1To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 1 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, October 1, 1789. “In conformity to what I esteem your instructions, I yesterday paid the Bank of No America Thirteen Thousand Dollars.…” LC , Bureau of Customs, Philadelphia.
2To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 4 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] October 4, 1790 . “The new Collection Law commen[ce]d on Saturday last. A strict obedience shall in our district be punctually adhered to, although I doubt whether the 2nd secto in to Page 25th can be followed, unless at a considerable expence to the Continent, and as I believe out of the power of the Collector Naval Officer & Inspectors in the first instance to put in force....
3To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 11 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, July 11, 1791. On September 8, 1791, Hamilton wrote to Delany : “I have considered the case proposed to me in your letter of the 11th. July.” Letter not found. ]
4To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, [3 August 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
It is with no small degree of uneasiness that I so often trouble You, but the solicitations of those concerned oblige & urge me to it. I recd. Your answers respecting the Ship Brigida, and Mr Ingersolls Vessell, in regard to this last I made the objections you notice, but could not get answers sufficiently satisfactory for me to proceed. The Captn is now sent forward to give You information....
5To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 24 July 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, July 24, 1793. At a meeting on August 5, 1793, the cabinet discussed “Mr. Delany’s letter of the 24th of July on the question whether duties are to be paid on prize goods landed for sale.” Letter not found. ] An entry in JPP “Journal of the Proceedings of the President,” George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. for July 26, 1793, reads as follows: “The Secretary of the...
6To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 22 January 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] January 22, 1790 . “I inclose you the Exports of flour for the last year & our Inspector informs me he is confident the Quantity not returned to him would make the export not much less than 400,000 barrells.…” LC , Collector of Customs, Philadelphia.
7To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, [25 January 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
From the Journals of Congress I see You have reported a Bill to the consideration of the Legislature respecting Duties, which gives me much pleasure even if the Imposts you wish to take place should not carry, as the deficiencies & contrarieties in our collection & Registering Acts may be remedied. The office of Naval officer as a controuling officer is absolutely necessary—but as the...
8To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, [13-31 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
To save trouble & expence when the Wardens go on a Survey I generally agree to their appointment in behalf of the Office and although they are sworn ex Officio yet I always swear them in behalf of this Office according to Law. I inclose their survey & appraisement, deliverd to me in due time & ever since in my possession. In respect to the lapse of time I imagined this business had been long...
9To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 26 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
There are Doubts respecting the payment of Tonnage on new Vessells. The only reason perhaps such payment should follow the granting of a Register is, that on granting a Licence & Enrollement the Tonnage follows. I have now depending four or five cases, and request your opinion for my guide in future & am &c. LC , Bureau of Customs, Philadelphia.
10To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 7 March 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] March 7, 1790 . Encloses “weekly Acct of Cash” and a “list of such persons as I have sued.” Has “proceeded in paying the Invalids.” LC , Copies of Letters to the Secretary, 1789–1790, Bureau of Customs, Philadelphia. H’s letter to Delany concerning the payments to invalids has not been found, but see H to Jedediah Huntington, January 30, 1790 ; H to John Haywood, February 2,...
11To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 31 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] October 31, 1789 . Proposes the use of boats to prevent smuggling in Delaware Bay. LC , Bureau of Customs, Philadelphia.
12To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, [16–31 October 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
My indisposition has prevented me from forwarding such remarks as I thought would have been of some use to you in directing the Revenue System but I hope soon to be able to lay them before you. Your letter of the 2nd Inclosing forms of keeping Accts I recd as also that of the 17th respecting the Bank and one covering a Letter to the Wardens. In respect to the Mode transmitted respecting weekly...
13To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 21 December 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
By the 1st Secto. of the Tonnage Act certain priveleges are granted to Vessells American built & owned, by the fifth Secto. of the Impost Act, by the 1 & 2nd of the Registering Act, certain Qualifications are directed to entitle Vessells to the benefts granted by any Law of the UStates, I have met with no small trouble & difficulty to put a proper construction on this business and indeed am...
14To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, October, 1789. Acknowledges receipt of circular letter of October 2, 1789. Complains that method of filing returns requires so much clerical assistance that it imposes a very heavy financial burden on the collectors. LC , Bureau of Customs, Philadelphia.
15To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 6 January 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, January 6, 1795. On January 15, 1795, Edmund Randolph wrote to George Hammond, the British Minister to the United States, “respecting the privateer Les Jumeaux” and enclosed “Jan 6 1795 Copy of a Letter from the Collector of the port of Philadelphia to the Secretary of the Treasury enclosing, Report of the Militia Officers of Delaware, and of Captain Montgomery of the Revenue...
16To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 13 February 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] February 13, 1790 . Discusses two objects “intimately connected with your present plan, and also applicable to the present revenue Laws.” The first object “is that of having a Boat in our Bay which … is absolutely necessary to prevent smuggling.” The second “is that of stores” needed for goods deposited by merchants as security. LC , Copies of Letters to the Secretary,...
