To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 3 January 1795
From Tench Coxe
Treasury Department, Revenue Office, January 3, 1795. “Messrs. Willing & Francis1 this day ask for the payment on account of their agreement for Salt Petre, of which I have promised to inform you. It is 2 dollars & was to be paid on the 1st January, if demanded. You will very much oblige me by procuring the Presidents determination in regard to the keeper of Baldhead Light House.3 It has become necessary, that order be taken concerning the Superintendence of that Establishment, as it is now finished.”4
LC, RG 26, Lighthouse Letters, Vol. I, National Archives; LC, RG 75, Letters of Tench Coxe, Commissioner of the Revenue, Relating to the Procurement of Military, Naval, and Indian Supplies, National Archives.
1. The Philadelphia mercantile firm of Thomas Willing, Thomas Mayne Willing, and Thomas Willing Francis. On December 22, 1794, Coxe wrote to Willing and Francis: “I request an early opportunity of conferring with one of your concern, in order to the adjustment of the details of a contract for the importation of salt Petre, as lately proposed by you” (LC, RG 75, Letters of Tench Coxe, Commissioner of the Revenue, Relating to the Procurement of Military, Naval, and Indian Supplies, National Archives). See also Coxe to H, December 9, 1794.
2. Space left blank in MS.
4. The last two sentences do not appear on the copy in RG 75, Letters of Tench Coxe, Commissioner of the Revenue, Relating to the Procurement of Military, Naval, and Indian Supplies, National Archives.