Angelica Schuyler Church Writes to Alexander Hamilton from London, 1787
"America triumphant and Britannia in distress," 1782, Library of Congress
Angelica Schuyler Church was known as a witty and entertaining correspondent and conversationalist. Far from home, she carried on a lively correspondence with her brother-in-law Alexander Hamilton. In this letter, written October 2, 1787, she addresses her husband’s political hopes.
A Letter from Angelica Church to Alexander Hamilton, October 2, 1787
You had every right my dear brother to believe that I was very inattentive not to have answered your letter but I could not relinquish the hopes that you would be tempted to ask the reason of my Silence, which would be a certain means of obtaining the second letter when perhaps had I answered the first, I should have lost all the fine things contained in the Latter. Indeed my dear, Sir if my path was strewed with as many roses, as you have filled your letter with compliments, I should not now lament my absence from America: but even Hope is weary of doing any thing for so assiduous a votary as myself. I have so often prayed at her shrine that I am now no longer heard. Church’s head is full of Politicks, he is so desirous of making once in the British house of Commons, and where I should be happy to see him if he possessed your Eloquence. All the graces you have been pleased to adorn me with, fade before the generous and benevolent action of My Sister in taking the orphan Antle under her protection.
I do not write by this packet to either of my sisters, nor to my father. It is too Meloncholy an employment to day, as church is not here to be my consolation: he is gone to New Market. You will please to say to them for me every thing you think that the most tender and affectionate attachment can dictate. Adieu, my dear brother! be persuaded that these sentiments are not weakened when assiged to you and that I am very sincerely your friend.
AC
Town Place Oct: 2, 1787
Is Kitty Livingston Married?
Source: Angelica Schuyler Church to Alexander Hamilton, October 2, 1787, Founders Online, National Archives. Original source: The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, vol. 4, January 1787 – May 1788, ed. Harold C. Syrett. New York: Columbia University Press, 1962, pp. 279–280.
A Letter from Angelica Church to Alexander Hamilton, October 2, 1787
You had every right my dear brother to believe that I was very inattentive not to have answered your letter; but I could not relinquish the hopes that you would be tempted to ask the reason of my Silence, which would be a certain means of obtaining the second letter when perhaps had I answered the first, I should have lost all the fine things contained in the Latter. Indeed my dear, Sir if my path was strewed with as many roses, as you have filled your letter with compliments, I should not now lament my absence from America: but even Hope is weary of doing any thing for so assiduous a votary as myself. I have so often prayed at her shrine that I am now no longer heard. Church’s head is full of Politicks, he is so desirous of making once in the British house of Commons, and where I should be happy to see him if he possessed your Eloquence. All the graces you have been pleased to adorn me with, fade before the generous and benevolent action of My Sister in taking the orphan Antle under her protection.
I do not write by this packet to either of my sisters, nor to my father. It is too Meloncholy an employment to day, as Church is not here to be my consolation: he is gone to New Market. You will please to say to them for me every thing you think that the most tender and affectionate attachment can dictate. Adieu, my dear brother! be persuaded that these sentiments are not weakened when assiged to you and that I am very sincerely your friend.
AC
Town Place Oct: 2, 1787
Is Kitty Livingston Married?
Source: Angelica Schuyler Church to Alexander Hamilton, October 2, 1787, Founders Online, National Archives. Original source: The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, vol. 4, January 1787 – May 1788, ed. Harold C. Syrett. New York: Columbia University Press, 1962, pp. 279–280.
relinquish - give up
strewed - scattered
lament - grieve
assiduous - showing great care and perseverance
votary - a person who has made vows to religious service
eloquence - way with words
benevolent - kind
meloncholy (melancholy) - sad
sentiments - feelings/thoughts
Background
Angelica Schuyler Church was known as a witty and entertaining correspondent and conversationalist. Far from home, she carried on a lively correspondence with her brother-in-law Alexander Hamilton. In this letter, written October 2, 1787, she addresses her husband’s political hopes.
Transcript
A Letter from Angelica Church to Alexander Hamilton, October 2, 1787
You had every right my dear brother to believe that I was very inattentive not to have answered your letter but I could not relinquish the hopes that you would be tempted to ask the reason of my Silence, which would be a certain means of obtaining the second letter when perhaps had I answered the first, I should have lost all the fine things contained in the Latter. Indeed my dear, Sir if my path was strewed with as many roses, as you have filled your letter with compliments, I should not now lament my absence from America: but even Hope is weary of doing any thing for so assiduous a votary as myself. I have so often prayed at her shrine that I am now no longer heard. Church’s head is full of Politicks, he is so desirous of making once in the British house of Commons, and where I should be happy to see him if he possessed your Eloquence. All the graces you have been pleased to adorn me with, fade before the generous and benevolent action of My Sister in taking the orphan Antle under her protection.
I do not write by this packet to either of my sisters, nor to my father. It is too Meloncholy an employment to day, as church is not here to be my consolation: he is gone to New Market. You will please to say to them for me every thing you think that the most tender and affectionate attachment can dictate. Adieu, my dear brother! be persuaded that these sentiments are not weakened when assiged to you and that I am very sincerely your friend.
AC
Town Place Oct: 2, 1787
Is Kitty Livingston Married?
Source: Angelica Schuyler Church to Alexander Hamilton, October 2, 1787, Founders Online, National Archives. Original source: The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, vol. 4, January 1787 – May 1788, ed. Harold C. Syrett. New York: Columbia University Press, 1962, pp. 279–280.
Excerpt
A Letter from Angelica Church to Alexander Hamilton, October 2, 1787
You had every right my dear brother to believe that I was very inattentive not to have answered your letter; but I could not relinquish the hopes that you would be tempted to ask the reason of my Silence, which would be a certain means of obtaining the second letter when perhaps had I answered the first, I should have lost all the fine things contained in the Latter. Indeed my dear, Sir if my path was strewed with as many roses, as you have filled your letter with compliments, I should not now lament my absence from America: but even Hope is weary of doing any thing for so assiduous a votary as myself. I have so often prayed at her shrine that I am now no longer heard. Church’s head is full of Politicks, he is so desirous of making once in the British house of Commons, and where I should be happy to see him if he possessed your Eloquence. All the graces you have been pleased to adorn me with, fade before the generous and benevolent action of My Sister in taking the orphan Antle under her protection.
I do not write by this packet to either of my sisters, nor to my father. It is too Meloncholy an employment to day, as Church is not here to be my consolation: he is gone to New Market. You will please to say to them for me every thing you think that the most tender and affectionate attachment can dictate. Adieu, my dear brother! be persuaded that these sentiments are not weakened when assiged to you and that I am very sincerely your friend.
AC
Town Place Oct: 2, 1787
Is Kitty Livingston Married?
Source: Angelica Schuyler Church to Alexander Hamilton, October 2, 1787, Founders Online, National Archives. Original source: The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, vol. 4, January 1787 – May 1788, ed. Harold C. Syrett. New York: Columbia University Press, 1962, pp. 279–280.
relinquish - give up
strewed - scattered
lament - grieve
assiduous - showing great care and perseverance
votary - a person who has made vows to religious service
eloquence - way with words
benevolent - kind
meloncholy (melancholy) - sad
sentiments - feelings/thoughts
