To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 26 June 1793
From Jeremiah Olney
Custom-House,
District of Providence 26th June 1793.
Sir.
The Sloop Abigail of this Port, burthen 46 ⁶³⁄₉₅ Tons, Michael Anthony Master, arrived here on the 24th instant, having a Register, and a License which expired on the 5th Day of the present Month: he cleared his Vessel at New-York on the 20th Instant; and appears to have committed a breach of the 6th Section of the new Coasting Law;1 but as that Section makes a distinction between registered, and Enrolled Vessels; the Law having so lately taken place, and the Master declaring that he ignorantly and unintentionally violated it, which I have no doubt was the case, I have thought it most advisable to permit the Cargo to be delivered, which consisted of the Articles contained in the enclosed copy of his Manifest; and respectfully to submit his Case for your consideration and Instructions.
I have the Honor to be &c.
Jereh. Olney Collr.
Alexander Hamilton Esquire,
Secretary of the Treasury.
ADf, Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence.
1. Section 6 of “An Act for enrolling and licensing ships or vessels to be employed in the coasting trade and fisheries, and for regulating the same” ( 305–18 [February 18, 1793] provided in part “That after the last day of May next, every ship or vessel of twenty tons or upwards (other than such as are registered) found trading between district and district, or between different places in the same district, or carrying on the fishery, without being enrolled and licensed or if less than twenty tons, and not less than five tons, without a license, in manner as is provided by this act, such ship or vessel, if laden with goods the growth or manufacture of the United States only (distilled spirits excepted) or in ballast, shall pay the same fees and tonnage in every port of the United States, at which she may arrive, as ships or vessels not belonging to a citizen or citizens of the United States, and if she have on board any articles of foreign growth or manufacture, or distilled spirits, other than sea-stores, the ship or vessel, together with her tackle, apparel and furniture, and the lading found on board, shall be forfeited.”