Alexander Hamilton Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Hamilton, Alexander" AND Recipient="Collectors of the Customs" AND Period="Washington Presidency" AND Project="Hamilton Papers"
sorted by: date (ascending)
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-08-02-0232

Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 14 April 1791

Treasury Department Circular
to the Collectors of the Customs

Treasury Department
April 14th. 1791.

Sir

The House of Representatives having been pleased to direct me to examine and report upon the emoluments of the several Officers of the Customs,1 I find it necessary to enable me to form a satisfactory judgment upon the subject, that I be furnished with an accurate account, as much as possible in detail, of all the Monies received in the four quarters of the year 1790 by every Officer of the Customs, who, conceives himself to be insufficiently compensated. You will therefore, if you think it proper to have your case taken into consideration, transmit me such an Account, and you will exhibit in detail likewise in the same paper the expences of every kind, which you have actually paid during the same year. The sooner this information is received the more early I can enter upon the formation of a report. Should you think proper to make any observations, they will be acceptable. For the greater clearness I wish the letter inclosing the above account to be confined to the subject.

I am, Sir   Your Obedt. Servt.

A Hamilton

P.S. This letter will be accompanied by a letter from the principal Clerk in the Office of the Comptroller2 to which you will be pleased to pay the same attention as if it had been signed by the Comptroller himself.

LS, to Sharp Delany, Bureau of Customs, Philadelphia; LS, to Benjamin Lincoln, RG 36, Letters from the Treasury, 1789–1818, Vol. 5, National Archives; LS, to Jeremiah Olney, Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence; LS, Chicago Historical Society; LS, Mr. William Dearborn, Nashville, Tennessee; LS, MS Division, New York Public Library; LS, Office of the Secretary, United States Treasury Department; copy, United States Finance Miscellany, Library of Congress; two copies, RG 56, Circulars of the Office of the Secretary, “Set T,” National Archives.

1On January 18, 1791, the House “Ordered, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to report to this House his opinion whether any, and what, further compensation ought to be made to the respective officers employed in the collection of the revenue” (Journal of the House, I description begins Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States (Washington, 1826). description ends , 357).

2Joseph Hardy.

Index Entries