From Alexander Hamilton to Sir John Temple, 23 September 1789
To Sir John Temple1
Treasury Department
New York 23d. Sept. 1789.
Sir
The Collector of this Port2 has submitted to me ⟨a ques⟩3tion respecting the propriety of requiring an Entry ⟨at the⟩ Custom house of the British Packets. In order ⟨to a⟩ proper determination of this point, it is necessary ⟨that⟩ I should understand with certainty & precision ⟨the si⟩tuation of those Packets; under what Commissions ⟨they⟩ are Navigated, and what relation, if any, they bear ⟨to the⟩ Navy of Great Britain. In this View, & to avoid ⟨Misap⟩prehension, I request from you an official expla⟨nation⟩ on the Subject. I am informed that tomorrow is ⟨fixed⟩ for the departure of the Packet now here, it is requisite ⟨that I⟩ should receive your Answer in the course of this day. ⟨I have⟩ the honor to be, Sir your most Obedient Servant
Alexander Hamilton.
Secretary of the Treasury.
⟨To Sir⟩ John Temple Bt.
⟨Consul⟩ General of his
⟨Britan⟩nick Majesty.
Copy, in writing of John Temple, , Part 4, Vol. 7.
1. This letter was enclosed in Temple to the Duke of Leeds, October 10, 1789, , Part 4, Vol. 7. Temple was British consul general in New York from 1785 to 1798.
2. John Lamb.
3. The material within broken brackets has been taken from an additional copy in , Part 4, Vol. 7.