31To Alexander Hamilton from James Duane, 24 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I called upon you within the time limited to give you my answer on the Communication which in expressions so honorable you was pleased to make me this morning. As you was abroad I am deprived of the pleasure of a personal Interview. Warmly attached to the Constitution from the clearest conviction that the happiness of my Country depends on it’s successful administration, I think I ought to...
32To Alexander Hamilton from Otho H. Williams, 24 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
The amount of the duties which have accrued in the district of Baltimore, from the 10th day of August to the 23d. Instant inclusive is two thousand six hundred and Seventy pounds, Sixteen Shillings and four pence according to the documents in my Office Vizt. Cash on hand £ 287.18.6 Bonds due @ 4 Months 1176.16.2 Ditto 6 Months 1206. 1.8 2670.16.4 Your Obedient Humble Servant ALS , Office...
33Promissory Note from Arthur St. Clair, [25 September 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Thirty days from the date hereof I promise to pay to Alexander Hamilton or order Two thousand dollars in specie for value received. DS , in writing of H, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. St. Clair was governor of the Northwest Territory from 1788 to 1802. On verso H wrote: “Note General St Clair owes nothing but the discount Received the contents of Alexander Hamilton”
34To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 25 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
From a great variety of characters who have made a tender of their services for suitable Offices , I have selected the following. If Mr. Jay & you will take the further trouble of running them over to see if among them there can be found one, who, under all circumstances is more eligable for the Post Office than Col O I shall be obliged to you both for your opinion thereon by Eleven ‘Oclock....
35To Alexander Hamilton from William Allibone, 26 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, September 26, 1789. Discusses aids to navigation in Delaware Bay and River. Suggests appointment of a superintendent for the entire Delaware district. Mentions a pending bill in Pennsylvania legislature which would cede to United States all state-owned navigational aids in Delaware River. ALS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “A,” Pennsylvania and Southern States,...
36To Alexander Hamilton from Jedediah Huntington, 26 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New London, Connecticut, September 26, 1789. On November 17, 1789, Hamilton wrote to Huntington : “in respect to the Question referred to in Your Letter of the 26th of September.” Letter not found. ] Huntington was collector of customs at New London, Connecticut.
37To Alexander Hamilton from Henry Lee, 30 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Least my brother should have returned I take the liberty of asking your safe delivery of the two lets. enclosed & any reply which may be given to you for me. At the same time let me present my hearty gratulations on the proper honor you have received from our country. I anticipate good to the public & new lustre to my friend notwithstanding the obstinate difficultys & embarrassments which...
38To Alexander Hamilton from ———, [October 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Answer 1st The Ships built in Massachusetts are constructed to combine the two great objects of sailing & carrying, perhaps better than those of either of the Nations mentiond (those of France & G Britain in some instances excepted); whereby altho’ they may not be capable of carrying so much in proportion to their measure they will sail faster, are more safe at Sea; & have an advantage in...
39To Alexander Hamilton from ———, [October 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Answers. 1st The construction upon which vessels are built in this State, admits of their carrying as many tons in weight as their tonage; and may be said to sail well. The vessels that trade here from the Netherlands, Russia, Denmark and Sweden are at present few or none. Those from Great Britain do not materially differ in their construction for carrying from those built in this State, and...
40To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, October, 1789. Acknowledges receipt of circular letter of October 2, 1789. Complains that method of filing returns requires so much clerical assistance that it imposes a very heavy financial burden on the collectors. LC , Bureau of Customs, Philadelphia.
41To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] October, 1789 . Acknowledges receipt of 150 ship registers. LC , Bureau of Customs, Philadelphia.
42To Alexander Hamilton from John Fitzgerald, [October 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Vessels built in our State for the Tobo. Business are generally constructed for the Stowage of that article & a Ship of 200 Tons ought to carry 400 Hogshead. Vessels of foreign Nations are not always so constructed as to stow in proportion which must depend in a great measure on the trade intended when they are framed but the English French Dutch & Scot[c]h Ships in generally carry in...
43To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] October, 1789 . Transmits several letters relating to Samuel Caldwell. ALS , Applications for Office under George Washington, Library of Congress. Caldwell had been state tonnage inspector at Philadelphia up to 1789. Although he asked for a Federal appointment for the same job in April, 1789, applied for the surveyorship of the port in July, and asked for the post of lighthouse...
44To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [October 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, October, 1789. ] Sends “Estimate of Debts contracted by the State of Connecticut during the late War and remaining unpaid September 1, 1789.” Copy, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford. Wolcott was the son of Oliver Wolcott, Connecticut jurist and governor. Wolcott, who served during the American Revolution in the quartermaster department, was admitted to the bar in 1781, and...
45To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 1 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, October 1, 1789. “In conformity to what I esteem your instructions, I yesterday paid the Bank of No America Thirteen Thousand Dollars.…” LC , Bureau of Customs, Philadelphia.
