1From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [5 May 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
In conformity to the intimation you were pleased to honor me with on evening last I have reflected on the etiquette proper to be observed by the President and now submit the ideas which have occurred to me on the subject. The public good requires as a primary object that the dignity of the office should be supported. Whatever is essential to this ought to be pursued though at the risk of...
2To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 5 May 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I beg you to accept my unfeigned thanks for your friendly communications of this date—and that you will permit me to entreat a continuation of them as occasions may arise. The manner chosen for doing it, is most agreeable to me. It is my wish to act right; if I err; the head & not the heart, shall, with justice , be chargeable. With sentiments of sincere esteem & regard I am Dear Sir Your...
3To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 25 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
From a great variety of characters who have made a tender of their services for suitable Offices , I have selected the following. If Mr. Jay & you will take the further trouble of running them over to see if among them there can be found one, who, under all circumstances is more eligable for the Post Office than Col O I shall be obliged to you both for your opinion thereon by Eleven ‘Oclock....
4From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [20 October 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeably to your desire, I sit down to commit a few lines to the Post. Nothing worth particular mention has occured since your Departure; except a report brought by Mr. Keane from So. Carolina, that Mc. Gilivray the Indian Chief had, after a short conference, left our Commissioners, declaring that what they had suggested was only a repetion of the old Storey and inadmissible, or something to...
5To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 17 December 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
As I am uncertain of the condition & even the Office in which the papers containing accounts of our disbursments for subsistence of British prisoners remain; and as it is not improbable that some negotiations may (whenever our Union under the General Government shall be completed) take place between the United States & Great Britain, in which an accurate understanding of those Accots. will...
6From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [3 January 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury having, in consequence of the Act for the Establishment and support of Light houses, directed his Enquiries to that object begs leave most respectfully to submit the result to The President of the United States of America New Hampshire. In this State is only one Light house situated on a point of land on the Island of New-Castle, three miles from Portsmouth,...
7To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [4 January 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
I feel myself very much obliged by what you sent me yesterday. The letter from Governor Johnston I return—much pleased to find so authentic an acct. of the adoption by No Carolina of the Constitution. Yrs. sincerely & affectly Monday Morng 4th. Jany. } 1789 ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Samuel Johnston, governor of North Carolina. North Carolina ratified the Constitution on...
8From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [29 March 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury begs leave respectfully to inform the President of the United States of America, That, in order to be able to furnish in the course of the ensuing month for the compensation of the members of Congress, & the Officers and Servants of the two houses, a sum of about sixty thousand dollars; for the payment of the Salaries of the Civil List to the end of the present...
9To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [31 March 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorised to negotiate and agree for a Loan to the United States to an amount not exceeding one hundred thousand Dollars, bearing an Interest not exceeding six ⅌. Cent ⅌ annum to be applied towards carrying into effect the appropriation made by the Act Entitled, “An Act making appropriations for the support of Government for the year one thousand seven...
10From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 6 May 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor to inform the President of the United states of America, that he has received a letter from the Governor of Virginia intimating that it is necessary an election should be made of the particular spot upon which it may be deemed proper to erect the intended Light house on Cape Henry, after which the Cession will be completed. The said Secretary having...
11From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 28 May 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury conceives it to be his duty most respectfully to represent to the President of the United states, that there are, in his judgment, objections of a very serious & weighty nature to the resolutions of the two houses of Congress of the twenty first instant, concerning certain arrears of pay due to the Officers and soldiers of the Lines of Virginia and North Carolina....
12From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 28 May 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, May 28, 1790. Submits “five Contracts made by the superintendant of the Light house, piers &c on the river and Bay of Delaware” and recommends that these Contracts be approved. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
13From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [29 May 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects of the President of the United states and submits to his consideration some remarks on the Resolutions, which have passed the two Houses respecting the Lines of Virginia and North Carolina. The Secretary has taken this method of communication as the one best calculated to place the subject under the eye of the President with least trouble to...
14From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [18 June 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of the United states for his consideration, a Contract (with the letter that accompanied it) betwen William Allibone Superintendant of the Light-house, Beacons, Buoys & public Piers on the river and Bay of Delaware and Abraham Hargis, Keeper of the Light-house at Cape Henlopen. The yearly Salary of £130. altho’...
15From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 21 June 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of the United states, for his approbation, the enclosed Contract for timber, boards, Nails and Workmanship, for a Beacon to be placed near the Light-house on Sandy hook; the terms of which, he begs leave to observe are, in his opinion favourable to the U. States. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
16From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 26 June 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to inform the President of the United states, that he has received a letter from the Collector of Charleston in South Carolina, from which he learns that some misconception has arisen as to the nature of the qualifications of Mr. Thomas Hollingsby, who on the joint recommendation of the Collector & commissioners of Pilotage for that port...
