51To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 14 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, June 14, 1791. On June 23, 1791, Hamilton wrote to Lincoln : “I have received your letter of the 14th instant.” Letter not found. ]
52To George Washington from Benjamin Lincoln, 10 June 1791 (Washington Papers)
Boston, 10 June 1791. Recommends for any “opening in the public line” Francis Cabot, his aide during the disorders of 1787 in Massachusetts, “a Gentleman of information & of great probity,” who “has justly merited the esteem & confidence of a very extensive acquaintance” and is “a Gentleman of a respectable family, brother to Mr Cabot one of our Senators in Congress.” Cabot “left this part of...
53To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 25 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, May 25, 1791. “By an act made to explain and amend ‘an act making farther provision for the payment of the Debts of the United States’ It is enacted that the duty of 7½ ⅌ Ct ad valorem laid by the act aforesaid on chintses and coloured calicoes shall be deemed and taken to extend to all printed stained & coloured goods, or manufactures of cotton, or of linen, or of both, which...
54To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 17 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, May 17, 1791. “Your several favours of the 14th ulto & of the 4 & 6 instant have been received. Your first, the Circular, appears to be intended to those officers who conceive themselves insufficiently compensated. As I am not in that class I conclude no report will be expected from me.… The duck for the four Cutters has been forwarded agreeably to your directions.…” LC , Massachusetts...
55To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 29 April[–3 May] 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
A few days since Captain Codman arrived here from the west indies. In his entery he returned one among other articles one bag of Coffee when the vessel appeared to be unladed all having been delivered agreeable to the entery & permit in consequence thereof. The officer after in examining the Vessel found under the Captains Cabbin four bags of Coffee which had not been entered on this the...
56To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 27 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
By the last post I was honoured by the receipt of your favours of the 8th. & 11th instant. I have the pleasure to forward my account of the purchases I made of the public debt. You will find that a very high price was given for it though less than was the current price in Boston a few days before my return to it. The first offers I had were 6 ⅌ Cent Stock 19/6. I rejected all untill they fix...
57To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 7 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the pleasure of enclosing a return of all the vessels built within this District from March 4th 1789 to March 4th 1791 collected & made agreeably to your wishes communicated by Mr Coxe your assistant the 10th ult. You will find the number exceedingly small and is not I think, more than one third of what was built in the years 1784 and 1785. I will attempt to assign some reasons why the...
58To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 1 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your instructions of the 18th ulto and the copy of a letter to Mr Appleton came by the last Post. I shall with the utmost cheerfulness attend to his applications and he may always depend on my best aid. You have I hope before you several letters from me, one of Feby 23rd one of Feby 25th one of March 9th & one 18th. I wish to receive an answer to that of the 23rd Feby as early as it shall be...
59To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 18 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, March 18, 1791. Describes case of a schooner from Nova Scotia, which was seized because it was under thirty tons. Tells of vessel from the West Indies whose captain attempted to smuggle six barrels of sugar and one barrel of coffee. Encloses petition from Christopher Saddler which “by some accident has been delayed it should have been forwarded to you some months since.” LC , RG 36,...
60To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 9 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
By the 32nd. Section of the late Collection Act, no exporter of Goods, wares & merchandise imported could be allowed the Draw Back of Duties paid, unless the goods were exported in the same casks &c & from the Port or District into which they were originally imported, these restrictions very much embarrassed trade & were a source of daily complaints of the Merchants, especially that part,...
61To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 25 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have completed the business you assigned me and purchased up so much of the public debt as could be bought for the fifty thousand dollars Bank Bills which you put into my hands for that purpose. I have carefully attended to your instructions & have I presume neither lowered or raised the price. I have received a number of six per cents and other paper, all nearly on the same principles, 6...
62To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 23 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, February 23, 1791. “Since my return I have attended to the subject matter of your letter of the 22nd ultimo. The Gentleman with whom I contracted for the Cutter being in this Town, he lives at Newbury-port. I have had a good opportunity thus early to review the whole proceeding and to know from him that he could not now alter his plan, that he would take her to himself, though he...
