Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs in Massachusetts, 29 November 1794
Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors
of the Customs in Massachusetts1
Treasury Department, Nov. 29th 1794.
Sir,
I have to request, that you will retain in your hands a sufficient sum of the monies arising from the duties on Imports and Tonnage for the purpose of discharging the Allowances to Fishing Vessels which will become due in your District on the 31st of December ensuing, and which are to be paid agreeably to the instructions heretofore given for that purpose.2 If the funds accruing in your office should fall short of the amount required, you will pay the deficiency by drafts, according to the inclosed form3 on Benjamin Lincoln Esquire Collector of Boston, in which case it will be necessary, that you transmit your Signature to the said Collector, and furnish him with Weekly statements, accurately describing therein the drafts issued. Copies of these Statements are also to be regularly forwarded to this Office.
With consideration, I am Sir, Your Obedient Servant,
A Hamilton.
LS, to Samuel Gerry, Harvard College Library; LC, to Benjamin Lincoln, RG 56, Circulars of the Office of the Secretary, “Set T,” National Archives; LS, sold at Goodspeed’s Book Shop, Boston, Catalogue 255, Item 401.
1. For background to this letter, see H to Benjamin Lincoln, November 27, 1794.
3. The form which was enclosed reads as follows:
“District of Collectors Office.
Exchange Dollars —— After ten days, and within Sixty days after date pay to ——, or order, —— being for the Allowances due to the Owner and Crew of the —— employed during the last Season in the Bank and other Cod-Fisheries; with or without further advice” (LC, RG 56, Circulars of the Office of the Secretary, “Set T,” National Archives).