To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 26 December 1794
From Tench Coxe
Treasury Department, Revenue Office, December 26, 1794. “Enclosed is a copy of a letter from T: Francis Esqr: of this date, concerning advances for Fort Mifflin &ca.1 You will be pleased to cause such order to be taken on it as the necessity of the case shall appear to require.”2
LC, RG 75, Letters of Tench Coxe, Commissioner of the Revenue, Relating to the Procurement of Military, Naval, and Indian Supplies, National Archives.
1. The letter from Francis reads as follows: “My Money in Bank is entirely expended—in ⟨fact⟩ I have over drawn considerably. Be pleased to direct ⟨a⟩ Warrant for 25,000 dollrs. to be issued in my name. The Monies put into my hands to carry on the works at Fort Mifflin, is all expended. The Secretary of the Treasury Verbally directed me to go as far as 1,000 dolrs. beyond the sums I have received for Fort Mifflin, provided it was found necessary to secure the Wharf that was sunk on the Bar opposite the Fort; part of this sum is spent and perhaps the whole may be wanted. I wish to have the 1,000 dolrs.” (copy, RG 58, Records of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, General Records, 1791–1803, National Archives).
2. H endorsed Francis’s letter as follows: “Applications of this kind ought to be accompanied with a summary of past expenditures & a general indication of the purposes for which the money is wanted. And it will be regular that the Com~ of the Revenue express his opinion. I have no data whatever to guide me except as to the 1000 Dollars Fort Mifflin. A H” (ALS, RG 58, Records of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, General Records, 1791–1803, National Archives).