63To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 4 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
In your letter of 22 Ulto you refer to several letters which I had written but do not mention the one on the subject of a cutter I am apprehensive therefore that you have not received it. If you have not, I will hereafter repeat the Ideas. I hardlay think Captain Tucker would serve as a Lieutenant under Captain Williams as he is the senior officer. He wishes to command. The boat I mentioned...
64To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 4 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I received by the wednesday post your private letter with the news paper containing the piece you referred to which has been republished in a number of our papers. The Virginia Resolve is not very alarming here much less so than might have been expected. Indeed it seems to have produced in some instances a good rather than an evil, by confirming the doubtful in the importance of a firm...
65To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 17 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, November 17, 1790. “The inclosed papers I received from Portland. It was supposed then that the appointment of a keeper for the light house at Portland was with me. I think it my duty therefore to forward the papers for the information of the President. I do not know either of the persons in nomination.…” ALS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “B,” New Hampshire and...
66To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 17 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
By the new collection law it is enacted that there shall be an allowance for leakage for two pr cent on the quantity which shall appear by the guage to be contained in any cask of liquor subject to duty by the gallon. A question has arisen whether molasses be a liquor in the meaning of the law; the same practice doth not govern the whole it is important that one system should operate in the...
67To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 16 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, November 16, 1790. Presents a new design for lighthouse lamps to elimate soot accumulation on the glass. ALS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “B,” New Hampshire and Massachusetts, National Archives.
68To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 16 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
A few days since the Brig revolution Captain Coffin entered here from Amsterdam with an intention to unlode part of his Cargo here & part at New York. Part is landed here & the Captain has a Copy of his Manifest given him in which I have distinguished the articles landed here & he has given bonds for the due landing the remainder in New York. By law I am empowered to put an inspector on board...
69To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 7 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, October 7, 1790. On November 22, 1790, Hamilton wrote to Lincoln : “You mentioned in your letter of the 7th. of October.” Letter not found. ]
70To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 23 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, September 23, 1790. “The repair of the Light-Houses on Plumb Island are now finished & the accounts have been presented for settlement; they correspond with the agreement I made saving the Painter’s bill—that I reported to you would be seven pounds fourteen shillings: the painters have charged sixteen pounds odd; the mistake arises in this way; they estimated the expence of painting it...
71To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 17 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, September 17, 1790. “Your private letter of the 10th came by the post the last evening. I find by the collection act which authorizes the building ten cutters … the President is limited to ten thousand dollars. You will permit me to observe that although ten thousand dollars may be a fund sufficient to build ten boats or cutters of a size which may with safety act in the different part...
72To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 8 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, September 8, 1790. “I find in the 36 page of the new collection act that no drawback of the duties paid on any goods wares & merchandize imported shall be received on the exportation of such goods unless they shall be reshipped in the same casks, cases, chests, boxes or other packages in which they were originally imported.… Among goods wares & Merchandises there are some articles...
73To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 7 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, September 7, 1790. Estimates that repairs to the lighthouses at Plymouth will cost $170. LS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “B,” New Hampshire and Massachusetts, National Archives; LC , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letter Book, 1790–1797, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters from the Collector at Boston, National Archives.
74To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 3 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, September 3, 1790. “Herewith you will receive my account current & the necessary papers to the first of July.… A few days since we put our hands on two bags of Coffee. If we are not deceived by the informant, such facts will turn up in evidence as deeply to involve the captain of the vessel.… A British ship came here a few days since from Ireland had nothing on board saving a few...
75To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 31 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I received by the last post a letter under the date of the 24 instant from Mr. Coxe Assistant secy in which he says The Secy of the Treasury has instructed me to inform you that he has urgent occasion for the returns of bonds taken in your office which were formally requested to be made in monthly schedules. I was much surprised on finding those observations as I could not or could any in the...
