Alexander Hamilton Papers

To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 22 October 1790

From Jeremiah Olney

Custom House Providence 22. Oct. 1790.

Sir,

Enclosed is my return of Cash for the last week, the balance of which being 555.30½ is in Specie.

I also enclose an Account of a few articles of foreign manufacture, which were in June last, soon after this office was opened, exported (not for drawback) by Messrs Brown & Francis1 to the Cape de Verds: from whence they have within a few days past arrived in the same vessel, and been reported by the master as returned unsold. Those gentlemen, thinking it a hardship to pay duties twice upon the same Articles, circumstanced as these are, have declined paying such as the law requires; and I have therefore taken them into possession: I wish for your directions, whether they must be sold immediately to obtain a payment of the duties, or be kept six months, when their bond for the duties on the remainder of the Cargo will become payable.

With great respect and esteem, I have the honor to be Sir, your most obedt & most hume servt.

Jereh Olney Collr

Alexr Hamilton Esqr
Secretary of the Treasury.

Copy, RG 56, Letters from the Collector at Providence, National Archives; ADfS, Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence.

1The mercantile firm of John Brown and John Francis. Brown was a prominent Providence merchant. Francis was his son-in-law and the son of the Philadelphia merchant, Tench Francis.

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