To Alexander Hamilton from David Gelston, 14 April 1802
From David Gelston1
New York, April 14, 1802. Directs Hamilton to proceed on behalf of the United States attorney for the District of New York against the Brig Triton, which had arrived in the port of New York from Bristol, England, “with a Cargo of Porter in cases of less capacity than forty gallons beer measure contrary to the laws of the United States.”2
ALS, RG 21, District Court for the Southern District of New York, Admiralty Case Files: Brig Triton, National Archives.
1. Gelston, a New York City merchant and Republican politician, had been a member of the New York Provincial Congress, the Continental Congress, the New York Assembly, the New York Senate, and the Council of Appointment. On July 9, 1801, Thomas Jefferson appointed him collector of customs for the District of New York during the congressional recess, and the Senate approved the appointment on January 26, 1802 ( , 403, 405). In 1802 Gelston was also a member of the New York Senate from the Southern District of New York.
This letter concerns two customs cases, The United States v The Brigantine Triton, John and William Howland, Claimants and The United States v Three Hundred Casks of Porter, Joshua Waddington, Claimant, in both of which H acted for Edward Livingston, United States attorney for the District of New York. For a discussion of these cases, H’s participation in them, and related documents, see , II, 841–47.
2. See Section 10 of “An Act concerning the Duties on Spirits distilled within the United States” ( 267–71 [May 8, 1792]).