31To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 19 March 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter under the 7th instant just now arrived by post. I hasten to answer it hoping that the conduct of the officers will not appear to you in the same point of light, after an explanation of the business is had, as it did when you received the information to which you refer. By the enclosed Copy you will perceive that you had nearly a state of facts. On the 16th. Ulto. Captain Williams...
32To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 1 February 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
By this mornings post your letter of the 21st. Ulto. was received As also a letter covering one directed to our Minister at the Court of Great Britain. We have a vessel now loading & will sail in a few days for Amsterdam so that your letter directed to Messrs. Willink & Van Staphorst will go directly to its address in Holland agreeably to your wishes. LC , Massachusetts Historical Society,...
33To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, James Lovell, and Thomas Melville, 31 January 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, January 31, 1794. On February 20, 1794, Hamilton wrote to Lincoln, Lovell, and Melville : “I am to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st ultimo.” Letter not found. ] Lincoln was the collector, Lovell the naval officer, and Melville the surveyor of the port of Boston.
34To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 21 January 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
On the receipt of your letter of the 19th. Ulto Not seeing the British Consul I wrote him a note of which No 1 is a copy—No 2 is a copy of His answer. As you have confined my attention, at present, to the Jane—Lovely lass and Prince William Henry which vessels it is said have not been in this district I cannot take any measures with him to ascertain the damages of the Gray hound & Flora of...
35Enclosure: Benjamin Lincoln to Thomas MacDonough, 14 January 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I am authorised, in conjunction with you, to appoint persons to establish the value of such Vessels & Cargoes the property of the subjects of Great Britain as have been captured by French privateers armed and equipped in the ports of the United States between 5th of June and the seventh of august last and which have been restored. At present however my attention is called to three only the...
36To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, [8 January 1794] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, January 8, 1794 ] “By the 61st: Section of the Act intit⟨led⟩ ‘to provide more effectually for the collection of duties &c’ … it is necessary that the importer should be the exporter to intitle him to the suspension of his bond. A practice is now crept into Existance which creates a vast deal of confusion & delay in doing the business in this office for most of the importers come &...
37To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 31 December 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, December 31, 1793. “In your circular letter under the date of Decr 20th Instant You request that all my acct to the end of the year should be promptly rendered. Those for the third quarter will be presented herewith, the fourth will follow some time in Jany. The reasons why we are so late with our third quarter arise from the sickness of my Clerks one of which is yet confined and...
38To John Adams from Benjamin Lincoln, 11 September 1793 (Adams Papers)
Before this can reach you, you will be informed that our attempts to establish a peace with the hostiles tribes of Indians North of the Ohio has been ineffectual; and lest you should be perplexed with vague and uncertain accounts of the state of the business I have now taken up my pen to give you a short detail of the matter.— On my arrival at Niagra the 25th. of May I was informed by the...
39To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 4 March 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I had too little time with you when in Philadelphia. Your particular engagments forbid my calling on you as often as under different circumstances I should have called. One question in particular was left unsettled the application of Mr. Joseph Blake respecting the quallity of some wines he imported. The Comptroller was in opinion that there could not any consideration be made for its being of...
40To John Adams from Benjamin Lincoln, 22 December 1792 (Adams Papers)
The exertions of disappointment & of antifederalism have had little effect I congratulate you My dear sir most sincerely on the happy event— When you left us no arrangment was made for the return of the few dollars you received of me—As I do not know what would be most convenient for you whether to forward the money or for me to draw on you I take the liberty to say now that when ever it shall...
41To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 15 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, November 15, 1792. “Your Circular letter to the Collectors of the Customs under the date of Octr 25 has been received by me. In that letter I am requested to furnish you as early as possible with an estimate of the amount of bounties payable in this district on fishing vessels. It is out of my power to comply with the request with any degree of Exactness as we have not more than ten or...
42To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 20 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Our Cutter proves to be a very dull sailer, after various experiments by altering the Standing of the masts the bowsprit and altering the Sails to make her sail better, is consequently a very improper Vessel for the business assigned her. We have now an opportunity to Sell her for a Sum, with the Saving of the pay & rations for the hands, which would build one of fifty odd tons, a Size large...
43To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 14 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
My knowledge of your wishes to support the manufactures of your Country will apologize I hope for the trouble of this Letter on the subject of tipes. Mr. Thomas of this State has it in contemplation to print the bible in two different small sizes. To do it on terms which will give him a profit among the importers he is under the [necessity] of importing tipes sufficient for the whole work...
44To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 17 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
At the request of Mr. Foster a merchant in this town I in-close his letter to me stating his situation relative to the draw back of some duties due on a quantity of Coffe exported. His confidence that you will direct the payment on the evidence offered makes it necessary that I should lay the matter before you for your decision thereon. I am &c LC , Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston; LC...
