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, 25 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have before me your letter of the 16th instant, concerning certain Brandy, intended to be exported by Messrs Clark and Nightingale. There can be no doubt that the Brandy, being a foreign article, will be liable, as the law stands, to duty on its return. The drawback cannot be allowed, unless the proof required, of its having been actually landed at a foreign port, is produced. I am, Sir, ...
3From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 29 March 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, March 29, 1792 . “There is due to William Peck, Marshall for the District of Rhode Island upon a settlement made at the Treasury, the sum of two thousand, one hundred & five Dollars and twelve Cents, which sum I request you will pay to the said Marshall.… This transaction is of course not to be brought into your accounts, but merely to be noted at foot of your weekly...
4From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 24 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I enclose you duplicate of my letter of the 19th instant, to which I refer you in answer to yours of the 13th. I shall only add, that it interests the merchants as much as the Public to discountenance such a species of evasion. For could it long succeed, it would render credits for the duties inadmissible. It will be well to let this idea get into circulation among the merchants. I am Sir Your...
5From 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...
6From 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...
7From 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...
8From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 27 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 15th instant has been duly received. Under the circumstances stated, I am pleased with the conduct which you have observed, in relation to the Brig Neptune, from Surinam. Should Mr. Arnold (as you say he threatens) commence a prosecution in the State Court, care must be taken so to conduct your defence as to admit of an appeal to the proper federal one. It will be of course...
9From 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...
10From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 19 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have considered the case which is stated in your letter of the 8th instant concerning Welcome Arnold. If appearances of the kind continue, I am of opinion that the presumption of a design to evade the law will be sufficiently strong to justify an Officer in refusing the credit. If an action should be brought against the Officer for such refusal, means must be taken to examine all the parties...
11From 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...
12From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 24 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, August 24, 1792. “I have to reply to your letter of the 24th Ultimo, concerning the Renewal of licenses in certain cases. I incline to the opinion that regularly new licenses cannot be granted (except in the cases in which licenses are required to be surrendered previous to the going on foreign voyages) until the expiration of the term of the preceding ones; even though...
13From 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...
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, 2 April 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
You will receive by this opportunity an official Letter. The present you will consider as a private and friendly one. You will readily believe me, when I assure you, that all my prepossessions are in your favour, and that if there have been any faults on your side, I am ready to ascribe them to the excesses of virtues and good qualities, rather than to their opposites . But you will, I am...
16From 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...
17From 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...
18From 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...
19From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 25 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have considered the seventh Section of the Act, “concerning the Duties on Spirits distilled within the United States &c,” and agree with you in the opinion, given in your letter of the 14th instant, that the abatement of two per Cent for leakage is to be made, on securing the Duty at the end of the quarter, from the whole quantity distilled during the preceding three months. The Supervisor...
20From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 4 April 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, April 4, 1793. “Your letter of the 28th of February has been … received. The forms of oaths you allude to were transmitted from the Comptroller’s Office… on the 23rd Ultimo. A Circular letter from this, of the 29th of the same month … contains an answer to your other enquiry.” LS , Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence; copy, RG 56, Letters to the Collector at...
21From 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...
22From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 29 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I am to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th of August last, relative to seven Puncheons of Foreign Spirits entered at the Custom House in Providence by Arnold Rhodes, Master of the Sloop Bacon from Washington in North Carolina. I have therefore to request, that you will concur with the Supervisor of Rhode Island (who has been instructed for that purpose by the Commissioner of...
23From 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...
24From 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...
25From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 13 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, September 13, 1792. “I have this day decided upon the case of Thomas Hazard junr. The interest of the United States and of all others in the forfeiture is remitted to him; and he is to pay fifty Dollars to parties, other than the United States, together with costs and charges.…” LS , Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence; copy, RG 56, Letters to Collectors at Small...
26From 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...
27From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 19 March 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, March 19, 1794. “I have to acknowlege the receipt of your letter of the 17th of last month. I approve of the employment of additional counsel in the suits of Messrs Arnold & Dexter.” LS , Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence; LC , RG 56, Letters to Collectors at Small Ports, “Set G,” National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters to the Collector at Providence, National...
28From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 13 August 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, August 13, 1794. “As great inconveniences have arisen from your discontinuing to endorse the name of your Office on your letters of a public nature; as heretofore directed I have to request, that you will in future be more punctual in conforming to a regulation so necessary to the dispatch of business in my Department.” LS , Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence;...
29From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 19 June 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, June 19, 1794. “I am yet to reply to your letter of the 24th of April last, concerning a certain bond taken for securing the bonding of duties in another District. If no evidence has been since received the Bond ought to be put in suit. If any evidence has been received, other than the law directs, I request that it may be forwarded to the Treasury for consideration.” LS ,...
30From 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...