To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 2 August 1793
From Alexander Hamilton
Treasury Depmt 2d August 1793.
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President the enclosed communication from the Commissioner of the Revenue, accompanied with a Contract for the Stakeage of the shoals in Cape Fear river.
It appears to the Secretary that a ratification of the Contract would be for the interest of the public service.1
A. Hamilton
LB, DLC:GW.
1. The letter from Tench Coxe to Hamilton has not been identified. According to the enclosed contract, John Duncan and John Allen of Wilmington, N.C., agreed to install ten stakes in the “Channel of the River Cape Fear” for the sum of $84. “The Stakes to be three feet clear above high water mark in common Spring Tides, & to be of good sound Light wood, six inches square, except the two to be fixed at the narrows below five fathom hole which are to be round Pine Poles with the bark on. The Stakes and Poles aforesaid to be securely fixed & kept up for the remaining part of the present year.” The contract was “Approved August 6th 1793” (DNA: RG 26, Lighthouse Deeds and Contracts, 1790–1812). GW’s executive journal indicates that he received and approved this contract on 5 Aug. (, 214).