From Alexander Hamilton to Samuel A. Otis, 8 June 1792
To Samuel A. Otis
Treasury Department June 8th: 1792
Sir,
I am to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of this date.1
Although it would afford me much pleasure to Contribute to your accomodation, yet in the present case I cannot consider myself at liberty to comply with your requisition, inasmuch as it is repugnant to the established usage of the Treasury. I am with Consideration Sir Your Most Obedient Servant
A Hamilton
Samuel A. Otis Esquire
LS, RG 46, Second Congress, 1791–1793, Reports of the Secretary of the Treasury, National Archives.
1. Letter not found. Although the exact nature of Otis’s request cannot be ascertained, it seems likely that he wished to transfer funds which were allotted to salaries for the Senate to the accounts used for his own and his staff’s salaries. On November 19, 1792, Oliver Wolcott, Jr., wrote to Otis as follows:
“I find it necessary to request, that you will not discharge out of the money placed in your hands for the compensations of the Members of the Senate, the salaries and compensations due to yourself and to the clerks of your office. You will therefore render your own account, together with the accounts of the said persons at the end of each quarter, at the Treasury, that the whole may be included in one settlement, and payment thereof made to you.” (LS, RG 46, Second Congress, 1791–1793, Reports of the Secretary of the Treasury, National Archives.)