491Note on the Funding System, [August 1794] (Hamilton Papers)
The funding system (says a correspondent) as much abused, as if it were criminal in a Government to provide for the payment of the Debts of a Nation or as if it had created the debt for which it but provides , has not only produced all the advantageous effects which were promised from it (that is) contributed, by an increase of active or negotiable capital, to extend commerce and industry in...
492To Alexander Hamilton from Nathaniel Appleton, 17 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
My last was 10th Inst. since wch. I am favord. with yours of 7th & 11th Instant to which I shall pay particular attention. I have also recd. a Letter of the 12th from the Register informing me that he shall soon supply me with Certificates for the Indents, the Stock which may be unsubscribed, and for transfering from one Office to another. I have only to observe that I have already issued...
493To Alexander Hamilton from Jedediah Huntington, 10 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New London, Connecticut, October 10, 1791. On November 22, 1791, Hamilton wrote to Huntington : “I do not think, it will be necessary to require a refund from the officers of the revenue cutter … as mentioned in your letter of the 10th. October.” Letter not found. ]
494From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 22 June 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of State in referring to you the question of the answer to be given to Mr. Hammond concerning compensation for certain captured vessels will I presume transmit to you the opinions of the other Gentlemen as well as his own. Besides the reasons hastily sketched in the memorandums given to the Secretary of State—there is one of a delicate nature which I did not think fit to put on a...
495To Alexander Hamilton from William Allibone, 20 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, August 20, 1790. Complains of the difficulty of obtaining contractors for maintenance work on the aids to navigation in the Delaware River. Urges Hamilton to expedite approval of the contract for the repairs to the Cape Henlopen lighthouse. ALS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “A,” Pennsylvania and Southern States, National Archives.
496To Alexander Hamilton from Amos Marsh, 18 October 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Bennington [ Vermont ] October 18, 1794 . “Noah Smith Esquire has signified to me, that he has resigned the Office of Supervisor of this District. Cephus Smith, Junr. Esquire of Rutland, wishes to obtain the appointment to that Office. He is a Gentleman of Education Integrity and ability. I can therefore recommend him as a person well qualified to discharge all the duties of a Supervisor. He...
497Final Version: First Report on the Further Provision Necessary for Establishing Public Credit, [13 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
[To the Speaker of the House of Representatives] In obedience to the order of the House of Representatives, of the ninth day of August last, requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to prepare and report, on this day, such further provision as may, in his opinion, be necessary for establishing the public credit The said Secretary Respectfully reports That the object, which appears to be most...
498From Alexander Hamilton to William Ellery, 24 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, August 24, 1791. Ellery endorsed the letter book copy of his letter to Hamilton of August 8, 1791 , “Answered Augt. 24th 1791.” Letter not found. ]
499To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 20 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Newport [ Rhode Island ] September 20, 1790 . Wishes to suggest some changes in the provisions of the Coasting Act. Proposes that Section 11 be changed so that when a ship or vessel is sold or transferred “a production of such bill of sale to the Collector by the owner be made a condition of his receiving a new Certificate of Registry.” States: “By the 12th Sec: when the master of a registered...
500To Alexander Hamilton from Nathaniel Appleton, 11 May 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, May 11, 1790. “When I was in the City of N York I presented to the Auditors my account Currt. as Commissr. of the Loan Office in this State, he objected to the adjustment of part of my account for want of Vouchers to support the charge of Interest paid, & my Commissions thereon previous to the establishment of Salaries. Agreable to the Auditors direction I now transmitt to the...
501Receipt from James Robinson, [20 October 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
Reced in Newyork Octo: 20. 1790 from Alexander Hamilton Esqr: the Sum of fiftey one pounds 12/. in full of all Demands. £ 51-12-0 ADS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Robinson was a New York City contractor. See “Account with James Robinson,” February 22, 1788—October 19, 1790 .
502From Alexander Hamilton to John Davidson, 9 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have recieved your letter of the 27th ultimo inclosing four paid draughts of the Treasurer No 1662 1663, 1664 and 1665, amounting together one thousand eight hundred Dollars. These draughts being directed to Tench Francis Cashier of the Bank of North America, they been taken up by you in an informal way, which being a deviation from the rules of the Treasury must be avoided in future. My...
