51To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 23 July 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
In my last I suggested my apprehensions that we should suffer by having thrown in upon us the fish from Nova Scotia. I am hourly more and more confirmed in the idea and that we shall pay the bounty on much more fish than we shall like. Our vessels are permitted to fish on the coast of Nova-Scotia and make the fish on shore. Many of them are in this practice and return in the fall with the...
52To George Washington from Benjamin Lincoln, 10 June 1791 (Washington Papers)
Boston, 10 June 1791. Recommends for any “opening in the public line” Francis Cabot, his aide during the disorders of 1787 in Massachusetts, “a Gentleman of information & of great probity,” who “has justly merited the esteem & confidence of a very extensive acquaintance” and is “a Gentleman of a respectable family, brother to Mr Cabot one of our Senators in Congress.” Cabot “left this part of...
53To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 17 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, September 17, 1790. “Your private letter of the 10th came by the post the last evening. I find by the collection act which authorizes the building ten cutters … the President is limited to ten thousand dollars. You will permit me to observe that although ten thousand dollars may be a fund sufficient to build ten boats or cutters of a size which may with safety act in the different part...
54To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 3 July 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, July 3, 1790. “Your favour of the 24th Ulto. came by the last post. I have seen one of the Gentlemen to whom was committed the building the light-house at Portland and find that the house is fifty eight feet in height that it must be raised Eight feet higher which will cost about one hundred dollars. The whole expence which has been incurred for the land the Light-house and for a...
55To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 5 February 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeably to your directions I now Inclose the return of the fees of the several officers of the district of Boston and Charlestown together with an account of all the money paid to the weighers, gaugers, which was received by them respectively from the 10th. of August to the end of December last. At one view you will see what ⅌ Cent the collection in this district has cost. The emoluments of...
56To George Washington from Benjamin Lincoln, 18 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
I consider, my dear General, that not only the happiness of the people under the new government but that the very existance of it depends in a great measure upon the characters and abilities of those who may be employed in the judiciary and executive branches of government. Under this government I hope yet to live and to leave in its arms a large and an extensive family I cannot therefore be...
57To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 20 January 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, January 20, 1790. Discusses the type of boat that should be used to prevent smuggling. States that “As all drawbacks on goods … & bounties paid on articles exported too often operate as Caches on the revenue of a country the greatest barriers possible should be placed around it to prevent the practice of frauds of every kind.” ADf , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letters from...
58To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 17 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, August 17, 1790. States that members of the lighter that unloaded fish illegally from the schooner from Nova Scotia “had no idea that they were breaking the law of the United States.” Asks approval for oil contract for lighthouses. States that “the Light Houses at the Gurnet are nearly ready to tumble down from the want of repairs.” LC , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letter...
59To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 24 March 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, March 24, 1790. States that “General Warren is going in the Morning to the City of New York to settle his public accounts as a Member of the Navy board, in this State.” Recommends General Warren’s son, Henry, for “an office in the revenue.” Copy, RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letters from the Treasury and Others, 1789–1818, Vol. 11, National Archives. James Warren of Plymouth,...
60To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 21 [March] 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I shall pay particular attention to your directions respecting the payment of the drafts of the treasurer in favour of the Loan officer of New Hampshire & Mr Appleton of this State. You will learn by the inclosed return that a large proportion of the money on hand is in the bills of the bank of the united States issued in Philadelphia which are now sold here at a discount of one ⅌ Cent. From...
61To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 25 May 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, May 25, 1790. On June 8, 1790, Hamilton wrote to Lincoln : “I have received your favor of the 25th of May.” Letter not found. ]
62To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 26 March 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, March 26, 1794. “Your circular letter of the 17th instant came to hand just now by post. We have not now or have we ever had an idea of relaxing in that part of our duty which required from us a monthly Schedule of Bonds to be returned into your office.… If there have been any omissions towards the close of the last year we can only observe as an apology that one Clerk whose business...
