1From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [5 May 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
In conformity to the intimation you were pleased to honor me with on evening last I have reflected on the etiquette proper to be observed by the President and now submit the ideas which have occurred to me on the subject. The public good requires as a primary object that the dignity of the office should be supported. Whatever is essential to this ought to be pursued though at the risk of...
2From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [20 October 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeably to your desire, I sit down to commit a few lines to the Post. Nothing worth particular mention has occured since your Departure; except a report brought by Mr. Keane from So. Carolina, that Mc. Gilivray the Indian Chief had, after a short conference, left our Commissioners, declaring that what they had suggested was only a repetion of the old Storey and inadmissible, or something to...
3From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [3 January 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury having, in consequence of the Act for the Establishment and support of Light houses, directed his Enquiries to that object begs leave most respectfully to submit the result to The President of the United States of America New Hampshire. In this State is only one Light house situated on a point of land on the Island of New-Castle, three miles from Portsmouth,...
4From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [29 March 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury begs leave respectfully to inform the President of the United States of America, That, in order to be able to furnish in the course of the ensuing month for the compensation of the members of Congress, & the Officers and Servants of the two houses, a sum of about sixty thousand dollars; for the payment of the Salaries of the Civil List to the end of the present...
5From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 6 May 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor to inform the President of the United states of America, that he has received a letter from the Governor of Virginia intimating that it is necessary an election should be made of the particular spot upon which it may be deemed proper to erect the intended Light house on Cape Henry, after which the Cession will be completed. The said Secretary having...
6From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 28 May 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury conceives it to be his duty most respectfully to represent to the President of the United states, that there are, in his judgment, objections of a very serious & weighty nature to the resolutions of the two houses of Congress of the twenty first instant, concerning certain arrears of pay due to the Officers and soldiers of the Lines of Virginia and North Carolina....
7From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 28 May 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, May 28, 1790. Submits “five Contracts made by the superintendant of the Light house, piers &c on the river and Bay of Delaware” and recommends that these Contracts be approved. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
8From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [29 May 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects of the President of the United states and submits to his consideration some remarks on the Resolutions, which have passed the two Houses respecting the Lines of Virginia and North Carolina. The Secretary has taken this method of communication as the one best calculated to place the subject under the eye of the President with least trouble to...
9From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [18 June 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of the United states for his consideration, a Contract (with the letter that accompanied it) betwen William Allibone Superintendant of the Light-house, Beacons, Buoys & public Piers on the river and Bay of Delaware and Abraham Hargis, Keeper of the Light-house at Cape Henlopen. The yearly Salary of £130. altho’...
10From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 21 June 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of the United states, for his approbation, the enclosed Contract for timber, boards, Nails and Workmanship, for a Beacon to be placed near the Light-house on Sandy hook; the terms of which, he begs leave to observe are, in his opinion favourable to the U. States. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
11From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 26 June 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to inform the President of the United states, that he has received a letter from the Collector of Charleston in South Carolina, from which he learns that some misconception has arisen as to the nature of the qualifications of Mr. Thomas Hollingsby, who on the joint recommendation of the Collector & commissioners of Pilotage for that port...
12From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 26 June 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to inform the President of the United states that the Collector of Charleston in south Carolina has stated to him, that a proposal has been made by James Robinson of Newport, Rhode Island, to the Collector, through the Commissioners of Pilotage of that Port, to supply six hundred gallons of spermaceti Oil, for the use of the Light house,...
13From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [8 July 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
Memorandum of the substance of a Communication made on Thursday the Eighth of July 1790 to the Subscriber by Major Beckwith as by direction of Lord Dorchester. Major Beckwith began by stating that Lord Dorchester had directed him to make his acknowlegements for the politeness which had been shewn in respect to the desire he had intimated to pass by New York in his way to England; adding that...
14From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [15 July 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
In my second interview with Major Beckwith which was on Thursday the 22d. instant I spoke to him nearly as follows I have made the proper use of what you said to me at our last interview. As to what regards the objects of a general nature mentioned by you, though your authority for the purpose from Lord Dorchester is out of question, and though I presume from his Lordship’s station & character...
15From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 5 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, August 5, 1790. “The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of the United states a contract … for shingling two houses, and building a breast-work for the foundation of the light-house at Cape-Henlopen He begs leave to offer an opinion, that the terms of this agreement appear to him advantageous to the United states.” LC , George...
16From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [26 August 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully begs leave to submit to the President of the United States copies of a letter from Messrs. Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicholas and Jacob Van Staphorst & Hubbard of the 25th. day of January last, and of an answer thereto of the 7th. day of May following. The President will perceive that the last mentioned letter was formed upon a plan not to discourage...
17From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 26 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, August 26, 1790. “The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of the United States a new contract made by William Allibone, Superintendant of the Light-house and other establishments on the Delaware, with Abraham Hargis as Keeper of the said ligh house.…” LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. See Allibone to H, August...
