31To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 29 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been honoured with the receipt of your circular letter of the 8th. instant. I will aim at that discharge of the duties therein required which shall give satisfaction. A few days since I had a hint that a vessel from the Bahama Islands had touched into tarpaulin cove, in one of the Elizabeth Islands, and had there landed a few bags of Cotton. The same vessel came into this port and...
32To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 4 July 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
The post last evening brought me your letter of the 26th. Ulto. The copy of a letter from the Collector of Ba[r]nstable said to be inclosed has not come to hand. You mention that the letter relates to a request from him for a boat for the use of the inspector at Tarpentine Cove. I cannot find such a place within the district of Barnstable. There are now in the Office two Masters of vessels...
33To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 12 May 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, May 12, 1792. “I have received your Letter of the 2d. instant. The manner in which you have directed the lodgment of the money will obviate all the difficulties which I supposed might take place under your first order.… I wish to know how I shall settle the price of goods imported from France. Their paper seems to be in a depreciated state and the goods charged proportionately high.…”...
34To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 9 July 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The time will soon arrive when we may expect that large quantities of pickled & dryed fish will be imported here from Nova Scotia. Upon their arrival they are charged with a duty, on the pickled fish seventy five Cents ⅌ barrel & on the dryed fish fifty cents ⅌ Quintal. These fish are not consumed in the United States and are entitled to a draw back upon their being exported to a foreign...
35To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 26 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston ] July 26, 1792 . “A few days since the Brig Sally arrived here from Amsterdam with a quantity of Ginn on board part of which was in Keggs or Anchors as they are called. This was such an open violation of the Law, after full time had passed for the interested to have know their duty & interest if proper attention had been paid to them, that I could not persuade my self that I should...
36To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 1 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your instructions of the 18th ulto and the copy of a letter to Mr Appleton came by the last Post. I shall with the utmost cheerfulness attend to his applications and he may always depend on my best aid. You have I hope before you several letters from me, one of Feby 23rd one of Feby 25th one of March 9th & one 18th. I wish to receive an answer to that of the 23rd Feby as early as it shall be...
37To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 13 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
A short time since we had a vessel entered here with about one hundred quarter chests of tea. It was entered by the importer as Camphu. H since informs me that his papers also describe it as Bohea Congo . As it was entered as a black tea other than Bohea, tho~ it appears to me to be of the same kind, and the importer says it cannot be sold for more, I hardly know what to do with it. If I...
38To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 1 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your favours of the 17th & 18th were received last evening by post. The one referred to in your letter to Capt williams did not come to hand. I wish my opinion had not been asked relative to the present allowance made the keeper of the Light House at Portland as the sum given was named by me and thought to be as much as the public ought to give for keeping it in the best manner. I did not...
39To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 10 November 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is our tonnage Abstract commencing with July and ending with September. By a late instruction from the Treasury department we are called upon to make return to what port the several vessels entered here are destined, in what Kingdom State or Islands such ports are situated. All are in our return which are not in port have left it for places unknown to us. From the peculiar situation...
40To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 25 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have completed the business you assigned me and purchased up so much of the public debt as could be bought for the fifty thousand dollars Bank Bills which you put into my hands for that purpose. I have carefully attended to your instructions & have I presume neither lowered or raised the price. I have received a number of six per cents and other paper, all nearly on the same principles, 6...
41To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 1 December 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, December 1, 1789. “I have been honoured with the receipt of your favor of the 20th Ulto.… The plan which you have adopted of receiving the bills of the Bank aforesaid, is, in my opinion judicious & important as it relates to all the ports saving those in the county of Lincoln as it will accomodate the people, and have a tendency to leave the circulating cash so dispursed as best to...
42To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 20 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Our Cutter proves to be a very dull sailer, after various experiments by altering the Standing of the masts the bowsprit and altering the Sails to make her sail better, is consequently a very improper Vessel for the business assigned her. We have now an opportunity to Sell her for a Sum, with the Saving of the pay & rations for the hands, which would build one of fifty odd tons, a Size large...
43To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 6 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, June 6, 1792. “I mentioned to you under the 15 Feby last that we had put our hands on four hogs. N E Rum in old we[s]t India Casks. The matter came to trial yesterday. It was admitted that the rum was distilled in Portland but contended that the duties were duly paid. This being proved the spirits were acquitted. If these things can be practised with impunity a wide door will be opened...
44To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 25 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your circular letter came to hand by the last post. Very particular attention will be paid to the certificates of Registers you mention. In a few day will be forwarded all the papers due from this office. Inclosed is a copy of the table of fees set up in this office, an exact copy from the law, which is literally followed here as explained by Messrs: Jones and Harison excepting for the entery...
45To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 14 March 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
By the 7th. section in the act for registering vessels &c it is provided that when an owner resides out of the district where the ship may be at the time a register is required that such owner may take and subscribe the oath before the collector of the district in which he resides. A Gentleman from Baltimore came here a few months since and purchased a vessel, loaded her and wished her to sail...
