ALS signed “A. Hamilton, Secy. of the Treasury,” one page, 7 x 9, January 26, 1790. Hamilton writes to Major General Baron [Friedrich Wilhelm von] Steuben. In full: “Among the documents that relate to the circumstances of your entrance into the service of the United States are a letter from you to the President of Congress dated at Portsmouth the 6th Decem. 1777, a report of the Committee which conferred with you at Yorktown, and a letter from you to the President of Congress dated in Decem. 1782. Inclosed you will find copies of the two first, and an extract from the last. As these may seem to militate against your claim as founded in contract, I think it proper, before I report to the House of Representatives upon your memorial [i.e., petition], to afford you an opportunity of making such remarks upon those documents as may appear to you adviseable....” Steuben (1730–1794), a Prussian army officer who had served under Frederick the Great, came to America in 1777 bearing an introduction and recommendation from Benjamin Franklin. Though he spoke no English—his communications were largely carried out with French-speaking officers—he became one of Washington’s most trusted and important military advisors. For his central role in the training and reorganization of the Continental Army, he came to be recognized as one of the most valuable foreign allies to the American forces during the Revolutionary War. Following the war, he became an American citizen, was rewarded for his service with land grants in several states, and was granted by Congress a yearly pension of $2,500. The present letter evidently relates to the formalities that attended the granting of the pension, which was finalized in June of the same year. Though Steuben had become a businessman following his retirement from the military, he demonstrated little business acumen, and the pension thus provided a crucial source of income. Fiscal wizard Hamilton played a key role in helping Steuben iron out his troubled finances—not only as demonstrated in the letter, but by helping Steuben obtain a mortgage on his New York property holdings that provided financial stability for the remainder of his life. In good to very good condition, with separations to intersecting mailing folds archivally reinforced on reverse (pinholes and small chips/separations), and scattered light toning and soiling. The writing is clear and distinct throughout. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
