1To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 15 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your letter of the 31st. of last month on the 12th of this. It will be impossible for me to give the names of persons of this State suitable for 1st. 2nd. & 3d. mates of the Cutter now building in Connecticut by this Post. I will do it the next. When I sent forward a statement of the Cases of Hezekiah Usher & George Usher I was unacquainted with some circumstances which appeared on...
2To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 21 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Newport, Rhode Island ] February 21, 1791. “Agreeably to your request I now give the names of such persons as have offered, and I think are suitable to hold offices on board the Cutters.…” LC , Newport Historical Society, Newport, Rhode Island. Letter not found. H had requested this information on January 31. See Ellery to H, February 15, 1791 .
3To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 7 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is a weekly return of Cash on hand, and also a Certificate of Registry No. 13 issued at the Port of Dighton by H Baylies Collector Mh. 27th 1790, and delivered up on account of transfer of property. The Genl. Assembly of this State met at East Greenwich the last week. Previous to their meeting I requested two of the Deputies of this town to move for a cession of the right of the State...
4To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 15 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
This will be accompanied by a weekly return of Cash, and by a Certificate of Registry No. 5 dated Jany. 22. 1790, granted by the Collector of Dighton, and delivered up on account of the transfer of property, and also the copy of an Endorsment of an Enrollment of the change of Master said Enrollment being No. 11 and issued from this office. Yesterday arrived here a Schooner named the Charming...
5To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 21 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
This will be accompanied by my weekly return of Cash, the copy of a memorandum of the change of master on a Certifict. of Registry No. 5 which issued from this Office, and with a draft No. 728 dated 9th Novr 1789 drawn upon me by Saml. Meredith Tr. in favour of the Cashr. of bank of New york for one hundred Dollars. Your letter of the 5th. of this month did not come to hand until the 18th. On...
6To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 28 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is my weekly return of Cash and a Certificate of Registry No. 15, dated at the Port of Dighton March 30 1790, and delivered up on account of transfer of property. On the Twenty first day of this month I received a letter from the Commr. of loans informing me that on inquiry of Col. Olney he found, that he would be able to furnish as much money as would be wanted to pay the first...
7To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 28 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
On the 26th. of this month arrived in this Port the Sloop Betsy of Providence James Munro junr. master. He reported that he took in his Cargo consisting of Fifty four Hogsheads & ten bbls of Molasses, One hundred and thirty five barrels of sugar, part of a piece of broad Cloth, and one Umbrella at Cape Francois, proceeded therewith to Charleston So. Carolina, but not finding a suitable market,...
8To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 19 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received two pressing letters, one from the Surveyor of the Port of Warren & Barrington and the other from the Surveyor of the Port of East-Greenwich respecting boats for their Ports, extracts from which I now present to you. “Agreeably to your request, (writes Mr. Phillips) I shall describe the Port of Warren and Barrington, and the parts adjoining. The Port of Warren lies on Palmer’s...
9To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 25 April 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The 21st. of this month I received a thermometer which by your direction was sent to me from New york by Mr. Lamb. By some accident the bulb was broken in its way from Philadelphia to this place. It came broken to me. As it was made at Philadelphia, and I suppose the maker is furnished with spare tubes I have remitted it to Mr. Lamb with a request that he would transmit it immediately to you....
10To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 9 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 27th. of last month. Always attentive to the business of the Cession of the Light-House &c I applied to leading members of the House, a bill was preferred at the Session which began and finished last week. It passed the Lower House unanimously, but it was stopped in the Upper House; by the opposition made to it principally by the Governour, who as I am...
11To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 23 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Newport, Rhode Island ] May 23, 1791 . “On the 16th. of this month I received your Circular letter of the 14th. of Aprl. last.… The Tare allowed in this District is calculated upon every One hundred and twelve pounds, and this was the practice in this State before it adopted the new Constitution. The merchants here have lately objected to this mode of taring, and say that the allowance ought...
12To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 6 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I received a letter from the Surveyor of the Port of Warren some time ago inclosing a letter from you of the 13th. of Decr. 1790. relative to the lawful portion of the compensations the Surveyors are respectively to receive for their services. It is I am sensible my duty to pay them their lawful portions of fees received by me; but a dispute has arisen between the Surveyors of Warren &...
13To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 6 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
On the 3d. instant I recd. your circular letters of the 13th. & 25th of May last. I do not recollect that in any instance duties on goods brought into this district have been ascertained otherwise than on the actual landing thereof, and by the measuring, weighg. & gauging, where those operations are required by law. A particular attention will be paid to your direction in that respect. Your...
14To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 13 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letters of the 26th. & the 30th. of May last. To the explanations and instructions, and the act respecting further provisn. for collecting the duties on Teas, and for prolonging the term for the payment of the duties on Wines inclosed in the first I shall pay attention. In answer to the last, Capt. Smith left his coasting papers with me agreeably to law, and his license...
15To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 26 June 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Newport [ Rhode Island ] June 26, 1791 . Encloses weekly return and requests Hamilton “Please to inform me for what ports or places Consuls are appointed, and of the names of the Consuls for the respective places.” LC , Newport Historical Society, Newport, Rhode Island.
