From Alexander Hamilton to Nicholas Low, [15 April 1793]
To Nicholas Low1
[Philadelphia, April 15, 1793]
My Dear Sir
I send you the inclosed rather because I promised you I would think of the subject than because I expect that the result of so little thinking on my part in a case in which I know much more serious reflection will have been bestowed. Take it however for so much as it may be worth.
I have many reasons to think that Hall & Mort may be parted with without inconvenience to the Society. I doubted whether either have its interests at all at heart. Yet latter circumstances will enable you better to judge than I can.
Marshall I believe is essential to you; and I think it is proper and necessary to secure him by a better salary.
It is some time since I have been led to doubt whether Pearce has not given himself for much more than he is worth. He is unsteady, & I fear incapable of being kept within any bounds of order or œconomy. I believe it will not be difficult to have all the realy useful Machines he can make made by others. Yet he is ingenious & inventive—And ought not precipitably to be dismissed. What I here say is only to intimate my opinion that he may be spared and that the Society ought not to receive the law from him.
Perkinson2 was engaged experimentally. If any competent utility does not appear to attend his stay there is nothing to hinder his being sent away. It will be well however to see his articles.
Tell Mr. Colt I shall shortly write to him. The chief part of the money advanced by me for the Society was my own. Except what I had of Mr. Walker, I do not recollect to have received more than four or 500 Dollars which was paid me in this City upon Duers order by Mr. Ingraham.3
Truly & with much esteem Yrs
A Hamilton
There is a Mr. Taylor a man of whom I have had a good character a Calli[c]oe Printer who has been some time in the Country—& has carried on the business—who offers himself to the Society as a Director of the Branch.4
I am informed he has executed some good work.
This letter is not intended for formal communication to the Board. Tis for yourself.
ALS, Columbia University Libraries.
1. For background to this letter, see Low to H, March 4, 1793; Peter Colt to H, February 28, March 27, 1793; H to Colt, April 10, 1793; Elisha Boudinot to H, March 26, 1793.
2. George Parkinson. See Colt to H, February 28, 1793.
3. See Colt to H, February 28, March 27, 1793; H to Colt, April 10, 1793.
4. An entry in the minutes of the board of directors of the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures for November 5, 1793, reads as follows: “A Letter from Mr Robert Taylor of Philadelphia to Peter Colt, respecting employment as a Callicoe Printer was read—on which Resolved, that the Society cannot in the present State of their affairs engage with him in the printing business” ( 91).