601VI. Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Jefferson, 11 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have perused with attention your intended report to the President; and will, as I am sure is your wish, give you my opinion with frankness. As far as a summary examination enables me to judge, I agree in your interpretation of the Treaty. The exemption sought does not appear to be claimable as a right. But I am not equally well satisfied of the policy of granting it on the ground you...
602From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Jefferson, [13 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you for the printed papers you have been so obliging as to send. I cannot forbear a conjecture that the communications of the Chargé des affaires of France are rather expedients to improve a moment, in which it is perceived questions concerning navigation are to be discussed than the effects of serious instructions from his Court. Be this as it may I really have not thought of any...
603VIII. Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Jefferson, 13 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the printed papers you have been so obliging as to send. I cannot forbear a conjecture that the communications of the Chargé des affaires of France are rather expedients to improve a moment, in which it is perceived questions concerning navigation are to be discussed than the effects of serious instructions from his Court. Be this as it may I really have not thought of any...
604Treasury Department Circular to the Governors of the States, 14 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It is necessary to the adjustment of the public accounts, that the officers of the Treasury should be informed what sums in final settlement certificates were paid over to the several states by the agents for settling the accounts of their respective lines in the late army. The statements of those agents are the only documents on the subject of which the United States are possessed, and it...
605From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 17 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, January 17, 1791. Encloses “the Presidents commission for Mr. Joseph Greenleaf as keeper of the light house of Portland.” LS , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letters and Papers re Lighthouses, Buoys, and Piers, Vol. 4, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters to the Collector at Boston, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters to Collectors at Small Ports, “Set G,”...
606From Alexander Hamilton to John Wheelock, 18 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, January 18, 1791. On the verso of Wheelock’s letter to Hamilton on November 8, 1790, Hamilton wrote : “Answered January 18. 1791.” Letter not found. ]
607Conversation with George Beckwith, 19[–20] January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Beckwith. I take the liberty of speaking very freely to you on every subject, and upon this principle give me leave to remark, that I was sorry to observe a certain warmth of expression in one paragraph of the address of Your House of Representatives, in reply to The President’s speech, which respected your commerce and navigation. Mr. —— You know perfectly, that we have different opinions...
608From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 21 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 16th. of October from which I find that a cutter of near 64 Tons is thought of for your coast. The terms of 22½ Drs. per ton are very satisfactory, but unless the construction of the Vessel is so far advanced as to prevent a diminution of the size, I request that she may be confined to the smallest dimensions that are deemed consistent with safety on your...
609From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 22 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, January 22, 1791. The dealer’s catalogue description of this letter reads: “Authorizing a cutter to be built for the Delaware station under the supervision of Captain Montgomery.” Letter not found. ] LS , sold at Parke-Bernet Galleries, March 28, 1940, Lot 302. James Montgomery of Pennsylvania.
610From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 22 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It being deemed necessary to proceed in the building of the Cutter for the Maryland station I have now to request that you will immediately proceed in the business. It may be well that you should be informed that the Massachusetts Cutter has been contracted for at Newburyport at about 22½ Dollars per Ton fitted completely as a vessel with sails, rigging, anchors &ca. including two Boats, one...
611From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, [22 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, January 22, 1791. On February 23, 1791, Lincoln wrote to Hamilton and referred to “your letter of the 22nd ultimo.” Letter not found. ] PAH Harold C. Syrett, ed., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (New York and London, 1961– ). , VIII, 61–62.
612From Alexander Hamilton to Jedediah Huntington, 23 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It being deemed necessary to proceed in the building of the Cutter intended for the Connecticut and Rhode Island station, I have to request that on the receipt of this the business may be pursued. The cutter for Boston is to be built at Newbury port & fitted as a Vessel with all requisite masts, spars, sails, cables, cordage, anchors, a Boat &ca. for about 22½ Dollars per Ton. At that rate you...
613From Alexander Hamilton to Joseph Whipple, 23 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, January 23, 1791. On February 15, 1791, Whipple wrote to Hamilton : “Your letter of the 23rd Ulto. I have received.” Letter not found. ]
614From Alexander Hamilton to George Wray, 23 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I find so considerable a difference in favor of the United States will arise from building at Hampton the Revenue Cutter which it was desired to have built at Baltimore, that it is probable you will be applied to by the Collector of that district to assist him in getting another suitable Vessel in your Port. I shall enclose this letter to him with instructions to endeavor to procure a Vessel...