63To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 7 February [1790] (Hamilton Papers)
[Boston] February 7 [1790.] Acknowledges receipt of Hamilton’s “several favors of the 27th. 28 & 30th Ulto.” Explains why the collector at Biddeford has not received registry blanks. States that the “payment of the Invalids will be undertaken with pleasure.” ADf , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letters from the Treasury and Others, 1789–1818, Vol. 11, National Archives. Letter of...
64To George Washington from Benjamin Lincoln, 23 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
Knowing that your Excellency must be greatly burdened by the weight of public affairs and that the pressure is increased by various other avocations I should hardly have been persuaded to have broken in so much upon your time as to have given any other Gentleman, going from among us, a line of introduction But when I considered your Excellencys love of science & your partiality for scientific...
65To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 31 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I received by the last post a letter under the date of the 24 instant from Mr. Coxe Assistant secy in which he says The Secy of the Treasury has instructed me to inform you that he has urgent occasion for the returns of bonds taken in your office which were formally requested to be made in monthly schedules. I was much surprised on finding those observations as I could not or could any in the...
66To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 15 April 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
By the 27 Section of the Coasting act it is provided that all vessels therein described & under certain circumstances shall enter within 24 hours after arrival. As no penalty is annexed to a nonperformance of the injunction in the law little attention is now paid to it, & the attention is daily decreasing, indeed it seems to decrease with the knowledge that there is no forfiture on a breach of...
67To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 23 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, September 23, 1790. “The repair of the Light-Houses on Plumb Island are now finished & the accounts have been presented for settlement; they correspond with the agreement I made saving the Painter’s bill—that I reported to you would be seven pounds fourteen shillings: the painters have charged sixteen pounds odd; the mistake arises in this way; they estimated the expence of painting it...
68To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 9 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
By the 32nd. Section of the late Collection Act, no exporter of Goods, wares & merchandise imported could be allowed the Draw Back of Duties paid, unless the goods were exported in the same casks &c & from the Port or District into which they were originally imported, these restrictions very much embarrassed trade & were a source of daily complaints of the Merchants, especially that part,...
69To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 31 March 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
As you have often expressed a wish to establish uniformity among all the officers commissioned in different districts to perform similar duties I am induced to mention an instance wherein from the want of similarity questions arise which leaves us quite at a loss how to determine the length of Vessels from the registers some inserting therein the real length & some the length after the...
70To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 21 January 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
On the receipt of your letter of the 19th. Ulto Not seeing the British Consul I wrote him a note of which No 1 is a copy—No 2 is a copy of His answer. As you have confined my attention, at present, to the Jane—Lovely lass and Prince William Henry which vessels it is said have not been in this district I cannot take any measures with him to ascertain the damages of the Gray hound & Flora of...
71To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 3 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, September 3, 1790. “Herewith you will receive my account current & the necessary papers to the first of July.… A few days since we put our hands on two bags of Coffee. If we are not deceived by the informant, such facts will turn up in evidence as deeply to involve the captain of the vessel.… A British ship came here a few days since from Ireland had nothing on board saving a few...
72To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 5 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Herewith I forward the receipts which ought to have been sent on upon the receipt of the registers. Our stock is nearly out. I wish for one hundred more as soon as they can be conveniently forwarded. A warrent from the Treasury No 502 date July 27 for 2900 dollars was presented to me this morning for payment the money was told out & a receipt was wrote on the back of the warrent. But on Mr....
73To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 17 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, May 17, 1791. “Your several favours of the 14th ulto & of the 4 & 6 instant have been received. Your first, the Circular, appears to be intended to those officers who conceive themselves insufficiently compensated. As I am not in that class I conclude no report will be expected from me.… The duck for the four Cutters has been forwarded agreeably to your directions.…” LC , Massachusetts...
74To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 31 December 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, December 31, 1793. “In your circular letter under the date of Decr 20th Instant You request that all my acct to the end of the year should be promptly rendered. Those for the third quarter will be presented herewith, the fourth will follow some time in Jany. The reasons why we are so late with our third quarter arise from the sickness of my Clerks one of which is yet confined and...
