Alexander Hamilton Papers

To Alexander Hamilton from William Duer, 16 August 1782

From William Duer1

Albany August 16th. 1782

Sir,

You wish to be informed what, I conceive, will be the Amount of the Monies necessary for defraying the Charges of the Northern Contract, from the first of April to the last day of December; and what Proportion of that Sum will be Expended within the State.

Unless a Considerable Reinforcement of Troops should be ordered into this Quarter (of which at present there does not appear a great Probability) I do not imagine the Monthly Issue of Rations during the Term of the Contract will average more than Sixty Six thousand:

This at the Contract Price amounts for the Space of nine Months to Dollrs. 52,717½
Of this Sum according to the best Estimate I can form, 23,760 
will be remitted to the Eastern States for the Proportion of Beef, Salt, and Liquor Imported thence; which leaves, 28,957½
Ballance of Expenditures within this State.

I am,    Sir Your Obed: Hble Servt

Wm. Duer

Colo. Alexr. Hamilton
Receiver of the Continental Taxes
State of New York

ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.

1Duer had contracted to supply the levies in northern New York and on the frontier. In a letter to Comfort Sands on June 23, 1782, H wrote that Duer had promised to send him a statement of money expended in the northern part of the state.

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