615Alexander Hamilton’s First Draft of the Report on the Subject of Manufactures, [27 January–4 February] 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department } the 1790. [to be left out—or pro last read 1790] The Secretary of the Treasury, in obedience to the order of the house of Representatives of the fifteenth day of January last, has applied his attention, at as early a period as his other duties would permit, to the subject of Manufactures, Stands and particularly to the means of promoting such as will tend to render the...
616First Draft of the Report on the Establishment of a Mint, [28 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury having maturely considered the subject referred to him by the order of the House of Representatives of the day of last relatively to the establishment of a Mint begs leave respectfully to submit the result of his reflections. A plan for an establishment of this nature must not only contemplate the principles of a coinage of the United States; but must extend its...
617Second Draft of the Report on the Establishment of a Mint, [28 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury having maturely considered the subject referred to him by the order of the House of Representatives of the day of last relatively to the establishment of a Mint most respectfully submits the result of his inquiries investigation and reflections. A plan for an establishment of this nature involves a great prodigious vast variety of considerations intricate nice and...
618Final Version of the Report on the Establishment of a Mint, [28 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
[To the Speaker of the House of Representatives] The Secretary of the Treasury having attentively considered the subject referred to him by the Order of the House of Representatives of the fifteenth day of April last, relatively to the establishment of a Mint most respectfully submits the result of his enquiries and reflections. A plan for an establishment of this nature involves a great...
619From Alexander Hamilton to Richard Harison, 29 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I request your speedy opinion on the following point. A citizen of the United States obtains under the Registring act a register for a vessel belonging to him. He afterwards goes to reside in a foreign country. Does the vessel lose the benefit of her register during such residence? The answer to this question depends essentially on the construction of the fifth section of that act. There are...
620From Alexander Hamilton to Angelica Church, 31 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
There is no proof of my affection which I would not willingly give you. How far it will be practicable to accomplish your wish respecting your father is however very uncertain. Our republican ideas stand much in the way of accumulating offices in one family. Indeed I doubt much whether your father could be prevailed upon to accept. I do not however urge this point till I can better ascertain...
621Conversation with George Beckwith and William Macomb, 31 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
A Conversation: Mr. Hamilton, Mr. William Macomb of Detroit, and Lieutenant Colonel Beckwith. Lt. Colo. B. Mr. Macomb, I think it for the honor of the King’s government, for its interests, and I really believe it for the interests of this country also, that the true state of things in the western Country should be known, and if there are any misconceptions, or errors arising from...
622From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 31 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, January 31, 1791. “The President of the United States being about to appoint the 1st. 2d. & 3d. Mates of the revenue Cutters, it will be of public service to obtain the names of some persons of your State suitable for those duties.…” Copy, RG 56, Letters to the Collector at Providence, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters to Collectors at Small Ports, “Set G,” National...
623From Alexander Hamilton to William Ellery, [31 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, January 31, 1791. On February 15, 1791, Ellery wrote to Hamilton : “I received your letter of the 31st. of last month.” Letter not found. ] PAH Harold C. Syrett, ed., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (New York and London, 1961– ). , VIII, 37–38.
624From Alexander Hamilton to Tench Coxe, [February-May 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
I send you some letters to be copied also the draft of instructions to Commanders of Revenue Cutters to be considered &c. The preparation of the other letters concerning Cutters ought to be a primary object. As Registers cannot pursuant to the Registering Act be furnished to them will it not be proper they should have some Treasury paper as equivalent to it? If it will a Survey ought to be...
625From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, [February 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
I have considered the case of the two vessels belonging to the port of Philadelphia which have arrived at the capes of Delaware. The law does not authorize the receiving in any custom house, reports and entries of vessels that are not within the district to which it appertains. The Only method therefore, as it appears to me, by which the owners can effect an entry in this or any other case is...