75To John Adams from Benjamin Lincoln, 14 July 1789 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure a few days since of receiving your kind favor of the 19 th. ult o — When I first saw the new constitution I was very apprehensive that the President would not be able to maintain his ground and preserve such a stand, on the stage of our political theater, as to keep up that equilibrum essential to our enjoying all those blessings which are derived from a constitution in...
76To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 7 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, October 7, 1790. On November 22, 1790, Hamilton wrote to Lincoln : “You mentioned in your letter of the 7th. of October.” Letter not found. ]
77To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 7 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, September 7, 1790. Estimates that repairs to the lighthouses at Plymouth will cost $170. LS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “B,” New Hampshire and Massachusetts, National Archives; LC , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letter Book, 1790–1797, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters from the Collector at Boston, National Archives.
78To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, [5] July 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I have diligently, directly and indirectly made my enquiries respecting the comparitive value of the duck manufactured in this town with that which has been imported and on the whole after giving the subject a full and I think an impartial discussion must say that the sail cloth manufactured here is to be preferred to that which is foreign. Had this question been put to me two years ago I am...
79To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 4 October [1791] (Hamilton Papers)
I received your circular Letter of the 21st. Ulto and your letter respecting a cancelled register by the last post. Knowing sir how anxious you are to œconomise the public money and how just your expectations are that all officers of the revenue will aid you in a measure so important to the general interest I take the liberty to suggest, as the weather will soon be so inclement as to prevent...
80To George Washington from Benjamin Lincoln, 28 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
A few moments since I arrived here on my way to New York the packet sets off at 3 oClock perhaps I might arrive sooner should I take passage in her than by the stages but as that is attended with a degree of uncertainty I have determined to pursue my first intentions of coming on by land—I have thought it my duty to give your Excellency this information & that I shall, probably, be in the City...
81To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 10 April 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, April 10, 1794. “A number of our Captains, who commanded vessels which have been arrested by the British and are now detained with their Cargoes in the west Indies, are returned without that evidence of their having landed their Cargoes which by law is necessary to their drawing bounties &c. What shall be done in these cases?” LC , Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston; LC , RG 36,...
82To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 27 January 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston ] January 27, 1790 . “Your faver of the 20th respecting Christopher Sadler is before us. In the morning of his arrival he came directly to the office with his papers in order to enter his vessel. His papers from Hallifax Nova Scotia were regular. He appeared to be very unhappy on his finding his mistake and applied for advice and has attended fully to the directions given him. No...
83To John Adams from Benjamin Lincoln, 22 December 1792 (Adams Papers)
The exertions of disappointment & of antifederalism have had little effect I congratulate you My dear sir most sincerely on the happy event— When you left us no arrangment was made for the return of the few dollars you received of me—As I do not know what would be most convenient for you whether to forward the money or for me to draw on you I take the liberty to say now that when ever it shall...
84To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 15 February 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Your two letters one under the 2d. & the [other] under the fourth instant came to hand this evening by the post. To the directions they contain a strict attention will be paid. In my last I mentioned to you that empty old rum hogs. when the certificates could be obtained with them were in demand. Since, I think, I have discovered the use to be made of them. A few days pass four hogs. as west...
85To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 16 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, November 16, 1790. Presents a new design for lighthouse lamps to elimate soot accumulation on the glass. ALS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “B,” New Hampshire and Massachusetts, National Archives.
86To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 1 June 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, June 1, 1790. “A district court for the Masst district was held here this day. The case of the Ship neptune the two trunks of Merchandize & of the Molasses and liam mentioned in my last have been called & are all gone by default.…” LC , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letter Book, 1790–1797, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters from the Collector at Boston, National Archives....
87To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 5 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, July 5, 1791. “Your letter covering instructions to Cap Williams has been received. I have caused a copy of them to be made. I will attend particularly to his supplies.…” LC , Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston; LC , RG 36, Letters from the Collector at Boston, Letter Book, 1790–1797, National Archives; two copies, RG 56, Letters from the Collector at Boston, National Archives....
