3851From Alexander Hamilton to Jedediah Huntington, 25 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have considered the case you State in your letter of the 22nd July respecting the repairs of a french vessel. I am of opinion that she will not be entitled to an American register if rebuilt in any manner whereby the identity of the Vessel is preserved. But if she be wholly taken to pieces, I perceive there can be no impropriety in making use of her Timber in the building of a new Vessel. I...
3852To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 25 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your circular letter came to hand by the last post. Very particular attention will be paid to the certificates of Registers you mention. In a few day will be forwarded all the papers due from this office. Inclosed is a copy of the table of fees set up in this office, an exact copy from the law, which is literally followed here as explained by Messrs: Jones and Harison excepting for the entery...
3853To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 25 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I shall pay particular attention to the directions in your circular Letter of the 5th. instant, relative to the Certificates of registry, &c. of the Sloop Lurana and Schooner Fortitude. From your not noticing the loss of the Certificate of registry No. 56, granted by me the 13th. of December 1790, for the Schooner Nicholas, Wm. Cory first Master, I am led to suppose, that the Note at the...
3854To Alexander Hamilton from William Seton, 25 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Letters of the 20 & 22d. Agreeable to your desire Mr. William Hill has been paid 4000 Dollars on account of his Clothing Contract & enclosed you have his receipt for the same. The Transfers of the Stock purchased on account of the United States shall be made in the names you point out. Since my last I have only purchased 6810 30/100 Dollars...
3855To Alexander Hamilton from Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard, 25 August … (Hamilton Papers)
[ Amsterdam, August 25, 1791. On August 29, 1791, Willink, Van Staphorst, and Hubbard wrote to William Short: “Begging leave to confirm our Respects to you of 25 Instant, We have now the honor to inclose you Triplicate of our Letter of same date to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United-States.” Letter not found. ] The letter from Willink, Van Staphorst, and Hubbard to Short is quoted in...
3856To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 26 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeably to my expectation the Sloop Betsy is condemned, and is to be sold on the 14th. day of the next month. I should be happy to receive your direction with respect to the conduct of the Officers of the Customs as to the sale of said Sloop, prior to the day of sale; and it would add to my happiness if at the same time you would give me your opinion how the monies arising from the sale...
3857From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Jefferson, 26 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to the Secretary of State. He returns the draft of Ratification with some alterations to conform more accurately to the fact which are submitted. The Secretary of State will recollect that there is another loan (the contract for which was also forwarded to him) concluded by Messrs. Willinks & Van Staphorsts & of which likewise a Ratification...
3858From Alexander Hamilton to Le Roy and Bayard, [26 August 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
Being informed that you are drawing bills, if it is convenient to you to let me have 1000 pounds Sterling at 4 ⅌ Ct above par payable in London on my note at thirty days, including the discount, you may remit that sum by the Packet to John Barker Church Esquire & on notice of its being done my note shall be given accordingly. I remain with much consideration & esteem Gentlemen Your Obed...
3859To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 26 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received and considered your letter of the 23rd instant, proposing that a credit should be given to the Supervisors of the Revenue for the postage of Letters, until their collections should render it convenient to make payment. I shall as you request instruct the Deputy Postmasters, at the places by you enumerated, to open accounts with the respective Supervisors, and to accommodate the...
3860From Alexander Hamilton to James Brown, John Graham, and George Pickett, 27 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I learn, with real regret, the disappointment you experienced in your intended subscriptions to the Bank of the United States. It was very much my wish that the property in the Stock of that Bank should be generally diffused throughout the States. But its not having been foreseen, any where, that so rapid a subscription would take place, has been the cause that adequate provisions were not...
3861To Alexander Hamilton from Richard Peters, 27 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you the best Answer to your Enquiries on the Agricultural Subject I can at present think of. I thought it best to draw it up in the form of an Account tho’ I have filled up the columns you sent me. The manner I have pursued will furnish you with every thing you require, tho’ much of it may be useless to you & inapplicable perhaps to your immediate Object. If any thing is deficient...
3862Enclosure: [Account on the State of Argriculture], 27 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The farms I have selected keep on an average 16 head horned Cattle, 4 horses, 12 Sheep & 12 Swine. Dr. Farm To annual Int: on capital 200 a[cre]s £ 8 ⅌ acre £1600 @ £ 6 ⅌ cent £ 96. 0. 0 Stock and implements. { 4 horses at £ 15 each £60. 0. 0
3863To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 29 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote a letter to you by the Post, last Friday, because I wished to receive as early an information on the subjects mentioned in it as might be convenient. I am informed that the situation and circumstances of Thomas Cotterell late owner of the Sloop Betsy are such that if the prosecutions to which he is liable should be commenced against him, and be successful he and his family would be...
