Alexander Hamilton Papers

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, PRO: F. O. description begins Transcripts or photostats from the Public Records Office of Great Britain deposited in the Library of Congress. description ends , Part 4, Vol. 7.

1This letter was enclosed in Temple to the Duke of Leeds, October 10, 1789, PRO: F. O. description begins Transcripts or photostats from the Public Records Office of Great Britain deposited in the Library of Congress. description ends , Part 4, Vol. 7. Temple was British consul general in New York from 1785 to 1798.

2John Lamb.

3The material within broken brackets has been taken from an additional copy in PRO: F. O. description begins Transcripts or photostats from the Public Records Office of Great Britain deposited in the Library of Congress. description ends , Part 4, Vol. 7.

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