17To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 15 February 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
On my arrival here, I frequented places where I could hear the Sentiments of our Citizens respecting Your plan of funding the Debts of the Union. I found as I mentioned to you much want of information or in other words a want of real knowledge of your Plan, but I found some very loud in opposition, but to me who knew their connections I was not surprised. Harsh terms they used but on...
18To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, [April 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, April, 1790. ] “I forward my Abstract of Duties.… I wish not to be troublesome to you … but I request your attention to my situation for without disguise my Emoluments … are greatly inadequate to my services.” LC , Copies of Letters to the Secretary, 1789–1790, Bureau of Customs, Philadelphia.
19To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 20 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] December 20, 1790 . “Two ships belonging to Merchants of this City are arrived at the Capes, but on Acct of the Ice cannot proceed to this City their Port of Discharge. The owners have applied to enter their Ships, or if that cannot be done to know what steps they must pursue as the New Duties take place the beginning of next Month.…” LC , Bureau of Customs, Philadelphia. The...
20To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 26 December 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
The Cashier of the Banks receipts for dollars is inclosed, with the opinion of some of our Merchants & Ship Carpenters on the Queries I had the honour of receiving from You. I expect further opinions from others which shall forward next post. In my return of Exports, You will have a thorough view of our Trade, as I shall give each place separate. Mr Bingham says he wrote You largely on the...
21To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 18 January 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] January 18, 1790 . “… There is one branch of Revenue which if it did not interfere too much with some of the states would produce 100,000 Dollars ⅌ annm. I mean 2 ⅌ Ct on Sales at public Auction. This has no doubt fell under your knowledge, but if not you will give it a due decision.” LC , Bureau of Customs, Philadelphia.
22To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 11 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] August 11, 1790 . “I was satisfied respecting the ship Brigada by your first letter, but as I had refused a Register for the Birmingham was the cause of my writing a second time, & pointing out the reason for such refusal.… The Schooner Betsey is rated as foreign and all others without due papers as you may see by my Quartely settlements.…” LC , Copies of Letters to the...
23To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, [4 November 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Inclosed Memo I transmit for your opinion. The measures to be taken respecting Damaged goods are plainly set forth in Page 27 of the Collection Law. In Addition to what the Memo sets forth I would add that I am assured the Parties erred from Ignorance of the Law and not from any intention of injuring the Revenue. I am Sir with great respect Your Obedt &c LC , Bureau of Customs,...
24To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 4 October 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] October 4, 1792 . “Mr Thomas Lea of this City Merchant has informed me of his address to you respecting a quantity of Rum shipped by him for Dublin, and there refused by the Consignee and the whole returned without his knowledge and greatly to his damage. I informed Mr Lea of the necessity of having your opinion & instructions on this subject.… I in-close Mr Lea’s state of the...
25To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 23 February 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
In this Season when so great a Scarcity of Cash is so sensibly felt I dread to think of the Sums due on my books, within a Month they amount to better than 70,000 dollars. To prepare the parties I send notices fifteen days before the day of payment, and am in great hopes notwithstanding the times, I shall have few delinquents. My reason for mentioning this is to solicit your attention to the...
26To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, [4 November 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Betsey enterd the 25th Ulto and her cargo permitted in the course of 6 or 7 days. The goods as far as I have been informed have been sold at Auction on Acct of the Underwriters, had they been in Possession of the Merchant, I could have proceeded agreeably to Law. I have no documents or papers respecting the Claim other than the Memo transmitted for your decision. I was fully aware of the...
27To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 20 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, September 20, 1790. On September 24, 1790, Hamilton wrote to Delany : “I have received your letter of the 20th instant.” Letter not found. ] Delany was collector of customs at Philadelphia.
28To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, [November 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, November, 1790 ] “… if the report of the appraisers should be that the Goods did not receive damage on ship board, but were damaged before they were shipped, is it in the power of the Collector, to make any allowance in the duties? I do not state this as a case that may occur, but that now actually offers. Teas are imported from Lisbon in the ship , and I believe it will appear...
29To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, [November 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
In obedience to Your Letter respecting Messrs. Willing Morris & Swanwicks Duties on goods from Rhode Island I give the following information. That when the Vessell enterd from Rhode Island in which said goods were imported we had no information of that state adopting the Federal Constitution, and therefore was esteemed by me as foreign, in respect to my Office. The reasons why these Gentlemen...
30To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 20 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] August 20, 1790 . “My last Quarters Accounts I forward for settlement by this Post—with receipts of the Bank June 26th 9,000 Dollars & July 31, for 35,000. I took the Liberty of mentioning to you before the necessity of having a similarity of Papers throughout the different Custom houses of the Union. I beg leave to lay it before you again.…” LC , Copies of Letters to the...