18From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 28 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of the U. States for his determination a request from the Naval officer of the District of New York. The Secretary humbly remarks, that it appears desireable, as far as possible, to avoid absences of such important Officers for so long a duration, but that if the nature of the reasons should induce the...
19From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 3 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeably to your direction I conversed the day after your departure with the Secretary of State on the subject of an Agent for conducting the Loans to be made abroad. I stated to him, that you had expressed to me a preference of Mr. Shorts being employed, if he could be spared the requisite time from France, without injury to the affairs depending there; and that I conceived it wou’d be...
20From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 10 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The public service appearing to require the early establishment of the boats or cutters for the protection of the revenue, agreeably to the provision made by the Legislature in their last Session, I do myself the honor respectfully to submit to you what has occured upon that subject. Cutters from forty to fifty feet keel being deemed by experienced persons the most eligible, my enquiries have...
21From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 15 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The urgent avocations, in which I have been engaged, towards putting, in a train of execution, the laws of the last session, affecting my department, and a desire of reflecting maturely, and giving the reasons for the result of my reflections, fully, have caused me to delay, longer than I wished, the answers to the questions, with which you honored me, and I hope will excuse the delay. The...
22From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 18 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor respectfully to inform you that on the 15th. inst: your Commission to William Winn as Surveyor of the port of Winton in N. Carolina was brought to my Office by a gentleman from that State. Conceiving it an irregular mode of procedure in a case of that nature, I have written to Mr. Winn a letter of which the enclosed is a copy. In the mean time I have deemed it my duty to lay...
23From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 21 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Doctor Craigie has communicated to me, a letter from Mr. Daniel Parker to him, dated, London the 12th of July, which mentions that he had just seen Mr. De Miranda, who had recently conversed with the Marquis Del Campo, from whom he had learnt that the Court of Spain had acceded to our right of navigating the Mississippi. Col: Smith has also read to me a passage out of another letter of the 6th...
24From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 29 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been duly honor’d with your two letters of the 18th and 20th of Septemr. My opinion on a certain subject has been forwarded, and I hope will, ‘ere this, have come to hand. Inclosed you will be pleased to receive a list of such characters, as from the documents furnished by Mr. Lear, from my enquiries, and from the intimations contained in you letter of the 20th, appear to stand, upon...
25From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 30 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I had lately a visit from a certain Gentleman the sole object of which was to make some observations of a delicate nature, concerning another Gentleman employed on a particular errand; which, as they were doubtless intended for your ear, and (such as they are) ought to be known to you, it is of course my duty to communicate. He began (in a manner somewhat embarrassed which betrayed rather more...
26From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 5 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your letter of the 27th. ulto., by the mail on the 2d. inst. and have in the interval made some enquiries relative to a successor to the late Collector of George town in south Carolina. I am apprehensive from the result, that the necessary information cannot be obtained but from the place, to which end the necessary steps will be taken. I shall also make the...
27From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 6 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received from Nathl. Gilman Esquire the Commissioner of Loans for New-Hampshire, a letter of the 27th. September informing me, that he has transmitted his commission to you, with a resignation of his Office. I beg leave on this occasion to call to your mind the name of Woodbury Langdon Esquire, who from my recollection of circumstances, and from the result of my enquiries to day,...
28From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 8 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I do myself the honor to inform you, that the result of my enquiries concerning the character of Capt: Jonathan Maltbee, is, that he is a man of fair character and an experienced & good Seaman, who might be expected to execute his duty faithfully as the Commander of a revenue Cutter. I do not learn however, that either he or Capt. Law are remarkable for their activity. The principal point of...
29From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 17 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your letter of the 10th instant by the last post. It is certainly very possible, that motives, different from the one avowed, may have produced a certain communication; and in matters of such a nature, it is not only allowable, but the dictate of prudence, to receive suggestions with peculiar caution. A British Packet arrived yesterday. The accounts, she brings,...
30From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 26 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your several letters of the 12th., 13th, & 15th. inst: which finding me in the act of removal from New York to Philadelphia, I have been prevented from the due acknowledgement of their reception at an earlier moment. The Baron Perin’s claim shall be examined as soon as the Officers of the Treasury can complete the arrangement of their Books & papers, which I...
31From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 28 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I had the honor duly to receive your two letters of the 3d and 6th inst:. The Packet for the Baron de Steuben contained in the former, was delivered to him agreeably to your direction. The papers concerning Capt. Lyde were transmitted by the post following that which took my letter of the 29th. Ulto. No more proper characters having been pointed out by further enquiry, I have, pursuant to your...
32From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 1 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I am honored with your letter of the 25th. ultimo, relative to the office of Commissioner of Loans for the State of New Hampshire. It appears most proper that I should postpone any movement upon this subject, ’till I shall Know your pleasure after my letter of the twenty sixth of last month shall reach your hands, and you shall be ascertained of Mr. Langdon’s intentions in regard to the...
