28801From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 21 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The duties upon Hemp and cotton which took place the 1st. instant being included in the same clause —and there having been no duty before upon cotton it appears probable that it was not the intention of the legislature to make the 60 cents an additional duty. It is also observable that although Hemp was left among the articles subject to five per centum, this is not termed a further or...
28802To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 21 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, December 21, 1790. Recommends John McComb Jr. as “an intelligent sober & industrious young Mechanic.” LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. McComb was the son of a prominent New York architect and builder. The younger McComb became his father’s assistant in 1783 and began his own career as a builder in 1790.
28803Report of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, 21 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate, The Chief Justice, The Secretary of State, The Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General Respectfully report to the Congress of the United States of America: That pursusant to the Act intitled an Act making provision for the Reduction of the Public Debt, They on the 26th. day of August last convened at the City of...
28804To Alexander Hamilton from James Tutt, 21 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 21, 1790. Submits a bid on the contract to build a lighthouse on Cape Henry. ALS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “A,” Pennsylvania and Southern States, National Archives. Tutt was a contractor from Fredericksburg.
28805To Alexander Hamilton from Nathaniel Appleton, 22 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, December 22, 1790. On April 28, 1791, Hamilton wrote to Appleton and referred to “your letter of the 22nd December.” Letter not found. ]
28806To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 22 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, December 22, 1790. Recommends that Matthew Clarkson be appointed an inspector of the revenue. ADf , Columbia University Libraries. Clarkson, a resident of New York City, was a regent of the University of the State of New York and a member of the New York Assembly.
28807From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [22 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to send with this a short report on the Pay (Post) Master General’s letter. From the circumstances of the case and a general impression that it is always best for the Chief Magistrate to be as little implicated as possible in the specific approbation of a particular measure proceeding from a particular officer, I believe it may be adviseable to answer generally that the...
28808Enclosure: [Report on the Letter from the Post Master General], 22 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury in obedience to the order of the President of the United States has examined the letter of the 16th. inst: from the Post Master General and the papers accompanying the same. The data they exhibit, do not appear sufficient to enable a judgment of the propriety generally of the Contracts made or intended; in order to which, the distances of the several posts,...
28809From Alexander Hamilton to William Allibone, 23 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, December 23, 1790. On December 28, 1790, Allibone wrote to Hamilton : “In obedience to the Instructions I received the 23d Instant.” Letter not found. ]
28810From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 23 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, December 23, 1790. Discusses qualifications of various candidates who have been recommended for the appointment as “Keeper for the Light-house at Portland in the District of Maine.” LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
28811To Alexander Hamilton from Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard, 23 December … (Hamilton Papers)
[ Amsterdam, December 23, 1790. “Mr. Short informed us It was expected also, He should be able to fix more advantageous Conditions for the Charges of the future Loans, and notwithstanding We assured him the last Loan at Four and an half per Cent for Commission, Premiums, Brokerage, and all other Expences was as reasonable as It ought to be, as well as much cheaper than Russia and the other...
28812From Alexander Hamilton to Nathaniel Fosdick, 24 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
It is to be presumed that the Collectors cause all goods which are reported for exportation to be reshipped under the care of an Inspector; and that he draws the allowance, per diem, during the time he is engaged in this duty. This I apprehend is the only charge which arises on the service of Inspection prior to and during the shipment. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Copy, RG 56, Letters to...
28813From Alexander Hamilton to Jedediah Huntington, 24 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 3d. instant together with the contract for supplying the light house therein enclosed. I fear it will be difficult for the President to form an opinion of this agreement for want of the particulars. The quantities and prices of the requisite articles would afford better ground on which to judge; and I therefore request that you will endeavour to have the...
28814To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 24 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Providence, December 24, 1790. “I have this day received your letter of the 13. instant. Contrary to what Mr Brown informed me was his intention, the ship Warren did not return from Newport to this port; but having completed her lading there, she sails, as I am informed, about this time for India. I have only to add that she lay four days in the harbour of Newport without any Papers entitling...
