To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 13 December 1790
From Alexander Hamilton
Treasury Departmt [Philadelphia] Decr 13th 1790.
Sir
I have the honor to transmit here with the copy of a report intended to be presented to the House of Representatives on the subject of a National Bank.1
This communication would have been earlier made if it had been in my power; but it has been impossible for me to prepare it sooner. With the most perfect respect I have the honor to be Sir, Your Most Obedient & Most humble Servant
Alexander Hamilton
Secy of the Treasury
LB, DLC:GW.
1. Hamilton enclosed a copy of his “Second Report on the Further Provision Necessary for Establishing Public Credit,” generally referred to as his “Report on a National Bank.” A comprehensive treatment of this report is in 7:236–342. The text of the report has been omitted here, since the enclosed copy has not been identified, and since the report was addressed to Congress rather than the president. Hamilton transmitted a copy to GW mainly as a courtesy. On the controversy over the bill to establish a national bank, see Edmund Randolph to GW, 12 Feb. 1791.