Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 21

To John Trumbull

To Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, 9 April 1791 Hamilton, Alexander Adams, John
From Alexander Hamilton
Sir Treasury Department April 9th. 1791—

I have just received a letter from Mr. Short which I wish to submit, in order to certain measures being taken upon it, to yourself and the heads of the executive departments, in pursuance of the 26 President’s letter of the 4th. instant, which I take it for granted has been communicated to you by the Secretary of State.1

I request therefore that you will please to name a time and place for the meeting; and that it may be as early as will be convenient to you after tomorrow.—

I have the honor to be / With the most respectful attachment, / Sir, / Your Obedient servant

Alexander Hamilton

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Vice President of the / United States.—”; endorsed: “Secretary of the Treasury / ansd 9. April.”

 1.

Hamilton referred to a 2 Dec. 1790 letter from William Short, who was managing the Dutch-American loans in Europe. Short had negotiated a new loan for 2.5 million guilders, which he secured at a favorable interest rate from the Amsterdam consortium of Wilhem & Jan Willink, Nicolaas & Jacob van Staphorst, and Nicolaas Hubbard. George Washington’s cabinet, still holding only informal advisory meetings, met as JA described in his reply of the same day, below. Hamilton replied to Short on 13 April 1791, authorizing the contract and instructing him to open another loan for 3 million guilders (Hamilton, Papers , 7:175–187, 280; 8:52, 57).