28815From Alexander Hamilton to William Seton, 24 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, December 24, 1790. On January 3, 1791, Seton wrote to Hamilton : “all the purchasers chose to avail themselves of that indulgence, given in your Letter of the 24 Decbr.” Letter not found. ]
28816To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 27 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
It frequently happens, in the Winter Season, that vessels, belonging and bound to this place, are obliged by the Ice, to stop off Warwick-Neck, just without this district, and about eleven miles from hence, where they are almost always unavoidably detained 24 hours, and often from two to fifteen days, and as the river is now frozen up, and several vessels are daily expected from Sea: I ask the...
28817Warrant of Remission in the Case of Robert Wasson, Master of the Sloop “Sally”, [27 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
To all to whom these presents shall come I Alexander Hamilton Secretary of the Treasury of the United States send Greeting. Whereas a statement of facts with the petition of Robert Wasson of Norwalk in the State of Connecticut, Master of a Sloop called the Sally bound from Norwalk in the district of Connecticut to that of the State of New York thereto annexed touching a certain forfeiture and...
28818To Alexander Hamilton from William Allibone, 28 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, December 28, 1790. Discusses “the design of Erecting Piers Opposite to the Borough of Chester” on the Delaware River. ALS , RG 26, Lighthouse Estimates, Delaware, National Archives.
28819To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 28 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] December 28, 1790 . Transmits a “letter from Mrs. Mary House in behalf of her son George House for an appointment on board one of the Cutters.” LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
28820To Alexander Hamilton from William Seton, 28 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received a Letter from the Treasurer upon the Subject of immediately passing to credit the drafts on the Collectors which I laid before the Board of Directors this day. The Copy of the Letter and the answer I have wrote by their orders, they have desired me to enclose to you (as the Treasurer makes no refference to what has formerly passed on this Subject) for your information. The...
28821Enclosure: William Seton to Samuel Meredith, 28 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreably to what I had the honor to write you last night, I this day laid before the President & Directors, your Letter of the 23d. And they desire me to inform you, That on the 9th of this Month, having heard from public report that the Bank of North America had offered to give immediate Credit to the United States for such drafts as might be lodged there for Sale, The Board anxious to do...
28822Enclosure: From Ephraim Brasher to William Seton, [24–28 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
Car gr 12 Grains of A Spanish Doubloon 1777 Essayed produced 10.¹⁹⁄₂₄ pure gold 1.⁵⁄₂₄ Silver } Worse than Stand ⁵⁄₂₄ 12 Do: Do: 1782 tested 12 parted 1 Silver 11. Standard 12 Do. of A Portugal half Joe
28823To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Walker, 28 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
When I obtained leave of absence from America for six Months my principal object was a visit to my friends whom I had not seen for twenty years but I also engaged to pass from London to this place during my stay in Europe in order to inspect into the proceedings of the Agents of the Scioto Company and adjust their accounts. I accordingly came here about a Month since and have found their...
28824To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Jefferson, [29 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respectful compliments to the Secretary of the treasury, and his condolences on the accident of the other evening, which he hopes has produced no serious loss. He incloses to the Secretary of the Treasury a report of a committee of the National assembly of France, on the subject of Billon, containing more particular information as to that species of coin than he had...
28825From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, [29 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
When I answered your letter concerning Mr Burges’s Vessel, being in a hurry, I trusted to my recollection of the act; but having since more particularly adverted to the terms of it, I entertain a doubt of the justness of the opinion then given. I wish therefore the affair may be considered as Standing for further consideration. I mean to take the Attorney General’s opinion; when you will hear...
28826To Alexander Hamilton from Otho H. Williams, 29 December [1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Brigantine Hope, No. 52, was registered in this district on the eleventh day of October last, at the instance of Mr. Stephen Zacharie the Owner. The Vessel was purchased for him at a foreign Port, where the laws of Congress was not sufficiently attended to and the form prescibed by the eleventh section of the law for Registering & clearing of Vessels &c was not observed. The Master...