46To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 8 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, September 8, 1790. “I find in the 36 page of the new collection act that no drawback of the duties paid on any goods wares & merchandize imported shall be received on the exportation of such goods unless they shall be reshipped in the same casks, cases, chests, boxes or other packages in which they were originally imported.… Among goods wares & Merchandises there are some articles...
47To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 15 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, November 15, 1792. “Your Circular letter to the Collectors of the Customs under the date of Octr 25 has been received by me. In that letter I am requested to furnish you as early as possible with an estimate of the amount of bounties payable in this district on fishing vessels. It is out of my power to comply with the request with any degree of Exactness as we have not more than ten or...
48To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 25 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Sometime since, a Cargo of Sugars were imported into this Town, among them, were two or three tons of the worst kind, indeed it could hardly be called Sugar; it sold for about 2/5ths of what the remainder of the Cargo sold for, can any allowance be made on account of the duty? The British Consul arrived here a few days since, with his family, he has brought a quantity of household furniture....
49To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 17 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
At the request of Mr. Foster a merchant in this town I in-close his letter to me stating his situation relative to the draw back of some duties due on a quantity of Coffe exported. His confidence that you will direct the payment on the evidence offered makes it necessary that I should lay the matter before you for your decision thereon. I am &c LC , Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston; LC...
50To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 19 March 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter under the 7th instant just now arrived by post. I hasten to answer it hoping that the conduct of the officers will not appear to you in the same point of light, after an explanation of the business is had, as it did when you received the information to which you refer. By the enclosed Copy you will perceive that you had nearly a state of facts. On the 16th. Ulto. Captain Williams...
51To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 17 July 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I now take up my pen to give you an account of the seizure of the Schooner Bee of about 30 Tons from Nova-Scotia and to relate the circumstances which led to & have taken place in consequence thereof. On Wednesday last I had information that a Schooner of about Thirty five tons from Nova-Scotia had been for some days in the offing but had run in at night; that lighters had taken out of her a...
52To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 25 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, May 25, 1791. “By an act made to explain and amend ‘an act making farther provision for the payment of the Debts of the United States’ It is enacted that the duty of 7½ ⅌ Ct ad valorem laid by the act aforesaid on chintses and coloured calicoes shall be deemed and taken to extend to all printed stained & coloured goods, or manufactures of cotton, or of linen, or of both, which...
53To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 10 July 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I early received your favour respecting the debts paid by this State and immediately applied to the Treasurer of the State as the only person from whom I could receive that information you wished. He has been engaged in settling his acct & paying off the interest now due on our State debt. As soon as that shall be over he will make every exertion to gratify my wishes. With great esteem I am ...
54To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 17 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
By the new collection law it is enacted that there shall be an allowance for leakage for two pr cent on the quantity which shall appear by the guage to be contained in any cask of liquor subject to duty by the gallon. A question has arisen whether molasses be a liquor in the meaning of the law; the same practice doth not govern the whole it is important that one system should operate in the...
55To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 27 August 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, August 27, 1794. “I called a few days since for the settlement of a number of Bonds a collection of the money due on which had been suspended as the duties arose on goods which afterwards were exported. Many of the people come and say that they have not yet received their certificates of the landing of the Goods in a foreign port the reason of which arises from the detention the...
56To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 7[–8] October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I was very unhappy the last evening on the receipt of your letter by the post to find that the papers I forwarded in April last respecting my purchase of the public securtes had not answered your wishes. Before I forwarded them I examined the law & your instructions and intended fully to comply with both. I therefore was induced in the statement of my account of my transactions in the business...
57To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 23 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeably to your orders I here send you a description of the Cutter Massachusetts built at Newbury port in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the year 1791. She has on deck two masts her length is sixty feet above her upper deck her depth is seven feet Eight inches her breadth seventeen feet Eight inches she measures seventy tons ⁴³⁄₉₅. She is a square sterned schooner has quarter badges &...
58To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 14 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
My knowledge of your wishes to support the manufactures of your Country will apologize I hope for the trouble of this Letter on the subject of tipes. Mr. Thomas of this State has it in contemplation to print the bible in two different small sizes. To do it on terms which will give him a profit among the importers he is under the [necessity] of importing tipes sufficient for the whole work...
59To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 29 April[–3 May] 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
A few days since Captain Codman arrived here from the west indies. In his entery he returned one among other articles one bag of Coffee when the vessel appeared to be unladed all having been delivered agreeable to the entery & permit in consequence thereof. The officer after in examining the Vessel found under the Captains Cabbin four bags of Coffee which had not been entered on this the...
60To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 23 July 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
In my last I suggested my apprehensions that we should suffer by having thrown in upon us the fish from Nova Scotia. I am hourly more and more confirmed in the idea and that we shall pay the bounty on much more fish than we shall like. Our vessels are permitted to fish on the coast of Nova-Scotia and make the fish on shore. Many of them are in this practice and return in the fall with the...