From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 10 February 1791
To Otho H. Williams
Treasury Department
February 10th 1791.
Sir,
A petition from Mr John Hollins,1 of Baltimore, to the House of representatives has been refered to me on which I shall report2 that in my opinion the existing law admits of the relief desired by the petitioner. Annexed to the petition are legal Testimonies that the Schooner John was before the first of January 1791. within the Capes of Chessapeak bay, whence it follows that the Cargo on board her was “brought into the United States” before the expiration of the 31st December 1790.3 You will therefore only4 claim from Mr. Hollins the duties imposed by the impost Act of the first of June 1789.5
I am sir Your Obedient Servant
Alexander Hamilton
Otho. H. Williams Esquire
LS, Columbia University Libraries.
1. On February 4, 1791, the House of Representatives received “A petition of John Hollins, praying an abatement of the additional duties, which took place the first of January last, arising on a cargo imported in a vessel, which, although she arrived before that period, was prevented by the ice from getting to her port of entry till some time after.
“Ordered, That the said [petition] be referred to the Secretary of the Treasury, with instruction to examine the same, and report his opinion thereupon to the House.” (, 370.)
3. January 1, 1791, was specified as the effective date for “An Act making further provision for the payment of the debts of the United States” ( 180 [August 10, 1790]).
4. This word is in H’s handwriting.
5. The act H is referring to is “An Act for laying a Duty on Goods, Wares, and Merchandises imported into the United States” ( 24–27 [July 4, 1789]).