1. Goodhue, a merchant in Salem, Massachusetts, was elected to the House of Representatives in 1789.

2. J. C. Hamilton (JCHW description begins John C. Hamilton, ed., The Works of Alexander Hamilton (New York, 1851–1856). description ends , IV, 79) and Henry Cabot Lodge (HCLW description begins Henry Cabot Lodge, ed., The Works of Alexander Hamilton (New York, 1904). description ends , IV, 67) date this letter October 29, 1790.

3. This letter has not been found. J. C. Hamilton prints H to Goodhue, October 29, 1789, as the enclosure (JCHW description begins John C. Hamilton, ed., The Works of Alexander Hamilton (New York, 1851–1856). description ends , IV, 79). Lodge prints the same letter as the enclosure but dates it October 29, 1790 (HCLW description begins Henry Cabot Lodge, ed., The Works of Alexander Hamilton (New York, 1904). description ends , IV, 67). However the letter printed by J. C. Hamilton and Lodge does not relate to the whale industry, and there is no apparent reason why H would have sent a copy of a previously posted unrelated letter to the original addressee.