76To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 25 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Sometime since, a Cargo of Sugars were imported into this Town, among them, were two or three tons of the worst kind, indeed it could hardly be called Sugar; it sold for about 2/5ths of what the remainder of the Cargo sold for, can any allowance be made on account of the duty? The British Consul arrived here a few days since, with his family, he has brought a quantity of household furniture....
77To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 17 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, August 17, 1790. States that members of the lighter that unloaded fish illegally from the schooner from Nova Scotia “had no idea that they were breaking the law of the United States.” Asks approval for oil contract for lighthouses. States that “the Light Houses at the Gurnet are nearly ready to tumble down from the want of repairs.” LC , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letter...
78To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 5 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Herewith I forward the receipts which ought to have been sent on upon the receipt of the registers. Our stock is nearly out. I wish for one hundred more as soon as they can be conveniently forwarded. A warrent from the Treasury No 502 date July 27 for 2900 dollars was presented to me this morning for payment the money was told out & a receipt was wrote on the back of the warrent. But on Mr....
79To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 5 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, August 5, 1790. “I have been honoured with the receipt of your favor of the 30th. Ulto. by this evenings post. Immediately on knowing that the Act of this State making a Cession of the lighthouses &c had not been forwarded, I applied to the secretary for a copy of it which I obtained and have the pleasure to inclose.…” ALS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “B,” New Hampshire...
80To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 23 July 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
In my last I suggested my apprehensions that we should suffer by having thrown in upon us the fish from Nova Scotia. I am hourly more and more confirmed in the idea and that we shall pay the bounty on much more fish than we shall like. Our vessels are permitted to fish on the coast of Nova-Scotia and make the fish on shore. Many of them are in this practice and return in the fall with the...
81To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 17 July 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I now take up my pen to give you an account of the seizure of the Schooner Bee of about 30 Tons from Nova-Scotia and to relate the circumstances which led to & have taken place in consequence thereof. On Wednesday last I had information that a Schooner of about Thirty five tons from Nova-Scotia had been for some days in the offing but had run in at night; that lighters had taken out of her a...
82To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 9 July 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The time will soon arrive when we may expect that large quantities of pickled & dryed fish will be imported here from Nova Scotia. Upon their arrival they are charged with a duty, on the pickled fish seventy five Cents ⅌ barrel & on the dryed fish fifty cents ⅌ Quintal. These fish are not consumed in the United States and are entitled to a draw back upon their being exported to a foreign...
83To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 3 July 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, July 3, 1790. “Your favour of the 24th Ulto. came by the last post. I have seen one of the Gentlemen to whom was committed the building the light-house at Portland and find that the house is fifty eight feet in height that it must be raised Eight feet higher which will cost about one hundred dollars. The whole expence which has been incurred for the land the Light-house and for a...
84To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, [1 July 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, July 1, 1790. ] Recommends Barzillas Delano “as a suitable person” to be the keeper of the lighthouse at Portland Head. ALS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “B,” New Hampshire and Massachusetts, National Archives.
85To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 1 July 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, July 1, 1790. States that the lighthouses on Thacher and Plum Islands need to be repaired and that the cost of the work will be $137.83⅓. ALS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “B,” New Hampshire and Massachusetts, National Archives; LC , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letter Book, 1790–1797, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters from the Collector at Boston, National...
86To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 1 June 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, June 1, 1790. “A district court for the Masst district was held here this day. The case of the Ship neptune the two trunks of Merchandize & of the Molasses and liam mentioned in my last have been called & are all gone by default.…” LC , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letter Book, 1790–1797, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters from the Collector at Boston, National Archives....
87To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 27 May 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, May 27, 1790. “Your circular letter of the 17th. instant on the importance of your receiving the earliest information when breaches of the revenue law should take place came to hand by the tuesday post.… About five weeks since information was given that two trunks of merchandise had been in the night landed from on board the Ship Neptune Capt James Scott from London. On search the two...
