From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Hamilton, with estimate of the expences of the Department of State, 17 June 1790
To Alexander Hamilton
New York June 17th. 1790
Sir
I have the honor to enclose you an estimate of the probable expences of the Department of State for one year from the 1st. day of April last past, not including the diplomatic establishment abroad, for which there is a Bill before Congress to make a special appropriation.
I have given directions that a list shall always be sent to your Office of all Commissions to be made out for persons connected with the revenue, and whenever you think proper, the Commissions themselves shall be sent to your office to be forwarded thence. I have the honor to be with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and respect &c.,
Thomas Jefferson
Enclosure
Estimate of the expences of the Department of State for one year from April 1st. 1790.
| dollrs. | |||||||||||
| The Secretary of State, his Salary | 3500 | ||||||||||
| 1st The Home Office. | |||||||||||
| One Clerk @ 800 dollrs. One do. @ 500 dollrs. | 1300 | ||||||||||
| office keeper and messenger | 100 | ||||||||||
| Stationary | 1101 | ||||||||||
| Firewood | 50 | ||||||||||
| Newspapers from the different States,2 suppose 15 @ 4 dollars | 60 | ||||||||||
| A collection of the Laws of the States to be begun, suppose | 200 | ||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| 16 | 1836 | ||||||||||
| 2d. The Foreign Office. | |||||||||||
| One Clerk @ 800. dollrs. two Do. @ 500. dollrs. each | 1800 | ||||||||||
| The french Interpreter | 250 | ||||||||||
| Office keeper and messenger | 200 | ||||||||||
| Rent of the office | 200 | ||||||||||
| Stationary &c. | 751 | ||||||||||
| Firewood | 50 | ||||||||||
| Gazettes from abroad, and do. to be sent abroad | 25 | ||||||||||
| Contingencies | 25 | 2625 | |||||||||
| 7961 |
New York June 16th. 1790.
FC (DNA: RG 59, PCC No.120). Enclosure (FC in same). Dft (DLC); in TJ’s hand; at head of text: “Estimate of the expences of the Department of state for one year from Apr. 1. 1790.” with some alterations and deletions, the more important of which are indicated below.
1. This figure in both offices was increased, as the altered (and indecipherable) figures show; the item covered “Parchment, paper, blank books &c.” as it was expressed in Dft.
2. At this point in Dft TJ wrote, and then deleted, “and from Canada.” The total for this item in Dft was originally $68, indicating that TJ had at first thought of subscribing to two papers from Canada.
3. In Dft this item reads: “John Drenan’s account of 1789. Aug. 19. for going express to S. Quay 6. D.”
4. In Dft this item reads: “James Maxwell Do. Do. for a boat express. 10 [D.].”