From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Van Schaack, 20 April 1792
To Henry Van Schaack
Treasury Department April 20th 1792
Sir,
I received your letter of the 1st of February1 shortly after its date, and have duly noticed the remarks it contained on the subject of manufactures, which will not fail to recur when the Legislature shall have time to go into the Consideration of the proposed arrangements.2 The business yet to be transacted will not admit of their further attention to my report than the giving such modification to the ways and means recently required, as will encourage this interesting branch of the national industry.3 The bill has nearly made its progress thro the house of Representatives in a form calculated as well to produce that effect as the necessary supplies.
The specimens of carpeting4 which were very acceptable were immediately placed in the Committee room of the house of Representatives among a Collection of specimens of American manufactures transmitted to the Treasury from several of the States.
I am, Sir, with great consideration & Esteem5 Your most obedt Servant
A Hamilton
H. V. Schaack Esqr.
Massachusetts
LS, Mr. Hall Park McCullough, North Bennington, Vermont.
1. Letter not found.
2. This is a reference to H’s “Report on the Subject of Manufactures,” December 5, 1791.
3. This is a reference to H’s “Report Relative to the Additional Supplies for the Ensuing Year,” March 16, 1792. The report and the congressional act based on it provided for an increase of three and one-half percent on ad valorem duties imposed on carpets and carpeting ( 260 [May 2, 1792]).
4. According to Van Schaack’s nephew, “The first domestic carpeting manufactured in Berkshire county was made under the direction of Mrs. Van Schaack, and a parcel forwarded to the secretary of the treasury” (Henry Cruger Van Schaack, Memoirs of the Life of Henry Van Schaack [Chicago, 1892], 176).
5. The words “& Esteem” are in the handwriting of H.