3864To Alexander Hamilton from William Hall, 29 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Mort & myself have examin’d the Delaware as high as Pequest about 94 miles above Philadelphia & have found several good situations. On the Raritan there are none. Our Money running short oblig’d us to come to New York for a supply. We propose going up the Pasaic in a few Days, after which you shall receive a report of our observations. I call’d on Mr. Marshall and deliver’d your Letter. He...
3865To Alexander Hamilton from Nathan Keais, 29 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Washington [ North Carolina ] August 29, 1791 . “Inclosed is a Copy of John Braggs & Stephen Tinkers Bond, taken in Consequence of a Contract for Staking out the Channel of news River leading to New Bern. I have also Contracted with John Payne for Staking out the Channel leading to Edenton for Fifty dollars.…” ALS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “A,” Pennsylvania and Southern...
3866To Alexander Hamilton from William Seton, 29 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a Return of the Stock I have purchased on account of the United States to this day inclusive, being 13291 8/100 of 3 ⅌ Cents & 173708 88/100 Deferred, amounting to Dollars 116542 69/100 which Sum has been ⟨received⟩ from this Bank. I expect in a day or two to compleat the whole investiture of 150,000 Dollars. I have the honor to be with the greatest respect Sir &c...
3867To Alexander Hamilton from William Skinner, 29 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have heretofore at different times taken the liberty of communicating to you the desire this State had of subscribing to the Loan for the Certificates in the Treasury and Comptroller’s offices, and that attempts had been made for that purpose, in behalf of the State, That not answering their wish, That another attempt had been made to subscribe for them in the name of the Comptroller, this...
3868To Alexander Hamilton from Henry Wynkoop, 29 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Letter of the 13 instant, I received this day week ago. I have endeavoured to comply with your request in the best manner I was capable, yet not altogether in the way you mentioned. The novelty of the subject—and never having kept any regular account of the annual produce of my lands—nor knowing any person to whom I could apply for such minute information, made it necessary for me to...
3869Enclosure: Bucks County Pennsylvania, 29 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Quantity. 200 acres. value 3.200 Ds. Two hundred acres being nearly the average quantity of the Farms in this quarter, have taken that as the most convenient portion from which to form the required Estimates. Arable land 125 acres. The arable Land divided into five fields of twenty five acres each, makes in the whole 125 Acres. Pasture 50 acres The course of cropping pursued here requiring...
3870To Alexander Hamilton from William Short, 30 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I make use of this conveyance by the English packet merely to announce to you that the bankers at Amsterdam have in consequence of my letters to them had a loan contracted for in behalf of the U.S. for six millions of guilders. The celerity with which it was taken up, as they inform me, shews the continuance of the high ground on which the credit of the U.S. stands at that place. The bankers...
3871To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Jefferson, [31 August 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respectful compliments to the Secretary of the Treasury and incloses him the proposed letter to the Minister of France, in which however he shall be glad to make any modifications of expression to accomodate it more perfectly to the ideas of the Secretary of the Treasury. It will be necessary to shew it in it’s ultimate form to the President before it be sent. AL ,...
3872From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Jefferson, [31 August 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton presents his compliments to the Secretary of State. He would think the turn of expression on the whole safer, if instead of what follows the words “depreciated medium” the following was substituted—“and that in the final liquidation of the payments, which shall have been made, due regard will be had for an equitable allowance for the circumstance of depreciation.” JCHW John C....
3873From Alexander Hamilton to Tobias Lear, [31 August 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The only person definitively concluded upon by the President, is Philip Thomas, as Inspector of the revenue for Survey No. 2, in the District of Maryland, comprehending the counties of Alleghany, Washington, Frederick, & Montgomery. It is his intention also to appoint Mr. Morris, the now 3d. mate of the Cutter at N.Y., to the Office of first mate, Mr. Boudenot having written me a letter of...
3874To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 31 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
When I reported to you that I had contracted for the Cutter to be built in this State I mentioned that she was to be compleated fit for the sea that is with riging sails boats &c for 1440 dollars. After Captain Williams was appointed master he suggested to me his wishes that there might be some deviation from the plan I had given and on which the agreement was founded. On this I wrote to the...
