4041To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Newton, Junior, 10 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Norfolk [ Virginia ] October 10, 1791 . Reports that John McComb, Jr., has completed the foundation of the Cape Henry lighthouse. ALS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “A,” Pennsylvania and Southern States, National Archives.
4042From Alexander Hamilton to William Seton, 10 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The duplicate return of your last purchases has come to hand. The Commissioner of loans might have issued the requisite Certificate in order to a Transfer to the books of the Treasury, upon the strength of your original Agency; especially as the Transfer was to be in the same names. But as a different idea has struck him I have written to him the enclosed to obviate difficulty. With very great...
4043To Alexander Hamilton from William Short, 10 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The last letter which I have had the honor of writing to you was of the 23d. of September. I have since then recieved yours of August 1st. I inclose you at present a copy of my last letter to the bankers at Amsterdam written in answer to theirs in which they propose of themselves, as I had formerly mentioned it was probable they would do, that the rate of commission on the last loan should be...
4044Enclosure: William Short to Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard, 30 … (Hamilton Papers)
I have barely time to acknowledge by the extraordinary of tomorrow the receipt of yours of the 22d. inst. in which you propose that the sec. of the Treasury should settle the rate of commission on the last loan. It would seem that the rate at which any business is to be transacted should be looked for in the powers authorizing the transaction of that business—still if you think this matter...
4045To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [10 October 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 30th. September enclosing a Contract entered into by the Collector of Wilmington in North Carolina with James McStephens & Henry Toomer for the stakage of the shoals of Cape Fear river, I have duly received. As I approve of the Contract, I have transmitted the same with my approbation to the Collector of Wilmington. I wrote to you from the head of Elk, informing you of my...
4046To Alexander Hamilton from John Chester, 11 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In compliance with the request in your Circular of 22d June last, herewith are forwarded a number of letters, which have been recieved, & relate to the subject of Manufactures carried on in this State; together with sundry samples. After having revolved in my mind several plans for obtaining the necessary information, none was thought of which afforded so flattering prospects, as that which...
4047Enclosure: Peter Colt to John Chester, 21 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The conversation which I had with you some days past on the subject of the Secretarys Letter respecting our manufactures, has given occasion the imperfect History of that Business which accompanies this. I shall leave it to your judgment to make such use of it in your correspondence with the Secretary as you may deem proper—or wholly to suppress it; I am not possessd of sufficient documents on...
4048Enclosure: Elisha Colt to John Chester, 20 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In answer to you favour of 16th. Inst on the subject of the Woolen Manufacture established in this place, I am now to observe, that the Business commenced in June 1788 with a Capital of £1280. raised by Subscription in shares of Ten pounds each. The first season we purchased about Seven thousand pounds of Wool, and such Implements as were of prime necessity in carrying on the Business, which...
4049Enclosure: Heman Swift to John Chester, 22 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I receiv’d your favour of the 10th. instant, yesterday, and should be very happy to comply with your request in making Out a statement respecting the Manufactures in this County, but am obliged to set out on a journey into the state of Vermont the day after tomorrow which will prevent my being able to get the Necssary information before you will be oblieged to make returns. I consider those...
4050Enclosure: Benjamin Huntington to John Chester, 24 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Letter of the 10th Instant has been Recd but being Necessarily Abscent last week could not Attend to the Subject you mention untill Monday last and being on the same Business this Day I found Col Leffingwell on the Same Employ through the Request of Mr. Learnand & we have agreed on a Report as near as we can state one, not only for this Town but for the whole County N London (exceptd)...
4051Enclosure: Christopher Leffingwell to John Chester, 26 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In Consequence of your Application to Mr Learned and Mr Huntington to procure a Statement of the Manufactories in the County of New London they have both applied to me to give you the best information I could collect which I here inclose the principal part of which is in this Town which Imagine will at Some future day become a very Considerable manufactoring place. My reasons are these it is...
4052Enclosure: Christopher Leffingwell to John Chester, 30 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Since forwarding Statement of Manufactories have discoverd an Omission of the Manufactoring of Carding Machines and Jennys for Carding & Spinning on the large Scale. Those in Mr Lathrops works were wholly made here by an Inhabitant of this Town who is a Great Mechanical Genius. Machines for Cutting doubling & Crooking Card wire for making Common Cotton & Wool Cards are also made in this Town....
4053Enclosure: William Hillhouse to John Chester, 6 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
As Mr. Huntington and Mr. Learned reside in the two principle Manfacturing Towns, and have Easy access to all the other Towns in the County of New London, Shall depend on their giving the information you Desire in respect to the Manufactures in them. This Town is altogether in the Farming way, & little or nothing is done with us in the way of Trade or Manufacture Except for use of the...