17From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 26 June 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to inform the President of the United states that the Collector of Charleston in south Carolina has stated to him, that a proposal has been made by James Robinson of Newport, Rhode Island, to the Collector, through the Commissioners of Pilotage of that Port, to supply six hundred gallons of spermaceti Oil, for the use of the Light house,...
18From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [8 July 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
Memorandum of the substance of a Communication made on Thursday the Eighth of July 1790 to the Subscriber by Major Beckwith as by direction of Lord Dorchester. Major Beckwith began by stating that Lord Dorchester had directed him to make his acknowlegements for the politeness which had been shewn in respect to the desire he had intimated to pass by New York in his way to England; adding that...
19From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [15 July 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
In my second interview with Major Beckwith which was on Thursday the 22d. instant I spoke to him nearly as follows I have made the proper use of what you said to me at our last interview. As to what regards the objects of a general nature mentioned by you, though your authority for the purpose from Lord Dorchester is out of question, and though I presume from his Lordship’s station & character...
20From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 5 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, August 5, 1790. “The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of the United states a contract … for shingling two houses, and building a breast-work for the foundation of the light-house at Cape-Henlopen He begs leave to offer an opinion, that the terms of this agreement appear to him advantageous to the United states.” LC , George...
21To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 13 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The sessions of Congress having closed, and it being my intention to go to Virginia as soon as the public business will permit, and wishing to have my mind as free from public cares during my absence from the seat of government, as circumstances will allow, I am desirous of having such matters as may, by Law, or otherwise, require the Agency or sanction of the President of the United States,...
22From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [26 August 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully begs leave to submit to the President of the United States copies of a letter from Messrs. Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicholas and Jacob Van Staphorst & Hubbard of the 25th. day of January last, and of an answer thereto of the 7th. day of May following. The President will perceive that the last mentioned letter was formed upon a plan not to discourage...
23From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 26 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, August 26, 1790. “The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of the United States a new contract made by William Allibone, Superintendant of the Light-house and other establishments on the Delaware, with Abraham Hargis as Keeper of the said ligh house.…” LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. See Allibone to H, August...
24To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 27 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Provided the dispute between Great Britain and Spain should come to the decision of Arms, from a variety of circumstances (individually unimportant and inconclusive, but very much the reverse when compared and combined) there is no doubt in my mind, that New Orleans and the Spanish Posts above it on the Mississippi will be among the first attempts of the former, and that the reduction of them...
25From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 28 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of the U. States for his determination a request from the Naval officer of the District of New York. The Secretary humbly remarks, that it appears desireable, as far as possible, to avoid absences of such important Officers for so long a duration, but that if the nature of the reasons should induce the...
26To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [28 August 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
By virtue of the several Acts, the one entitled, “An Act making provision for the Debt of the U. States.” and the other entitled, “An Act making provision for the reduction of the Public Debt.” I do hereby authorise and empower you, by yourself, or any other person or persons, to borrow on behalf of the United States, within the said States or elsewhere, a sum or sums, not exceeding in the...
27To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [28 August 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
Having thought fit to commit to you the charge of borrowing on behalf of the United States a sum or sums not exceeding in the whole Fourteen Millions of Dollars pursuant to the several Acts, the one entitled, “An act making provision for the Debt of the United States,” the other entitled, “An Act making provision for the reduction of the Public Debt.” I do hereby make known to you, that in the...
28From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 3 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeably to your direction I conversed the day after your departure with the Secretary of State on the subject of an Agent for conducting the Loans to be made abroad. I stated to him, that you had expressed to me a preference of Mr. Shorts being employed, if he could be spared the requisite time from France, without injury to the affairs depending there; and that I conceived it wou’d be...
29From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 10 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The public service appearing to require the early establishment of the boats or cutters for the protection of the revenue, agreeably to the provision made by the Legislature in their last Session, I do myself the honor respectfully to submit to you what has occured upon that subject. Cutters from forty to fifty feet keel being deemed by experienced persons the most eligible, my enquiries have...
30From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 15 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The urgent avocations, in which I have been engaged, towards putting, in a train of execution, the laws of the last session, affecting my department, and a desire of reflecting maturely, and giving the reasons for the result of my reflections, fully, have caused me to delay, longer than I wished, the answers to the questions, with which you honored me, and I hope will excuse the delay. The...