1From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 13 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, September 13, 1789. On September 19, 1789, Delany wrote to Hamilton : “I acknowledge the recpt of Yours … of the 13th Inst, one by the Post covering a Letter to the Comptrolle[r].” Letter not found. ] Delany was appointed collector of customs at Philadelphia on August 4, 1789.
2From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 13 September 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Duer my assistant goes to Philadelphia to transact some business with the bank there in which your co-operation will probably be wanted. He will give you the necessary explanations; and I doubt not will have your acquiescence in whatever may be requisite to complete his arrangments. The other principal Officers of the Department not being on the spot some informality may be unavoidable....
3From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 17 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
As some of the Circular Letters to the Collectors of the Different Ports containing an Instruction to receive Notes of the Bank of New York, as well as of that of North America —may have been sent to you among others, either through hurry, or from its having been blended with other matters which were equally applicable to you—You will be pleased to understand that so much of any such...
4From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 17 December 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
You will use your best Exertions to pay into the Bank of north America all the Monies you can collect to the 27th. day of this month inclusive, & transmit to my office, a Certificate from the Cashier purporting the whole Sum which the Bank has received of you as Collector of the Customs of the Port of Philadelphia, to that day: after which you will defer your next payments to Bank till the...
5From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 21 December 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, December 21, 1789. “An application has been lately made to me by the Board of wardens of the Port of Philadelphia for the reimbursement of a Sum of money by them expended for the maintenance and Support of the Light house, Beacons &ca in the Bay and River Delaware.… As it is necessary that these Establishments Should be properly Supported, you will advance to Wm Allibone...
6From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 8 February 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Hurry of business has prevented my answering till now your favours of the 21st of December and 9th of January. I am of opinion that in strictness after the passing of the Registering Act, nothing but the Register or Enrollment could be evidence of an American bottom, or entitle a vessel to the privileges of one. Yet where from absence it was impossible for a vessel (“evidently and bona fide”...
7From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 24 March 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, March 24, 1790. On April 30, 1790, Hamilton wrote to Delany “I refer you to my Letter of the 24th march.” Letter not found. ]
8From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 29 March 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
You will please to obtain a certificate from the Cashier of the Bank of North America, expressing the sums paid in the said Bank by you in the course of the present month, upon which a warrant shall be issued for the amount. You will not fail transmitting the said certificate by Thursday’s mail, in order that it may reach me on Saturday. I am Sir Your Obed’t Serv’t ALS , Mrs. Arthur Loeb,...
9From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 30 April 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, April 30, 1790. “I have not yet answered that part of your Letter of the 13th of February which relates to the employing of Boats for the Security of the revenue.… I am not empowered to authorise boats for that purpose.… On the Subject of Stores for the Safe keeping of goods I refer you to my Letter of the 24th march.” LS , Yale University Library. Letter not found.
10From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 19 May 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The establishment of Custom house boat⟨s is⟩ as you are informed, under the consideration of Congress ⟨at⟩ this time. But the circumstances which led to the tem⟨porary⟩ arrangement in your district appears still to be of so ⟨much⟩ weight, as to induce to a continuance of the measure ⟨till⟩ the proposed establishment shall be completed. I am with respect Sir Your obedt. Servt. LS , United...
11From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 26 May 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The preceding Circular letter of the 30th of March, having been refered to by the Comptroller of the Treasury, in a letter from him, to you dated yesterday, it is now sent forward, that you may comprehend his meaning; heretofore it has been omitted, on account of the arrangement made for the Loan with the Bank, you will find by the enclosed letter of the 20th Instant my intention that the...
12From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 31 July 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, July 31, 1790. Letter listed in dealer’s catalogue. Letter not found. ] ALS , sold at Thomas Birch’s Sons, December, 1891, Item 95.
13From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 24 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 20th instant, enclosing one to you from Mr. William Bell of the same date. The Certificate mentioned in the latter was not found in your inclosure. I am always disposed to exercise the discretion that may be vested in me by the laws for the reasonable benefit of the fair trader in cases and under circumstances that admit of relief from me. Considerable...
14From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 28 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Act imposing duties on the Tonnage of Ships or Vessels declares that this charge shall accrue when vessels “shall be entered in the United States from a foreign port or place.” That entry can never have preceded the application for a Register for a new Ship, and consequently the Tonnage cannot be then demanded. New Vessels applying for coasting licences are charged upon a different...
