31Treasury Department Circular to the Governors of the States, 26 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
In obedience to an order of the House of Representatives of the 21st. Instant (Copy of which I have the honor to enclose) it becomes my duty to request your Excellency to procure and transmit to this Office the Documents and Information therein required. As the next Session of the Legislature will be on the first monday of January ensuing, it is greatly to be wished that the whole of the above...
32From Alexander Hamilton to John B. Church, [28 September 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, September 28, 1789. On November 4, 1789, John Rutledge, wrote to William Short : “Church read me a letter from Hamilton dated the 28th of Septr—he says ‘Mr Jay is appointed chief Justice, Mr Osgood Post Master—Wilson one of the 5 circuit Judges & Mr Jefferson will have offered him the foreign department.’” Letter not found. ] ALS , William Short Papers, Library of Congress....
33From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 29 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
It may happen that the Treasurer will draw upon you for the Compensation to the Senators and Representatives of New Hampshire as well as those of your State. The direction given to you with respect to the latter, is to extend to the former. I am Sir Your obedient Servant L[S] , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letters from the Treasury, 1790–1810, Vol. 2, National Archives. Samuel...
34Conversation with George Beckwith, [October 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Seventh. I have requested to see you on this occasion from a Wish to Explain Certain points, relative to our situation, and from a desire to suggest a measure, which I conceive to be both for the interest of Great Britain, and of this Country to adopt. We have lately Established a Government upon principles, that in my opinion render it safe for any Nation to Enter into Treaties with us,...
35Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 1 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
The United States in Congress having by their Act of the 7th. of August last Ordained “That all expences for the necessary support and maintenance of Light-houses, Beacons, Buoys &ca. within any Port or Harbour of the United States, should after the 15th. of August last, be defrayed out of the Treasury of the United States”; You will be pleased to transmit forthwith to this Office, as...
36From Alexander Hamilton to Joseph Clay, 2 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, October 2, 1789. On December 30, 1789 , Clay wrote to Hamilton: “I received your very obliging favour of the 2d Octr.” Letter not found. ] Clay was a Savannah merchant and planter who had served as paymaster general of the Continental Army in the Southern Department.
37Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 2 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
As in the first establishiment of Revenue systems, imperfections and inconveniencies will naturally present themselves in practice, which could not have been foreseen in their formation; it is of the greatest moment, that the best information should be collected for the use of the Government as to the operation of those, which may have been adopted. To the obtaining this information, as it...
38From Alexander Hamilton to John Davidson, 3 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, October 3, 1789. Acknowledges receipt of Davidson’s “letter of the 24th of last month.” Sends directions for filing of surety bond. States that privileges to ships of the United States are to be extended to Rhode Island and North Carolina vessels until January 15, 1790. Copy, RG 56, Letters to Collectors at Small Ports, “Set G,” National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters to...
39Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 3 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is the copy of an Act for amending the “Act for registering and Clearing Vessels, regulating the Coasting Trade, and for other purposes,” which I transmit you for your Government. I am Sir Your humble servt. LS , to Charles Lee, Charles Lee Papers, Library of Congress; LS , to John Scott, Harvard College Library; LS , to William Webb, Princeton University Library; L[S] , to Otho...
40From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 3 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
From some returns which have already come to me I am led to fear that smuggling has already began in some parts of our eastern extremity. I have under consideration the business of establishing Guard boats, and will be much obliged to you for you[r] ideas on this subject—the usefulness of the thing, the kind of boats the plan upon which they ought to be established and the probable expence....
41From Alexander Hamilton to John Rice, 5 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 20th of September has duly come to hand. In regard to the enquiry you make, I am of opinion that the Law does not intend to allow a Vessel to proceed from one District to another, without paying or securing the Duties in the first; except when originally bound to another, and obliged from necessity to put into the Port at which she arrives as provided for in the twelvth...
42Treasury Department Circular to the Wardens of the Ports, 5 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
If any arrangement has been made at the Port where you reside for the support Maintenance and repairs of Light-houses, Beacons, Buoys &c. under your direction; you will be pleased to continue the charge and superintendence of the same in the usual manner, ’till you receive further Instructions from me on this subject, taking care that your expenditures for those objects be conducted with...
43From Alexander Hamilton to Marquis de Lafayette, 6 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I have seen with a mixture of Pleasure and apprehension the Progress of the events which have lately taken Place in your Country. As a friend to mankind and to liberty I rejoice in the efforts which you are making to establish it while I fear much for the final success of the attempts, for the fate of those I esteem who are engaged in it, and for the danger in case of success of innovations...
44Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 6 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I have reason to know, that some of the Collectors have conceived themselves authorised to make ye discount allowed by Law for prompt payment, after Bonds were given for securing the Duties. This is not in my opinion, the true construction of the Act. You will therefore under such circumstances avoid making the above discount. I am Sir Your Obedient Servant LS , to Jedediah Huntington, MS...
