Alexander Hamilton Papers
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Report on the Petition of James Read, [27 February 1794]

Report on the Petition of James Read1

[Philadelphia, February 27, 1794
Communicated on March 3, 1794]2

[To the Speaker of the House of Representatives]

The Secretary of the Treasury to whom was referred the Memorial of James Read by an order of the House of Representatives of the 29th. of April 1790,3 thereupon respectfully reports.

That the facts stated by the memorialist are understood to be true.

That the paper No. 2 herewith is a true Copy of a report made on the Subject to Congress by the late Board of Treasury upon a former Application.4

That the ground of the said report rejecting the claim of additional compensation to the Memorialist, for discharging the duties of Paymaster, whilst acting as Secretary to the Agent of Marine,5 and admitting the Claim for Expences, in removing the Books and papers of his Office from Bordentown to Baltimore appears under all the Circumstances of the Case to be good and equitable.

Conformably to these ideas, it will, in the Opinion of the Secretary, be right, to allow the Claim for expences, it being not barred by any Act of Limitation;6 and to authorize the Accounting Officers of the Treasury to make a Settlement of those objects with the Memorialist.

All which is humbly submitted

Alexander Hamilton
Secy. of the Treasury.

Copy, RG 233, Reports of the Secretary of the Treasury, 1784–1795, Vol. IV, National Archives.

1This report was one of twenty-nine reports on petitions enclosed in H to Frederick A. C. Muhlenberg, February 27, 1794.

2Journal of the House description begins Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States (Washington, 1826), I, II. description ends , II, 77–78.

3On April 29, 1790, a “petition of James Read was presented to the House and read, praying for the settlement of a claim against the United States.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.” (Journal of the House description begins Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States (Washington, 1826), I, II. description ends , I, 205.)

4The report of the Board of Treasury is dated March 3, 1788, and is printed in JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (Washington, 1904–1937). description ends , XXXIV, 78–79.

5Robert Morris.

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