1To John Adams from William Ellery, 22 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
I received a few days since a Letter from my good friend William Vernon Esqr., One of the members of the Navy Board in the Eastern department; in which he informed me that he was about to send his son, William, to France; with the View of placing him in a good, reputable, mercantile house; either in Nantz, Bourdeaux or Rochelle, and desired that I would obtain Letters recommendatory of him to...
2The Commerce Committee to the Commissioners, 16 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
This will be accompanied with a Contract entered into between John Baptist Lazarus Theveneau De Francy Agent of Mr. Peter Augustine Caron De Beaumarchais representative of the House of Rodrigue Hortalez & Co. and the Committee of Commerce. You will observe that their Accounts are to be fairly stated and what is justly due paid. For as on the One hand Congress would be unwilling to evidence a...
3The Commerce Committee to the Commissioners, 28 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
You will receive this by Thomas Read Esqr who was Captain of the Frigate Washington but is now Commander of the Armed Brigantine Baltimore. This Brigantine was intended for A dispatch Vessel, but now hath A Cargo on board of Forty Nine hhds. of Tobacco which was all she coud take in and accomodate her men. We have addressed her to John Danl. Schweighauser Merchant in Nantes, and have directed...
4To John Adams from William Ellery, [ca. 6] March 1790 (Adams Papers)
Engaged as you are in public business, and this State not having shown a disposition to join the Union I did not wonder, although I could not but regret, that my letter should remain so long unanswered.— I wish that our affairs now afforded a prospect of a speedy accession.— Before you receive this letter you will have heard of the proceedings of our Convention.— They met, framed a bill of...
5To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 15 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your letter of the 31st. of last month on the 12th of this. It will be impossible for me to give the names of persons of this State suitable for 1st. 2nd. & 3d. mates of the Cutter now building in Connecticut by this Post. I will do it the next. When I sent forward a statement of the Cases of Hezekiah Usher & George Usher I was unacquainted with some circumstances which appeared on...
6To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 21 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Newport, Rhode Island ] February 21, 1791. “Agreeably to your request I now give the names of such persons as have offered, and I think are suitable to hold offices on board the Cutters.…” LC , Newport Historical Society, Newport, Rhode Island. Letter not found. H had requested this information on January 31. See Ellery to H, February 15, 1791 .
7To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 7 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is a weekly return of Cash on hand, and also a Certificate of Registry No. 13 issued at the Port of Dighton by H Baylies Collector Mh. 27th 1790, and delivered up on account of transfer of property. The Genl. Assembly of this State met at East Greenwich the last week. Previous to their meeting I requested two of the Deputies of this town to move for a cession of the right of the State...
8To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 15 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
This will be accompanied by a weekly return of Cash, and by a Certificate of Registry No. 5 dated Jany. 22. 1790, granted by the Collector of Dighton, and delivered up on account of the transfer of property, and also the copy of an Endorsment of an Enrollment of the change of Master said Enrollment being No. 11 and issued from this office. Yesterday arrived here a Schooner named the Charming...
9To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 21 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
This will be accompanied by my weekly return of Cash, the copy of a memorandum of the change of master on a Certifict. of Registry No. 5 which issued from this Office, and with a draft No. 728 dated 9th Novr 1789 drawn upon me by Saml. Meredith Tr. in favour of the Cashr. of bank of New york for one hundred Dollars. Your letter of the 5th. of this month did not come to hand until the 18th. On...
10To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 28 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is my weekly return of Cash and a Certificate of Registry No. 15, dated at the Port of Dighton March 30 1790, and delivered up on account of transfer of property. On the Twenty first day of this month I received a letter from the Commr. of loans informing me that on inquiry of Col. Olney he found, that he would be able to furnish as much money as would be wanted to pay the first...
11To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 28 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
On the 26th. of this month arrived in this Port the Sloop Betsy of Providence James Munro junr. master. He reported that he took in his Cargo consisting of Fifty four Hogsheads & ten bbls of Molasses, One hundred and thirty five barrels of sugar, part of a piece of broad Cloth, and one Umbrella at Cape Francois, proceeded therewith to Charleston So. Carolina, but not finding a suitable market,...
12To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 19 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received two pressing letters, one from the Surveyor of the Port of Warren & Barrington and the other from the Surveyor of the Port of East-Greenwich respecting boats for their Ports, extracts from which I now present to you. “Agreeably to your request, (writes Mr. Phillips) I shall describe the Port of Warren and Barrington, and the parts adjoining. The Port of Warren lies on Palmer’s...
13To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 25 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The 21st. of this month I received a thermometer which by your direction was sent to me from New york by Mr. Lamb. By some accident the bulb was broken in its way from Philadelphia to this place. It came broken to me. As it was made at Philadelphia, and I suppose the maker is furnished with spare tubes I have remitted it to Mr. Lamb with a request that he would transmit it immediately to you....
14To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 9 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 27th. of last month. Always attentive to the business of the Cession of the Light-House &c I applied to leading members of the House, a bill was preferred at the Session which began and finished last week. It passed the Lower House unanimously, but it was stopped in the Upper House; by the opposition made to it principally by the Governour, who as I am...
15To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 23 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Newport, Rhode Island ] May 23, 1791 . “On the 16th. of this month I received your Circular letter of the 14th. of Aprl. last.… The Tare allowed in this District is calculated upon every One hundred and twelve pounds, and this was the practice in this State before it adopted the new Constitution. The merchants here have lately objected to this mode of taring, and say that the allowance ought...
