1111To Alexander Hamilton from Otho H. Williams, 26 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Baltimore, January 26, 1791. “… there is an expedient (which I have some reason to suspect has been practised in this District) to elude the necessity of navigating ships by Masters Citizens of the United States , in order to entitle them to the privileges of American Bottoms, against which I do not discover any provision. It is thus. A Citizen, Owner of a ship, has her registered in due form,...
1112To Alexander Hamilton from Isaac Ledyard, [28 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
I am afraid that my parting words with you yesterday might possibly convey a meaning wch. I did not wish, my tongue allways serving me as a faulty interpreter. It forces me to trouble you with following explanation. It had been suggested to me that the controul of our finances was wished for by a person named yesterday (I believe now without foundation) & that attempts would be made to mislead...
1113To Alexander Hamilton from Beverley Randolph, 28 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Richmond, January 28, 1791. “Your favour of the 14th. instant has been duly received and I now do myself the honour to inclose you the amount of final settlement Certificates delivered to the state of Virginia, by the Continental Agent.…” LC , Archives Division, Virginia State Library, Richmond. “Treasury Department Circular to the Governors of the States,” January 14, 1791 .
1114First Draft of the Report on the Establishment of a Mint, [28 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury having maturely considered the subject referred to him by the order of the House of Representatives of the day of last relatively to the establishment of a Mint begs leave respectfully to submit the result of his reflections. A plan for an establishment of this nature must not only contemplate the principles of a coinage of the United States; but must extend its...
1115Second Draft of the Report on the Establishment of a Mint, [28 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury having maturely considered the subject referred to him by the order of the House of Representatives of the day of last relatively to the establishment of a Mint most respectfully submits the result of his inquiries investigation and reflections. A plan for an establishment of this nature involves a great prodigious vast variety of considerations intricate nice and...
1116Final Version of the Report on the Establishment of a Mint, [28 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
[To the Speaker of the House of Representatives] The Secretary of the Treasury having attentively considered the subject referred to him by the Order of the House of Representatives of the fifteenth day of April last, relatively to the establishment of a Mint most respectfully submits the result of his enquiries and reflections. A plan for an establishment of this nature involves a great...
1117From Alexander Hamilton to Richard Harison, 29 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I request your speedy opinion on the following point. A citizen of the United States obtains under the Registring act a register for a vessel belonging to him. He afterwards goes to reside in a foreign country. Does the vessel lose the benefit of her register during such residence? The answer to this question depends essentially on the construction of the fifth section of that act. There are...
1118From Alexander Hamilton to Angelica Church, 31 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
There is no proof of my affection which I would not willingly give you. How far it will be practicable to accomplish your wish respecting your father is however very uncertain. Our republican ideas stand much in the way of accumulating offices in one family. Indeed I doubt much whether your father could be prevailed upon to accept. I do not however urge this point till I can better ascertain...
1119Conversation with George Beckwith and William Macomb, 31 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
A Conversation: Mr. Hamilton, Mr. William Macomb of Detroit, and Lieutenant Colonel Beckwith. Lt. Colo. B. Mr. Macomb, I think it for the honor of the King’s government, for its interests, and I really believe it for the interests of this country also, that the true state of things in the western Country should be known, and if there are any misconceptions, or errors arising from...
1120To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 31 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] January 31, 1791 . Transmits a “Contract (which has been submitted to the President and received his approbation) between Joseph Whipple, for the Secretary of the Treasury and, Titus Salter, to provide for the keeping and supply of the Light House at the entrance of Piscatiqua River in the State of New Hampshire.…” LS , RG 26, “Segregated” Lighthouse Records, National...
1121From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 31 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, January 31, 1791. “The President of the United States being about to appoint the 1st. 2d. & 3d. Mates of the revenue Cutters, it will be of public service to obtain the names of some persons of your State suitable for those duties.…” Copy, RG 56, Letters to the Collector at Providence, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters to Collectors at Small Ports, “Set G,” National...
1122To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 31 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] January 31, 1791 . Approves contract for supplying the lighthouse at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. LS , RG 26, “Segregated” Lighthouse Records, National Archives. See Tobias Lear to H, January 31, 1791 .
1123To Alexander Hamilton from John Lamb, January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, January, 1791. “Prompted by a sense of duty, to the Public, and Friendship to you, I am induced to acquaint you, that, from my own observation, and the best information, I can possibly obtain, I find the Merchants here, are much disgusted, at the additional Duties, which Congress, mean to impose on Spirituous liquors; and from hints, which have been dropped, it appears to me, that...
1124To Alexander Hamilton from James Tillary, [January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
I have several times within these few weeks been almost tempted to break in a Moment on your time to give you a hint of the present complexion of our City politics, & I believe I may add those which will soon become prevalent in our State. I should indeed be nothing solicitious about the little party Jugglings which prevail among us, if it did not appear to me, that the Head of Wild misrule in...
1125From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 1 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Trustees of the sinking fund have thought fit to commit to you the making of purchases of the public debt to the amount of fifty thousand Dollars pursuant to the Act making provision for the reduction of the public debt. To enable you to execute this trust (which I doubt not you will chearfully undertake) I have directed the Treasurer to forward to you fifty thousand dollars in Notes of...
1126From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Lee, 2 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have made a remittance to William Heth Esq. Collector of Bermuda Hundred in Notes of the Bank of North America, made payable to him, which I request you to exchange for specie should any of them be offered by the holders. The Cash included in your returns as well as that received in the current week may be used for that purpose, if requisite. I am Sir, your obedient servant. LS , Charles...