45To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, [3 August 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, August 3, 1792. On August 14, 1792, Hamilton wrote to Lincoln and acknowledged receipt “of your letter of the 3rd instant.” Letter not found. ]
46To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 26 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston ] July 26, 1792 . “A few days since the Brig Sally arrived here from Amsterdam with a quantity of Ginn on board part of which was in Keggs or Anchors as they are called. This was such an open violation of the Law, after full time had passed for the interested to have know their duty & interest if proper attention had been paid to them, that I could not persuade my self that I should...
47To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 3 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Notwithstanding our wishes to the contrary, we are too often impelled to call your attention from the more important duties of your Office to circumstances trivial indeed compared therewith. However painful the measure we cannot avoid it & preserve that uniformity in the different Offices so much to be desired, as thereby the general interest is promoted & the minds of the People kept in a...
48To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 6 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, June 6, 1792. “I mentioned to you under the 15 Feby last that we had put our hands on four hogs. N E Rum in old we[s]t India Casks. The matter came to trial yesterday. It was admitted that the rum was distilled in Portland but contended that the duties were duly paid. This being proved the spirits were acquitted. If these things can be practised with impunity a wide door will be opened...
49To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 12 May 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, May 12, 1792. “I have received your Letter of the 2d. instant. The manner in which you have directed the lodgment of the money will obviate all the difficulties which I supposed might take place under your first order.… I wish to know how I shall settle the price of goods imported from France. Their paper seems to be in a depreciated state and the goods charged proportionately high.…”...
50To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 31 March 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
As you have often expressed a wish to establish uniformity among all the officers commissioned in different districts to perform similar duties I am induced to mention an instance wherein from the want of similarity questions arise which leaves us quite at a loss how to determine the length of Vessels from the registers some inserting therein the real length & some the length after the...
51To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 21 [March] 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I shall pay particular attention to your directions respecting the payment of the drafts of the treasurer in favour of the Loan officer of New Hampshire & Mr Appleton of this State. You will learn by the inclosed return that a large proportion of the money on hand is in the bills of the bank of the united States issued in Philadelphia which are now sold here at a discount of one ⅌ Cent. From...
52To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 14 March 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
By the 7th. section in the act for registering vessels &c it is provided that when an owner resides out of the district where the ship may be at the time a register is required that such owner may take and subscribe the oath before the collector of the district in which he resides. A Gentleman from Baltimore came here a few months since and purchased a vessel, loaded her and wished her to sail...
53To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 15 February 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Your two letters one under the 2d. & the [other] under the fourth instant came to hand this evening by the post. To the directions they contain a strict attention will be paid. In my last I mentioned to you that empty old rum hogs. when the certificates could be obtained with them were in demand. Since, I think, I have discovered the use to be made of them. A few days pass four hogs. as west...
54To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 17 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
By the inclosed memorandum you will see the state of the imports into this district from Island of Hispaniole from the first of august 1790 to the end of that year and the state of the imports from the same Island from the first day of August 1791 to first Jany 1792 have not yet felt so sensibly as I expected we had the consequences of the disorders in that Island. From a suggestion given,...
55To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 1 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your favours of the 17th & 18th were received last evening by post. The one referred to in your letter to Capt williams did not come to hand. I wish my opinion had not been asked relative to the present allowance made the keeper of the Light House at Portland as the sum given was named by me and thought to be as much as the public ought to give for keeping it in the best manner. I did not...
56To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 10 November 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is our tonnage Abstract commencing with July and ending with September. By a late instruction from the Treasury department we are called upon to make return to what port the several vessels entered here are destined, in what Kingdom State or Islands such ports are situated. All are in our return which are not in port have left it for places unknown to us. From the peculiar situation...
57To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 2 November 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In May 1790 The Schooner Industry arrived in this District from Ireland with no other than an old State Register. The apology was that as she was owned in Virginia & there had not been time for her to renew her papers. This was accepted And the master Mr. Russell, the Ships friend, were informed that their conduct was irregular & that the vessel could not be entitled to the rights of a Ship of...
58To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 20 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
When I first received your orders for supplying the Cutter I attempted to bring the men to the established ration fixed by Congress. The moment our design was known a good Crew left the vessel. I was therefore obliged to supply as the Merchants supply or suffer the Cutter to remain in port. The latter I thought would be more difficult for me to justify than given the men the supply generally...
59To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 7[–8] October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I was very unhappy the last evening on the receipt of your letter by the post to find that the papers I forwarded in April last respecting my purchase of the public securtes had not answered your wishes. Before I forwarded them I examined the law & your instructions and intended fully to comply with both. I therefore was induced in the statement of my account of my transactions in the business...
60To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 4 October [1791] (Hamilton Papers)
I received your circular Letter of the 21st. Ulto and your letter respecting a cancelled register by the last post. Knowing sir how anxious you are to œconomise the public money and how just your expectations are that all officers of the revenue will aid you in a measure so important to the general interest I take the liberty to suggest, as the weather will soon be so inclement as to prevent...