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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Hamilton, Alexander (1755-1804) to John Q. Adams

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04885 Author/Creator: Hamilton, Alexander (1755-1804) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Letter signed Date: 5 December 1794 Pagination: 1 p. 25 x 19.5 cm Order a Copy

Secretary of the Treasury Hamilton instructs Minister to the Netherlands Adams to deposit funds in a secure institution in order to meet immediate expenses for Envoy Extraordinary to Spain Thomas Pinckney.

Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

Treasury Department Decemr. 5th 1794

Sir

Since writing to you on the first instant of the foregoing is a copy, it has become necessary to inform you, that in consequence of the Presidents 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 Commisioners [sic] in Amsterdam reaches London. If this should prove to be the case, I will then thank you to take upon yourself the negociation [sic] 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 - say Three hundred and three thousand one hundred and fifteen current guilders with respect to the remainder of the Funds belonging to the United States, in the hands of our Commisioners [sic], I shall refer you to the instructions contained in my letter to you of the first instant.

I am with great consideration
Sir
Your most obedient Servant
A Hamiltion

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804
Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

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