28827To Alexander Hamilton from John Moore and James Robinson, 30 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, December 30, 1790. Submit a bid for the contract to build the lighthouse at Cape Henry. LS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “A,” Pennsylvania and Southern States, National Archives. Moore and Robinson were New York City contractors.
28828To Alexander Hamilton from James Pearson, 30 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, December 30, 1790. Submit a bid for the contract to build the lighthouse at Cape Henry. ALS , RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, Vol. “A,” Pennsylvania and Southern States, National Archives. Pearson was a Philadelphia carpenter.
28829To Alexander Hamilton from William Short, 30 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
My letter of the 18th. enclosing a duplicate of that of the 2d. inst. with other papers has been detained until now, because the American vessel by which I have thought it best to send it, has not yet sailed. As her departure seems at length finally decided for tomorrow, I annex this letter merely to inform you that the circumstances of the loan remain as when I last had the honor of writing...
28830To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, [31 December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
You will find enclosed a very rough copy of Leslies improvement of the proposition of Hatton and Whitehurst —for an invariable Standard of length, capacity & weight. This is his original corrected &ca. by me of wch. Mr Jefferson has the fair copy. Genl. S. will be able to make it out. The printed roll contains a plan of state finance proposed by Mr. R Morris, which having relation to the Bank...
28831From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, [December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
I have considered the case of the two vessels belonging to the port of Philadelphia which have arrived at the Capes of Delaware. The law does not authorize the receiving in any custom house, reports and entries of vessels that are not within the district to which it appertains. The only method therefore, as it appears to me, by which the owners can effect an entry in this or any other case is...
28832Draft of an Act to Incorporate the Bank of the United States, [December 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
An Act to incorporate the Subscribers to The Bank of Whereas it is conceived, that the establishment of a Bank for the Unitd States upon a foundation sufficiently extensive to answer the purposes intended thereby, and at the same time upon principles which afford adequate security for an upright and prudent administration thereof will be very conducive to the successful conducting of the...
28833From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Goodhue, [1790] (Hamilton Papers)
As the subject of the inclosed letter is of consequence to the Whale Fishery I send it to you to read & will be glad to converse with you about it tomorrow. Yr Obed serv ALS , New York Society Library, New York City. Goodhue, a merchant in Salem, Massachusetts, was elected to the House of Representatives in 1789. J. C. Hamilton ( JCHW John C. Hamilton, ed., The Works of Alexander Hamilton (New...
28834To Alexander Hamilton from Meletiah Jordan, 1 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Frenchman’s Bay [ District of Maine ] January 1, 1791 . “I herewith have the honour to transmit to you my Account Current for the last Quarter with Abstracts of Duties on Tonnage Abstracts of pay to Inspectors. Quarterly returns of Exports Vouchers for Inspectors all which on perusal will I hope meet your approbation. As soon as I received your approbation to provide a Boat I immediately sent...
28835To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 3 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
You may think I have neglected you from my long silence, but I can assure you I have never forgot you. Having withdrawn myself from every thing of a public nature, this has led me to endeavour to reduce my pleasures as much as possible to a small compass, and this to neglect many correspondents for whom I entertain the liveliest affection. That I love and esteem you, I know you will believe...
28836To Alexander Hamilton from William Seton, 3 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that this day I have sold the Treasurers Bills on Amsterdam for 25,000 Guilders to Different persons at the price you limitted of 36/4/11 Ninetieths per Guilder payable by Notes at 90 Days, in which Notes I have included the Interest for 33 Days, as all the purchasers chose to avail themselves of that indulgence, given in your Letter of the 24 Decbr. I have no...
28837To Alexander Hamilton from James Livingston, 4 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I wish to know what Prospect there is of my being continued in the Office of Deputy Superintendant of Indian Affairs. I have received no Answer from General Sinclair on that Subject. As you may recollect you promised me to write in my behalf, perhaps you have received an Answer and if so, shoud be happy to hear the Result thereof. To Morrow we shall make a House and also the Senate; The...
28838Receipt from Andrew Brown, [5 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
£ s d Novr 15. To an advertisement a Pocket Book lost } 0 6 3 Decr 11. To Do, A coachman
28839From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 5 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to inform the President of the United States that in pursuance of his instructions, due public notice was given in the Gazettes of Virginia and of the principal sea ports of the United States, that proposals would be received at the Treasury office untill the 31st. Ultimo, for building by Contract a Light-house, and the necessary...
28840Enclosure: [Memorandum of Proposals Received for Erecting a Light-House at Cape Henry], [5 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
No. 1. by Lemuel Carter of Norfolk to be built of Brick above the foundation; according to proposals in the Virginia Gazettes. Dollars. 24,000. No. 2. by Moore & Robinson of New York; according to proposals in Greenleaf’s paper, & to the elevation exhibited. if of Brick — Dls. 21.842. by the same —If of hammered stone 22.342. the payments as may be agreed. No. 3.
28841To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 6 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Providence, January 6, 1791. “I beg leave to call your friendly attention to the enclosed statement of the emoluments of this office; by which it appears that the net amount thereof will be only about 200 Dolls ⅌ annum. The extreme inadequacy of this sum to the services performed, obliges me to entreat of you to lay the matter before the Legislature for their information; not doubting but they...
28842Report on Appropriations of Money for Certain Purposes, [6 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
[To the Speaker of the House of Representatives] The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully reports to the House of Representatives, the Estimates herewith transmitted, No. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The first relating to the Civil List, or the Expenditure for the support of Government, during the year 1791, amounting to Dollars 299.276.53. The second exhibiting some additional objects of expenditure...
28843Report on Duties Arising on Tonnage, for the Year Ending September 30, 1790, [6 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to inform you, that prior to the receipt of the order of the House of Representatives of the 30th. ultimo, the formation of several returns of the nature of those designated in their resolution, had been commenced at the Treasury. It had been deemed expedient to make them up, so as to include the space of one year, in order that they might exhibit the annual course of that...
28844From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 6 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to transmit to the President of the United States an account of the cost of a seal for the use of the District Court of Maine, on which he begs leave to remark, that there does not occur any reason to deem it immoderate. The Legislature having by their resolution of the 2nd. of August last assigned a part of the fund provided for the...
28845To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 7 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, January 7, 1791. Transmits “a Warrant appointing Joseph Greenleaf Keeper of the Light house at Portland in the District of Maine.” ALS , RG 26, “Segregated” Lighthouse Records, National Archives; LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress
28846Report on Duties on Imports, [7 January 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
In addition to the papers transmitted yesterday, I have the honor to inclose you two Abstracts of the Duties on Imports into the United States; one exhibiting the sum received from the commencement of the operation of the impost act, to the 30th. of September 1789; and the other shewing, as far as the returns have been transmitted, the sum received for one year following that day. None of the...
28847From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 8 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to transmit to the President of the United States a Contract made by the Collector of Portsmouth in New Hampshire with Titus Salter for furnishing the Light house on New Castle Island with oil, wick, fuel & candles, and for the care & lighting of the same from the 15th. day of August 1789. to the 1st. day of July next, including some...
28848To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 10 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
By a misconception of the Law respecting the 10 ⅌ cent discount on goods imported in American vessels, which ’till within a few days, I supposed to cease on the first day of October last, the balance of 16.314 dolls & 45¼ cents which appears by my accounts transmitted on the 3. inst, to be due to the United States is 1.114 dolls & 72 cents more than it should be, this sum being the amount of...
28849To Alexander Hamilton from William Seton, 10 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to enclose you Mr. Silva’s answer respecting the weight & fineness of the Portugal Coin, which is all the information he can give. When The Treasurer of The United States sends the Bills on Amsterdam for 100,000 Guilders as mentioned in your Letter of they shall be disposed of agreable to your orders. I have the honor to be with the greatest respect Sir, Your Obed. Hme Sert....
28850From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Jefferson, 11 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have perused with attention your intended report to the President; and will, as I am sure is your wish, give you my opinion with frankness. As far as a summary examination enables me to judge, I agree in your interpretation of the Treaty. The exemption sought does not appear to be claimable as a right. But I am not equally well satisfied of the policy of granting it on the ground you...