Details
HAMILTON, ALEXANDER, Secretary of the Treasury. Letter signed ("A Hamilton") as Secretary of the Treasury, TO JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, Minister to the Netherlands, New York, 5 December 1794. 1 page, 4to, 250 x 195mm. (10 x 7 1/2 in.), top margin lightly browned, right hand margin trimmed close and the salutation ("Sir") on a small piece neatly pasted at top corner.
Secretary Hamilton instructs Minister Adams to open a bank account for William Pinckney, recently appointed special Commissioner to Spain: "...[I]n consequence of...President [Washington's] having directed Mr. Pinckney to repair immediately to the Court of Madrid, there is a possibility, that he may set out upon his mission, before the bill drawn upon our Commissioners in Amsterdam reaches London. If this should prove to be the case...take upon yourself the negociation of the business by placing in the Bank of England or in some other situation not less secure and at the disposal of Mr. Pinckney a sum equal to the amount of the bill in question..."
William Pinckney (1764-1822), a Maryland attorney, attended the Federal Constitutional Convention and, two years after the present letter, was appointed by Washington as Joint Commissioner to Great Britain to negotiate claims for maritime losses, to which he devoted eight years. He held additional diplomatic posts under Jefferson and later served as Attorney General under Madison, Minister to Russia and Senator for Maryland.
Secretary Hamilton instructs Minister Adams to open a bank account for William Pinckney, recently appointed special Commissioner to Spain: "...[I]n consequence of...President [Washington's] having directed Mr. Pinckney to repair immediately to the Court of Madrid, there is a possibility, that he may set out upon his mission, before the bill drawn upon our Commissioners in Amsterdam reaches London. If this should prove to be the case...take upon yourself the negociation of the business by placing in the Bank of England or in some other situation not less secure and at the disposal of Mr. Pinckney a sum equal to the amount of the bill in question..."
William Pinckney (1764-1822), a Maryland attorney, attended the Federal Constitutional Convention and, two years after the present letter, was appointed by Washington as Joint Commissioner to Great Britain to negotiate claims for maritime losses, to which he devoted eight years. He held additional diplomatic posts under Jefferson and later served as Attorney General under Madison, Minister to Russia and Senator for Maryland.