George Washington Papers

To George Washington from the Board of Treasury, 21 August 1789

From the Board of Treasury

Board of Treasury [New York] Augt 21st 1789

Sir

Mr Secretary Lear having applied to this office for a statement of the Post Office accounts, as entered in the books of the treasury, we do ourselves the honor of transmitting an abstract statement of them to the last of December 1788.1

No final adjustment has been made of the present Postmaster General’s accounts for the two last years, for the reasons stated in our communication No. 6, on the receipts and expenditures of the United States. We have the honor to be with high respect Sir your most Obt humble Servts

Samuel Osgood

Arthur Lee

GentlemenRegisters Office Newyork 21st August 1789

I have agreeably to your directions made out Abstracts of the General Post Office Receipts and Expenditures as follows.

No. 1. Is an abstract statement of the Post Office General Accounts as exhibited in the Treasury Books (Ledger B description begins General Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers. description ends . folio 644) in old Emissions, New Emissions and Specie from 1775 to 31st January 1782.

No. 2. Is an abstract of the several Accounts settled at the Treasury of the United States by Ebenezer Hazard Esqr. Post Master General from 31st January 1782 to 31st December 1786 shewing Nt Receipts and Expenditures of the Post Office ⅌r their accounts during that time and the payments by him made into the Treasury of the United States.

No. 3. Is an Abstract Statement of the accounts of Ebenezer Hazard Esqr. Post Master General for A.D. 1787 & 1788, which have been rendered by him to the Treasury for adjustment but which have not been settled, shewing the Nett amount of Receipts & Expenditures and the payments by him made into the Treasury of the U. States for those two years. With the greatest respect I have the honor to be Gentlemen your very hume Servant

Joseph Nourse Rgr

No. 1
An Abstract Statement of the Post Office General Account as exhibited in the Treasury books (Ledger B description begins General Ledger B, 1772–1793. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers. description ends . folio 644.) in old Emissions, New Emissions & Specie from 1775. to 31st January 1782.

Dollars 90ths
Old Emissns
Dollars 90ths
New Emissns
Dollars 90ths
Specie
Dr.
To amount of payments made by the Postmaster General, the Comptroller, & Paymaster of the post office, Deputy Post Masters & Surveyors, in support of the general post office from Novr 23d 1776 to February 26th 1781 in old Emissions 343,641.34
To amount of payments by Ditto, in New Emissions advanced in 1781. 8,756   
 
To amount of Specie payments made by the late Superintendant of Finance being the arrearages of Salary due the Post Master General his Deputies & assistants 17,245.28
Dollars 343,641.34 8,756    17,245.28
Cr.
By amount of receipts by the Paymaster General & his Deputies from its institution in 1776 to the year 1781 in old Emissions 142,697.82
By amount of Ditto in New Emissions 723.50
1782
By Ditto in Specie 2,142.26
Jany 1
By balance due by the General Post Office to the United States as ⅌ accounts settled at the Treasury—Viz:
In old Emissions 200,943.42
In New Emissions 8,032.40
In Specie 15,103. 2
Dollars 343,641.34 8,756    17,245.28

Registers Office New York 21st Augt 1789

This account stating the Nt Receipts and Expenditures of the Post Office under the old establishment of Congress arises on the adjustment of the accounts of Richard Bache Esqr. Post Master General, Peter Baynton Esqr. Comptroller of the Post Office and of Ebenezer Hazard & James Bryson Esqrs. Surveyors of the late Post Office, made at the Treasury in the year 1782—For particulars of each of those accounts reference being had to Accounts settled No. 2804. No. 2815. No. 2816. & No. 2817. will more fully appear—The debit side of this Account shews the total payments made, by the General Post Office in support of the same from 1776 to 1781 inclusive, and the credit side, the Nt amount of receipts.

There is a considerable balance due from the old Post Office, but to ascertain the true amount, the above balances in old and new Emissions shou’d be reduced to Specie.

Joseph Nourse Regr

No. 2.

Registers Office New York 21st August 1789

Abstract of the several Accounts settled at the Treasury of the United States by Ebenezer Hazard Esqr. Post Master General from 31st January 1782 to 31st December 1786 shewing the Nett Receipts & Expenditures of the Post Office ⅌ their Accounts during that time and the payments by him made into the Treasury of the United States

Dr. Dollars 90th
31st Decr 1783 The Expenditures from the 31st January 1782 to this day were 6,840. 3
1784 The Expenditures this Year were 4,264.11
1785 The Expenditures this Year were 6,582.86
1786 The Expenditures this Year were 20,035.44
Balance Net Revenue of the Post Office on this account from 31st January 1782 to 31st December 1786 is 16,006.28
Dollars 53,728.82

The following sums have been received into the Treasury being a part of the above balance Vizt. During the administration of the late Superintendant of Finance.

Cr.
31st Decr 1783 The receipts from the 31st January 1782 to this day were 9,026. 3
1784 The Receipts this Year were 11,291. 2
1785 The Receipts this Year were 15,964.18
1786 The Receipts this Year were 17,447.59
Dollars 53,728.82
1783 May 2d 153.85
1783 Decr 31st 1,500.  
1784 Augt 2d 2,378.15
Betwixt his resignation and the appointment of the Commissioners of the Board of Treasury 2,000.  
From the appointment of the commissrs of the board of Treasury to the 31st Decr 1786
1786 January 17th 4,000.  
21st 4,000.  
September 16th   778.14 8,778.14 14,810.24
Balance due by the Post Master Genl on the 31st December 1786 as ⅌ Accounts settled to that date  1,196. 4
Dollars 16,006.28

Joseph Nourse Regr.

No. 3.

Registers Office New York 21st August 1789

Abstract Statement of the Accounts of Ebenezer Hazard Esqr. Post Master General for A.D. 1787 & 1788 which have been rendered by him to the Treasury for adjustment, but which have not been settled, shewing the Nett amount of Receipts and Expenditures, and the payments by him made into the Treasury of the United States for these two years

Dr. Dollars 90th
1787
Decr 31st The Expenditures this Year were 12,565.51.4
 
1788
Decr 31st The Expenditures this Year were 12,313. 1.6
Balance Nett Revenue of the Post Office on this acct for A.D. 1787 & 1788 is  5,134.24.2
Dollars 30,012.77.4
Note, There was a balance in Mr Hazards hands as ⅌ Accot stated from the Treasury Books on the 31st Decr 1786 of 1,196. 4.4
[Credits]
1787 Dollars 90th
Decr 31st The Receipts this Year were 18,275.76.4
1788
Decr 31st The Receipts this Year were 11,737. 1. 
Dollars 30,012.77.4
Brot forward 1,196. 4.4
And he is accountable for the above balance of his receipts, beyond his payments of  5,134.24.2
Amountg to Dollars 6,330.28.6
He paid into the Treasury Vizt.  
April 11th 1787 207.  
May 24th 200.  
July 5th 800.  
October 3d  632.44   1,839.44. 
January 30th 1788 199.24
March 25th 100.  
27th 728.25
 214.45   1,242. 4  
He acknowledges a balance in on the 1st Jany 1789 subject to that payment of certain Demands for the previous Quarter on the Post Office 3,348.69.6
Deduct the payment credited 25th March 1788 not noticed by him   100.     3,248.69.6 6,330.27.6

Joseph Nourse Regr

LB, DLC:GW.

For background to this document, see the Board of Treasury to GW, 15 June 1789, source note.

1This report concerns questions that arose in connection with Ebenezer Hazard’s accounts for the post office. See GW to Hazard, 17 July 1789, source note.

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