503To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [23 October 1793] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Mount Vernon, October 23, 1793. Letter not found. ] “List of Letters from G—— Washington to General Hamilton,” Columbia University Libraries.
504To Alexander Hamilton from Edmund Randolph, 23 June 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] June 23, 1794 . “E. Randolph presents his compliments to Col. Hamilton, and having this moment received his Note, respecting the French crowns, posterior to 1st Jany 1792 he has sent to the Director of the Mint, in order to have an interview upon the subject, and to communicate to Colonel Hamilton the result.” LC , RG 59, Domestic Letters of the Department of State, Vol. 6,...
505To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Meredith, 21 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, August 21, 1790. On August 28, 1790, Hamilton wrote to Meredith : “I received your letter of the 21st Instant.” Letter not found. ] Meredith was treasurer of the United States from September 11, 1789, to December 1, 1807.
506Report on the Petition of Hugh Cunningham, [21 November 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury, to whom was referred by the House of Representatives, the petition of Hugh Cunningham, submits the following report thereupon. Respectfully referring the House of Representatives, to his report of the 17th Instant, on the subject of depreciation generally; The Secretary begs leave to add, That the claim of the petitioner is in the capacity of an Officer of the...
507From Alexander Hamilton to William Cooper, [16 December 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter with a Post note of a thousand dollars on account of the Mortgage of the lands formerly Holkers in which Mr. Church is interested. The papers respecting this affair in my possession will be looked up & sent to Mr. Laurance by Mondays Post. This letter will serve you as a Receipt. Yrs. truly ALS , from a typescript furnished by an anonymous donor. Cooper, the founder...
508From Alexander Hamilton to Jean Baptiste de Ternant, 12 March 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to receive your letter of the 10th. instant, and Mr. de la Forest has applied at the Treasury for the payment of the sum of one hundred thousand dollars at the moment when 1 was about to request you would take order for the receipt of that sum. A warrant on the Treasurer has in course been executed. With very great respect & attachment, I have the honor to be Sir Your...
509To Alexander Hamilton from Beverley Randolph, [1–28] October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 26th. of September, inclosing several Resolutions of the Congress of the United States. The amount of the public debt of this state can be furnished immediately, but I conceive this would be incomplete unless accompanied by a statement of the funds provided for the discharge of it. This Statement cannot now be prepared as the...
510To Alexander Hamilton from Stephen Moylan, 27 February 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] February 27, 1794 . “The secretary of War has sent to this Office as list of the names & the Sums to which the Military Invalids of this State are entitled to for Six Months of their Annual Pension from the 4th day of Septr. 1793 and which will become due on the 5th day of March 1794 the Amount of which is Eight thousand two hundred & twenty five Dollars & sixteen Cents for...
511To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 17 December 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
As I am uncertain of the condition & even the Office in which the papers containing accounts of our disbursments for subsistence of British prisoners remain; and as it is not improbable that some negotiations may (whenever our Union under the General Government shall be completed) take place between the United States & Great Britain, in which an accurate understanding of those Accots. will...
512Report on the Petition of Timothy de Monbreun, 5 January 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, January 5, 1793. An entry in the Journal of the House for January 5, 1793, reads as follows: “The Speaker laid before the House a letter and report from the Secretary of the Treasury on the memorial of Timothy de Monbreun which were read.” Letter and report not found. ] Journal of the House , I Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States (Washington, 1826), I....
513Certificate of the Freedom of the City of New York, [16 March 1795] (Hamilton Papers)
City of New York } ss: The Mayor and Aldermen of the City of New York To all to whom these presents shall come, send greeting Whereas “the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonality of the City of New York” did resolve “that as a testimony of the high sense they entertain of the public Services of Alexander Hamilton; especially in the administration of the Office of Secretary of the Treasury of the...
