1From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 30 January 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
You are unfortunate, if a wrong Statement has been made by the party confirmed by your own Certificate and by the report of the district Judge. I could only regret that an error had come to me so Sanctionned. But Coming in such a Shape it was impossible for me not to conclude as I did. I send you a further extract from the Petition (the truth of which you have certified) which follows...
2From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 28 January 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
The best reply that I can make to your letter on the subject of the Eliza’s Cargo is, to furnish you with an Abstract of Mr. Elders statement to the Judge and a copy of your certificate subjoined thereto. These documents will go to shew, that the opinion expressed in my letter to you of the 22d. instant was not loosely founded. I am with consideration Sir Your Most Obedt. Servt. Copy,...
3From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 24 January 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I return herewith the papers transmitted with your letter of the 22d. of January. I do not consider this as a compliance with the requisition of my letter of the 20th. instant—and after the personal explanation I gave you, I cannot but express my surprise that you have fallen so far short of my intention. My object is to have a report from you concerning the three vessels, including the...
4From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 22 January 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
It appears from the Petition of Thomas Elder, owner of the Schooner Eliza, that when you gave a permit to land the Cargo of the said Schooner, you were acquainted with the circumstance of their being a Cask of spirits on board of less capacity than ninety Gallons. I cannot help therefore expressing my disapprobation of the transaction as being both improper & irregular. I am with consideration...
5From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 20 January 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, January 20, 1795. “I have not received from you agreeably to my request a particular Statement in writing of all the circumstances which have attending the fitting out & Sailing of Three Vessels which have been armed in this Port in whole or in part as Cruisers in the service of France. It is essential, that I receive it this Week & that it be very particular & correct....
6From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 9 May 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
It is suggested to me that some of the officers of the Customs have been concerned in the disorderly proceedings, which lately took place with regard to the schooner Swift Packet. I am therefore to desire that you will make a particular inquiry as to the Persons who were active in the affair, in order that the truth of the above suggestion may be critically ascertained. This is a matter so...
7From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 27 December 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, December 27, 1792. On the back of a letter which Delany wrote to Hamilton on October 4, 1792, the following words are written: “27 December Answered.” Letter not found. ]
8From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 14 December 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, December 14, 1792. “The Revenue Cutter of Georgia being to be provided with Sail Cloth, I have to request that you will purchase upon the most reasonable terms, 9 Bolts equal to No 1 and 3 Bolts equal to No 8 of Boston Manufacture.…” LS , Bureau of Customs, Philadelphia; copy, RG 56, Letters to the Collector at Philadelphia, National Archives; LC , RG 26, Revenue Cutter...
9From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 13 December 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, December 13, 1792. “I received with your letter of the 26th Ultimo an estimate of the Duties which have accrued in your Office during the third quarter of the present year amounting to 402,540 dollars. It does not appear, whether the expences that have occurred during the quarter, are deducted from the sum. If not, I request to be informed of the amount.…” LS , Bureau of...
10From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 10 October 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
If a vessel bound to a foreign port, is by distress of weather, compelled to put into any port of the united States, where upon due examination such vessel is found to be unfit to proceed on her voyage, so as to render the transferring of her cargo to another vessel necessary, I am of opinion, that the Tonnage duty is not to be demanded. But an entry must be made of the cargo and the duties...
11From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 3 October 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Treasury Department, October 3, 1792. The dealer’s catalogue description reads: “Reminding … Delany … that his quarterly reports are overdue.” Letter not found. ] LS , sold at Sotheby’s, May 23, 1984, Sale 5187, in Item 120. Delany was collector of customs at Philadelphia.
12From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 24 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
In answer to your letter of this day, I incline to the opinion, that the laws respecting drawbacks ought to be so construed as to admit the entry of goods, wares and merchandise for exportation, if made within twelve calendar months, from the time such goods, wares or merchandise were entered at the custom-house and the duties paid or secured —as equivalent to the actual exportation. In...
13From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 28 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, July 28, 1792. “I have this day decided upon the case of Asa Gilbert. There being no appearance of fraud in the transaction, the interest of all parties in the forfeiture is remitted to him, upon his paying the legal Duties and all reasonable costs and charges.…” LS , Bureau of Customs, Philadelphia.
14From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 26 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have considered the case represented in your letter of the 13. instant respecting the duty on certain Whalebone imported by Mr. Joy. I do not under such circumstances conceive the article to be exempted from the duty; because the evidence of goods of the growth, produce or manufacture of the United States, which are to be exempted, when brought from a foreign port, is prescribed by the 24th...
