481Conversation with George Beckwith, 19[–20] January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Beckwith. I take the liberty of speaking very freely to you on every subject, and upon this principle give me leave to remark, that I was sorry to observe a certain warmth of expression in one paragraph of the address of Your House of Representatives, in reply to The President’s speech, which respected your commerce and navigation. Mr. —— You know perfectly, that we have different opinions...
482From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 21 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 16th. of October from which I find that a cutter of near 64 Tons is thought of for your coast. The terms of 22½ Drs. per ton are very satisfactory, but unless the construction of the Vessel is so far advanced as to prevent a diminution of the size, I request that she may be confined to the smallest dimensions that are deemed consistent with safety on your...
483From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 22 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, January 22, 1791. The dealer’s catalogue description of this letter reads: “Authorizing a cutter to be built for the Delaware station under the supervision of Captain Montgomery.” Letter not found. ] LS , sold at Parke-Bernet Galleries, March 28, 1940, Lot 302. James Montgomery of Pennsylvania.
484From 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...
485From Alexander Hamilton to Jedediah Huntington, 23 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It being deemed necessary to proceed in the building of the Cutter intended for the Connecticut and Rhode Island station, I have to request that on the receipt of this the business may be pursued. The cutter for Boston is to be built at Newbury port & fitted as a Vessel with all requisite masts, spars, sails, cables, cordage, anchors, a Boat &ca. for about 22½ Dollars per Ton. At that rate you...
486From Alexander Hamilton to Joseph Whipple, 23 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, January 23, 1791. On February 15, 1791, Whipple wrote to Hamilton : “Your letter of the 23rd Ulto. I have received.” Letter not found. ]
487From Alexander Hamilton to George Wray, 23 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I find so considerable a difference in favor of the United States will arise from building at Hampton the Revenue Cutter which it was desired to have built at Baltimore, that it is probable you will be applied to by the Collector of that district to assist him in getting another suitable Vessel in your Port. I shall enclose this letter to him with instructions to endeavor to procure a Vessel...
488First Draft of the Report on the Establishment of a Mint, [28 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury having maturely considered the subject referred to him by the order of the House of Representatives of the day of last relatively to the establishment of a Mint begs leave respectfully to submit the result of his reflections. A plan for an establishment of this nature must not only contemplate the principles of a coinage of the United States; but must extend its...
489Second Draft of the Report on the Establishment of a Mint, [28 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury having maturely considered the subject referred to him by the order of the House of Representatives of the day of last relatively to the establishment of a Mint most respectfully submits the result of his inquiries investigation and reflections. A plan for an establishment of this nature involves a great prodigious vast variety of considerations intricate nice and...
490Final Version of the Report on the Establishment of a Mint, [28 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
[To the Speaker of the House of Representatives] The Secretary of the Treasury having attentively considered the subject referred to him by the Order of the House of Representatives of the fifteenth day of April last, relatively to the establishment of a Mint most respectfully submits the result of his enquiries and reflections. A plan for an establishment of this nature involves a great...
491From Alexander Hamilton to Richard Harison, 29 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I request your speedy opinion on the following point. A citizen of the United States obtains under the Registring act a register for a vessel belonging to him. He afterwards goes to reside in a foreign country. Does the vessel lose the benefit of her register during such residence? The answer to this question depends essentially on the construction of the fifth section of that act. There are...
492From Alexander Hamilton to Angelica Church, 31 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
There is no proof of my affection which I would not willingly give you. How far it will be practicable to accomplish your wish respecting your father is however very uncertain. Our republican ideas stand much in the way of accumulating offices in one family. Indeed I doubt much whether your father could be prevailed upon to accept. I do not however urge this point till I can better ascertain...
493Conversation with George Beckwith and William Macomb, 31 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
A Conversation: Mr. Hamilton, Mr. William Macomb of Detroit, and Lieutenant Colonel Beckwith. Lt. Colo. B. Mr. Macomb, I think it for the honor of the King’s government, for its interests, and I really believe it for the interests of this country also, that the true state of things in the western Country should be known, and if there are any misconceptions, or errors arising from...
494From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 31 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, January 31, 1791. “The President of the United States being about to appoint the 1st. 2d. & 3d. Mates of the revenue Cutters, it will be of public service to obtain the names of some persons of your State suitable for those duties.…” Copy, RG 56, Letters to the Collector at Providence, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters to Collectors at Small Ports, “Set G,” National...
495From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 1 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Trustees of the sinking fund have thought fit to commit to you the making of purchases of the public debt to the amount of fifty thousand Dollars pursuant to the Act making provision for the reduction of the public debt. To enable you to execute this trust (which I doubt not you will chearfully undertake) I have directed the Treasurer to forward to you fifty thousand dollars in Notes of...
