From Alexander Hamilton to Nathaniel Appleton, 13 December 1790
To Nathaniel Appleton1
Treasury Department
Dec. 13. 1790.
Sir
I am of opinion it will be most proper that a person having a general power to transfer stock should not transfer to himself. He may as well transfer to a third person, who can afterwards transfer to him, which will avoid all question.
When you issue new certificates on a transfer of stock, it will be well that on the back of the cancelled certificate (or file of cancelled certificates, if there be several) you take a receipt or receipts for that or those you give in lieu thereof.
As notaries public are not to be found in the interior part of the States, I shall have no objection to your acting upon powers of Attorney authenticated by a Judge of the superior or inferior courts of Massachusetts, with the seal of the Court; or without seal if the hand writing of the Judge be known, or can be satisfactorily proved, to you.
I am, Sir, Your obedt. servant
A Hamilton
Nathaniel Appleton Esq.
Commissioner of Loans
Boston.
LS, The Sol Feinstone Collection, Library of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia.
1. This letter was written in reply to Appleton to H, November 20, 1790 ( , VII, 160–61).