Alexander Hamilton Papers

From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 2 June 1792

To Benjamin Lincoln

Treasury Department
June 2 1792.

Sir

Your letter of the 4th of March remains yet to be answered.1

The question there stated is in substance, whether a Citizen residing out of your state, coming to Boston, and there purchasing a Vessel, must necessarily take and subscribe the oath or affirmation required by law, before the Collector of the District where such Citizen usually resides, in order to obtain a certificate of Registry for such Vessel from your Office.

I am of this opinion, it being conformable to the seventh section of the Coasting Act.2 The design of the provision seems to be that the identity of the person who appears as owner, and his being a Citizen can be best known by the Collector of the District where he resides.

Captain Sayward has been mentioned to the President as a Candidate for the Office of Keeper of the Light House on Thatcher’s island, and I expect shortly to announce his appointment.3

I am, with great consideration,   Sir, Your Obedt Servant

A Hamilton

Benjamin Lincoln Esqr.
Collector, Boston

LS, RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letters from the Treasury and Others, 1789–1809, Vol. 1, National Archives; LC, RG 56, Letters to Collectors at Small Ports, “Set G,” National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters to the Collector at Boston, National Archives.

2“An Act for Registering and Clearing Vessels, Regulating the Coasting Trade, and for other purposes” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America (Boston, 1845). description ends 55–65 [September 1, 1789]).

3Joseph Sayward. See Tobias Lear to H, June 2, 1792.

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