3121From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 10 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor of your letter of the 4th. instant addressed to the Secretary of State the Secretary at War and myself; to which due obedience shall be paid on my part. A letter from Mr. Short dated at Amsterdam the 2d. of December has just come to hand giving me an account of his proceedings to that period; a copy of which will be forwarded by the tuesday’s post. He informs me, among other...
3122From Alexander Hamilton to William Ellery, 11 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The law has not provided for the payment of drawbacks, except the prescribed proofs of landing in some place, without the United States, be adduced. Goods exported for drawback cannot be landed again in the United States, without again paying the impost, under the existing laws, though it ⟨is no⟩t improbable the legislature will provide a remedy in some future act for this inconvenience to...
3123From Alexander Hamilton to Richard Harison, 11 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Abijah Hammond has informed me that he delivered to the Grand Jury, before whom was brought the case of Christopher Bancker, the certificate, on which the charge against him was founded. I wish to know the present state of that affair. I am, sir, With great consideration, Your Obedt Servant LS , New-York Historical Society, New York City. Hammond was a New York City merchant. According...
3124From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 11 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The carriage of the Teas to Salem, as stated in your letter of the 9th Ultimo is a mere transportation & not an exportation of them. The outward entry must be made in due form at Salem where the Ship America was lying , and can only be made there. That outward entry is the first operation in the business of exportation, and as it will appear by the public books & papers that the goods were...
3125From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 11 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In answer to your letter of the 27th. of December I have to observe, that under the existing laws , I consider it as indispensible to an entry at any customhouse, that the vessel be actually within the district appertaining to it. The question has occurred in the port of Philadelphia, where cases of the nature you mention, frequently happen. The legislature at a late stage of their session...
3126From Alexander Hamilton to Nathaniel Pendleton, 11 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I return herewith the proceedings on the petition of Duncan Manson, for the same reason, which has occasioned the remission of those in the case of Wm Backhouse. The circumstance of excuse, for not complying with the law, is the change of Masters in the harbour of Charleston. The time of this change, and the time of departure ought to be known in order to a judgment whether any hurry or...
3127To Alexander Hamilton from William Seton, 11 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have to acknowledge the honor of your Letter of the 1st. instant. Whenever Mr. John McComb Junr. exhibits the contract signed by you & him the Three Thousand Dollars shall be paid to him as you desire and passed to the Debit of the United States in the Seperate Accounts. On the 16th. of Feby. agreeably to your desire we stopt the sale of the Treasurers Bills on the Collector then in Bank, as...
3128From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 11 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just received a letter from Mr. King in these words—“Mr. Elliot, who it has been said was appointed will not come to America, owing say his friends here to a disinclination on his part which has arisen from the death of his eldest or only son. Mr. Seaton yesterday read me an abstract of a letter from London dated February 2. & written, as he observed, by a man of information, which...
3129From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 11 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, April 11, 1791. On May 7, 1791, Washington wrote to Hamilton : “I have received … the opinions offered in your letters of the 11th.” Second letter of April 11 not found. ]
3130From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Jefferson, 12 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have perused the papers communicated to you by the Chargé des Affaires of France. The propositions to which they relate, as far as they are understood, appear to me inadmissible. The only advantage they offer to the United States is a prolongation of the time of reimbursement. The rate of interest is to remain the same, and the place of payment, according to the probable course of exchange,...
3131To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Troup, 12 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, April 12, 1791. “I recd. your last letter with … your account current with the Lees.…” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Letter not found. The account is dated April 5, 1791 ( ADS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress). Thomas and Richard Lee, English businessmen. H had served as their agent in America in the seventeen-eighties. See H’s “Cash Book,” March 1, 1782–1791,...
3132From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 12 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I am sorry to learn that a certain heresy makes a progress. But there must be a portion of nonsense in human affairs—I bear in mind my promise to you. Pray send me a Memorandum without delay of the payments which you h⟨ave⟩ made me on Account of Mr Church with their dates. I am forwarding him my account, and I want this memorandum to Check my entries. Yrs. sincerely ALS , Mr. Pierce W. Gaines,...
3133To Alexander Hamilton from William Jackson, 13 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Richmond, April 13, 1791. Encloses list of proposed inspectors of revenue for Virginia. Asks Hamilton to “suspend issueing the commissions” until Edward Carrington indicates “the determinations of the gentlemen who are appointed Inspectors.” LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Jackson, who had served as a major under Benjamin Lincoln during the American Revolution, had been...
3134To Alexander Hamilton from William Jackson, 13 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Richmond, April 13, 1791. “The President of the United States commands me to request your attention to the enclosed memorandum.…” LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
3135From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 13 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have recently received your letters of the 2d. December and the 25th. of January. The others to which they refer have not yet come to hand. The manner in which you have proceeded, as detailed in your letter of the 2d. of December, is entirely satisfactory to me and I doubt not will be equally so to the President, when known to him. He is now absent on a journey through the Southern States....
