1From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 4 February 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, February 4, 1790. Announces that Olney has been selected by the President to pay “pensions to Invalids for the Space of one year.” LS , Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence. On June 14, 1790, the Senate confirmed Olney’s appointment as collector of customs at Providence. This letter, except for the sums specified as owed to the “invalids,” is the same as the one...
2From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 14 June 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, June 14, 1790. Letter listed in dealer’s catalogue. Letter not found. ] ALS , sold at Merwin-Clayton, June 6, 1907, Lot 32.
3From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 17 June 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I take an opportunity as early as the hurry of business will permit, of transmitting to you my instructions and other communications to the several Collectors of the United States. As far as they may not be locally inapplicable to Rhode Island, I shall expect a careful observance of them. I am, Sir, Your obedt. Sert. Copy, RG 56, Letters to the Collector at Providence, National Archives; copy,...
4From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 30 June 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I am obliged to you for the information contained in your letter of the 23d. Instant. It will be agreeable to me, that you purchase Scales, & Weights, for the use of the Port of Providence. I have permitted small Sail Boats fit for harbor service to be purchased or built by some of the Collectors, & will not object to one for the purpose mentioned in your letter. These purchases will no doubt...
5From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 6 July 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
From your letter of the 23d. June, a doubt has arisen, with respect to the name of the Person whom you recommend as Surveyor for North Kingstown. One of the Senators of your State informs me, that he is acquainted with Daniel Updike, but knows of no person by the name of Daniel Eldridge Updike. If they are not two distinct persons, it will be necessary to ascertain the true name of the...
6From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 7 July 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Yours of the 29th. of June has been received. The Comptroller informs me that the forms for keeping and rendering your accounts, have been forwarded under cover to the Collector of Newbury Port; I doubt not they have since come to hand. I have generally authorised such boats as are requisite for the Surveyors & Inspectors to go on board of vessels, that is for harbour Service; for this purpose...
7From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 18 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, August 18, 1790. “It appears on examination that the Sloop Sharlottes license ought to have been dated in July last, as you supposed.… I beg your attention to that part of my Circular letters, that instructs the Collectors to make weekly returns to this office, of their receipts and payments and of the Cash in their hands.…” Copy, RG 56, Letters to the Collector at...
8From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 1 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, September 1, 1790. “The Cashier of the Bank informs me that from the description of the Bank Bill contained in your letter of the 23d. Ulto. it is not supposed to be counterfeit.… Expence in appraising goods very seldom arises.… If it is the case of goods damaged or without invoice and it is insisted on, the importer for whose benefit or convenience it is made, seems to be...
9From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 17 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The case of the Brig Happy Return as stated in your letter of 19th. July has lain over some time for consideration. If the owners prove to your satisfaction that the goods imported are all as they allege of the produce or manufacture of the United States, no duty is now to be paid as the new collection law gives relief to the owners of such articles brought back. You will examine however...
10From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 24 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter containing a state of Facts in the case of the Cargo of the Sloop Nancy seized by the Collector of Alexandria. The Coasting Act renders it the duty of the Collectors to seize all Goods not contained in the Manifests of Vessels trading between two Districts in States that do not adjoin. Mr Lee therefo⟨re⟩ appears merely to have obeyed the injunctions of the...
11From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 6 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, November 6, 1790. On November 19, 1790, Olney wrote to Hamilton: “Your letter of the 6. instant … came to hand this day.” Letter not found. ] The letter of November 19, 1790, is a routine Treasury letter and has not been printed. It can be found in RG 56, Letters from the Collector at Providence, National Archives.
12From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 13 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter relative to the Ship Warren, and highly approve the vigilance and firmness, which you have Shewn in this case. It does not appear that any penalty or forfeiture is incurred by the vessel’s departure from your District, without papers, because she was not licensed , and not bound to a foreign port . But the Deputy Collector of Newport ought, as I understand the...
13From 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...
14From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 11 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In answer to your letter of the 27th. of December I have to observe, that under the existing laws , I consider it as indispensible to an entry at any customhouse, that the vessel be actually within the district appertaining to it. The question has occurred in the port of Philadelphia, where cases of the nature you mention, frequently happen. The legislature at a late stage of their session...
15From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 25 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It will be agreeable to me that the Officers of the Customs in the District of Providence make return of the emoluments of their respective Offices for one year following the time of their entering upon their duty instead of the year mentioned in my circular letter of the 14 of April. You will be pleased to give them an early intimation of this. I shall not object to a small boat fit for...
16From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 30 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Having considered the case of the Ship Warren, Capt Smith belonging to Messr. Brown & Francis, I find it necessary to communicate to you some remarks concerning it. I find from the letters of the Collector of Newport that this ship had departed from his district for India before my letter directing him to proceed against the Captain was received: and I learn from the papers that several days...
