Nov 17, 2020 - Sale 2551

Sale 2551 - Lot 5

Price Realized: $ 5,250
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 3,000 - $ 4,000
HAMILTON, ALEXANDER. Autograph Note Signed, to an unnamed recipient [Herman LeRoy and William Bayard?] (lacking salutation), advising that LeRoy and Bayard proceed to a court of law, since the amount awarded in the [arbitration] case of Willinks and Bingham is so different from their expectation or, if Bingham is unwilling, advising that Bingham's counsel appeal to the court to set aside the award. Additionally signed by U.S. Attorney for the District of New York Richard Harison. 1 page, 4to; minor abrasions at corners verso, folds. New York, 2 April 1798

Additional Details

"Considering that the award of the Referees in the case of Willinks and Bingham departs so widely from the expectation of the Constituents of LeRoy & Bayard, and that the same is contrary to the opinion of Mr. Tilghman, the Counsel who attended the hearing, as to the merits of the question as they appeared on that hearing, We think it advisable for Messrs LeRoy and Bayard, if Mr. Bingham as alleged is willing, to agree to set aside the award and open the controversy again to proceed in a court of law, or if Mr. Bingham is not so willing, to instruct their counsel to apply to the Court to set aside the award. Though there are different sides to the question we think upon the whole this is the most prudent course."
In 1783, Hamilton founded a law practice in New York with Richard Harison, and in June of 1795, Hamilton's firm was retained by merchants William Bayard and Herman LeRoy concerning a dispute between the Dutch bankers Wilhelm and Jan Willink on the one hand, and American statesman and land developer William Bingham on the other. The details of the dispute are unclear, but the Willinks and Bingham had been business partners in land speculation for a number of years beginning in 1792.