From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 23 February 1792
To George Washington
Treasury Department
23d. Feby. 1792.
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to inclose to the President of the United States, a contract1 made by the Superintendant of the Lighthouse on the Island of New Castle in the State of Hampshire with Titus Salter2 for supplying, keeping, lighting, & superintending the occasional repairs of that building.
The terms of this Contract being the same as those in the last agreement for the same supplies and services, and there appearing no circumstances to produce a diminution of the cost of the Keepers supplies for himself or for the Lighthouse, the Secretary is humbly of opinion that it is not disadvantageous to the United States.
LC, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
1. This contract, dated January 1, 1792, and signed by Salter and by Joseph Whipple for H on behalf of the United States Government, may be found in RG 26, Lighthouse Letters Received, “Segregated” Lighthouse Records, New Hampshire, National Archives. The following note in Washington’s handwriting appears at the end of this contract: “Approved February the 24th 1792 Go: Washington.”
2. Salter was commander of Fort William on New Castle Island in Portsmouth Harbor. One of his responsibilities was the maintenance of the lighthouse on the island.