From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 18 August 1794
To George Washington
Philadelphia Aug: 18. 1794.
The Secretary of the Treasury submits to the President the draft of a letter on the subject of the proscribed privateers.1 Would it not be adviseable to communicate the matter to the French minister,2 & to request his cooperation in causing our ports to be no longer ⟨–⟩by those vessels?3
The appointments of Collectors for the Districts of Hampton & Snow-Hill is become urgent, the present incumbents4 having reiterated their requests that they might be relieved. Names have been placed before the President by letter in the first place,5 & in the last verbally.
The enclosed papers will remind the President of the state of the business in each case. The Secretary wishes it may appear to him expedient to name Mr Jones for Hampton.6
He has been able to obtain no light as to Mr Randolph’s suggestion respecting Mr Selby,7 but he imagines the present Collector would not recommend a person really obnoxious to his fellow Citizens. There are some other vacancies to be filled, which the Secretary will shortly have the honor of conferring with The President concerning.
A Hamilton
LC, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
2. Jean Antoine Joseph Fauchet.
3. In accordance with H’s suggestion, Edmund Randolph wrote to Fauchet on August 20, 1794. See Randolph to H, August 16, 1794, note 2.
4. George Wray was collector of customs in Hampton, Virginia, and John Gunby was collector at Snow Hill, Maryland.
6. On August 23, 1794, Washington commissioned “Thos. Jones to be Collector for Hampton Dist. in Virginia” (, 308). On December 10, 1794, Washington nominated Jones “to be Collector for the District of Hampton, and Inspector of the Revenue for the Port of Hampton,” and on the following day the Senate approved the nomination (, 165).
7. On August 23, 1794, Washington commissioned “William Selby to be Collector of the District of Snow hill in Maryland; & Inspector of the revenue for the sevl. ports within the sd. District” (, 308). On December 10, 1794, Washington sent Selby’s nomination to the Senate, and on the following day it was approved (, 165).