To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 20 January 1795
From Alexander Hamilton
Treasury Departmt Jany 20th 1795.
Sir,
An application having been made to this Department, during your late absence with the Militia Army, for an advance of money on account of the Mint Establishment; the sum of Five thousand Dollars was accordingly furnished to the Treasurer as will appear by the enclosed documents.1
As all payments of this nature have been heretofore sanctioned by you, I have to request, that you will be pleas’d to signify your approbation of the said advance of Five thousand Dollars.2 I have the honor to be &c.
Alexr Hamilton.
P.S. It has not been made regularly from the Treasury; but by an informal advance by the Bank, which requires to be reimbursed.
LB, DLC:GW.
1. On 16 Oct. 1794 David Rittenhouse wrote to Edmund Randolph that a balance of $1,571.34 was due to Mint treasurer Nicholas Way at the close of the quarter ending on 30 Sept. 1794, and that another $1,395.32 was due for expenditures since that time. In addition, Rittenhouse needed $1,200 to purchase a house and lot for the Mint, and he estimated that expenses for the present quarter would be $2,404.68, bringing the total amount needed to $5,000. On 20 Oct., Edmund Randolph endorsed Rittenhouse’s account: “I have no doubt, that the President were he here, would approve of the advance of the above” (DLC:GW).
On 21 Oct., Oliver Wolcott, Jr., notified Edward Jones, a clerk in the Treasury Department: “There being no appropriation to satisfy the object of Mr Rittenhouse’s estimate, I advise that an advance of Five thousand dollars, be made to the Treasurer, Mister Way, by a Letter of credit on the Bank” (DLC:GW).
2. On 26 Jan., GW wrote Hamilton: “Pay to the Director of the Mint Five thousand dollars, to be applied to the purposes of that Establishment, agreeably to a statement exhibited to The Secretary of State, by the said Director the 16th of October last” (LB, DLC:GW).