3136From Alexander Hamilton to Richard Harison, 14 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It may prevent future trouble if the contract with Mr. McComb for the light house be redrawn; rectifying the error in regard to his occupation. He may execute two, and they may be sent to me, when I will duly execute them and transmit one to him. The first payment I find by his own propositions was to be as in the contract three thousand dollars, and it is not well that more is asked. I am...
3137To Alexander Hamilton from Richard Harison, 14 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Affair of Christopher Bancker having been previous to the Promulgation of the Law of the United States respecting Crimes, was not cognizable by any of the national Tribunals. It was therefore laid before a State Grand Jury which was sitting when Mr. Hardy was in this Place, and both Mr. Hammond and that Gentleman were examined upon the Occasion. To my great Surprise no Indictment was...
3138From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Jefferson, 14 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It was the intention of the President that you and myself should take such measures as appeared to us eligible towards carrying into execution the Resolution empowering him to procure Artists from Europe towards the establishment of a mint. It appears to me of great importance, if still practicable, to acquire Mr. Droz, And the terms mentioned in the enclosed note when applied to so preeminent...
3139From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 14 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
On considering your letter concerning the Revenue Cutter, I believe it will be on the whole best that the builder proceed with her, attending as far as possible to the other hints in my letter, other than relative to her size. It seems now too late to make any alteration that would lessen her dimensions. I am Sir Your Obedt Serv L[S] , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letters from the...
3140From Alexander Hamilton to Daniel Ludlow, 14 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, April 14, 1791. On April 23, 1791, Ludlow wrote to Hamilton : “I am indebted to the Honor of your esteemed favor of the 14 Inst.” Letter not found. ] Ludlow, a former Loyalist, was a prominent New York City merchant.
3141Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 14 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The House of Representatives having been pleased to direct me to examine and report upon the emoluments of the several Officers of the Customs, I find it necessary to enable me to form a satisfactory judgment upon the subject, that I be furnished with an accurate account, as much as possible in detail, of all the Monies received in the four quarters of the year 1790 by every Officer of the...
3142From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 14 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to send herewith a copy of my letter of the 10 inst: and of that from Mr. Short of the 2d. of December to which it refers; and also the copy of another letter from Mr. Short of the 25 of January. The result of my submission to the vice president and the heads of Departments has been, that they have unanimously advised me to instruct Mr. Short to proceed to open a second loan...
3143From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Jefferson, 15 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The letter you sent me from Mr. Short & others which I have received, since mine to you, confirm the view of the subject therein taken. This you will perceive from the following passages extracted from one of them—“Since then (speaking of former overtures) another Company has presented itself for the same object, with a scheme by which the United States are to make the sacrifices on which they...
3144From Alexander Hamilton to Nathan Keais, 15 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, April 15, 1791. On May 6, 1791, Keais wrote to Hamilton : “Yours of the … 15th Ulto I have duly received.” Letter not found. ] Keais was collector of customs at Washington, North Carolina.
3145Treasury Department Circular to the Commissioners of Loans, 16 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, April 16, 1791. On April 27, 1791, Nathaniel Appleton wrote to Hamilton : “I am this minute favoured with your Circular Letter 16th instant.” Circular not found. ]
3146From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 17 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I am very sorry to have to inform you, that the Comptroller of the Treasury departed this life yesterday. His loss is sincerely to be regretted as that of a good officer & an honorable & amiable man. With the most perfect respect, I & ADf , Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford; LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Nicholas Eveleigh had been appointed the first comptroller...
3147From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 17 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
You will probably recollect that previous to your departure from this place, anticipating the event which has taken place with regard to the death of Mr Eveleigh, I took the liberty to mention to you that Mr. Woolcott the present Auditor would be in every respect worthy of your consideration as his successor in office. Now that the event has happened, a concern as anxious as it is natural for...
3148To Alexander Hamilton from William Campbell, Thomas Withers, M. R. Willkings, Auly Macnaughten, George Hooper, 18 April … (Hamilton Papers)
Wilmington [ North Carolina ] April 18, 1791 . Ask for instructions concerning construction of the Cape Fear lighthouse. LS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Early Lighthouse Letters, National Archives. The men who signed this letter were the North Carolina commissioners to regulate shipping on the Cape Fear River. North Carolina, which had begun construction of the Cape Fear lighthouse,...
3149From Alexander Hamilton to Richard Harison, 18 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
As the confinement in which Charles Seely, the late Mate of Cap. Joseph Gorham junr. now is, appears likely to affect his life, I request you to take such measures in regard to the case, as will certainly prevent a consequence so extreme. The President being absent, no relief can be derived from him. I am fully persuaded both his humanity & justice would induce him, as far as in his power, to...
3150From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 18 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, April 18, 1791. States that it is impossible at this time to give a definitive answer to the questions raised by Lincoln’s letter of March 18, 1791. L[S] , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letters from the Treasury, 1789–1818, Vol. 5, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters to Collectors at Small Ports, “Set G,” National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters to the...