To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 17 December 1793
From Timothy Pickering
General Post Office Decr 17. 1793
Sir
I enclose the papers before handed to you respecting Ichabod Grummans1 claim, and a new and more accurate statement of his income by which it appears that on the principal admitted in his case, he may ask an indemnification of nine hundred & thirty one dollars 78 cents for the loss which he sustained by the sickness which lately prevailed in Philadelphia.2
I am &c.
T. P.
LC, RG 28, Letter Books, 1789–1794, National Archives.
1. Gruman (or Grumman) held the contract for carrying the mail between New York City and Philadelphia.
2. This is a reference to the yellow fever epidemic (see George Washington to H, September 6, 1793, note 1). Although the “papers” concerning Gruman’s claim have not been found, they presumably concerned a claim for extra compensation for expenses Gruman had incurred delivering the mail during the epidemic. Since the stages between Philadelphia and other major cities had been stopped because of the yellow fever in Philadelphia, it was necessary in many cases for the mail contractors to hire special riders to carry the mail.