3875To Alexander Hamilton from William Short, 31 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the honor of announcing to you yesterday by the way of the English packet the loan contracted for at Amsterdam for six millions of florins. I thought it best to give you the details of what has happened with respect to the charges & commission by this conveyance which is a person going to embark at Havre. My several letters will have informed you of the several attempts I made to bring...
3876Enclosure: Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard to William Short, 25 August … (Hamilton Papers)
We had the pleasure to address you the 22nd. Inst. and now come to reply particularly to your respected favors of 12 & 14 ditto. We must confess to you Sir, that your sticking to reduce the Charges We fixed with you for the Five per Cent Loans of the United-States, after We had placed them upon the very lowest footing, is truly surprizing to us, more especially as It is striving to recede from...
3877From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [31 August 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor to transmit herewith to the President of the United States the result of the enquiry on the subject of Mr. Drayton. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. H may have misdated this letter to Washington or it was misdated by the copyist, for “the result of the enquiry on the subject of Mr. Drayton” may be found in Oliver Wolcott, Jr., to...
3878To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, [August 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The account of the Chinese trade is in many respects similar to information and conformable to experience I have had. I do not observe any thing contrary to what I have heard from authority. The accot. of the East India trade is minute so far as it goes, and gives some useful information. The increase of the consumption of the finer kinds of Teas deserves notice. The quantity of Specie (at 2...
3879To Alexander Hamilton from Henry Guest, August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New ] Brunswick [ New ] Jersey, August, 1791 . Urges Hamilton to establish at New Brunswick “the public Manufactory” of the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Guest, who had originally been a tanner by trade, was one of New Brunswick’s leading businessmen.
3880Prospectus of the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures, [August 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The establishment of Manufactures in the United States when maturely considered will be fo⟨und⟩ to be of the highest importance to their prosperity. It ⟨is⟩ an almost self evident proposition that that com⟨muni⟩ty which can most completely supply its own w⟨ants⟩ is in a state of the highest political perfection. ⟨And⟩ both theory and experience conspire to prove that a nation (unless from a...
3881To Alexander Hamilton from Nathaniel Appleton, 1 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, September 1, 1791. On September 27, 1791, Hamilton wrote to Appleton : “You observe in your letter of the first instant.” Letter not found. ]
3882From Alexander Hamilton to Theodore Foster, 1 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have had the pleasure of receiving your two letters of the 23rd July & 4th of August. You concluded rightly that it could require no apology for entering into the detail with which you have favored me. On a subject so interesting to your State, your desire to communicate information was indulged with peculiar propriety, & on any subject I shall always esteem myself obliged by your...
3883To Alexander Hamilton from Le Roy and Bayard, 1 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Esteemed Favor of the 26 Ulto. only reached us this day, and that after the Sailing of the Packet. We were done drawing, or Should have been happy in Supplying you with a bill for £1000. Stg. We desired Mr. Mc.Evers to Spare you whatever he had left of those, we sent him for Sale. The Exchange we sold at was from 4½ to 4 p ct Cash. Probably we may again Shortly be drawing, when we will...
3884To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [1 September 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Wolcott respectfully informs the Secretary of the Treasury, that Stephen Drayton Esq: of south Carolina, is charged on the Books of the Quarter Master Department, with between, three & four Millions of Dollars in old emissions recd. by him, principally during the years 1779. & 1780. Also that certificates of Specie value, to a large amount, were issued by said Drayton & his assistants,...
3885From Alexander Hamilton to William Short, 2 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Since my last to you of the first of August I have received your several letters of the 3d. 5. 10 & 19th of June. Most of the points mentioned in those letters will find sufficient answers in my several communications of the 9th & 24th of May, June 25 & 30th & the 1st of August, all of which having gone, by duplicates at least, and some by triplicates, I take it for granted have gotten or will...
3886To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Breck, 3 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In conformity with your wishes it wou’d afford me great pleasure to make you acquainted with the exact State of the Duck & Glass manufactories in this Town, but an Account of the former having already been communicated, by our Agent, to Mr Gorham to be forwarded to you will render any observations on that branch unnecessary except that the demand for our Sail Cloth far exceeds the quantity...
3887To Alexander Hamilton from Daniel Delozier, 3 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It appears by the books and Invoices of this Office, that Mr Thomas Fraser imported in the Ship Hope, Andrew English, Master, from Liverpool the 23 June 1790 five Cases hats marked and numbered from 9 to 13 inclusive. Cases, number 9, 10, 11 & 12 were assorted alike and cost £26..9..3 sterling each, and number 13 cost £54. 13..9 Sterling. Mr. Fraser avers that in his acco. of packages...
