From Alexander Hamilton to Tobias Lear, 18 October 1792
To Tobias Lear
[Philadelphia] 18th. October 1792.
Dr. Sir,
Before a final step is taken respecting a Keeper of the Virginia Lighthouse,1 I wish it to be known to The President (what I did not advert to yesterday) that Mr. Cornick2 was appointed by Colo. Newton3 to oversee the building of a Lighthouse, for which he will receive a quantum meruit. This is a circumstance in his favour tho’ a very slight one, and such as may be overruled by any other consideration. Propriety, however, requires that it should be brought into the President’s view. If I hear nothing to the contrary to day, the letter to Mr. Lewis will go.4
Yrs.
A: Hamilton
LC, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
1. See Lear to H, October 13, 1792.
2. Lemuel Cornick. See Tench Coxe to H, October 17, 1792.
3. Thomas Newton, Jr.
4. William Lewis. See Lear to H, October 13, 1792.