Alexander Hamilton Papers
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To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 5 August 1794

From Tench Coxe1

Treasury Department
Revenue office, August 5th 1794

Sir,

The state of things in the western country2 raises some doubts whether it will be practicable to procure in that quarter Spirits lawfully distilled for the military supply of 1795. It remains to be considered therefore, whether that point (the spirits having been lawfully distilled) shall be adhered to as indispensible.

Your letter of the 31st July3 relative to Mr. Wiats4 agency, was not received until my letter had gone. The cause of my not recurring to the Supervisor of Virginia5 was that I had not the necessary antecedent information of any arrangement by which such agencies were to be under his direction in the state of Virginia. The case was emergent, and as I have conceived that the Treasury business for the War department; (as designated in the 5th Section of the act making alterations in the Treasury and War departments)6 was the duty transferred to my office, I did not hesitate to employ a suitable person. I could not recur to you having learned that you were absent,7 and being unable to procure information of the time of your return.

My confidence in the Supervisor of Virginia and my wish to promote his interests would have led me to apply to him, but Fredericksburg can be reached by letter from hence several days sooner than thro’ Richmond, and the case appeared to require dispatch. I confess I was very uneasy at finding that an extensive arrangement had been requested on the 16th. June by the Secretary at War,8 of the receipt of whose requisition by you I had no information. I supposed that the letter had by some unfortunate accident miscarried between the Offices.

I have the honor to be, with great respect,   Sir   Your most Obedient Servant

Tench Coxe
Commissr. of the Revenue

P.S. The postmaster general9 on a previous enquiry, personally made by me, spoke in terms inspiring the necessary degree of confidence, concerning Mr. Wiat.

The Secretary
of the Treasury

LC, RG 58, Letters of Commissioner of Revenue, 1794–1795, National Archives.

1For background to this letter, see Coxe to H, July 29, 30, 1794.

2For information on the Whiskey Insurrection, see “Deposition of Francis Mentges,” August 1, 1794; H to George Washington, August 2, 5, 1794.

3Letter not found.

4William Wiatt. See Coxe to H, July 30, 1794.

5Edward Carrington.

61 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America (Boston, 1845). description ends 279–81 (May 8, 1792). See H to Coxe, April 4, 1794.

7See H to Washington, July 11, 23, 1794; Washington to H, July 11, 1794.

8Henry Knox’s letter to H has not been found. See Coxe to H, July 29, 1794.

9Timothy Pickering.

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