496From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Lee, 2 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have made a remittance to William Heth Esq. Collector of Bermuda Hundred in Notes of the Bank of North America, made payable to him, which I request you to exchange for specie should any of them be offered by the holders. The Cash included in your returns as well as that received in the current week may be used for that purpose, if requisite. I am Sir, your obedient servant. LS , Charles...
497From Alexander Hamilton to Nathaniel Appleton, 8 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, February 8, 1791. Announces that Appleton has been selected by the President to pay “Pensions to Invalids for the space of one year.” LS , with an insertion in H’s handwriting, MS Division, New York Public Library. The United States had assumed the payment of military pensions to invalids “who were wounded and disabled during the late war” by “An Act providing for the...
498From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 8 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I received yesterday an application from Messrs. R & J Potter, Knox, Henderson & others, relative to the claim of additional duties on Goods ⅌ the ship Kitty from London. Having no statement of facts from your office, I am uncertain how far all those things, that may concern the rights of the United States, have occurred to the Applicants, & can, therefore, only give a conditional instruction...
499From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Smith, 8 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, February 8, 1791. On February 14, 1791, Smith wrote to Hamilton : “I am honored with your favor of 8th Inst.” Letter not found. ] Smith was commissioner of loans for Pennsylvania. This was probably the same as the letter which H sent to Nathaniel Appleton on this date and to Jedediah Huntington on January 30, 1790 .
500From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Marchant, 10 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
You will find under this cover an act remitting the forfeiture in the case of the Schooner Fly, on the petition prefered to your court by Wm. Brightman. This vessel being under thirty tons cannot be employed in the importation of goods from foreign ports. Nor can she pursue the coasting trade without the burden of the foreign tonnage duty. She may, however, with any papers that she may have...
501Report on the Petition of the Merchants of Philadelphia Trading to India and China, 10 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury in obedience to the order of the House of representatives of the twentieth day of January last referring to him the petition of the Merchants of Philadelphia trading to India and China; Respectfully reports: That the subject of the said petition involves the consideration of the general policy, which ought to be pursued by the United States, in relation to the...
502From 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...
503From Alexander Hamilton to ———, 11 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Treasurer has been directed to draw in favour of the Commissioner of Loans for your State in order to the payment of the Pensions to Invalids which will become payable the fifth of March next. His drafts however will not in the first instance be directed to any particular Collector; but will be transmitted with blanks to be filled up by the Commissioner. This is mentioned lest the manner...
504From Alexander Hamilton to William Seton, 11 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, February 11, 1791. On February 16, 1791, Seton wrote to Hamilton : “I am honored with your letter of the 11th.” Letter not found. ]
505From Alexander Hamilton to William Lewis, 12 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The following case occours in the transactions of the Treasury. The husband of a deceased Administratrix after her death applies at the Treasury for the settlement of an account which was relative to the administration of the wife. The Officers of the Treasury, without notice of her decease, make settlement and grant a Certificate for a balance due, in the name of the husband. Other parties...
506From Alexander Hamilton to Edmund Randolph, 12 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, February 12, 1791. In a letter dated February, 1791, Randolph referred to Hamilton’s “letter of February, 12th: 1791.” Letter not found. ]
507Report on the Petition of John Hollins, 12 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury, in obedience to the Order of the House of Representatives of the 4th Instant, relative to the petition of John Hollins, of the Town of Baltimore, Merchant, Respectfully reports; That after duly examining the late and existing laws imposing duties on goods imported into the United States, with a view to their application in the case, wherein the said John Hollins...
508From Alexander Hamilton to Edmund Randolph, 14 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, February 14 1791. In a letter dated February, 1791, Randolph referred to Hamilton’s “letter of the 14th: February.” Letter not found. ]
509Treasury Department Circular to the Commissioners of Loans, 14 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have directed the Treasurer of the United States to forward to you drafts payable to you or your order for the Sum of fifty thousand Dollars. These Drafts will be transmitted to you with blanks for the Direction of each as the case may require, and may be filled up either with the name of Tench Francis Esquire, Cashier of the Bank of North America, or with that of William Seton Esquire,...
510From Alexander Hamilton to Cyrus Griffin, 15 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, February 15, 1791. “I am under the necessity of returning you the papers in the cases of Messrs. McRae and Morrison, which you will find enclosed. There is no legal proof that the goods have ever paid duty. The Collectors & Deputy Collectors of the customs are not vested with the general power of administring oaths. The Deposition of Mr. Fraser before the Deputy Collector of...