Alexander Hamilton Papers
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Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 18 December 1789

Treasury Department Circular
to the Collectors of the Customs

Treasury Department 18 Decr. 1789

Sir

As one of the periods for the payment of Bonds taken for Duties is arrived, it is proper that the respective Collectors should be apprised of my expectation with regard to the conduct to be observed by them. It is, that if the Bonds are not paid, as they fall due they be immediately put in Suit. On this point, the most exact punctuality will be considered as indispensable. And accordingly it will be expected that every bond, which shall appear in a Monthly return, after the period at which it was payable, be accompanied with a note at foot of the Return, signifying that it is in suit & expressing time of the commencement of the Suit. I am not unaware that the relaxations in this respect, which obtained in many instances un⟨der⟩1 the State Laws, may give an Air of rigor to this Ins⟨truct⟩ion; but I consider its strict observance as essential⟩, not only to the order of the finances, but even to the ⟨pro⟩priety of the indulgence, which the Law allows ⟨of⟩ procrastinated terms of payment of the Duties, an⟨d⟩ hence I regard this Strictness, as eventually mos⟨t⟩ convenient to Individuals, as well as necessary ⟨to⟩ the Public.

I am, Sir,   Your obedt. Servt.

A Hamilton
Secy of the Treasury

LS, to Benjamin Lincoln, RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letters from the Treasury, 1789–1818, National Archives; LS, MS Division, New York Public Library; LS, Columbia University Libraries; LS, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee; LS, Office of the Secretary, United States Treasury Department; copy, United States Finance Miscellany, Treasury Circulars, Library of Congress; copy, RG 56, Circulars of the Office of the Secretary, “Set T,” National Archives.

1Material in broken brackets has been taken from the copy in the New York Public Library.

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