There is a species of information, which it will be convenient to you to obtain and which will be of important use to the Government: it respects the mode of Navigating of the several States; and of Foreign Nations. With a view to which I have framed a number of Queeries, to which as speedily as the requisite enquiries can be made, I request answers. Thought I do not consider it as a part of...
2From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 7 November 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letters of the 26th and 29th. of October have duly come to hand. The difficulties you state as arising from some provisions (and the want of others) in the laws of Impost and Tonnage are doubtless well founded, and indicate the propriety of some future correction of the System. With regard to the method of keeping accounts, by the establishment of the Treasury Department, the Forms are...
3From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 18 November 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
You[r] letter of the 7th of November duly came to hand. The mode you have adopted for the delivery of the Bank Notes is under the circumstances the proper one. In mine of the 20th of October I directed the Quarterly Returns to be made up to the last of September. Of course those after that day will terminate at the end of every subsequent three Months; that is to say the next after that to the...
4From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 25 November 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
The last post brought me your letter of the 14th instant. The bill you inclosed will be presented by Mr Meredith for payment. Having drawn upon you for nearly all the Specie in your hands, I should have directed it to be returned, did I not Suppose that this might produce inconvenience to the parties. You are too sensible of the necessity of conformity to general regulations to make it...
5From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, [25 November 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
I write you officially by this post; but there is a passage in your letter about which I cannot forbear saying something in a private letter. After remarking on the occasion which a departure from instructions might give to an inference that the accommodation of private interest might be the inducement, You add, “I should not mention the latter, if intimations of precautions (which are...
6From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 30 January 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, January 30, 1790. Informs Williams of regulations on payment of invalid pensions. LS , Columbia University Libraries. This is a duplicate of the letter sent to Jedediah Huntington on the same date.
7From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 8 February 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I inclose you the extract of a letter from the Collector of the District of Chester. As I recollect nothing which authorises the practice he speaks of, I conclude there must be some misapprehension; but it is proper I should communicate the matter to you, and understand from you, what can have given rise to the representation. I remain, Sir, Your obedt. Servt. LS , Columbia University...
8From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 15 February 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Your favour of the 18th. of December duly came to hand. With regard to the difficulty of reconciling the total exemption of Vessels, under twenty tons burthen from tonnage, with the clause you quote from the 23d. Section: you have yourself given the true solution. The word such must be understood. Vessels above Twenty tons are spoken of in the first part of the section and must be supposed to...
9From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 12 April 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have considered the circumstances you state in your Letter of the 6th inst. respecting vessels owned by Citizens of Rhode Island. I am of opinion that those vessels in the case you mention, are Subject to the Same Tonnage to which registered vessels owned by Citizens of the united States without License are liable: because if they were to enjoy all the privileges of coasting vessels, they...
10From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, [29 April 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, April 29, 1790. The description of this letter reads: “asking statement of facts relative to vessels exempted from duties.” Letter not found. ] LS , sold by Harvard Trust Company, 1962. For background to this letter, see Robert Purviance to H, April 22, 1790 ( PAH Harold C. Syrett, ed., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (New York and London, 1961– ). , VI, 372).
11From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 4 May 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received yours of the 24th of April requesting my opinion with respect to the Duty on the article of hemp. There can be no doubt that this article is under the present Law Subject to a Duty of five per cent ad valorem untill the first day of December next. I am Sir Your obedt Servt LS , Columbia University Libraries. Letter not found.
12From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 24 May 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received a letter from the Surveyor of your district upon the subject of boats for the use of the officers of the Customs. I have thought it necessary to the more frugal and certain collection of the revenue to permit that boats might be purchased or built merely for harbor service, and to this, if you find it will be œconomical, or that it is necessary to ensure the faithful payment of...
13From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 14 June 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your Answer to my Enquiries, relative to the case of the Snow St Martin. The Act of Congress transmitted you from this Office on the 3d Instant will shew you the line of proceeding to obtain relief in the case of the Ship Van Staphorst. Messrs. Bertier & Company have had the same information. I am Sir with respect Your Obedient Servant LS , Columbia University Libraries....
14From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 25 July 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Enclosed you will find an advertismen⟨t⟩ relative to the supply of Rations for the Troops of the United Sta⟨tes⟩ which you will be pleased to have inserted in your best Newspaper for the term of four Weeks. The account of the expenc⟨es⟩ I must also request you to procure, and discharge and I shall direct, the Receipt to be admitted, as a Voucher for the amount in your subsequent settlement. I...
15From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 26 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 15th. instant is come to hand, together with the forms of Custom House papers in use with you, for which I thank you. I observe what you say on the subject of Manifests. The idea has evidently been derived from a similar regulation lately introduced in Great Britain; and it is said that the effect there has evinced its utility. It is true as you remark, that as no method of...
