Alexander Hamilton Papers
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Report on the Petition of James Gamble, [27 February 1794]

Report on the Petition of James Gamble1

[Philadelphia, February 27, 1794
Communicated on March 3, 1794]2

[To the Speaker of the House of Representatives]

The Secretary of the Treasury to whom was referred the Petition of James Gamble by an Order of the House of Representatives of the 14th. instant3 thereupon respectfully Reports—

That the Claim of the petitioner has been heretofore considered and rejected, as appears, on the Journals of Congress under date the 15th of April 1784.4

That the Petitioner having been informed of this decision, (of which it would seem he had no knowledge) has concluded to discontinue the Claim, in consequence of which a Legislative Interference is rendered unnecessary.

All which is humbly submitted

Alexander Hamilton
Secy. of the Treasury.

Copy, RG 233, Reports of the Secretary of the Treasury, 1784–1795, Vol. IV, National Archives.

1This report was one of twenty-nine reports on petitions enclosed in H to Frederick A. C. Muhlenberg, February 27, 1794.

2Journal of the House description begins Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States (Washington, 1826), I, II. description ends , II, 77–78.

3H has incorrectly cited the date of referral. It was on January 14, 1794, that “A petition of James Gamble, Deputy Commissary General in the Northern Department, during the late war, was presented to the House and read, praying that an allowance may be made, in the settlement of his account, for a certain sum of money, which he received for the public use, and was stolen out of a storehouse, in which it was deposited, on the night of the twenty-first March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.” (Journal of the House description begins Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States (Washington, 1826), I, II. description ends , II, 39.)

4On this date “The Committee to whom was referred the Memorial of James Gamble late Deputy Commissary General of Issues, stating that in November 1781 he received from Charles Stewart 2000 dollars of the new emission of the state of Rhode Island in pay for himself and his assistants in the Department. That the money was much depreciated, and would not pass current or be received by his assistants. That he put 1807 dollars of the same into the hands of Standish Ford of Philadelphia to be taken by him to Rhode Island and exchanged for gold or silver coin to the best advantage of which money said Standish Ford was afterwards robbed as appears by his oath, and praying that he may not be charged with the money, that was so lost, submit the following resolve.

Resolved, That as it appears that two thousand dollars of the new emission of the State of Rhode Island, were delivered to James Gamble, as pay for himself and his deputies, and that the said Gamble afterwards considered the greatest part of the money as private property, belonging to himself or to his assistants, and as such ordered it to be taken to Rhode Island, and there negotiated for specie, the request of the memorialist that the said money be not charged to him, cannot be granted.” (JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (Washington, 1904–1937). description ends , XXVI, 235.)

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