William L. Clements Library
The University of Michigan
George Hamilton Papers






Temporary record

Hamilton, George

Papers, 1783 May 9-1786
England
United States, 6 sheaf Mss.









Background note:
Hamilton's 1783-1785 journals record his travels in England and the United States; a 1786 journal chronicles his early life, from birth up to his return to England. He was born and educated in Scotland, completed some legal training, and went to the United States in hopes of pursuing a legal career, but was discouraged by the prospects there and returned to England to become a clergyman. Hamilton's writings are those of a highly literate, introspective man, and are full of details and opinions on the people he meets and patterns of life he observes in London, on board ship, and in the eastern United States. There are good accounts of travel and modes of transportation, a fine description of the Moravians of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and of his travels through Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania frontier, a detailed eye-witness account of George Washington's resignation of his commission to Congress, descriptions of the landscape and towns of Virginia, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, assessments of the various people he stays with during his travels, and comments on some of the battles and incidents of the American Revolution which has just ended. Hamilton also relates amusing anecdotes of various adventures and notable characters he meets with in his travels



M-2904.2





Subjects
Diaries
Hamilton, George--Diary
Hamilton, George--Journeys
Hamilton, George--Philosophy
Moravians--Pennsylvania
New England--Description and travel
New York (State)--Description and travel
Niagara Falls (N.Y. and Ont.)
Ocean travel
Pennsylvania--Description and travel
Pennsylvania Dutch
Transportation--United States
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783
Virginia--Description and travel
Voyages and travels
Washington, George, 1732-1799--Resignation of military commission

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