626From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 1 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Trustees of the sinking fund have thought fit to commit to you the making of purchases of the public debt to the amount of fifty thousand Dollars pursuant to the Act making provision for the reduction of the public debt. To enable you to execute this trust (which I doubt not you will chearfully undertake) I have directed the Treasurer to forward to you fifty thousand dollars in Notes of...
627From Alexander Hamilton to Tench Coxe, [1 February 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
I send you a Check on the Bank of New York, for three thousand Dollars, to be delivered Mr. Francis another for Mr. Tilghman on the Cashier of the Bank here for 3275 Ds Note I have 6 or 700 Drs in Bank here beside the 3000. & 94 Cts. which I compute to be the amount of the bills. I will be obliged to you to complete this negotiation for me & take a receipt for the money. On reflection, I am...
628From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Lee, 2 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have made a remittance to William Heth Esq. Collector of Bermuda Hundred in Notes of the Bank of North America, made payable to him, which I request you to exchange for specie should any of them be offered by the holders. The Cash included in your returns as well as that received in the current week may be used for that purpose, if requisite. I am Sir, your obedient servant. LS , Charles...
629From Alexander Hamilton to Nathaniel Appleton, 8 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, February 8, 1791. Announces that Appleton has been selected by the President to pay “Pensions to Invalids for the space of one year.” LS , with an insertion in H’s handwriting, MS Division, New York Public Library. The United States had assumed the payment of military pensions to invalids “who were wounded and disabled during the late war” by “An Act providing for the...
630From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 8 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I received yesterday an application from Messrs. R & J Potter, Knox, Henderson & others, relative to the claim of additional duties on Goods ⅌ the ship Kitty from London. Having no statement of facts from your office, I am uncertain how far all those things, that may concern the rights of the United States, have occurred to the Applicants, & can, therefore, only give a conditional instruction...
631From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Smith, 8 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, February 8, 1791. On February 14, 1791, Smith wrote to Hamilton : “I am honored with your favor of 8th Inst.” Letter not found. ] Smith was commissioner of loans for Pennsylvania. This was probably the same as the letter which H sent to Nathaniel Appleton on this date and to Jedediah Huntington on January 30, 1790 .
632From Alexander Hamilton to John Cochran, [8 February 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Treasury Department, February 8, 1791. The description of this letter in the dealer’s catalogue reads: “Concerning ‘the Payment of Pensions to Invalids for the space of one year.… The allowance for your trouble will be two per cent on what you pay.’” Letter not found. ] The Collector: A Magazine for Autograph and Historical Collectors , LXXXI, (1968), 806, Item B242. Cochran was commissioner...
633From Alexander Hamilton to John Neufville, [8 February 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, February 8, 1791. On May 5, 1796, Neufville wrote to John Davis: “The Secretary of the Treasury advised me by letter of 8th. February 1791, that the Secretary of War would write to me concerning the evidences upon, and under which those payments were to be made, but … nothing of that sort had come to my hands.” Letter not found. ] Neufville, who wrote this letter in his...
634From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Marchant, 10 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
You will find under this cover an act remitting the forfeiture in the case of the Schooner Fly, on the petition prefered to your court by Wm. Brightman. This vessel being under thirty tons cannot be employed in the importation of goods from foreign ports. Nor can she pursue the coasting trade without the burden of the foreign tonnage duty. She may, however, with any papers that she may have...
635Report on the Petition of the Merchants of Philadelphia Trading to India and China, 10 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury in obedience to the order of the House of representatives of the twentieth day of January last referring to him the petition of the Merchants of Philadelphia trading to India and China; Respectfully reports: That the subject of the said petition involves the consideration of the general policy, which ought to be pursued by the United States, in relation to the...
636From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 10 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
A petition from Mr John Hollins, of Baltimore, to the House of representatives has been refered to me on which I shall report that in my opinion the existing law admits of the relief desired by the petitioner. Annexed to the petition are legal Testimonies that the Schooner John was before the first of January 1791. within the Capes of Chessapeak bay, whence it follows that the Cargo on board...
637From Alexander Hamilton to ———, 11 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Treasurer has been directed to draw in favour of the Commissioner of Loans for your State in order to the payment of the Pensions to Invalids which will become payable the fifth of March next. His drafts however will not in the first instance be directed to any particular Collector; but will be transmitted with blanks to be filled up by the Commissioner. This is mentioned lest the manner...