514From Alexander Hamilton to John Habersham, 31 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, March 31, 1791. On May 20, 1791, Habersham wrote to Hamilton : “I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st of March last.” Letter not found. ]
515The Defence No. XI, [28 August 1795] (Hamilton Papers)
The foregoing analysis of the third article, by fixing its true meaning, enables us to detect some gross errors which have been principal sources of prejudice against it. One of these is that the article gives to the other party a right of access to all our ports, while it excludes us from the ports of Nova Scotia and Canada. It has been clearly shewn that it gives no right of access to any...
516To Alexander Hamilton from Elizabeth Hamilton, 3 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Albany, August 3, 1791. On August 10, 1791, Hamilton wrote to Elizabeth Hamilton : “I received your precious letters of the 31 of July & 3d. of August.” Letter of August 3 not found. ]
517To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, [November–December 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
At our last interview you expressed a wish that I would make such remarks on the impost laws as in my opinion would have a tendency to increase the revenue in a way as little burdensome and as conformable to the wishes of the people as possible. The cheerfulness discovered by the merchants in general doing business at this Port in paying the established duties on merchandise evinces to me that...
518To Alexander Hamilton from Stephen Van Rensselaer, 7 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
At the request of several officers of our late Army, I transmit you the enclosed Memorandum. If any provision is made for such cases you will oblige me by informing me. Mrs. Rensselaer joins in love to you & Mrs. Hamilton. I am D Sir Your Hum Sert ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress [@LOC] . Van Rensselaer was a member of the New York Assembly in 1789 and 1790, and served in the state...
519To Alexander Hamilton from Edmund Randolph, 18 April 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, April 18, 1794. “The contingent account of the Department of State, from the last settlement down to the 15th instant, accompanied with vouchers, having been presented to the Auditor, I must beg the favor of you to cause a warrant to issue on the Treasurer payable to George Taylor Junr. for One thousand Dollars.…” LC , RG 59, Domestic Letters of the Department of State, Vol. 6,...
520Report on the Memorial of Baron von Steuben, 29 March 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[To the Speaker of the House of Representatives] The Secretary of the Treasury, on the Memorial of Baron De Steuben, referred to him by an Order of the House of Representatives of the 25th. September last: Respectfully reports, That it appears from the papers accompanying the said Memorial, that the Memorialist grounds his present claim on the United States, upon a Contract, which he alledges...
521From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, [29 May 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
I have written to the Directors of the Bank of Massachusettes, a letter of which the inclosed is a copy. Be so good as to aid in diffusing the knowledge of the arrangement. You need not mention the transmission of the letter lest it should be misinterpreted. I remain very truly Your friend & serv ALS , Maine Historical Society, Portland. H to the President and Directors of the Massachusetts...
522To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 13 February 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
In the moment I was closing & dispatching my letters to the Post Office, I learnt from the Attorney General of the U.S. that you would be here on the 17th. My mind being continually uneasy on Acct. of Young Fayette, I cannot but wish (if this letter should reach you in time, and no reasons stronger than what have occurred against it) that you would request him, and his Tuter, to come on to...
523From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 4 June 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
The session of Congress is about to close much better than I expected. All mischievous measures have been prevented and several good ones have been established. Among these additional provisions of revenue & some of force are not the least important. But as more immediately connected with the objects of your mission you will learn with satisfaction that the bill which had passed the senate...
524From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [2 May 179[4]] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor of enclosing herewith the draft of a Passport for the President’s signature intended for the brigantine Lily, now at Baltimore. The case was here before the Secretary’s letter of yesterday was sent to the President, and was overlooked. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. See H to George Washington, May 1, 1794 ; H to Otho H. Williams,...
525To Alexander Hamilton from Joseph Whipple, 12 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, January 12, 1792. “I had the honor to receive your letter of the 20th. of last Month together with three Commissions for the Mates of the Revenue Cutter. That for Mr. Flagg the first mate I now return he having left the Service of which information was given in my letter of the 15th. Ulto.…” LC , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Portsmouth, Letters Sent, 1791–1792,...
526To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 29 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been honoured with the receipt of your circular letter of the 8th. instant. I will aim at that discharge of the duties therein required which shall give satisfaction. A few days since I had a hint that a vessel from the Bahama Islands had touched into tarpaulin cove, in one of the Elizabeth Islands, and had there landed a few bags of Cotton. The same vessel came into this port and...
