Autograph Letter Signed ('John C Hamilton') from John Church Hamilton, son of founding father Alexander Hamilton, to the poet Col. George Pope Morris, regarding disputed points following the sale of his house [Undercliff, Bull Hill [Mt Taurus], NYS].

3pp., 4to. 74 lines of text. Originally a bifolium, but with the two leaves now separate. Good, on aged and lightly-worn paper. Addressed, on reverse of second leaf, to 'George P Morris Esq. | Cold Spring.' The reference in the letter to Morris having 'cut down the wood' around his property is ironic, given that he is most famous for the poem/song 'Woodman! Spare that Tree!' Hamilton begins by stating that he has seen 'Mr. Robinson', who will see Morris on the subject of buying Morris's house. Hamilton considers Morris's price of $8000 for his house 'very cheap'. 'Indeed if you had not cut down the wood, I should be half inclined to buy it myself but that I consider a paramount objection to the property.' He thinks that 'most of the objections contained in the memorandum' Morris sent him on Undercliff 'of a nature that would occur in any New House The work will swell & requires easing repeatedly. As to the Locks, I am sure who ever told you they were "common Locks" knows nothing about it as I paid Pye's Partner for them myself - all the fastenings are of the same quality as those of the house I occupy'. He has 'sent for a person competent to judge', who informs him that 'the house is as well built as Contract Houses are generally and that the work is as good if not better than that of the one I am in - The frame was up under my eye - The walls built under my personal inspection and all appeared to be solid and substantial'. He hopes Morris will see that 'Mr Peirson fulfils all his contract. He is necessitous and I wish to pay the small balance due him as soon as you are satisfied'. After a paragraph discussing the roof, Hamilton declares: 'I think you have a very cheap property - a beautiful place and a good and commodious house'. He states what he considers the 'correct view' of 'one point': 'when I sold the House - you will admit, I sold it as it stood with the benefit of the contracts, I was careful to be explicit in telling you there would be some extras in addition to the contract work, but expressly said I could not tell the amount - I have expended on it about $6400 Dollars altogether and with the Interest to the 1st of June last I shall be a loser of from 6 to 700 Dollars'. He considers that 'Forty Dollars judiciously applied under you eye will do every thing you want, but if you trust to workmen to come and do as they please, there is no limit to the cost'. He ends by discussing 'the Stucco of the Columns', and the outside of the house.