15From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 29 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
If the arrival of the vessel, that has put into this port in distress, was subsequent to the passing of the existing Collection-Law, she is not liable to Tonnage; provided all the requisitions of the Law, in such cases, are duly complied with, but if she has left behind her any goods, not licensed by you to be sold, either on account of their perishable nature, or for the purpose of procuring...
16From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 4 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
It will be necessary to the perfect understanding of the case you referred to me this morning, to know the day on which the goods of the Betsey from Liverpool were entered and whether they are now in a situation to be exhibited. It will be agreable to me also to see such papers, relative to this case, as may be in your hands. When you possess me of these things, I will give the subject due...
17From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 9 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have considered the application made to you by the Gentlemen concerned in the damaged goods imported in the Betsey from Liverpool, and I am of opinion, that your answer to them is conformable with the Law. The legislature having thought proper to make the measures prescribed by the Act, requisite to obtaining the allowance for damage, it is not in the power of any executive officer to...
18From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 19 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, November 19, 1790. On December 2, 1790, Hamilton wrote to Delany : “I have received this morning your letter in answer to mine of the 19th. ultimo.” Letter not found. ]
19From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, [December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
I have considered the case of the two vessels belonging to the port of Philadelphia which have arrived at the Capes of Delaware. The law does not authorize the receiving in any custom house, reports and entries of vessels that are not within the district to which it appertains. The only method therefore, as it appears to me, by which the owners can effect an entry in this or any other case is...
20From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 2 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received this morning your letter in answer to mine of the 19th. ultimo from which I find that Messrs. Willing Morris & Swanwick’s bond given for duties on goods imported from Rhode Island on the 1st. of June, falls due this day. The Legislature having declared that the Section of the act to regulate the Collection of duties, which subjected foreign goods from N. Carolina & Rhode Island...
21From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 12 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I find it necessary to be more fully informed as to some particulars attending the case stated to me by Messrs. Warder & Co. on the 6th. Instant. It is said in your Notes and additions to their statement that the Teas were surveyed by the Wardens with the consent of the Collector. I wish to know, if the appointment was made by you according to the directions of the 16th. Section of the then...
22From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 21 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The duties upon Hemp and cotton which took place the 1st. instant being included in the same clause —and there having been no duty before upon cotton it appears probable that it was not the intention of the legislature to make the 60 cents an additional duty. It is also observable that although Hemp was left among the articles subject to five per centum, this is not termed a further or...
23From Thomas Jefferson to Sharp Delany, 15 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been in daily expectation of recieving the invoice wherein the prices of the paper will be stated, as Mr. Short assured me it should come in his next letter. But I have not yet recieved it. If it be necessary however for the regularity of your accounts, I think we can come at it nearly. The invoice of the articles which came with them, states 150. rouleaux of paper. Turning to a paper I...
24From 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.
25From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, [February 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
I have considered the case of the two vessels belonging to the port of Philadelphia which have arrived at the capes of Delaware. The law does not authorize the receiving in any custom house, reports and entries of vessels that are not within the district to which it appertains. The Only method therefore, as it appears to me, by which the owners can effect an entry in this or any other case is...
26From 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...
27From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 5 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The section of the collection law relative to the tares to be allowed at the Custom house upon the several species of goods therein mentioned appears to require that the allowance ⅌ Centum upon Coffee in bags } be computed upon the hundred pounds, do. in bales do. in casks pepper in bales do. in casks and that the allowance ⅌ centum upon sugars (other than loaf) in hogsheads & boxes be...
28From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 21 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I do not conceive the laws will admit of a Collectors receiving & certifying a Manifest of goods actually at the time without his district; nor could it be deemed safe so to frame a law that the certificates issued under it might be constantly applied to cover goods other than those for which they were intended as passports. I do not therefore deem myself justifiable in giving you the...
29From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 4 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I am informed, that a doubt has been made, whether in order to obtain the Credit for two years , for the duties on Teas, according to the Act making provision for the collection of the Duties by law, imposed on Teas and to prolong the term for the payment of the duties on Wines, it is necessary that the Teas be deposited in conformity to the regulations prescribed in the Act—it being contended...
30From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 8 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I am informed there is reason to believe, that a vessel belonging to Elizabeth Town in New Jersey has been employed by a merchant in Philadelphia to run a cargo of rum, by carrying the hogsheads in the hold and a quantity of shingles on the Deck. The intelligence comes to me in such a way as to render it proper that you know it for the purpose of giving the necessary intimation to the officers...