1To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 4 February 1801 (Adams Papers)
Among the papers accompanying the list of military appointments was the resignation of an Officer by the name of Bullet, if I mistake not. It was sent for your acceptance. He is waiting, & would be obliged by your decision as soon as convenient. I have the honor to be / with perfect respect / Your faithful servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
2To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Dexter, 10 July 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, July 10, 1800. On July 28, 1800, Hamilton wrote to Dexter and referred to “your letter of the 10th. instant.” Letter not found. ]
3To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 19 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I was honored this morning with your Letter of the 10th: inst. the enclosed recommendations Shall be duly attended to. The List of proper characters to fill the existing military vacancies is maturing, and shall soon be submitted to you. I transmit for your signature a Warrant for the Execution of the Sentence of the Court Martial on Samuel Ewing. I have the honor to be / with profound respect...
4To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 2 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
I am, this moment honored with your favor of the 23d. instt. The matters of Business therein mentioned shall be duly attended to. Ill health has taken me off from business some weeks, and prevented the List of Officers being forwarded. I presume it is now too late and shall present it to you here. Enclosed is a Letter, which came to this Office under cover from a Mr. Murray. I have the Honor...
5To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 15 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor to transmit to the President of the United States, Triplicates of a Statement of Expenditures upon the funds heretofore appropriated for defraying the contingent Expenses of Government up to the 31st of December last All which is respectfully submitted / by. MHi : Adams Papers.
6To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 2 January 1801 (Adams Papers)
Having this moment received a Commission by which I am appointed Secretary of the Department of the Treasury, I have the honor to inform you that I accept the Office, & shall immediately proceed to execute its duties. I have the honor to be / with profound respect, Sir, / Your obedt. & faithful servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
7To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 13 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
On as mature deliberation as the time would permit I have concluded that it is proper for me to decline the honor intended for me in your nomination of yesterday. At present I am certainly unqualified for the duties of the Office; & such have been my pursuits & such are my habits, that my mind would not be devoted to it, & consequently I never should acquire the ability of conducting the...
8To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Dexter, 2 October 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the Honor to enclose a Letter from General La Fayette, and one from the Widow of the late Colonel Fleury, which came to this Office with a number of others on the same subject under cover from Mr. Murray. I have not formally requested your assistance to Mr. Puzy, respecting the fortifications in the Harbor of New York, because, as the Law of your state is construed by me, the whole...
9To James Madison from Samuel Dexter, 20 April 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 April 1801, Treasury Department. Encloses letter [not found] from John Hall, recent U.S. marshal for Pennsylvania. Notes that by law, census is under secretary of state’s direction. Seeks to know whether Hall must pay former assistants or whether successor will pay. “An advance to him is proper or otherwise as you shall settle this Question.” Requests an early reply. RC ( DNA : RG 59, ML )....
10To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Dexter, 17 July 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, July 17, 1797. Asks advice concerning notes he endorsed for James Greenleaf for which Greenleaf provided encumbered lands in upstate New York as security. Encloses fifty dollars as a retainer. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Dexter was a Boston attorney who had been a Federalist member of the United States Senate from 1793 to 1795. He subsequently served as Secretary of...
11To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 3 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
Finding neither you nor Mr. Shaw, I take the liberty of enclosing for your consideration a letter from Gen. Wilkinson & another from the united brethren. Perhaps the legislature ought to originate the business referred to by the General; I mean it would be better policy perhaps, tho’ existing laws are I think already sufficient. I see no objection to the charitable views of the united...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Dexter, 17 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
The case of Mr. Comte is not new to me—Heretofore an application was made to my Predecessor, in his behalf, for a remission of the forfeiture & penalties incurred; he determined not to remit. Since I came into the Treasury Department, a petition from Mr. Comte for a pardon passed thro’ my hands to the late President, who it is presumed omitted to act on it from the press of business at the...
13To James Madison from Samuel Dexter, 25 March 1801 (Madison Papers)
The President of the United States has decided to appoint William Davies Collector of Norfolk—to be superintendant of the Light Houses and other Establishments, which are provided within the State of Virginia for the protection of navigation. I have therefore to request, that you will cause the necessary Commission to be issued & transmitted to this Office. I have the honour to be very...
14To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 8 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
To have the best government in the world, and that government administered in the best manner, is the distinguished lot of our happy nation. Ever since the adoption of the constitution we have felt its benign effects; but in an increased, and increasing degree of late; since all have now learned the important lesson, to respect themselves, and despise foreign influence. This we owe, in a high...