88To George Washington from Benjamin Lincoln, 16 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
Boston, 16 July 1789. “When I had the honour of addressing your Excellency on the subject of returning to public life I did not suggest a wish to hold one office in preference to an other —Indeed at that time it was not ascertained what offices would be established under the new constitution. It was however the general idea that the union would be formed into different districts and that there...
89To John Adams from Benjamin Lincoln, 11 September 1793 (Adams Papers)
Before this can reach you, you will be informed that our attempts to establish a peace with the hostiles tribes of Indians North of the Ohio has been ineffectual; and lest you should be perplexed with vague and uncertain accounts of the state of the business I have now taken up my pen to give you a short detail of the matter.— On my arrival at Niagra the 25th. of May I was informed by the...
90To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 16 February 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
To reduce things involved in confusion, to a state of order, in all cases requires labour and attention. The task is increased by the magnitude of the object, and is rendered perplexing indeed, where there are a deficiency of means and where different interests ably supported, and stubbornly adhearred to, must be combined for the completion of the system in view. To devise a scheme, which...
91To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 14 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, June 14, 1791. On June 23, 1791, Hamilton wrote to Lincoln : “I have received your letter of the 14th instant.” Letter not found. ]
92To John Adams from Benjamin Lincoln, 14 September 1795 (Adams Papers)
I return your letters with my most cordial thanks for the sight of them—In the perusal I have been highly gratified and informed and have been confirmed in the idea that if our Jacobins intend to sap the foundation of our present constitution and thereby bring on a serious contest now is the momint for them to attempt their mad pursuit while the powers of Europe have full employ at home and...
93To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 4 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I received by the wednesday post your private letter with the news paper containing the piece you referred to which has been republished in a number of our papers. The Virginia Resolve is not very alarming here much less so than might have been expected. Indeed it seems to have produced in some instances a good rather than an evil, by confirming the doubtful in the importance of a firm...
94To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 17 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
By the inclosed memorandum you will see the state of the imports into this district from Island of Hispaniole from the first of august 1790 to the end of that year and the state of the imports from the same Island from the first day of August 1791 to first Jany 1792 have not yet felt so sensibly as I expected we had the consequences of the disorders in that Island. From a suggestion given,...
95To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 17 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, November 17, 1790. “The inclosed papers I received from Portland. It was supposed then that the appointment of a keeper for the light house at Portland was with me. I think it my duty therefore to forward the papers for the information of the President. I do not know either of the persons in nomination.…” ALS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “B,” New Hampshire and...
96To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 20 August 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Captain Magee returned here a few days since from a long voyage to the Northwest shores of America Canton &c. He has been absent about three years during which time he has sailed about fourteen thousand leagues. He left Boston in a new ship with two new suits of sails one of Boston manufactured cloth and one foreign. I asked him particular respecting the Boston duck and had for answer that...
97To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 26 December 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, December 26, 1789. “… your Circular letter of the 18th. just came to hand and I am happy to inform you that I have anticipated your orders and early adopted that line of conduct which I thought would secure that punctuality in the payment of bonds.… I have the pleasure now to inform you that we have not … had any person a delinquent for a moment.…” ADf , Collector of Customs at Boston,...
98To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 6 April 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, April 6, 1790. “I have just now had with me Mr. Thomas, son of the late General Thomas, whose Mother has the care of Light house at Plymouth. When she was first appointed to that trust he was a minor otherwise he probably would have had the appointment himself. He is a Young Gentleman of a good character and I think is a fair candidate for the appointment under the United States. I...
99To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, [1 July 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, July 1, 1790. ] Recommends Barzillas Delano “as a suitable person” to be the keeper of the lighthouse at Portland Head. ALS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “B,” New Hampshire and Massachusetts, National Archives.
100To George Washington from Benjamin Lincoln, 16 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
I received this morning your Excellencys very welcome favour of the 11th there on I beg leave to observe that immediately on my receiving the commission with which I was honoured appointing me Collector for the port of Boston & Charlestown I entered upon the duties of the office—I have appointed Majr Rice, not him of the late army, my deputy, he is a Gentleman very pleasing to the people, of...