4054Enclosure: Joseph P. Cooke to John Chester, 12 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In pursuance of your request communicated in your letter the 10th. ult. I have endeavoured to obtain the best information in my power respecting the several manufactures in the northern parts of the County of Fairfield, expecting you will receive from Mr. Davenport all necessary information from the towns upon the Sea-coasts. The inland parts of this County, not yet overstocked with...
4055Enclosure: O. Burr and Company to John Chester, 12 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your circular Letter of the 10th. ult., desiring Information respecting the Rise & Progress of Manufactures, was handed to us by the Honble. Joseph P. Cooke Esqr & as you observe, that any Communications by Letter, will answer your Purpose, we have taken the Liberty of addressing this to you, stating the Rise & Progress of our Hat Manufactory, & that of the Saddle Cloth under the Care of...
4056Enclosure: Amasa Learned to John Chester, 14 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeably to your request, I have written to several Gentlemen in each Town, in this County, to collect and forward to you, before the 20th Septr, such information on the subject of Manufactures in their respective Towns as the Secretary required. The domestic manufactures of this Town are the same kind that you find in every other Town; but rather inferior to most, in quantity & quality. The...
4057Enclosure: Jonathan Palmer, Junior, to John Chester, 15 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
At Mr. Learneds request with respect to Manafactures have to state to you, That we have No regular Established. Factories in this Town, and therefore no pecuniary Incouragements. Our Domestick Are Considerable but to what amount is very doubtfull. The business of Hattmaking has been caryed on long in this Town, but for about One Year has been followed with peculiar Attention And perseverance....
4058Enclosure: James Davenport to John Chester, 16 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I am honored by the receipt of your Letter of the 10th Ult. in which you inform me of the request of the Secretary of the Treasury to have as accurate information as possible of the state of Manufactures of every kind in this State & desire me to collect & communicate to you information on the subject from this County. I should have answered you Letter sooner but absence from home prevented....
4059Enclosure: Roger Newberry to John Chester, 16 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Since I received yours of the 10th. of August My Son on whome my dependance has been has been sick and unable to assist me in my business, so that I have been unable to pay much attention to the Subject of your letter. I have wrote to several Gentlement and have recd. no answer except from Alexander King Esq of Suffield whose letter I herewith send you. The Manufactures of this Town are Mostly...
4060Enclosure: Alexander King to Roger Newberry, 12 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In Compliance with your Request of 29th August last, I have sent as Accurate an Estimate as at present can be obtained of the State and produce of the Manufactures of this Town. Wool The Wollen Manufacture is the Principal and the most Beneficial to the Inhabitants of any that is carried on in this Place. There are in Suffield about 400 Families and about 5 Thousand grown Sheep, which will...
4061Enclosure: John Treadwell to John Chester, 21 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Pursuant to your request I wrote to a Gentleman in each of the towns of Southington Berlin and Bristol for the necessary information on the subject manufactures in those towns, but have received no answer except from Mr Andrews of Southington. The account he has given and the estimates he has made I have reason to conclude are pretty correct, and with very little variation, as to common...
4062Enclosure: Elezur Andrews to John Treadwell, 14 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeable to your Request I have endeavoured to obtain such Knowledge as to give you as Just a statement as I possibly could as to the Manufactories in this Town. It is not in my power to give you accurate account as I could wish. The greatest part of Woolen & Linen Cloaths wore in this Town are Manufactured by different Families in this place. (A very Small proportion of Foreign cloaths are...
4063Enclosure: Chauncey Whittelsey to John Chester, 27 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have recd. but two Letters in answer to those I wrote, in Consequence of your Application upon the Subject of Manufactures, one from Chatham, the other from Killingworth; the one from Killingworth was accompanied by one from Mr. Elliot to Mr. Lane, which I forward you as it contains some Information, upon the Subject of manufacturing Steel, which may eventually prove of some Consequence. In...
4064Enclosure: Hezekiah Lane to Chauncey Whittelsey, 16 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Since writing the Letter respecting Manufactures I have received this which I send you for more particular Information about the Steel Works. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
4065Enclosure: Aaron Elliott to Hezekiah Lane, 14 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeable to your request of information, respecting the Steel Furnace, from the Supervisor of Middlesex County; for the information of the Secretary, of Congress; I would Observe The Furnace, was built by My Father Colo Aaron Elliot, about Fivety, Yeares past, for the purpose of Manufacturing Blistered Steel. It was at first but small, for the sake of Experiment: afterwards inlargd, so as to...