638From Alexander Hamilton to William Seton, 11 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, February 11, 1791. On February 16, 1791, Seton wrote to Hamilton : “I am honored with your letter of the 11th.” Letter not found. ]
639From Alexander Hamilton to William Lewis, 12 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The following case occours in the transactions of the Treasury. The husband of a deceased Administratrix after her death applies at the Treasury for the settlement of an account which was relative to the administration of the wife. The Officers of the Treasury, without notice of her decease, make settlement and grant a Certificate for a balance due, in the name of the husband. Other parties...
640From Alexander Hamilton to Edmund Randolph, 12 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, February 12, 1791. In a letter dated February, 1791, Randolph referred to Hamilton’s “letter of February, 12th: 1791.” Letter not found. ]
641Report on the Petition of John Hollins, 12 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury, in obedience to the Order of the House of Representatives of the 4th Instant, relative to the petition of John Hollins, of the Town of Baltimore, Merchant, Respectfully reports; That after duly examining the late and existing laws imposing duties on goods imported into the United States, with a view to their application in the case, wherein the said John Hollins...
642From Alexander Hamilton to Edmund Randolph, 14 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, February 14 1791. In a letter dated February, 1791, Randolph referred to Hamilton’s “letter of the 14th: February.” Letter not found. ]
643Treasury Department Circular to the Commissioners of Loans, 14 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have directed the Treasurer of the United States to forward to you drafts payable to you or your order for the Sum of fifty thousand Dollars. These Drafts will be transmitted to you with blanks for the Direction of each as the case may require, and may be filled up either with the name of Tench Francis Esquire, Cashier of the Bank of North America, or with that of William Seton Esquire,...
644From Alexander Hamilton to Cyrus Griffin, 15 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, February 15, 1791. “I am under the necessity of returning you the papers in the cases of Messrs. McRae and Morrison, which you will find enclosed. There is no legal proof that the goods have ever paid duty. The Collectors & Deputy Collectors of the customs are not vested with the general power of administring oaths. The Deposition of Mr. Fraser before the Deputy Collector of...
645Reports on Exports for the Year Ending September 30, 1790, 15 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I do myself the honour to transmit thro’ you to the House of Representatives, a General Return of the Exports of the United States, abstracted from Custom-House Returns, commencing on the various days in August, 1789, whereon they were respectively opened, and ending on the 30th of September last. From inadvertence in some of those offices, the space of time prior to the 1st of October 1789,...
646Conversation with George Beckwith, [16 February 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
Lt. Colonel Beckwith. The newspapers of yesterday and of this day mention communications to the two Houses, from The President, on the subject of a commercial treaty with us, and although no particulars are stated, yet enough is expressed to convey an impression to the public mind, that we are not disposed to form any such treaty. I have in former conversations had the honor of declaring my...
647Notes on Edmund Randolph’s Opinion on the Constitutionality of an Act to Establish a Bank, [16–21 February 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
Power to lay & Collect taxes ascertain subject of taxation declare Quantum prescribe mode of Collection This an infinite chapter ordain the manner of accounting creation of districts & ports of officers duties powers & capacities compensation penalties exemption what places to be paid at oaths ☞ in what to be paid Drawback Cutters Mode of recovery
648From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [21 February 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to the President of the United States to request his indulgence for not having yet furnished his reasons on a certain point. He has been ever since sedulously engaged in it, but finds it will be impossible to complete before Tuesday or Wednesday morning early. He is anxious to give the point a thorough examination . LC , George Washington...
649From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [23 February 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to the President and sends him the opinion required which occupied him the greatest part of last night. The Bill for extending the time of opening subscriptions passed yesterday unanimously to an order for engrossing. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. In the George Washington letter book this letter follows H’s signature on...
650Draft of an Opinion on the Constitutionality of an Act to Establish a Bank, [23 February 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has perused with great attention the opinions of the Secretary of State and of the Attorney General concerning the constitutionality of the bill for establishing a National Bank and proceeds to execute the order of the President for submitting the reasons which have induced him to view the subject in a different light. It will naturally have been expected...