To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 27 August 1794
From Benjamin Lincoln
Boston, August 27, 1794. “I called a few days since for the settlement of a number of Bonds a collection of the money due on which had been suspended as the duties arose on goods which afterwards were exported.1 Many of the people come and say that they have not yet received their certificates of the landing of the Goods in a foreign port the reason of which arises from the detention the vessels have experienced in France that they are now liberated and will probably be at home in a very short time.2 Will their late detention in a foreign port justify a farther delay in collecting the money due on the bonds?”3
LC, Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston; LC, RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letter Book, 1790–1797, National Archives; two copies, RG 56, Letters from the Collector at Boston, National Archives.
1. See “An Act for extending the Benefit of a Drawback and Terms of Credit in certain cases, and for other purposes” ( 372–73 [June 4, 1794]).
2. This is a reference to a French embargo on foreign ships at Bordeaux and the lifting of this embargo in March, 1794. See Stephen Girard to H, February 26, 1794, note 2.
3. On October 28, 1794, Oliver Wolcott, Jr., wrote to Lincoln on behalf of H, who was with the troops opposing the Whiskey Insurrection: “… In cases where relief is sought under the Law, it will be proper to recommend to the Merchts. the exhibition of Bills of Sale, Invoices, or affidavits of respectable characters, tending to establish the fact of a delivery in a foreign port” (ADf, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford).