28451From Alexander Hamilton to Israel Ludlow, 20 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, November 20, 1790. Letter listed in “A list of 51 Papers Relative to Contract Between the United States and John C. Symmes.” Letter not found. ] Clarence E. Carter, ed., The Territorial Papers of the United States (Washington, 1934), II, 390. Ludlow was a New Jersey surveyor and land speculator. Symmes, who had served as a member of the Continental Congress in 1785 and 1786,...
28452From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 22 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 8th. September has not been answered so early as would otherwise have been the case, from the extraordinary engagements in this office about the business of the new loan, & the removal from New York to Philadelphia. The clause in the late & existing Collection Law relative to exporting goods in the same packages in which they were imported cannot apply to goods actually...
28453To Alexander Hamilton from William Seton, 22 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, November 22, 1790. The endorsement on the letter that Hamilton wrote to Seton on November 16, 1790 , reads: “Ans 22nd.” Letter not found. ]
28454To Alexander Hamilton from Nathaniel Appleton, 24 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, November 24, 1790. “I wrote you 20 instant. This serves to transmit a Return of Certificates, Indents & bills of Old Emission rec’d into the Office in the Month of October, for which, Certificates of Funded Debt have been issued agreably to an act of Congress 4 Augst 1790 & your instructions 16th Sept last ⟨as⟩ will appear by the Abstract, herewith sent you agreably ⟨to⟩ the form H, in...
28455To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Jefferson, [24 November 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respectful compliments to the Secretary of the Treasury, and incloses him a note from mr Droz, the coiner, which he forgot to deliver to him to-day when he had the honour of waiting on him. It came to hand yesterday. ALS , letterpress copy, Thomas Jefferson Papers, Library of Congress. For Jean Pierre Droz, see H to Jefferson, April 22, 1790 .
28456To Alexander Hamilton from William Short, 26 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I took the liberty of acknowleging the reciept of your letters of Aug. 29th. and Sept. 1st. through the Secretary of State who I begged at the same time to inform you that I was preparing immediately to obey them. I beg leave to refer you also to him (to whom I had an unexpected opportunity of writing yesterday by the way of France) for what has been done in consequence of your letter of Aug....
28457To Alexander Hamilton from Nathaniel Appleton, 27 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, November 27, 1790. “… This serves to transmitt pr Post two packages … containing of the Certificates & Indents which were recd. in … October.… I observe in your General Instruction that the Salary to which I am intitled will be paid Quarterly by drafts or assignments upon the Treasury, but I have not been informed when the Salary commenced.…” LC , RG 53, Massachusetts State Loan...
28458To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 28 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
On returning from Exeter the Evening before the last, I had the pleasure of recg your Letter of the 13th. Instant with the two Copies mentioned in it. Having no apprehension of such Measures, what was to be done? appeared to me to be a Question of some Difficulty as well as Importance. To treat them as very important might render them more so than I think they are. The Author of McFingall...
28459To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 29 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Ship Warren, burthen about 281 Tons, belonging to Messrs. Brown & Francis of this Town, being bound on a Voyage to Calcutta, having part of her Cargo onboard, composed of the Articles contained in the enclosed copy of a Manifest, (since delivered) and not Registered under the present Government of the United States, sailed from hence on the 25th. instant, for Newport, there to take in the...
28460From Alexander Hamilton to Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard, 29 November … (Hamilton Papers)
It being probable, that I shall shortly instruct the Treasurer of the United States to draw bills upon you to the amount of one million of guilders, to be paid out of the last loan of three millions; I enclose you his signature, together with that of the Register of the Treasury, and the form of the bills which he will draw. The sight, at which these drafts will be made payable, will,...
28461Treasury Department Circular to the Commissioners of Loans, 30 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
A danger to the United States has been suggested from the Certificates for transfer from the Treasury to the several Loan Offices and from one Loan Office to another or to the Treasury. It is observed that the writing, which is expressive of the rate of Interest , and that which is expressive of the time when interest will accrue are capable of being taken out as in the case of Pierces Notes...
28462To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, [November 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, November, 1790 ] “… if the report of the appraisers should be that the Goods did not receive damage on ship board, but were damaged before they were shipped, is it in the power of the Collector, to make any allowance in the duties? I do not state this as a case that may occur, but that now actually offers. Teas are imported from Lisbon in the ship , and I believe it will appear...
28463To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, [November 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
In obedience to Your Letter respecting Messrs. Willing Morris & Swanwicks Duties on goods from Rhode Island I give the following information. That when the Vessell enterd from Rhode Island in which said goods were imported we had no information of that state adopting the Federal Constitution, and therefore was esteemed by me as foreign, in respect to my Office. The reasons why these Gentlemen...
28464To Alexander Hamilton from John Cochran, 1 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, December 1, 1790. On December 10, 1790 Hamilton wrote to Cochran : “The instructions given to you originally in regard to the transmission of certificates are rightly construed by you in your letter of the 1st. instant.” Letter not found. ] Cochran was commissioner of loans for New York.
28465Notes of Objects for Consideration of the President, [1 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
I Confidence that measures for the further support of public Credit and for the payment of the interest and gradual extinguishment of the principal of the public debt will be pursued with zeal & vigour. And that as one mean to this a plan for the sale of the Western lands will be adopted, which will give them the effects intended, appropriating them to the sinking fund, while it will extend...
28466From Alexander Hamilton to Peter Anspach, 2 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Being desirous to carry into execution the intentions of the legislature in regard to the Claims upon the department of the late Quarter Master general, it is my wish, if agreeable to you, that you should undertake the business of collecting the documents, of receiving the claims and of stating them from time to time in returns that shall comprehend a number of them to the Auditor of the...
28467From 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...
28468To Alexander Hamilton from William Short, 2 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
My last letter of the 26th of November will have informed you of my arrival at this place. I have been hitherto employed in ascertaining what measures would be most conducive to the honor & interests of the United States in the execution of the commission you have confided to my care. In the course of this business several of the objects to which you directed my enquiries naturally presented...
28469From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [2 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The day before yesterday I received a letter from Mr. Woodbury Langdon declining the appointment offered him. There was a letter with it for you which I immediately forwarded. Since that time I have conversed with Mr. Langdon & have heared from Mr. Gilman; the former is warm in his recommendation of Mr. Keith Spence; he states that his insolvency was owing to the loss of a valuable ship &...
28470To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [2–6 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
Your indisposition has prevented me from giving you as much trouble in making my communications to Congress as otherwise, I might have done. The article of your notes which respect the loan in Holland, I am somewhat at a loss to frame into a paragraph for the Speech, and therefore pray your assistance. I had got it as pr. the enclosed, but upon a revision, it does not appear right. Be so good...
28471Enclosure: [Notes Respecting the Holland Loan], [2–6 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
“In pursuance of the authority granted for negociating a loan not exceeding application was made in Holland, and I have the pleasure to inform you, that a sum equal to dollars has been subscribed. This loan, which shews by its success the confidence placed in the U. States, cannot fail by its intended application to give additional support to the public credit. The terms of it, with the...
28472To Alexander Hamilton from Jedediah Huntington, 3 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
New London [ Connecticut ] December 3, 1790 . “… The Light, which has been usually kept in the Light House, cannot be maintained for a less Sum than 380 dollars Per Annum, allowing the Contractor any Thing for his Trouble and Risque it consumes in a year about 800 Gallons of the best strained Sperma Ceti Oil, which, delivered at the House, will cost at the common Price, 350 dollars. I have...
28473From Alexander Hamilton to William Seton, [3 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you for the attention you are so obligingly paying to the matters I have troubled you with. The interest, which yourself and my other friends in New York are so good as to take in my health is no small compensation for the temporary diminution of it. We are always glad to find that we are not forgotten by those to whom we are much attached. My Complaint has been nothing more than my...
28474From Alexander Hamilton to John Adams, [4 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor to enclose to the Vice President of the United States the letter of the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, with that of Captain Lyde. These papers were duly transmitted to the President of the United States, but could not be attended with any favorable consequences to Captain Lyde, as a commander for the Cutter on the Massachusetts Station had...
28475From Alexander Hamilton to Nathaniel Appleton, 4 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
In your future receipts of old emission money it will be well if possible to cancel it when you are counting it. The operation may perhaps be performed then without loss of time. In that sent on from some of the offices a number of counterfeits have been found. I wish to know if you have discovered any considerable proportion, and I must request that the greatest care be used in examining the...
28476To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 4 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
In your letter of 22 Ulto you refer to several letters which I had written but do not mention the one on the subject of a cutter I am apprehensive therefore that you have not received it. If you have not, I will hereafter repeat the Ideas. I hardlay think Captain Tucker would serve as a Lieutenant under Captain Williams as he is the senior officer. He wishes to command. The boat I mentioned...
28477To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 4 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I received by the wednesday post your private letter with the news paper containing the piece you referred to which has been republished in a number of our papers. The Virginia Resolve is not very alarming here much less so than might have been expected. Indeed it seems to have produced in some instances a good rather than an evil, by confirming the doubtful in the importance of a firm...
28478From Alexander Hamilton to James Tilton, [4 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, December 4, 1790. Letter listed in dealer’s catalogue. Letter not found. ] LS , sold by Stan V. Henkels, May 8, 9, 10, 1895, Lot 27. Tilton, a Dover, Delaware, physician, was commissioner of loans for Delaware.
28479To Alexander Hamilton from Sharp Delany, [6 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, December 6, 1790. ] “In the Impost Law Hemp pays a Duty of five ⅌ Cent ad Valorem. By a special Clause in sd Law, this Article from the first of Decr Inst: is to pay 60 Cents ⅌ Cwt. Quere Whether Hemp is to pay the 5 ⅌ Cent ad Valorem & the 60 Cents ⅌ Cwt.…” LC , Bureau of Customs, Philadelphia. “An Act for laying a Duty on Goods, Wares, and Merchandises imported into the...
28480To Alexander Hamilton from Peter Anspach, 7 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Yours of the 2nd. inst. was handed to me this morning. At present am not able to attend much to any kind of business, owing to a long spell of sickness of which I am but just recovering; and am in hopes in eight or ten days hence to be able to attend to business; and as soon as I can; shall have no objections to complying with your wish, to wit, of undertaking to collect immediately the...
28481To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Francis, 7 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
There is no question you can Ask that I will not most chearfully Answer, nor any Commands that you may be pleased to Honor me with that shall not to the best of my Abilities be attended to with pleasure. When our Bank first began its Operations, a Set of Chambered weights were provided for ascertaining the Number of dollars by weighing. We then found that 500 drs weighed 433. oz 12 wt 12 grs...
28482To Alexander Hamilton from John M. Pintard, 7 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I take the first opportunity of droping a few lines to you after my arrival at this Island, to mention a Circumstance, which I conceive to be of importance to the Revenue of the United States. The Clearance from the Custom House at this Island mentions in general Terms that the Brig or Ship (here is inserted the name of the Vessel & Commander) has permission to depart with a Cargo of Wines:...
28483From Alexander Hamilton to William Seton, 7 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
If I recollect right my requests have hitherto referred your experiments to the newest dollars. I want however to know the different kinds in common circulation & their average weight and respective dates. Will you be so obliging then as to cause different parcels to be taken promiscuously out of the Mass in bank—say about 100 in each parcel, to cause them to be accurately weighed together,...
28484From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 7 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, December 7, 1790. Submits “a provisional agreement entered into by the Collector of Newport for keeping the Light house on the Island of Conanicut for one year from the 13th. of September last.…” LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. William Ellery. Conanicut Island is located in Narragansett Bay.
28485To Alexander Hamilton from William Seton, 9 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Merchants of this City who have lately gone to, & returned from Philadelphia, have asserted at the Coffee House they were well informed that the Bank of Pensilvania had offered to give immediate Credit to the Treasurer of the United states for such drafts on the Collectors of the Imposts &c as he should lodge there for Sale. The President and Directors of this Bank anxious to do every...
28486From Alexander Hamilton to John Cochran, 10 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The instructions given to you originally in regard to the transmission of certificates are rightly construed by you in your letter of the 1st. instant. The certificates of the Register of the Treasury and all others of which you have no checks or registers are to be sent hither for examination: And moreover, in all other cases wherein you actually find reason to entertain doubts of the...
28487To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 10 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
By the Presidents command I have the honor to return the enclosed papers respecting Capt: Howell which were submitted to the President this morning. I am moreover, ordered by the President to inform you that if you know of nothing to counteract these recommendations of Captain Howell, and if no particular reason operates against his having the command of one of the Cutters, you have his...
28488From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 10 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to inclose to the President of the United States a letter that has been transmitted under cover to him, together with some papers that accompanied it. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
28489To Alexander Hamilton from Joseph Whipple, 10 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, December 10, 1790. “On the receipt of your letter of the 1st of June last containing directions respecting the Lighthouse in this State, I made proposals to the person employd by the State in the care of the Fort & Lighthouse, but having reason to expect the Cession of the latter by the Legislature then in Session the Contract was delayed; On the rising of the Court...
28490To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 11 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] December 11, 1790 . “… I have the honor to enclose for your inspection a letter from, & recommendation of, Mr. David Phipps of Connecticut, for the command of one of the revenue Cutters. Also a letter and recommendation for a similar appointment from Mr. Henry Putnam of Georgia.” LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
28491Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 11 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Comptroller of the Treasury having happily recovered his health, and being consequently able to superintend as usual the business of his office, I am to request that you will in future make your applications to him on all questions or enquiries relative to the forms transmitted to you and to the mode of acting in cases arising under them. Such enquiries as you may have addressed to me...
28492From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [11 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to the President. As the instruction concerning Capt. Howell is not definitive, The Secretary, unless directed to the contrary will retain the Communication till he has had an opportunity of submitting to the President some other candidates & recommendations from the same quarter, merely to afford an opportunity of comparison, & to acquaint...
28493From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Arnold, 13 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 29th. October has been received. It will be proper for you to make application on the subject of fees to the Collector of your District. It is his duty, both as it regards the persons who hold the employment of surveyor and the public service, to pay to the several surveyors the lawful portion of the compensations, according to their several services. And I presume if any...
28494From Alexander Hamilton to John Daves, 13 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, December 13, 1790. “I learn from your letter of the 7th. of October, that you have sent for a set of Scales & Weights, and that you have determined to rent a store for the Public Use, as also to build a scale house. Some of these things you will perceive by consulting the Acts of Congress cannot be lawfully done without Permission first obtained. Before I authorize you to...
28495From Alexander Hamilton to the President and Directors of the Bank of New York, 13 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Treasurer of the United States has instructions to deposit with you his draughts on Messrs. Wm. and John Willink and N. and J. Van Staphorst and Hubbard of Amsterdam to the Amount of 25000 Guilders. These bills are drawn as you will perceive at a very short sight. The price for which you are to dispose of them is 36⁴⁄₁₁ ninetieths of a dollar per guilder, for which you may receive notes...
28496From Alexander Hamilton to the President and Directors of the Bank of New York, 13 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, December 13, 1790. On December 20, 1790, William Seton wrote to Hamilton : “The President & Directors desire me to acknowledge the receipt of your two Letters of the 13th.” One letter not found. ]
28497From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 13 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter relative to the Ship Warren, and highly approve the vigilance and firmness, which you have Shewn in this case. It does not appear that any penalty or forfeiture is incurred by the vessel’s departure from your District, without papers, because she was not licensed , and not bound to a foreign port . But the Deputy Collector of Newport ought, as I understand the...
28498Introductory Note: First Report on the Further Provision Necessary for Establishing Public Credit, [13 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
There are two drafts of this document in the Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. The final version, which was submitted to the House of Representatives, is the National Archives. The first draft, which is in Hamilton’s handwriting, is printed below in essentially the same form in which it was written by Hamilton. In the margin of the first draft are queries and insertions in the text which...
28499First Draft: First Report on the Further Provision Necessary for Establishing Public Credit, [13 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
Respectfully reports That the object which appears to be more most immediately essential necessary essential to the further support of public Credit, in pursuance of the principles of the plan adopted during the last session of Congress is the establishment of proper and sufficient funds for of such additional funds
28500Schedule A: [Estimate of the Funds Proposed in the Annexed Report], [13 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
Dollars 4000.000 Gallons of distilled spirits imported from foreign Countries at 8 Cents ⅌ Gallon } 320 000 3500 000 Gallons of spirits distilled in the United States from foreign Materials at 11 Cents ⅌ Gallon } 385 000 3000 000 ditto distilled from Materials of the United states at 9 Cents ⅌ Gall. } 270 000 Total Dollars 975 000 This schedule is in the writing of a clerk.