527From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 8 September 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 6th. by the bearer. The draft was sent forward by Post on Tuesday. I shall prepare a paragraph with respect to the University & some others for consideration respecting other points which have occured. With true respect & attachment I have the honor to be Sir Yr. very obed serv ALS , MS Division, New York Public Library. For background to this letter, see...
528Report on the Petition of John Jones, [21 November 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury, to whom was referred by the House of Representatives, the petition of John Jones, respectfully makes the following Report thereupon. The petition seeks a compensation for certain storehouses, which, it is alleged, were destroyed by the enemy, during the late war with Great Britain, upon the ground of a contract alleged to have been made with certain persons, on...
529Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 2 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
As in the first establishiment of Revenue systems, imperfections and inconveniencies will naturally present themselves in practice, which could not have been foreseen in their formation; it is of the greatest moment, that the best information should be collected for the use of the Government as to the operation of those, which may have been adopted. To the obtaining this information, as it...
530Report on the Petition of Jacob Bailey, [27 February 1794] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury to whom was referred the Petition of Jacob Bailey by an Order of the House of Representatives of the 25th of May 1790, thereupon respectfully Reports— That the Secretary has caused inquiry to be made at the proper Office of the Treasury concerning the Case of the Petitioner, and has received the following Information Vizt. The Commissioner for settling the...
531Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 18 December 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
As one of the periods for the payment of Bonds taken for Duties is arrived, it is proper that the respective Collectors should be apprised of my expectation with regard to the conduct to be observed by them. It is, that if the Bonds are not paid, as they fall due they be immediately put in Suit. On this point, the most exact punctuality will be considered as indispensable . And accordingly it...
532From 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...
533From Alexander Hamilton to Walter Livingston, 18 March 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
Albany, March 18, 1795. “… I have for the present come to a conclusion not to accept any general retainer; so that as far as your letter contemplates an indefinite engagement for you ⟨in⟩ suits and cases, I must decline. I shall note provisionally your request with regard to McComb, Prime, John R. Livingston and Seixas . There is nothing to prevent my being engaged for you in these cases. With...
534From 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.
535From Alexander Hamilton to Phineas Bond, 1 September 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is a letter to Judge Morris which speaks for itself. I shall be glad to hear from you on the subject of it & that at any rate if you do not come, you will authorise some discreet person to cooperate with me on your behalf. If you should turn your attention to a law character, it may be well you should know that Messrs. R: Harrison & R Troupe are concerned for the trustees. With esteem...
536From Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 4 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I find myself obliged to remit the proceedings on the Petition of John Osborn in order that a further inquiry be had. Having had occasion heretofore to consult the British Acts of Parliament respecting the admeasurement of vessels, I am satisfied that there must be some incorrectness in the evidence from which it has been stated that the Tonnage, according to the rule prescribed by the British...
537To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 18 December 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to enclose for the purpose of submission to the President another contract for the Stakeage of News River in lieu of that which was annulled on account of the unexplained increase of the consideration money 125 dolls by the Presidents disapprobation of the 26th of August last. This contract it will be perceived is for less than three fifths of that sum and it is above one...
538Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 30 March 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Having observed that the several Collectors have hitherto differed in the mode of transmitting to this office, the drafts of the Treasurer of the United States which have been drawn on them and paid: I now desire that those drafts with a receipt endorsed on them, may be transmitted, as soon as they are paid, to my Office , when they shall be covered by a regular Warrant, and your account...
539From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 30 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Having considered the case of the Ship Warren, Capt Smith belonging to Messr. Brown & Francis, I find it necessary to communicate to you some remarks concerning it. I find from the letters of the Collector of Newport that this ship had departed from his district for India before my letter directing him to proceed against the Captain was received: and I learn from the papers that several days...
540To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 3 March 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Charleston, South Carolina, March 3, 1796. On June 5, 1796, Pinckney wrote to Hamilton : “I wrote to you the 3d: of last March.” Letter not found. ]