men in abuse of them, as poor slaves, hired without pay, yet not daring to vent a complaint; and contrast the different situations: at the same time inviting them to come and taste the air of freedom? The English are the proudest people on earth.
You will hear more of a little expedition against Peekskill at Head Quarters than I can tell you. I suppose it is intended as a diversion; if so, it is a ridiculous one.
I am, &c., Gouv. Morris.
Col. Alex. Hamilton.
LIVINGSTON TO HAMILTON.
Kingston, March 29, 1777.
Sir:
We received your favor of the--instant, and am obliged to you not only for your acceptance of a very troublesome challenge, but for the alacrity with which you meet us in the field. We wish it would afford you as many laurels, as you are like to reap elsewhere.