4066Enclosure: William Williams to John Chester, 29 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In answer to your Letter of ye 10th Augt Ulto. thro the multiplicity of Business & avocations, I am able to give you a very imperfect account of Manufactures in this County, & I suppose quite inadequate to the Secretarys Wishes. There are manufactures of Linnen Cloths carried on in very many Families in this Town & County, & large quantities are made, many private Looms for weavg in Families...
4067Enclosure: Constant Southworth to William Williams, 1 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The manufactures carried on in this Town, are in the domestic way, and differ very little from those of other Towns in the County, except in the Article of Silk; Woollens and Linens are made here in most Families for domestic Use, and are many of them nearly equal in beauty to European Cloths of the second rate, and far exceed them in strength and durability. The culture of the Mulberry tree...
4068Enclosure: John Mix, Junior, to John Chester, 5 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the Honour of receving a Letter From you Dated 15th of September 1791 In which you are pleas’d to inform me of the Desire of the Secretary of the Treasury to be Inform’d Relative to the different Manufactories which are carried on in this State, and as Sir the object of your writing me is with regard to the Button Manufactory in which I am Engaged, I have therefore Sir herewith inclosed...
4069Enclosure: John Mix, Junior, to John Chester, 30 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I was not bread up to any Mechanical Business, but had part of an Education at Yale College. After I left College I entered into the Mercantile Line, but Just at that time the War Coming on I entered into the Service with a Commition in which I remained untill my Ill State of health oblidged me to Quit the Service. Being ever a Friend and Supporter of the Rights of my Country and finding...
4070Enclosure: John Mix, Junior, to John Chester, 7 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Being in a very Great hurry and a Croud of business I did not give You so Perticular an account of the Skelleton Rimd. Buttons, (when I wrote you on the subject of the Button Manufactory.) as I could have wished. I therefore take this Opportunity to inform you Sir. The Skelleton Rimd. Buttons are of those kinds which I gave you a Sample of some with Cloath with white Rims, and some with...
4071Enclosure: John Mix, Junior, to John Chester, 8 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Doubtless you may remember that I mentioned a word to you at my house with regard to my Supplying the Federal Armey with Buttons from our Factory, and that I wished for your Patronage and Influence in the matter. If Sir it is agreeable to you to mention the matter to the Secretary, I should take it as a favour. We should be able to Furnish at a very reasonable rate, and would Put USA on Each...
4072To Alexander Hamilton from Nathaniel Hazard, [11 October 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
My Friend Robert Fearon Esquire, will have the Honor of delivering this to you. He is the Nephew of John Foxcroft Esquire, the late British Post Master General. He has Business in Virginia to transact, respecting the Affairs of a Coll. Mercer, in which the President of the United States had some personal Agency, so far back as 1773. He wished to know from me, in what Mode he could with most...
4073To Alexander Hamilton from Nathaniel Hazard, [11 October 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
I should not have so soon addressed you again but to apologize for a Freedom, I reluctantly took, & would not have done for any American . An english Gentleman Robert Fearon Esqr. has Business respecting the Estate & Affairs of a Coll. Mercer in Virginia, in which in 1773 the President had a personal Agency. At his Request, I barely present him for official Information . He is the Gentleman...
4074To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 11 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In directing the District Attorney to file a Libel against the Brigt. Betsey, John Arnold Master, from Bordeaux, and then acquainting you with the Case and the favorable circumstances attending the breach of the Law, I acted, in my Idea, so perfectly consonant to a plain and positive Law, and your Instructions, that I thought Malice itself could not blame me; but some Interested Men...
4075From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [11 October 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The Post of this day has brought me your letter of the 7th. instant, the commands of which shall with great care & no less pleasure be executed. I wrote you on the sixth a letter; of which the enclosed is a copy. With the truest & most respectful attachment, I have the honor to remain Sir, &c. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Letter not found.
4076From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 11 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Lord Wycomb having mentioned to me his intention to pay you his respects at Mount Vernon, I beg your permission to present him to you. The personal acquirements and merits of his Lordship conspire with a consideration for the friendly dispositions and liberal policy of his father, the Marquis of Lansdown, towards this country, to constitute a claim in his favour to cordial notice. I have the...
4077From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 11 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 3rd instant has been received. There can be no doubt that horses and other live stock imported from foreign countries must be considered as an object of trade, or vendible commodity, and of course as subject to duties. To obviate the adoption of this rule in a general sense, I think it however necessary to observe that I consider negroes to be exempted from duties on...