45From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Willing, 6 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, October 6, 1789. On October 13, 1789, Willing wrote to Hamilton : “We received your favor of the 6th inst.” Letter not found. ]
46From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 7 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I think it probable you will have learnt, through other channels, before this reaches you, my appointment as Secretary of the Treasury of the United States. In this capacity the debt due from us to France will of course constitute one of the objects of my attention. Except with regard to a few laws of immediate urgency, respecting commercial imposts, and navigation, the late session of...
47From Alexander Hamilton to Comte de Moustier, 7–8 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, October 7–8, 1789 In a letter to the Comte de Montmorin on October 30, 1789, Louis G. Otto wrote: “Mr hamilton, secretaire du Tresor, avoit remis confidentiellement à M. le Cte. de Moustier une notte pour l’informer que l’objet principal de la prochaine session du Congrès seroit l’arrangement des finances et pour le sonder si sa Majesté etoit disposée à donner aux Americains une...
48From Alexander Hamilton to Stephen Higginson, 9 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, October 9, 1789. On October 27, 1789, Higginson wrote to Hamilton : “Your Letter of the 9th instant I rec’d.” Letter not found. ] Higginson was a Boston merchant and Federalist.
49From Alexander Hamilton to William Bingham, 10 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
There is a species of information highly requisite to the Government in adjusting the policy of its Treaties and Laws respecting Navigation for obtaining which with proper accuracy and detail no regular plan has ever yet been persued in this Country. It relates to the comparative advantages with which the Navigation of the United States and that of other Nations with whom they trade is or can...
50From Alexander Hamilton to John Fitzgerald, 10 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, October 10, 1789. Asks Fitzgerald for information concerning foreign and domestic commerce. LS , United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut. The letter is a duplicate of that sent to William Bingham on the same date. Fitzgerald was an Irish-born Virginia planter who had been one of George Washington’s aides-de-camp.
51Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 10 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I observe that by the 24th. Section of the Act for Registering and Clearing vessels &c. it is provided, that Vessels bound to foreign parts should deliver manifests of their Cargoes to the Collectors of the Ports from which they are to sail. The object of this provision doubtless was to obtain a knowledge of the exports of the Country: to carry which into effect I am to desire that a regular...
52From Alexander Hamilton to Catharine Greene, 10 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, October 10, 1789. The manuscript dealer’s catalogue description states that Hamilton explained to an unidentified woman the requirements for obtaining a loan in the United States. Letter not found. ] LS , sold at Samuel Freeman and Company, December 8, 1952; ALS , sold by Dodd, Mead and Company, New York City, November, 1903, Catalogue 69, Item 62. Catharine Greene was the widow of...
53From Alexander Hamilton to Richard Peters, [11 October 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
I duly received yours of the 16 of September; of which my hurry has prevented me an earlier acknowledgement. On the subject of your letter I can only say that the present arrangements of the Treasury department include nothing which meets the object; and that every thing future must depend on legislative provision. For the present I can only assure you of my favourable impression of Mr....
54From Alexander Hamilton to Jedediah Huntington, [11 October 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, October 11, 1789. Letter listed in dealer’s catalogue. Letter not found. ] LS , sold by John Heise, Syracuse, New York, 1923, Catalogue 2531, Item 62.
55From Alexander Hamilton to James Madison, [12 October 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you My Dear Sir for the line you was so obliging as to leave for me and for the loan of the book accompanying it; in which I have not yet made sufficient progress to judge of its merit. I dont know how it was but I took it for granted that you had left town much earlier than you did; else I should have found an opportunity after your adjournment to converse with you on the subjects...
56Treasury Department Circular to the Continental Loan Officers, 12 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
As I am not certain in what light the Commissioners of the Loan Office in the several states may consider themselves with regard to their continuance in Office, under the old establishment, I think it necessary to apprise them, that the provision which has been made for their compensation does not extend beyond the 30th. June last; being the period to which warrants were issued by the late...
57To James Madison from Alexander Hamilton, 12 October 1789 (Madison Papers)
I thank you My Dear Sir for the line you was so obliging as to leave for me and for the loan of the book accompanying it; in which I have not yet made sufficient progress to judge of its merit. I dont know how it was but I took it for granted—That you had left town much earlier than you did; else I should have found an opportunity after your adjournment to converse with you on the subjects...
58From Alexander Hamilton to Jedidiah Huntington, 13 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I am favord with your Letter of the 7th. in Answer to mine of the 1st. I approve of the Measures you have taken relative to the Lighthouse—and shall be obliged to you to SuperIntend whatever relates to this Business, for the present; taking Care that the Disbursements be made with Œconomy; and that the accounts for the same be regularly Vouched— I am, Sir, Your most Obedt. Humble Servant. (...
59Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 14 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Enclosed I send you agreable to an Intimation in a former letter the signatures of the president and Cashier of the Banks of North-America and New York; together with a general description of those notes, which will enable you to guard against Impositions and Counterfeits. Where the notes are payable to any particular person and not to bearer, you will take care that there is an indorsement of...
60Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 15 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
There is a species of information, which it will be convenient to you to obtain and which will be of important use to the Government: it respects the mode of Navigating of the several States; and of Foreign Nations. With a view to which I have framed a number of Queeries, to which as speedily as the requisite enquiries can be made, I request answers. Thought I do not consider it as a part of...