46Promissory Note from William Grayson, 1 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Thirty days after date I promise to pay to Alexander Hamilton Esqr. or order the sum of two hundred dollars specie value recieved. ADS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Grayson, a prominent Antifederalist and United States Senator from Virginia, died in March, 1790.
47To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Willing, 1 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Favor of the 25th Ult was received on the 29 and has this day been laid before the Directors, as well as your Official Confirmation of the Agreement made with your Assistant Mr. Duer on the 17th of September respecting the Loan of 50,000 drs. Your Open Letter to our Collector was delivered to him directly and he has in consequence thereof, and in Conformity of the third Article in our...
48To Alexander Hamilton from Nicholas Cruger, 3 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] October 3, 1789. “Most sincerely do I Congratulate you on your Late appointment. I had Promis’d Mr. Harrison my Law business when ever you Declin’d it. I must therefore begg you will send me … [various] Papers [in your possession] which I mean to Put into his hands.…” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Cruger was a member of a prominent merchant family of New York City...
49To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Jones, [4 October 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
I am of Opinion that the Duties upon Goods imported into any District after the first Day of August and before a Custom House was established and organized in such District are recoverable by Action of Debt in the Name or by Information on Behalf of the United States against the Importers. The Acts for Collection of the Duties and regulating the coasting Trade suppose and some of their...
50To Alexander Hamilton from William Allibone, 5 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, October 5, 1789. On April 29, 1790, Allibone wrote to Hamilton : “I did make mention of it in a letter of mine dated October 5th last.” Letter not found. ]
51To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, 6 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, October 6, 1789. Discusses maintenance and improvement of facilities for aiding navigation in the port of Philadelphia. Recommends that William Allibone be appointed superintendent. LS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “A,” Pennsylvania and Southern States, National Archives; LC , Bureau of Customs, Philadelphia. This letter is in reply to “Treasury Department Circular...
52To Alexander Hamilton from Comte de Moustier, 7–8 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, October 7–8, 1789. In a letter to the Comte de Montmorin on October 30, 1789, Louis G. Otto wrote: “le Cte. de Moustier a repondu [to Hamilton] ‘qu’il pensoit que si cette demande etoit faite officiellement, elle pourroit etre accueillie favorablement et qu’il se flattoit de pouvoir aussitôt après son arrivée en procurer la certitude au gouvernement Americain.’” Letter not found. ]...
53To Alexander Hamilton from Jedediah Huntington, 7 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I have this day the Honour of receiving your Letter of the 1st. inst. Upon my entering into Office I found the Light house at this Port furnished with Oil for three or four days only and no Provision made for further Supply. I immediately purchased a little for temporary use and have since laid in a Stock for the Winter. The Light House is built of Stone & the walls are good but the Roof was...
54To Alexander Hamilton from Nathaniel Appleton, 8 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, October 8, 1789. “I perceive that His Excellency the President of the United States has been pleased to appoint you Secretary of the Treasury I therefore presume that it is my duty to transmitt Quarterly returns to you, of the Official proceedings in the Loan-Office, of which I have the honor to be a Commissioner, in the same manner as I have hitherto done to the late Commissioners of...
55To Alexander Hamilton from Otho H. Williams, 8 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your Letter (Circular) of the 22d. ulto., and am to inform you that, from Cape Henry to the extreme branches of the Susquehanna, all inclusive, there is not, that I ever heard of, a single Light House, Buoy, Beacon or other artificial object for navigators to be governed by. Consequently there is no superintendant; no Expence. The pilots of the Chesapeak for this State are...
56To Alexander Hamilton from John Rice, 9 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, October 9, 1789. On October 16, 1789, Hamilton wrote to Rice : “I am favored with yours of the 9th instant.” Letter not found. ]
57To Alexander Hamilton from Joseph Hiller, 10 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Salem, Massachusetts ] October 10, 1789 . “… there is neither Lighthouse, Beacon nor Buoy within this District of Salem & Beverly.…” Extract, RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “B,” New Hampshire and Massachusetts, National Archives. This letter is in reply to “Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs,” October 1, 1789 . Hiller was collector of the customs for...
58To Alexander Hamilton from Joseph Whipple, 10 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, October 10, 1789. “In compliance with … your letter of the 1st inst. respecting Light Houses, Beacons &c I have to inform you that there is one Light House in this District at the entrance of the harbour of this Port situate on a point of land on the Island of New Castle placed without the walls of Fort William & Mary which commands the entrance.…” Copy, RG 56,...
59To Alexander Hamilton from Elie Williams, 10 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed herewith you will receive the Contract executed by Mr. Elliot, whom I fortunately met here: and We request that you will be pleased to forward, to us, the duplicate which was executed in New York. You will also receive, duly executed by us and our securities, the bond for our performance of the contract; As we receive no equivalent to this obligation we must rely, Sir, upon your...
60To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Lee, 11 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Alexandria, Virginia, October 11, 1789. On November 3, 1789, Hamilton wrote to Lee : “I observe by your Letter of the 11th. of October.” Letter not found. ] Lee was collector of customs at Alexandria.