4078From Alexander Hamilton to Edmund Randolph, 12 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, October 12, 1791. On October 18, 1791, Randolph wrote to Hamilton : “The attorney-general of the United States does himself the honor of replying to the questions, propounded by the secretary of the Treasury of the United States, in his letter of the 12th of October 1791.” Letter not found. ]
4079To Alexander Hamilton from Nathaniel Gorham, 13 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In contemplating yours relative to the manufactories of this State, I am apprehensive we shall not make so good a figure as in reality we ought to do and the reason is that the goods & articles made in this State are of such a nature as not to appear in a very conspicuous light, altho they are not the less usefull. About twenty years ago the importation of European goods into this State was...
4080Enclosure: [State of the Sail Cloth Factory in Boston], [13 October 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The Sail Cloth Factory in Boston employs about 200 Women & Girls together with about 50 Men, the whole of the latter with a major part of the former depend solely on the factory for a maintenance. At present only 30 Looms are improv’d, which produce from 45 to 50 pieces of Duck ⅌ week, though the Works are Capable of turning out 90 or 100 ps ⅌ week, provided a sufficient supply of Flax could...
4081Enclosure: [State of the Nail Manufacture in This Commonwealth], [13 October 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The State of the Nail Manufacture in this Commonwealth is rather discouraging, at present, than otherways, as there is not sufficient brought to the Market to answer the Demand, owing in some measure to ye increas’d cultivation of their farms, as most of the workmen in that Business are Farmers, and attend to the Nail making, only in the Winter season, except in the Towns of Bridgwater, Norton...
4082Enclosure: [The Various Manufactories of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts], [13 October 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The various manufactories of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, finish upwards of Ten Thousand dozen pair of cotton and wool cards yearly; two thirds of these are exported to the several States; they average at the price of Five Dollars and an half per dozen, and produce Fifty five thousand dollars. Four fifths of the whole are made in the Town of Boston. One house alone completes Six thousand...
4083To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 13 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
When I received your letter of the 13th of August, I did not consider it with the attention which would have been necessary if at that time I had attempted to answer the questions you propose. Now it appears to me impossible to do it, with any degree of precision. It then struck me that certain communications to the Society of Agriculture of this city would have furnished the principal...
4084To Alexander Hamilton from William Seton, 13 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I am honored with your Letters of the 8th & 10th. The Commissioner of Loans not having required the anticipated Credit of Twenty Thousand Dollars, the Treasurers Check for Thirty thousand Dollars is all that has passed to his Credit. I delivered your Letter to the Commr. of Loans upon the subject of the Transfer to the Books of the Treasury for the Debt purchased by me for Account of the...
4085To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 14 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is the form of the bond and oath given and taken by the Exporters of Distilled Spirits in this District. Please to revise, and correct them, and return them, or to furnish me with other forms as soon as may be convenient. It is made a question whether by the addition to the provisions contained in the fortieth and forty-first Sects. of the Act intituled an Act to prove more...
4086To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Lowrey, 14 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeably to my promise when I last had the pleasure of seeing you, I am to inform you of the prices of the sundry articles of Provisions, Fuel, Labour &c. in the upper part of Hunterdon County & of Sussex County within this State, from twenty to forty Miles above Trenton in the Neighborhood of the Delaware and Raritan Rivers, & shall proceed in such order as appears to me regular Vizt. Wheat...
4087To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Smith, 14 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received Two hundred and forty nine thousand two hundred and fifty four pounds 10/ ½ equal to Six hundred and seventy five thousand one hundred and one Drs ³³⁄₁₀₀ in the assumed debt of this State for which I have given descriptive receipts, have registered and numbered them & Carried them to the Comptroller of this State’s Office, who has examined them and declares them genuine. He is...
4088To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 14 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
When I addressed a private letter to you a few days ago I had no more idea that Monday the 24th. instt. was the day appointed for the meeting of Congress, than I had of its being dooms-day until it was mentioned to me in a letter which I have just received from Mr. Lear (who was under the like mistake). It had taken such deep root in my mind that the last monday in the month was the time that...
4089To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Lowrey, 15 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I did myself the pleasure of writing you yesterday and as an immediate conveyance presented itself, I must confess that being eager to come forward with what information lay in my power, as early as possible, through hurry I had omitted one very particular observation which I fully intended to have made. I have therefore taken the Liberty to address you again and shall make my omission the...
4090To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 15 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The electors of the Senate of Maryland have chosen me one of the Senate of our State legislature, and many of my friends are urgent that I should accept. As yet I have given no answer. If you still entertain the project you mentioned to me when in Philadelphia it may somewhat influence my determination. Perhaps the complexion of several European powers, as it respects France, and the claims...