Alexander Hamilton Papers

From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 22 May 1790

To Benjamin Lincoln

Treasury Department, May 22, 1790. “You will be pleased to examine and settle the Account, of Mr. Devens1 for supplying the Light Houses in your District, and for expences since the 15th of August, and so far as found right, & duly Vouched, to pay the same. The acct. & Vouchers you will then be pleased to transmit to this Office. I observe the opinion of the Attorney for the Massachusetts District2 upon the appropriation of forfeitures under the Collection Law,3 and I consider it as very important that the Committee of the House of Representatives now setting upon my report of amendments, to the Trade and Revenue Laws,4 should adopt a Clause, calculated to obviate all doubts about the Construction, & policy of those Sections to which you allude.…”

LS, RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letters & Papers re Lighthouses, Buoys, and Piers, 1789–1819, Vol. 1, National Archives.

1Richard Devens, a Charlestown and Boston merchant, was commissary general of Massachusetts.

2Christopher Gore.

3An Act to regulate the Collection of the Duties imposed by law on the tonnage of ships or vessels, and on goods, wares and merchandises imported into the United States” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America (Boston, 1845). description ends 29–49 [July 31, 1789]).

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