17From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 1 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, June 1, 1791. “Your letter of the 24th Ultimo has been received. I approve the intention of the Surveyor to use generally the substitute for Dycas’s Hydrometer, the difference being so small. Yet, in any case, where that difference would convert one class of proof into another, Dycas’s must govern; unless it should appear by any imported Hydrometer of Dycas’s, which you...
18From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 6 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It is with regret I feel myself restrained by my sense of the meaning of the law from directing the refusal of Credit to Mr. Arnold on the removal of the teas which have been lately deposited by him; in consequence of the non payment of his Bond as mentioned by you. But I consider the allowance of subsequent credits upon teas deposited as no more than a continuation of a Credit already given...
19From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 22 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Having received a letter from Mr. Arnold informing me that the delay of payment of his bond had proceeded from a part of the demand being controverted, I am to desire that, if not already given, you will suspend the notifications you were required to give to the Collectors out of your state, and that you will inform me particularly of the nature and circumstances of the controversy. I have...
20From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 19 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Letter of the 11th instant has come to hand. Your intended proceedings with regard to the seizure of Sugar You mention, appear to be proper, and conformable to the 13th Section of the Collection Law. I am, sir Your obedt Servt LS , Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence; copy, RG 56, Letters to the Collector at Providence, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters to Collectors at...
21From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 23 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, August 23, 1791. Sends commission for Jeremiah Greenman as second mate for the revenue cutter “for the Connecticut & Rhode Island station.” LS , Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence; copy, RG 56, Letters to the Collector at Providence, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters to Collectors at Small Ports, “Set G,” National Archives; copy, RG 26, Lighthouse Letters...
22From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 7 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It has been represented to me that a Brig, called the Trinidada, lately belonging to Messrs. Brown & Francis of your district, has arrived in the district of Wilmington on Delaware with a copy of a register issued from your Office which does not agree with the vessel in two material particulars. The register, which is No 25 & bears date on the 25th of Augt. 1790, appears, from the copy, to...
23From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 24 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 15th. instant, respecting ten Kegs of Brandy imported in the Brigantine Betsey from Bordeaux in violation of the thirty third Section of the act of the 3rd of march last, has been received. There appears to be reasonable ground for a presumption that the importation of the Brandy in kegs proceeded from ignorance of the law, and if no legal process is yet instituted with...
24From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 3 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, October 3, 1791. “As letters to and from the Treasurer now go free of postage, there is no longer a necessity for enclosing them to me. You will therefore in future transmit them directly to him.…” LS , Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence; copy, RG 56, Letters to the Collector at Providence, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters to Collectors at Small Ports, “Set...
25From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 7 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The remark made by you on the additional two columns in the return of Tonnage appears to be just. Some other mode of obtaining the end must be devised, of which you will be informed. In the mean time you will insert the destination of vessels which appear in your return, so far as your knowledge of the fact renders it practicable. It would certainly have been preferable that you suffered the...
26From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 10 November 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have, on consideration, deemed it expedient to authorize you to receive, in payment of duties, the notes of the Bank of Providence, payable in specie on demand. For the greater safety in so doing I have requested the President of that institution to furnish you with his signature, that of the Cashier and such Checks as may be sufficient to enable you to detect Counterfeits. It is my wish...
27From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 11 November 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 31st Ultimo relative to the Schooner Alice, Jabez Andrus Master, has been received. The question, therein stated, turns upon the following points; whether the vessel belongs in the whole or in part to a Citizen or inhabitant of the United States; and if she was within four leagues of the coast, or within the limits of any district of the United States when the manifest was...
28From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 23 November 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 11th October has been duly received. Although, if it had occurred to you to forbear the institution of a suit, until application could have been made in due course for a remission of the forfeiture incurred, I should under the circumstances, of the case have approved of your conduct, yet it is certain, that you were strictly in order in every step you took and have furnished...
29From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 8 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The monies which shall be deposited by you in the Bank of Providence, pursuant to my direction, will upon your forwarding to the Treasury a duplicate receipt of such deposits, be considered as payments made to the United States, and for which you will receive credit by regular warrants which will issue to cover such payments. I am Sir Your Obedt. Servant LS , Rhode Island Historical Society,...
30From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 14 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I do not think you will be justifiable in making a deduction from the legal rate of duty on Coffee, on account of its being broken, nor on cocoa, because of an inferiority of quality, they being in each instance as I presume the unmixed article, on which the Legislature has imposed an uniform impost, without providing a variation of duty in case of differences of quality. The shells of Coffee...