To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Sinclair, with a List of Funds Collected for the State, 21 May 1780
From Alexander Sinclair, with a List of Funds Collected for the State
Staunton May the 21st. 1780
Sir
Colo. Sampson Mathews not having imediate use for the money that he detained, (which was taken in in consiquence of your adress to the people) have desired me to send it down to you I have therefore embraced this oppertunity by Mr. Smyth Tandy for that Purpose. Please Sir, to give Mr. Tandy recepts for it and when Colo. Mathews gos down he will receve the loan Office Certificates. The list of the money is inclosed, with the dates it was received, and the time it was put in for. I am Your Excellencys Mo. Humle. Servt,
Alexr. Sinclair
Enclosure
1780. | £ | s | d | ||||
March | 15th | John Vance | 100 | for 12 months | |||
” | Charles Donaley | 1864 | 4 | to the 1d of August | |||
18 | Robt Dunlap | 550 | |||||
21 | Charles Donaley | 135 | 16 | ||||
22 | Capt Robt Brattan | 633 | 14 | for 3 years | |||
” | Adam Brattan | 480 | for do. | ||||
Capt Robt Brattan | 600 | 16 | for do. | ||||
April | 4 | William Matear | 560 | for one year | |||
March | 30 | Andrew Ramsey | 300 | for 3 years | |||
Hugh McClure | 225 | for one year | |||||
A.S. April | 1d. | James Crawford | 200 | for 3 years | 200 | ||
A.S. — | 3 | Elijah McClenachan | 120 | for one year | 120 | ||
A.S. | 8 | James McNut | 400 | for 3 years | 400 | ||
11 | William Finley | 800 | 14 | for one year | |||
A.S. — | Jno. Ramsey | 1220 | for 3 years | 1220 | |||
A.S. | 18 | Jacob Lerew | 90 | for 1 Year | 90 | ||
A.S. | 18 | Ruben Lerew 150 | 140 | 00 | for do | 150 | |
A.S. | 18 | Abram Lerew | 150 | for do | 150 | ||
18 | Thomas Scott | 400 | 02 | for 2 Years | |||
18 | Walter Davis | 417 | 9 | 1 Year | |||
A.S. May | 16 | James Campbell | 1336 | 16 | for 6 months | 1336:16 | |
5 | Andrew Hamilton | 1123 | 8 | 0 | 1st January 1781 | ||
11848 | 3 | 0 | |||||
16 | |||||||
A.S. 27th | William Lewis | 1017 | 2 | for three years. | 1017:2 | ||
Joshua Perry | 1000 | one year |
RC (Vi); addressed “His Excellancy Thos. Jefferson Governor of Virginia.” Docketed in an unidentified hand: “Letter from Alexr. Sinclair to his Excellency. wt. Public Money.” The following memoranda, in another hand, also appear on verso of letter: “1. delivery. 2. Accident excuse. Tan[dy] answerable for not counting money. Who wd. serve public. Took same care of his own. Delivered to bar-keeper.” Also, interlined in the docketing, is the figure “[£]4376.-13,” which is the amount of money missing. Enclosure: “An Acct. of cash received,” printed herewith.
your adress to the people has not been located, but this address was probably issued in pursuance of the Act passed at the Oct. 1778 session authorizing the treasurer to borrow from individuals any sum of money in specie, paper money issued by Congress, or bills of credit issued by the state in amounts not less than $300 for periods not less than one year nor more than three years, since, as stated in the preamble of the Act, “it has been proved by experience that it is more beneficial to this commonwealth to borrow money on interest than to make large emissions of paper money” ( ix, 481). The Act does not authorize the governor to issue an appeal to the public, but it is possible that one was issued and that Sinclair is referring to an address issued by Gov. Henry before TJ took office. It is much more likely, however, that the address was one issued by TJ, for not only is Sinclair’s letter addressed to him by name, but also the receipts of money as listed in the enclosure are all dated after 15 Mch. 1780. On Mathews (or Matthews), Tandy, and the case of the missing money, see George Brooke to TJ, 14 June 1780, and Advice of Council concerning Money Collected, same date; the note on the latter document explains the docketed memoranda quoted above.