1. For background to this letter, see Fraunces to H, May 16, 1793; H to Fraunces, May 18, 1793.

In introducing the letter printed above, Fraunces in his pamphlet stated that H’s letter of May 18 had not satisfied him. He wrote: “I repaired early in June last to Philadelphia; I waited on Mr. Hamilton at his office; I represented to him the hardship of his detaining from me monies justly due, and of his not pointing out the reasons why they were detained, since provision had been made for them. He then, (as I then thought) graciously condescended to say, if I could point out a mode for him to proceed upon satisfactory to me, he would adopt it: He then desired, (in the mean time while I considered) that I would write him a letter by way of answer to his of the 18th of May; some further conversation took place which will be seen in my letter of the 19th of August to the President. Mr. Hamilton then requested he should dictate the following letter to himself. I submitted to this mode of doing the business, merely in order to see to what lengths he would go.

“This said letter so dictated was nearly in these words” (Fraunces, An Appeal description begins [Andrew G. Fraunces], An Appeal to the Legislature of the United States, and to the Citizens Individually, of the Several States, Against the Conduct of the Secretary of the Treasury. By Andrew G. Fraunces, Citizen of the State of New-York, Late in the Treasury of the United States. “E tenebris elucidit lux.” Printed for Andrew G. Fraunces, Esq. (n.p., 1793). description ends , 5).

2. Section 2 of “An Act relative to claims against the United States, not barred by any act of limitation, and which have not been already adjusted” provided “That it shall be the duty of the Auditor of the Treasury, to receive all such claims aforesaid as have not been heretofore barred by any act of limitation, as shall be presented before the time aforesaid, with the certificates, or other documents in support thereof, and to cause a record to be made of the names of the persons, and of the time when the said claims are presented; which record shall be made in the presence of the person or persons presenting the same, and shall be the only evidence that the said claims were presented, during the time limited by this act” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America (Boston, 1845). description ends 301–02 [February 12, 1793]).

3. Michael Hillegas.

4. Fraunces is referring to Nathaniel Appleton, receiver of taxes for Massachusetts. On November 19, 1787, Warrant No. 236 had been drawn on Appleton. Under an ordinance of Congress of September 30, 1785, commissioners of the continential loan offices were required to act as receivers of public moneys in their respective states (JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (Washington, 1904–1937). description ends , XXIX, 692–93).

5. Section 3 of “An Act relative to claims against the United States, not barred by any act of limitation, and which have not been already adjusted” made the officers of the Treasury responsible for making a report to Congress on any claims which were disallowed, but set no deadline for their account (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America (Boston, 1845). description ends 302). On December 23, 1795, Oliver Wolcott, Jr., submitted a report of “Proceedings of the Accounting Officers of the Treasury on Certain Claims” (ASP description begins American State Papers, Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States (Washington, 1832–1861). description ends , Claims, I, 172–81).

6. Fraunces was in need of money. When he opened his office in New York, he had advertised for a loan (The [New York] Daily Advertiser, March 19, 1793).

7. In his pamphlet following the letter printed above Fraunces wrote: “I called upon him shortly after, (and agreeably to his direction) for an answer to this, and with an assurance at which I was astonished, he told me he had consulted with the Comptroller, who with himself had determined to give me for the present, no further satisfaction; however, said he, in a low voice, ‘If you will pledge to me your honor not to purchase any more of them, I will secure to you the amount of those you hold.’ I told him I could not, in justice to my fellow-citizens, holders of this kind of debt, accept payment in any other mode than that which had been already officially adopted by him, and in which he had paid the greater part of the 190,000 dollars appropriated by Congress for this purpose. He then begged me to postpone the business for some time, and return to New-York, that on my arrival again in Philadelphia, he would satisfy the demand in the manner I insisted. I agreed to this; my presence being necessary for a short-time in that city. He further assured me, that if I would continue silent, my demand should not only be satisfied, but he would make me a handsome compensation for my loss of time, expences, &c. &c. He then offered me a sum in advance, from his private funds, to be reimbursed when the warrants should be regularly paid. I accepted a sum upon these conditions, and accordingly departed …” (Fraunces, An Appeal description begins [Andrew G. Fraunces], An Appeal to the Legislature of the United States, and to the Citizens Individually, of the Several States, Against the Conduct of the Secretary of the Treasury. By Andrew G. Fraunces, Citizen of the State of New-York, Late in the Treasury of the United States. “E tenebris elucidit lux.” Printed for Andrew G. Fraunces, Esq. (n.p., 1793). description ends , 6–7).