ALEXANDER HAMILTON. MANUSCRIPT LETTER SIGNED, 14 AUGUST 1784, TO JOHN CHALONER

2 pages (13 x 7 3/4in.; 331 x 198 mm) on a bifolium, New York, 14 August 1784, with autograph address leaf directed to "Mr. John Chaloner | Merchant | Philadelphia," reception docket and stick-figure drawing on address leaf; leafs neatly separated at central fold, seal tear and a few short fold separations, some very light marginal soiling.

The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, ed. Syrett, 3:576–577 (text from Hamilton's retained draft, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress)

2 pages (13 x 7 3/4in.; 331 x 198 mm) on a bifolium, New York, 14 August 1784, with autograph address leaf directed to "Mr. John Chaloner | Merchant | Philadelphia," reception docket and stick-figure drawing on address leaf; leafs neatly separated at central fold, seal tear and a few short fold separations, some very light marginal soiling.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Alexander Hamilton helps manage his brother-in-law’s American finances—and coordinates delivery of a package that his sister-in-law Angelica Church sent from Paris to his wife and his mother-in-law. Just months after founding the Bank of New York, Hamilton writes to Philadelphia merchant John Chaloner regarding financial transactions including the purchase by John Church of 25 shares of Bank of North America stock. He first acknowledges Chaloner's recent letter and lists six bills sent by Chaloner, "which have been paid and will be paid." He continues, "The ballance due on the lot will be £1297:6-10, which bears interest at Seven Pr Cent. if you are in Cash on Mr Church’s account, I shall be obliged to you as soon as possible to forward that ballance the rather as from particular circumstances there is some little hazard in the title till the transaction is completed.

"Mrs Hamilton tells me that Mrs Church informs her she has sent to your care a box of sheeting for her and there is some other thing which she does not recolect for Mrs Schuyler. She requests you will be so good as to forward these articles." In closing, Hamilton remarks that "Mrs Hamilton joins in compliments to Mrs Chaloner."

Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton’s older sister Angelica married John Barker Church, an English businessman, in 1777. Church supported the American Revolution and made a fortune supplying the American and French armies with provisions. After the war, he served as a U.S. envoy to the French government from 1783 to 1785. Angelica Church apparently was shopping in Paris, and bought a box of sheeting for her sister and another item for their mother, Catherine Van Rensselaer Schuyler. After a brief return to America, the Church family left for England, where John B. Church served in Parliament from 1790 to 1796. During Church’s absence from 1783 to 1797, Hamilton managed his financial affairs, with Chaloner conducting his business in Philadelphia.

In the present letter, Hamilton discusses Church's accounts with Philadelphia merchants James and Alexander Stewart, New York broker John Delafield, New York merchant and Bank of New York stockholder James Buchanan, Philadelphia Captain George Geddis, and New York stationer and printer William Bowne. Hamilton also returns drafts on New York merchants Nicholas Low and John Woodward at the request of Pennsylvania merchant William Macarty, who had gone bankrupt and received a general discharge from his creditors.