From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander Hamilton, 24 January 1792
To Alexander Hamilton
Philadelphia Jan. 24. 1792.
Sir
In consequence of the act of Congress appropriating 40,000 Dollars per annum from July 1. 1790. for our intercourse with foreign nations, I received from the Treasurer a bill, the last spring, on our bankers in Amsterdam for 99,000 florins. As this will be nearly exhausted by this time, and there will be large calls immediately by Mr. Morris, Mr. Pinkney and Mr. Short for their outfits and salaries, I must ask the favor of a like draught on our bankers in Amsterdam for 40,000 dollars more.—I have the honor to be with great respect Sir your most obedt. humble servt.,
Th: Jefferson
PrC (DLC); at foot of text: “The Secretary of the Treasury.” FC (DNA: RG 360, DL).
On this day, TJ sent Washington an estimate of expenses through the remainder of the President’s first term for conducting foreign missions in France, England, Spain, Portugal, and The Hague, and “Col. Humphreys’ Agency”, as well as medals for foreign ministers taking leave.
The total for 1792 was $96,798.50, leaving a contingency fund of $9,868.10 when the $40,000 per annum allocation for the foreign fund is totalled for the period 1 July 1790 to 4 Mch. 1793 (Estimate of the demands on the Foreign Fund from July 1, 1790 to March 4, 1793, PrC in DLC; in clerk’s hand; TJ wrote at foot of text: “given in to the President Jan. 24. 1792.”).