15To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 4 April 1801 (Adams Papers)
Your obliging favor of 23d. ult. is just recieved; it was truly welcome as it gave me the first information of your safe arrival, & as the manner of it proved that you were in good health & spirits. Pardon me for differing from you in opinion when you say that you have exchanged honor & virtues for manure. I take the last article to be accumulative;—tho’ they aggregate may be formed of as form...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Dexter, [30] March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
On the late change in the administration of the government of the United States I thought it would be improper in me instantly to resign the office of secretary of the treasury, as it would look like a refusal to submit to the public will, & might leave an important department destitute of necessary superintendence. I therefore took an early opportunity of submitting to your consideration the...
17To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 9 November 1812 (Adams Papers)
In obedience to the intimation you were so kind as to make I now suggest that it would be gratifying to the claimants of Georgia land that you should say by letter as much as you think proper on the following points. 1st. That it is your opinion & that of the best informed men here that there title is good & valid. 2d. That they have also a strong equity, on these grounds, that the purchasers...
18To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 16 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor of submitting to your consideration a sketch of a plan for executing the existing Laws for the instruction of the Artillerists and Engineers. It already is very evident to me that they need all the means that the Law has provided for that purpose. The Law has provided for two Cadets to each Company of Artillery, making in all Sixty four Cadets. It is provided by Law that four...
19To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 4 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 24th ulto. I have enquired of General Pinckney and a variety of other military Gentlemen for an American capable of superintending a school for Engineers; but do not see much prospect of success. Our Countrymen have had no regular education of this sort, and but little experience. You mention appointing Teachers only for the...
20To James Madison from Samuel Dexter, 30 August 1809 (Madison Papers)
I resisted my inclination to present you my respectful congratulation on your accession to the Chief Magistracy of the Nation from an apprehension that as I had the misfortune to differ from the last Administration as to the best means of protecting some of the important rights & interests of our Country, it might wear the appearance of hollow civility to eminent station rather than of...
21To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 30 June 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received your favour from Philadelphia enclosing Letter from Capt Boyd, and have written to him as you directed. The Volunteer Corps are in no way affected by the late Law for disbanding the twelve new Regiments. The Heads of Departments were of opinion that Officers might be nominated in the recess of Senate, though the vacancy did not happen in the recess. I have according to your Letter...
22To James Madison from Samuel Dexter, 21 April 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
21 April 1801, Treasury Department. Returns letter of Mr. Barnes and recommends immediate appointment of collector in newly created customs district. Notes that “it is usual” for commissions to pass through Treasury Department so that necessary instructions accompany them. RC ( DNA : RG 59, ML ). 1 p.; in a clerk’s hand, signed by Dexter; docketed by Wagner as received the same day. In his 9...
23To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 10 September 1812 (Adams Papers)
You would long since have received my acknowledgement of your very obliging favor of 8th. Ult. had it not been my intention to pay my respects to you in person. Various unexpected calls of business have successively disappointed this hope. It is strong proof that I was not in error in resisting the late proceedings at town meeting that my conduct meets your approbation. For the very Kind...
24To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 7 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with your favor of the 30th: ult: enclosing the Warrant for the Execution of Samuel Ewing signed. Lieut. Col. Hamtramck writes to me under date of the 16th ulto.— “The Crime of Samuel Ewing is no doubt of the most heinous nature, but the extraordinary conduct of the Prisoner, having deserted on one day returning on the next, and declaring War against a whole Garrison, appears to...
25To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Dexter, 16 September 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Charlestown, Massachusetts, September 16, 1797. “More than two Months ago I handed to a young gentleman in your Office (a student I presume) a letter directed to you containing a lengthy detail of my concern in Onondago Land & requesting your opinion as soon as possible. I also enclosed fifty Dollars, not as a stimulus to your friendship, but to quiet my own feelings. Having heard nothing from...
26To John Adams from Samuel Dexter, 13 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
In obedience to the order of the President of the United States, the Secretary of War respectfully represents to him That the only matters relating to his department which appear deserving of notice in the speech of the President at the opening of the next Session of Congress are that the Country is now amply supplied with military stores of every description, except that more Cannon and Small...
27Report Relative to Assuming Civil Government, 10 December 1774 (Adams Papers)
Cambridge,10 December 1774. printed : Mass. Provincial Congress, Jours. William Lincoln, ed., The Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775, and of the Committee of Safety , Boston, 1838. , p. 73–74. This, the second report on this date of the Committee on the State of the Province, was framed in the form of three resolutions: that the adjournment on 29 October had...
28From John Adams to the Freeholders and Other Inhabitants of the Towns and Districts of Massachusetts Bay, 10 December … (Adams Papers)
Cambridge,10 December 1774. printed : Mass. Provincial Congress, Jours. William Lincoln, ed., The Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775, and of the Committee of Safety , Boston, 1838. , p. 69–72. Prepared by a committee appointed 12 October, originally composed of fifteen members: John Hancock, Joseph Hawley, Joseph Warren, Samuel Dexter, Artemas Ward, James...