16To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 6 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I received a letter from the Surveyor of the Port of Warren some time ago inclosing a letter from you of the 13th. of Decr. 1790. relative to the lawful portion of the compensations the Surveyors are respectively to receive for their services. It is I am sensible my duty to pay them their lawful portions of fees received by me; but a dispute has arisen between the Surveyors of Warren &...
17To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 6 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
On the 3d. instant I recd. your circular letters of the 13th. & 25th of May last. I do not recollect that in any instance duties on goods brought into this district have been ascertained otherwise than on the actual landing thereof, and by the measuring, weighg. & gauging, where those operations are required by law. A particular attention will be paid to your direction in that respect. Your...
18To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 13 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letters of the 26th. & the 30th. of May last. To the explanations and instructions, and the act respecting further provisn. for collecting the duties on Teas, and for prolonging the term for the payment of the duties on Wines inclosed in the first I shall pay attention. In answer to the last, Capt. Smith left his coasting papers with me agreeably to law, and his license...
19To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 26 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Newport [ Rhode Island ] June 26, 1791 . Encloses weekly return and requests Hamilton “Please to inform me for what ports or places Consuls are appointed, and of the names of the Consuls for the respective places.” LC , Newport Historical Society, Newport, Rhode Island.
20To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 4 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is my weekly return of monies received and paid, and a monthly return of bonds a certife of Regy. No. 66 granted at this port, & a Cerf. on account of transfer of propy., the copy of an endorsment of the change of master on Regy. No. 4 and a like copy on Enrollment No. 9, also four draughts made on me by the Treasr. of the U. S. in favour of Jabez Bowen Commr. of Loans viz No 1616, &...
21To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 11 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Newport [ Rhode Island ] July 11, 1791 . “… Inclosed is a statement of the case of the Brig Seven Brothers, and of the case of Joseph Finch late master of her. I have applied to the Carpenter who covered the Light-House to examine the condition of it. He could not attend this business the last week, but said he will attend it this and make report.” LC , Newport Historical Society, Newport,...
22To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 18 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is my Statement of fees &c. on which I beg leave to make a few remarks. The number of Certifs. of Regy. and Enrollments issued in this, will probably be less than in the last year, and for the following reasons. Upon adopting the Constitution by this State the last year a number of vessels belonging to it were without those papers, which will not want them this; and the property of...
23To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 18 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Newport [ Rhode Island ] July 18, 1791 . “… The Light-House has been examined by the Carpenter, who covered it, accompanied by the Surveyor of this Port, and the former reports that the Lead upon the Platform in which the Lanthorn stands, is cracked in several places, that the water passes through the crack and falls upon the Wall and inside Wooden work, & that fifteen pieces of sheet lead...
24To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 25 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Newport [ Rhode Island ] July 25, 1791 . “… A person usually residing in this District, is in the District of Boston & Charlestown and there purchases a vessel; is he obliged to take the Oath or Affirmation, required by law previous to the making a Registry or granting a Certificate, before the Collector of this District omitting in said oath or affirmation and inserting what is to be omitted...
25To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 2 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
This will be attended by a weekly return of monies received and paid, a monthly schedule of bonds; a List of a Post-note of the North American Bank for One hundred and ninety five Dollars, No. 8080, dated Philadelphia 9th. July 1791, one moiety whereof was transmitted by the last post, and the other moiety is now transmitted by this. The District Court which met here this day adjourned to the...
26To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 8 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Newport [ Rhode Island ] August 8, 1791 . “… On the 4th. of this month arrived here the Sloop Dove Pardon T. Slocum master from Surinam and imported among other articles one hogshead and one barrel of Pumpings. Pumpings is a compound of the drainings from casks of sugar in the holds of vessels, and bilge water; which being pumped up is preserved in casks for sale. By distillation it yields...
27To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 23 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
This will be accompanied by a weekly return of monies recd. and paid, and the copy of an endorsment on Certife No. 22 granted Apl. 23d. 1791 at this Port. To your letter of the 10th of this month, requesting the particular circumstances that led to a remeasurement of the Brig Sally &c I would answer; that the property of said Brig having been transferred to Messrs Lyon and Lawrance citizens of...
28To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 26 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeably to my expectation the Sloop Betsy is condemned, and is to be sold on the 14th. day of the next month. I should be happy to receive your direction with respect to the conduct of the Officers of the Customs as to the sale of said Sloop, prior to the day of sale; and it would add to my happiness if at the same time you would give me your opinion how the monies arising from the sale...
29To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 29 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote a letter to you by the Post, last Friday, because I wished to receive as early an information on the subjects mentioned in it as might be convenient. I am informed that the situation and circumstances of Thomas Cotterell late owner of the Sloop Betsy are such that if the prosecutions to which he is liable should be commenced against him, and be successful he and his family would be...
30To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 6 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Newport [ Rhode Island ] September 6, 1791 . “I have recd. your letter respecting the article of Pumpings, and shall attend to your directions. Please to favour me with an answer to my letter of the 6th. of June relative to the lawful portion of the compensations Surveyors are to receive for Regrs &c., to the question in my letter of the 4th. of July Should not every vessel receive her first...