From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Lee, 16 July 1792
To Charles Lee
Treasury Department
July 16 1792
Sir
I have this day decided upon the case of Thomas Triplett.1 I could not consider the excuse which was alleged as a sufficient cause to induce a total remission. The interest of the United States is remitted to him, and he is to pay fifty Dollars for the benefit of persons, other than the United States. [That is to say there is a total remission on paying fifty Dollars & reasonable Costs & charges to be assessed by the Judge.]2 A duplicate of my decision is sent to the Clerk of the District Court, at Richmond.3
A decision on the case of William Wilson and Company4 will be made directly I receive some additional information from the District Judge, to whom I have applied for this purpose.
I am, Sir, with consideration, Your Obedt Servant
A Hamilton
Charles Lee Esqr.
Alexandria
LS, RG 56, Letters to and from the Collector at Alexandria, National Archives; LC, Letters to Collectors at Small Ports, “Set G,” National Archives.
1. Triplett, master of the brig Betsey, had petitioned for a remission of forfeiture on the ground that command of the Betsey was the first he had obtained in some time and that he was therefore ignorant of regulations concerning the importation of foreign goods (Records of the District Court of Virginia, Archives Division, Virginia State Library, Richmond).
2. Cyrus Griffin was judge of the District Court of Virginia. The sentence within brackets, which was inserted at the bottom of the page, is in the handwriting of H.
3. William Marshall was clerk of the District Court.
4. William Wilson and Company, an Alexandria mercantile firm, was part owner of goods brought into the District of Alexandria in the sloop Rainbow. In a petition for remission of forfeiture the firm stated that, although duties had been paid at Philadelphia, Isaac Mackie, the master, had failed to put the certificate with the goods. H remitted the forfeiture on Wilson’s brandy and claret on September 24, 1792 (Records of the District Court of Virginia, Archives Division, Virginia State Library, Richmond).