88To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 25 May 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, May 25, 1790. On June 8, 1790, Hamilton wrote to Lincoln : “I have received your favor of the 25th of May.” Letter not found. ]
89To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 15 April 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
By the 27 Section of the Coasting act it is provided that all vessels therein described & under certain circumstances shall enter within 24 hours after arrival. As no penalty is annexed to a nonperformance of the injunction in the law little attention is now paid to it, & the attention is daily decreasing, indeed it seems to decrease with the knowledge that there is no forfiture on a breach of...
90To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 6 April 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, April 6, 1790. “I have just now had with me Mr. Thomas, son of the late General Thomas, whose Mother has the care of Light house at Plymouth. When she was first appointed to that trust he was a minor otherwise he probably would have had the appointment himself. He is a Young Gentleman of a good character and I think is a fair candidate for the appointment under the United States. I...
91To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 24 March 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, March 24, 1790. States that “General Warren is going in the Morning to the City of New York to settle his public accounts as a Member of the Navy board, in this State.” Recommends General Warren’s son, Henry, for “an office in the revenue.” Copy, RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letters from the Treasury and Others, 1789–1818, Vol. 11, National Archives. James Warren of Plymouth,...
92To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 19 March 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, March 19, 1790. “I have written to the several keepers of the light-houses in this State, excepting the keeper of the light house at Plymouth, informing them that the President of the United States has been pleased to continue them in their present appointments.… Mrs. Thomas the widow the late General Thomas, not Warren has been considered as the keeper of the light house at...
93To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 16 February 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
To reduce things involved in confusion, to a state of order, in all cases requires labour and attention. The task is increased by the magnitude of the object, and is rendered perplexing indeed, where there are a deficiency of means and where different interests ably supported, and stubbornly adhearred to, must be combined for the completion of the system in view. To devise a scheme, which...
94To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 7 February [1790] (Hamilton Papers)
[Boston] February 7 [1790.] Acknowledges receipt of Hamilton’s “several favors of the 27th. 28 & 30th Ulto.” Explains why the collector at Biddeford has not received registry blanks. States that the “payment of the Invalids will be undertaken with pleasure.” ADf , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letters from the Treasury and Others, 1789–1818, Vol. 11, National Archives. Letter of...
95To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 5 February 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeably to your directions I now Inclose the return of the fees of the several officers of the district of Boston and Charlestown together with an account of all the money paid to the weighers, gaugers, which was received by them respectively from the 10th. of August to the end of December last. At one view you will see what ⅌ Cent the collection in this district has cost. The emoluments of...
96To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 27 January 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston ] January 27, 1790 . “Your faver of the 20th respecting Christopher Sadler is before us. In the morning of his arrival he came directly to the office with his papers in order to enter his vessel. His papers from Hallifax Nova Scotia were regular. He appeared to be very unhappy on his finding his mistake and applied for advice and has attended fully to the directions given him. No...
97To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 26 January 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, January 26, 1790. Discusses the problems involved in the re-exportation of imported wines. Suggests placing imported raisins, lemons, pepper, and pimento on the enumerated list, and states that the additional levies would produce a “handsome” sum. ADf , RG 36, Letters from the Treasury and Others, 1789–1818, Vol. 11, National Archives.
98To George Washington from Benjamin Lincoln, 23 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
Knowing that your Excellency must be greatly burdened by the weight of public affairs and that the pressure is increased by various other avocations I should hardly have been persuaded to have broken in so much upon your time as to have given any other Gentleman, going from among us, a line of introduction But when I considered your Excellencys love of science & your partiality for scientific...
99To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 20 January 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, January 20, 1790. Discusses the type of boat that should be used to prevent smuggling. States that “As all drawbacks on goods … & bounties paid on articles exported too often operate as Caches on the revenue of a country the greatest barriers possible should be placed around it to prevent the practice of frauds of every kind.” ADf , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letters from...
100To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, [November–December 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
At our last interview you expressed a wish that I would make such remarks on the impost laws as in my opinion would have a tendency to increase the revenue in a way as little burdensome and as conformable to the wishes of the people as possible. The cheerfulness discovered by the merchants in general doing business at this Port in paying the established duties on merchandise evinces to me that...