1127To Alexander Hamilton from Arthur Fenner, 3 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 14th Jany. I recd. In February 1786 a Committee appointed by the Legislature of the State of Rhode Island settled the Accounts with the Agent for the Rhode Island line of the late Army. There appeared in his hands certificates to the amount of three thousand seven Dollars and seventy three Ninetieths which were delivered over and lodgd in the Treasury of this State to be...
1128To Alexander Hamilton from William Seton, 3 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The note you inclosed to Mr Troup for discount was immediately done & passd to your Credit. The dft to Mr. Francis has not yet appeared, but should have been punctually attended to & honored at all Events. Your present ballance in Bank including the discount is 2907 Dolls. & ⁴⁴⁄₁₀₀. Therefore the 3000 Dolls. dft will overrun 92. Do: ⁵⁶⁄₁₀₀ which I mention for your Government. The letters you...
1129To Alexander Hamilton from Richard Harison, 4 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It is a Misfortune in our Legislation that particular Regulations of other Countries have been adopted without considering their Dependence upon the System to which they belong. Hence our Laws in many instances become unprovisional & Questions important in their Consequences & difficult to be resolved must necessarily arise. The fifth Section of the Registring Act is nearly copied from the...
1130To Alexander Hamilton from Nathaniel Appleton, 5 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston ] February 5, 1791 . “I wrote you 26 Ulto. This serves to inclose Duplicate Receipt for Certificates received from the Register dated 22d Jany 1791—also first receipt for Certificates dated 29th. Jany 1791. By this Post I transmitt to the Auditor an Abstract of Certificates Indents & Bills of Old Emission, recd into the Office in the Month of November last for which Certificates of...
1131To Alexander Hamilton from Isaac Sherman, 5 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ February 5, 1791. On January 23, 1792, Sherman wrote to Hamilton : “… subsequent to my letter of 5th of February last.…” Letter not found. ] Sherman was the son of Roger Sherman of Connecticut. In 1787 and 1788 he was employed as one of the surveyors of the Northwest Territory, and he subsequently held a minor position in the Treasury.
1132To Alexander Hamilton from Joseph Whipple, 5 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, February 5, 1791. “In compliance with the directions given in your Circular letter of the 20th. January 1790 I enclosed you the 18th. of February following a Statement of the emoluments of the officers of the Customs in this district for one year; but as that Statement was founded partly on Calculation it could not be accurate. I flattered myself however that such...
1133To Alexander Hamilton from William Short, 7 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the honor of writing to you on the 25th. of last month by the English packet. This, inclosed to the Secretary of State, will be sent also by the way of England. I mentioned in my last what I repeat here for greater certainty. “1093. 450. 264. 1405. 224. 264. 1405. 319. 1065. 224. 239. 1210. 1340. 426. 1336. 839. 1590. 224. 531. 1388. 224. 708. ...
1134From Alexander Hamilton to Nathaniel Appleton, 8 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, February 8, 1791. Announces that Appleton has been selected by the President to pay “Pensions to Invalids for the space of one year.” LS , with an insertion in H’s handwriting, MS Division, New York Public Library. The United States had assumed the payment of military pensions to invalids “who were wounded and disabled during the late war” by “An Act providing for the...
1135From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 8 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I received yesterday an application from Messrs. R & J Potter, Knox, Henderson & others, relative to the claim of additional duties on Goods ⅌ the ship Kitty from London. Having no statement of facts from your office, I am uncertain how far all those things, that may concern the rights of the United States, have occurred to the Applicants, & can, therefore, only give a conditional instruction...
1136From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Smith, 8 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, February 8, 1791. On February 14, 1791, Smith wrote to Hamilton : “I am honored with your favor of 8th Inst.” Letter not found. ] Smith was commissioner of loans for Pennsylvania. This was probably the same as the letter which H sent to Nathaniel Appleton on this date and to Jedediah Huntington on January 30, 1790 .
1137To Alexander Hamilton from Otho H. Williams, 8 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Baltimore, February 8, 1791. Explains apparent discrepancy in “last Weekly return of monies received and paid … from the 29th January to the 4. February 1791.” States that the “credit for Forfeitures” in “the preceeding return, to wit from the 22nd. to the 28 January … arises upon the Sales of two parcels of condemned Merchandize which ought to have been credited last year.” ADfS , RG 53, “Old...
1138To Alexander Hamilton from Nathaniel Appleton, 9 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, February 9, 1791. “As I understand all public papers must pass under cover to you, this incloses a duplicate receipt for Certificates received from the Registers and letter to the Auditor respecting cancelled Certifts & Indents forwarded to him by this Post.…” LC , RG 53, Massachusetts State Loan Office, Letter Book, 1785–1791, Vol. “259–M,” National Archives.
1139To Alexander Hamilton from Joseph Whipple, 9 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, February 9, 1791. “In Conformity with the directions given in your Circular letter of the 17th. May last respecting Seizures, I have to inform you that a Small Seizure has been made in this district, consisting of one Barrel, one half Barrel & three Small Bags Coffee.…” LC , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Portsmouth, Letters Sent, 1790–1791, Vol. 2, National...
1140From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Marchant, 10 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
You will find under this cover an act remitting the forfeiture in the case of the Schooner Fly, on the petition prefered to your court by Wm. Brightman. This vessel being under thirty tons cannot be employed in the importation of goods from foreign ports. Nor can she pursue the coasting trade without the burden of the foreign tonnage duty. She may, however, with any papers that she may have...