33From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 4 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to inform you, that a letter, of which a copy is enclosed, has come to my hands from the Loan officer of North Carolina, since the date of my last letter. On considering minutely the course of the business of the new Loans and the future operations of the Treasury, as they will affect the public stocks, it appeared necessary to the prevention of frauds by Counterfeiters and...
34From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 6 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Since I did myself the honor to address you on the fourth instant, another letter from the Commissioner of Loans for the State of North Carolina has been received, of which a copy will be found in this inclosure. From this last communication it appears, that he is disposed to make an experiment of the office, which, I beg leave to observe, is a pleasing circumstance, both as it insures the...
35From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [2 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The day before yesterday I received a letter from Mr. Woodbury Langdon declining the appointment offered him. There was a letter with it for you which I immediately forwarded. Since that time I have conversed with Mr. Langdon & have heared from Mr. Gilman; the former is warm in his recommendation of Mr. Keith Spence; he states that his insolvency was owing to the loss of a valuable ship &...
36From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 7 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, December 7, 1790. Submits “a provisional agreement entered into by the Collector of Newport for keeping the Light house on the Island of Conanicut for one year from the 13th. of September last.…” LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. William Ellery. Conanicut Island is located in Narragansett Bay.
37From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 10 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to inclose to the President of the United States a letter that has been transmitted under cover to him, together with some papers that accompanied it. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
38From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [11 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to the President. As the instruction concerning Capt. Howell is not definitive, The Secretary, unless directed to the contrary will retain the Communication till he has had an opportunity of submitting to the President some other candidates & recommendations from the same quarter, merely to afford an opportunity of comparison, & to acquaint...
39From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 13 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to transmit herewith the copy of a report intended to be presented to the House of representatives on the subject of a National Bank. This communication would have been earlier made if it had been in my power, but it has been impossible for me to prepare it sooner. With the most perfect respect I have the honor to be Sir, Your most Obedient & most humble Servant LC ,...
40From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 15 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to inform the President of the United States that a wish of the Collector of Boston to spend a part of the time of the Session of Congress at the Seat of Government has been intimated to him. An absence from his office at this season of the year being the least likely to be inconvenient, and it being probable that much useful information...
41From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [22 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to send with this a short report on the Pay (Post) Master General’s letter. From the circumstances of the case and a general impression that it is always best for the Chief Magistrate to be as little implicated as possible in the specific approbation of a particular measure proceeding from a particular officer, I believe it may be adviseable to answer generally that the...
42From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 23 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, December 23, 1790. Discusses qualifications of various candidates who have been recommended for the appointment as “Keeper for the Light-house at Portland in the District of Maine.” LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
43From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 5 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to inform the President of the United States that in pursuance of his instructions, due public notice was given in the Gazettes of Virginia and of the principal sea ports of the United States, that proposals would be received at the Treasury office untill the 31st. Ultimo, for building by Contract a Light-house, and the necessary...
44From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 6 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to transmit to the President of the United States an account of the cost of a seal for the use of the District Court of Maine, on which he begs leave to remark, that there does not occur any reason to deem it immoderate. The Legislature having by their resolution of the 2nd. of August last assigned a part of the fund provided for the...
45From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 8 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to transmit to the President of the United States a Contract made by the Collector of Portsmouth in New Hampshire with Titus Salter for furnishing the Light house on New Castle Island with oil, wick, fuel & candles, and for the care & lighting of the same from the 15th. day of August 1789. to the 1st. day of July next, including some...
46From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [21 February 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to the President of the United States to request his indulgence for not having yet furnished his reasons on a certain point. He has been ever since sedulously engaged in it, but finds it will be impossible to complete before Tuesday or Wednesday morning early. He is anxious to give the point a thorough examination . LC , George Washington...
47From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [23 February 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to the President and sends him the opinion required which occupied him the greatest part of last night. The Bill for extending the time of opening subscriptions passed yesterday unanimously to an order for engrossing. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. In the George Washington letter book this letter follows H’s signature on...
48From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 23 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In answer to your note of this morning, just deliver’d me, I give it as my opinion that you have ten days exclusive of that on which the Bill was delivered to you, and sundays. Hence in the present case if it is returned on Friday at any time while Congress are setting, it will be in time. It might be a question, if returned after their adjournment on Friday. I have the honor to be with...
49From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [24 February 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The Bill supplementary to the Bank bill passed the House of representatives yesterday. General Schuyler informs me that the friends of the Bank proposed that it should pass to a second reading immediately, and that Mr. Carroll opposed it, and moved that it should be printed—that by rule of the House it was of necessity to comply with Mr. Carroll’s objection, a departure requiring unanimous...
50From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 24 February [1791] (Hamilton Papers)
I have just heared from the Senate that the Bill supplementary to that for incorporating the Bank went through a second reading and a question was taken upon it & only three or four dissentients : among these, Mr. Carrol and Mr. Monroe. It would have been passed this day without doubt; but the opponents insisted on the rule of the House, which made it impossible. It will be passed the first...