From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 23 August 1793
To George Washington
Treasury Dept. Augt. 23d. 1793.
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor to submit to the President a communication from the Commissioner of the revenue1 relating to contracts for the stakage of the shoals and channels of No. Carolina. He agrees in opinion with the Commissioner that it will be expedient to refuse No. 1. and ratify the others. It may even be better in the end, if a more eligible contract cannot be effected, to adopt some mode, though at greater expence to the public, to have the business done by a person employed at wages for the purpose. In such cases where, from local situation, few can conveniently undertake, which begets a disposition to exact, it is sometimes adviseable at a present sacrifice to demonstrate that the public will at no rate submit to unreasonable terms.
A. Hamilton
LC, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
1. This letter from Tench Coxe has not been found, but the following entry appears in for August 26, 1793:
“The following Contracts for stakage of Shoals & Channels in No. Carolina for 1794, were submitted to me by the Secretary of the Treasury for my approbation—vizt.
“No. 1. John Bragg’s Contract from the mouth of New to Newbern—
125 Dollars.
“2. Green Parker’s—from the mouth of Pamplico river, including Manchapung river, with the Creeks, to the Town of Washington Dolls 600
“3. Robt. Wallace’s—Swash—Royal Shoal—Wallace’s channel—Teacke’s hole—upper roads & all the Shoals of Pamplico heretofore staked. 226. Dollars
“4. John Wallace’s—Core Sound, including old Topsail inlet to Beaufort
69 Dollars.
“5. Henry Clark’s—Albemarle sound, its’ Channels, Croaton Shoals’ & the marshes 132 Dollars.
“I Approved the 4 last of these Contracts; but No. 1 being so much higher than last year, it was disapproved.” (, 211.)