16From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 22 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It being deemed necessary to proceed in the building of the Cutter for the Maryland station I have now to request that you will immediately proceed in the business. It may be well that you should be informed that the Massachusetts Cutter has been contracted for at Newburyport at about 22½ Dollars per Ton fitted completely as a vessel with sails, rigging, anchors &ca. including two Boats, one...
17From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 10 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
A petition from Mr John Hollins, of Baltimore, to the House of representatives has been refered to me on which I shall report that in my opinion the existing law admits of the relief desired by the petitioner. Annexed to the petition are legal Testimonies that the Schooner John was before the first of January 1791. within the Capes of Chessapeak bay, whence it follows that the Cargo on board...
18From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 19 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have placed in the hands of the Commissioner of Loans in the State of Maryland sundry draughts the direction of which he is instructed to fill with the name of the Cashier of either of the Banks of North America or New York or with your name as he may find the demand of the purchasers to be. The bills drawn upon you which were suspended when you were last here will continue to be suspended....
19From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 31 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The device intimated to me in your letter of the 26th. of January, I consider as a mere evasive expedient, which ought not to protect the owner of the vessel from a prosecution for perjury. It is my desire therefore that if any such case should occur you may direct proceedings on that ground against the offender. I am, Sir, Your obedt. Servant LS , Columbia University Libraries.
20From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 20 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The remarks you propose to make upon the coasting law will be very acceptable, as the new bill stands postponed ‘till the next Session of Congress. I shall at all times wish for such observations as may occur to the Collectors on the Subject of the Revenue & Trade laws. I am of opinion that a consular certificate will not justify you, in paying a drawback. The Agents for Mr. Stephen Zacharie...
21From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 25 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It is necessary for the Government of the Commissioner of loans in the disposition of some Treasury drafts which have been sent him that he should be informed weekly of the monies which you shall have received subsequent to the date of your last return namely the 20th instant. Fourteen hundred Dollars of the ballance then in your hands together with the amount of your subsequent receipts, to...
22From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 31 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It is my wish that you make the Bank of Maryland, which is established in the Town of Baltimore the place of depositing the Cash belonging to the United States which may be from time to time in your hands as collector of the District of Baltimore. I shall transmit a circular letter with respect to the receipt of its Notes, to which I must refer you on that point. I am, Sir Your most Obedt...
23From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 4 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you herewith sundry papers, relating to applicatons of John MacRae and John Morrison to the Judge of the District Court of Virginia, upon the Act for the remission or mitigation of penalties. This transaction appears to me thus far in an extremely questionable shape, so that I am very far from being satisfied, that there has not been more than inadvertence in the case. Unwilling...
24From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 13 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
On the receipt of this letter you will be pleased to pay to Mr. Stodder the balance due upon his contract with you for the building and outfit of the revenue cutter, provided you find he has duly complied with the Terms of his engagement. It is requisite that you transmit to the Treasury a copy of your Contract with Mr. Stodder. I am Sir, Your most Obedt Servant LS , Columbia University...
25From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 25 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Commissioner of Loans for the state of Maryland, after allowing for the Eight thousand dollars with which you furnished him, and a sum of five thousand dollars remitted him, in notes of the Bank of Maryland, would be deficient about five thousand five hundred Dollars of the sum requisite for the payment of the interest which will be payable in your state, upon the public debt on the first...
26From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 6 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It has been represented to me by Messrs. Sherman & Procter of New Bedford, that some things which they deem improper have taken place. The Substance of the information is that their Brig Hawk, Hathaway Master, was remeasured in Baltimore altho she had been measured in New Bedford prior to her sailing [and was possessed of a Register of the U States] that she was registered anew in Baltimore,...
27From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 19 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In the documents which you transmitted to me concerning the goods of MacRae and Morrison which have been seized, I observe— That one of the cases of Hats both in the Bill of Sale and deposition of Mr Frazer is numbered 12 and that no such number appears in the statement of the packages imported and of which the Goods seized are alleged to have been a part. The numbers of all the cases stated...
28From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 24 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
An account has been transmitted by Mr. Porter, One of the Officers of the Cutter, for the time prior to the date of his Commission. It will be proper that you transmit to the Treasury some information, carefully taken, of the time when each of the Officers commenced effectual and continued service in the preparations for & fitting of the Cutter. I am, Sir, Your most Obed servant LS ,...
29From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 27 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
You will retain, in your hands, such monies as you shall receive after this letter reaches you ’till the whole sum shall amount to ten thousand Dollars; which is destined as an advance to Messrs. Elliot and Williams, and for the payment of which you will receive directions as soon as their bond with the proper sureties shall be received by me. I remain with great consideration Sir Your...
30From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 6 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In pursuance of the intimation in a former letter I am to request that you will pay to Messrs Elliot & Williams as an advance upon the Contract lately entered into with them, out of the amount of the duties accruing in your district, ten thousand Dollars. It is my intention to make them a further advance, on the first day of January next of an equal sum. With great consideration I am Sir ...