3888From Alexander Hamilton to George Gale, 3 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, September 3, 1791. Letter listed in dealer’s catalogue. Letter not found. ] LS , sold by Charles F. Heartman, April 6, 1929, Lot 96. Gale was supervisor of the revenue for the District of Maryland.
3889To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 3 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] September 3, 1791 . “The enclosed letter, which I have the honor of transmitting to you by the President’s order, will shew the necessity of making a change in the commissions for the Port of Charleston.…” LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
3890To Alexander Hamilton from William Short, 3 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I received last night the inclosed copy of a letter from the bankers at Amsterdam which they desire me after perusal to forward to you. In my two last of the 30th & 31st ulto I announced to you the loan therein mentioned & informed you it would be appropriated agreeably to your directions—so that from the time of your recieving this information you may consider the 2½ million of florins at...
3891Enclosure: William Short to Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard, 3 September … (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 22d of August informed me that you had opened a loan for six millions of ⟨florins⟩ & it gave me real pleasure as it never could have entered into my mind that any other conditions than those presented & repeated in my several letters authorizing the loan could have been adopted. Your letter of the 25th informs me that you have ⟨presented⟩ other conditions for this loan not...
3892To Alexander Hamilton from Daniel Stevens, 3 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeable to your request, have wrote a circular Letter to the most leading Characters, throughout the State, relative to the Manufactures that may be carried on in the several Counties. As yet, have only two Letters on the subject, one contains some small Samples of the Cotton and Linen manufacture carried on in families for their own wear. As any others come to hand, I will transmit them to...
3893Enclosure: Silvanus Walker to Daniel Stevens, 1 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeable to your request I am to inform you that there is no manufactories carried on in the interior parts of this State only in private families; and they in general manufactor as much as they commonly wear a few samples of which I have enclosed you but am convinced from the small knowledge I acquir’d of that business and situation of that part of the country if the people could meet with...
3894To Alexander Hamilton from William Hall, 4 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Last night Mr. Mort & myself return’d from the Pasaic Falls. One of the finest situations in the world (we believe) can be made there. The quality of the water is good & in sufficient quantity to supply works of almost any extent. Every thing nescessary as to situation is here to be found. The Lands ly well are shelter’d from the winds & are not subject to inundations. This situation so far...
3895From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [4 September 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
I hoped with the strongest assurance to have met you at Eliz Town; but this change of weather has brought upon me an attack of the complaint in my kindneys, to which you know I have been sometimes subject in the fall. So that I could not with safety commit myself to so rude a vehicle as the stage for so long a journey. I have therefo⟨re⟩ prevailed upon Mr. Meyer to go to Elizabet⟨h⟩ Town to...
3896To Alexander Hamilton from William Campbell, Benjamin Smith, Henry Toomer, George Hooper, M. R. Willkings, Auly … (Hamilton Papers)
Wilmington [ North Carolina ] September 5, 1791 . “We take the present favourable opportunity of replying to yours of the 11th. June by inclosing all the answers We conceived necessary to your queries.…” LS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Early Lighthouse Letters, National Archives. These men were North Carolina commissioners to regulate shipping on the Cape Fear River.
3897Enclosure: Answers to Queries, 5 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Quere 1st. When was the building commenced? Answer. About the 1st. June 1788. Qr. 2d. Is there any the least appearance of its suffering from the winter or winters it has sustained since it was built and in what parts? A. Not materially. Indeed the brick work not at all but the frames of the windows a little, the Lumber on the beach which was provided for the light house and not yet made use...
3898From Alexander Hamilton to Tobias Lear, [5 September 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his compliments to Mr. Lear and sends the two commissions for south Carolina. He would wait on the president to day but is prevented by a slight attack of a disorder common to him at the change of weather usual at this season. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. See Lear to H, September 3, 1791 .
3899To Alexander Hamilton from William Seton, 5 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Having compleated the full investiture of the 150,000 Dollars directed by you to be laid out in the purchase of Stock for acct. of the United States, I have the honor to enclose a Return of the same, & your account in Bank is debited with the amount. I am with great respect LC , Bank of New York, New York City. For background to this letter, see H to Seton, August 15, 1791 ; H to the President...
3900To Alexander Hamilton from William Seton, 5 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
By my Public Letter you will see I have compleated the investiture of the 150,000 Dollars in the purchase of Stock—in fact it was finished the middle of last week but I could not get some of the Transfers passed till this day. The whole stands now in the Name of the Vice President &ca. I wish to know if I am to take out the Certificates & forward them & to whom. Great as this relief has been...