15From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 13 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, July 13, 1792. “I have desired eleven Hydrometers to be sent to Your Office, which I request you will please to forward by water to the Collectors of the several ports.…” LS , from the original in the New York State Library, Albany.
16From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 12 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The practice of demanding Tonnage of a licensed vessel, when clearing out on a foreign voyage, and delivering up her license, as mentioned in your letter of the 10th instant, is conceived not to be conformable with law. A vessel cannot be liable to the Tonnage Duty whilst trading under a legal license. The practice must therefore be discontinued, and the Tonnage, charged in such cases, ought...
17From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 2 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, July 2, 1792. “I have this day decided upon the case of Hollingsworth, Shallcross, Lovering and Le Maigre. There being no appearance of fraud or wilful negligence in the transaction, the interest of all parties in the forfeiture is remitted to the Petitioners, upon their paying costs and charges.…” LS , Bureau of Customs, Philadelphia; LC , RG 56, Letters to the Collector...
18From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 21 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, June 21, 1792. Requests “enquiries concerning a fit Character to serve as third mate in the Revenue Cutter on the Pennsylvania Station.” LS , Dr. Charles W. Olsen, Chicago, Illinois.
19From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 12 May 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
It has been represented to me by a Committee of the Merchants of Philadelphia, that the Delaware Pilots have entered into a combination very inconvenient to the movements of their vessels, and which may produce injury to the National commerce and Revenue. The officers of the Revenue Cutter being acquainted with the River and bay of Delaware, and the chief mate Mr. Roach being a Pilot of the...
20From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 2 February 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, February 2, 1792. Questions two entries in Delany’s “account with the United States.” States: “The Register of the Ship Blum Hoff Lady has been transmitted to me by the Collector of Burlington. He mentions that this vessel departed from his district without any papers, and that she has since sailed from Philadelphia. I wish to be informed if she brought any goods into your...
21From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 11 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, January 11, 1792. “I think it proper that you make an immediate demand of the difference between foreign Tonnage and foreign Impost and those duties of Tonnage & impost which have been paid at the several entries of the Brig Lydia, which have taken place since the 8th of October 1790.… It is my intention to write to Richd. Carrington Esquire of Richmond in Virginia upon...
22From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 16 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I wish you to ascertain who is the present owner of the Brig Lydia commanded by Captain Vancise, of what place he is a resident, whether he is a Citizen of the United States, when he became owner of that vessel, and where he purchased her. Should application be made for a new register for that Vessel, I wish to receive immediate information, and that you suspend the issuing of it until you...
23From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 10 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, October 10, 1791. “Your letter of the 5th instant has been received. The requisite instructions relative to the boat have been forwarded to the Collector of Wilmington.…” Copy, RG 56, Letters to the Collector at Philadelphia, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters to Collectors at Small Ports, “Set G,” National Archives. Letter not found. The collector of customs at...
24From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 8 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I am informed there is reason to believe, that a vessel belonging to Elizabeth Town in New Jersey has been employed by a merchant in Philadelphia to run a cargo of rum, by carrying the hogsheads in the hold and a quantity of shingles on the Deck. The intelligence comes to me in such a way as to render it proper that you know it for the purpose of giving the necessary intimation to the officers...
25From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 8 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have considered the case proposed to me in your letter of the 11th. July, and do not find myself authorised to instruct you to set off the drawback against the bond of the importer Mr. Telles. The legislature had not seen fit to make any provision of this nature in the first collection law, and in the existing act they have only extended it to the importer , and not to the purchasers from...
26From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 4 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I am informed, that a doubt has been made, whether in order to obtain the Credit for two years , for the duties on Teas, according to the Act making provision for the collection of the Duties by law, imposed on Teas and to prolong the term for the payment of the duties on Wines, it is necessary that the Teas be deposited in conformity to the regulations prescribed in the Act—it being contended...
27From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 21 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I do not conceive the laws will admit of a Collectors receiving & certifying a Manifest of goods actually at the time without his district; nor could it be deemed safe so to frame a law that the certificates issued under it might be constantly applied to cover goods other than those for which they were intended as passports. I do not therefore deem myself justifiable in giving you the...
28From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 5 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The section of the collection law relative to the tares to be allowed at the Custom house upon the several species of goods therein mentioned appears to require that the allowance ⅌ Centum upon Coffee in bags } be computed upon the hundred pounds, do. in bales do. in casks pepper in bales do. in casks and that the allowance ⅌ centum upon sugars (other than loaf) in hogsheads & boxes be...
29From 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...
30From 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...