From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Smith, [17 April 1790]
To Thomas Smith1
[Treasury Department, April 17, 1790. The description in the dealer’s catalogue of this letter reads: “At his request, Hamilton has issued a warrant in his favor on Samuel Meredith for $20,000.2 ‘I wish you had indicated to me what sum would be requisite to execute the object of exchanging the certificates of your State.’” Letter not found.]
1. LS, sold by Kenneth W. Rendell, Inc., Catalogue No. 70, Lot 56.
For background to this letter, see “Treasury Department Circular to the Continental Loan Officers,” October 12, 1789 ( , V, 440–41).
2. An entry for May 13, 1790, in the Blotters of the Office of the Register of the Treasury reads: “Thomas Smith Receiver of Continental Taxes and Loan Officer for Pennsylvania his Account of Interest Indents Dr. to Samuel Meredith Treasurer of the United States his Account of ditto For a Warrant No. 7 drawn the 17th Ultimo, on said Treasurer in favor of said Loan Officer for Twenty thousand Dollars in Indents of Interest for which he is to be charged and held Accountable subject hereafter to a charge of such Fractional parts of a dollar as he may add to the indents 20,000” (RG 39 Records of the Bureau of Accounts [Treasury], Blotters of the Office of the Register of the Treasury, 1782–1810, National Archives).
For “indents of interest,” see Nathaniel Appleton to H, February 5, 1791, note 1 ( , VIII, 8–9).
See also Oliver Wolcott, Jr., to H, July 31, 1790 ( , VI, 513–14).