16To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 4 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is my weekly return of monies received and paid, and a monthly return of bonds a certife of Regy. No. 66 granted at this port, & a Cerf. on account of transfer of propy., the copy of an endorsment of the change of master on Regy. No. 4 and a like copy on Enrollment No. 9, also four draughts made on me by the Treasr. of the U. S. in favour of Jabez Bowen Commr. of Loans viz No 1616, &...
17To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 11 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Newport [ Rhode Island ] July 11, 1791 . “… Inclosed is a statement of the case of the Brig Seven Brothers, and of the case of Joseph Finch late master of her. I have applied to the Carpenter who covered the Light-House to examine the condition of it. He could not attend this business the last week, but said he will attend it this and make report.” LC , Newport Historical Society, Newport,...
18To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 18 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is my Statement of fees &c. on which I beg leave to make a few remarks. The number of Certifs. of Regy. and Enrollments issued in this, will probably be less than in the last year, and for the following reasons. Upon adopting the Constitution by this State the last year a number of vessels belonging to it were without those papers, which will not want them this; and the property of...
19To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 18 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Newport [ Rhode Island ] July 18, 1791 . “… The Light-House has been examined by the Carpenter, who covered it, accompanied by the Surveyor of this Port, and the former reports that the Lead upon the Platform in which the Lanthorn stands, is cracked in several places, that the water passes through the crack and falls upon the Wall and inside Wooden work, & that fifteen pieces of sheet lead...
20To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 25 July 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Newport [ Rhode Island ] July 25, 1791 . “… A person usually residing in this District, is in the District of Boston & Charlestown and there purchases a vessel; is he obliged to take the Oath or Affirmation, required by law previous to the making a Registry or granting a Certificate, before the Collector of this District omitting in said oath or affirmation and inserting what is to be omitted...
21To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 2 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
This will be attended by a weekly return of monies received and paid, a monthly schedule of bonds; a List of a Post-note of the North American Bank for One hundred and ninety five Dollars, No. 8080, dated Philadelphia 9th. July 1791, one moiety whereof was transmitted by the last post, and the other moiety is now transmitted by this. The District Court which met here this day adjourned to the...
22To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 8 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Newport [ Rhode Island ] August 8, 1791 . “… On the 4th. of this month arrived here the Sloop Dove Pardon T. Slocum master from Surinam and imported among other articles one hogshead and one barrel of Pumpings. Pumpings is a compound of the drainings from casks of sugar in the holds of vessels, and bilge water; which being pumped up is preserved in casks for sale. By distillation it yields...
23To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 23 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
This will be accompanied by a weekly return of monies recd. and paid, and the copy of an endorsment on Certife No. 22 granted Apl. 23d. 1791 at this Port. To your letter of the 10th of this month, requesting the particular circumstances that led to a remeasurement of the Brig Sally &c I would answer; that the property of said Brig having been transferred to Messrs Lyon and Lawrance citizens of...
24To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 26 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeably to my expectation the Sloop Betsy is condemned, and is to be sold on the 14th. day of the next month. I should be happy to receive your direction with respect to the conduct of the Officers of the Customs as to the sale of said Sloop, prior to the day of sale; and it would add to my happiness if at the same time you would give me your opinion how the monies arising from the sale...
25To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 29 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote a letter to you by the Post, last Friday, because I wished to receive as early an information on the subjects mentioned in it as might be convenient. I am informed that the situation and circumstances of Thomas Cotterell late owner of the Sloop Betsy are such that if the prosecutions to which he is liable should be commenced against him, and be successful he and his family would be...
26To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 6 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Newport [ Rhode Island ] September 6, 1791 . “I have recd. your letter respecting the article of Pumpings, and shall attend to your directions. Please to favour me with an answer to my letter of the 6th. of June relative to the lawful portion of the compensations Surveyors are to receive for Regrs &c., to the question in my letter of the 4th. of July Should not every vessel receive her first...
27To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 19 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Schooner Lydia Peleg Saunders master burthen 34 26/95 tons arrived here from the Port of Stonington in the District of New London on the 12th. of this month, with a cargo consisting of fifteen hhds. of West India Rum, One box and one kegg of medicine and eight cords of oak wood; without a manifest or permit. The Schooner was duely enrolled and licensed. The master produced to the office...
28To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 22 September 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I am informed by the Surveyor of the Port of No. Kingstown, that it is common for fishing Vessels belonging to that Port to bring grindstones, and the masters of them declare that the rough Stones are taken from shores in the Brith. Dominions as ballast and manufactured by the hands on board on their passage home. On this information permit me to raise the following questions. Supposing on...
29To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 4 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 16th of Septemr. on the 27th of the same month, and am much obliged for your answers to my several questions, and for the consent you have given respecting the sales of vessels of which may be condemned. If measures had not been taken the Sloop Betsy would not have sold so high as she did. I told the Council for the Ushers, that their case having been fairly...
30To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 10 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your Circular of the 21st. of last month, and shall observe your directions contained in it. I have also received your letter of the 23d. of the same month with the marginal part of Certife. of Registry No. 60. I wish to know whether cancelled bonds for Registers may be delivered up to the obligors, or destroyed. I don’t know that they can be of any use after cancelment, and...