Alexander Hamilton Papers

To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 3 November 1791

From Jeremiah Olney

Custom House,
Providence 3rd Novr. 1791

Sir.

Edward Peterson, Master of the Sloop Friendship, burthen Sixty-three Tons, arrived here Yesterday from New-York; from whence, he says, he brought a Certified Manifest and Permit to proceed, stopped at Newport, entered his Vessel, left the Manifest and Permit at the Custom House, landed part of his Freight, and proceeded with the remainder (consisting of the Articles contained in the enclosed copy of the Inspector’s Return) to this Place, without a certified Manifest or Permit. I have taken the Goods into possession; and have acquainted the District Attorney1 with this Transaction, that he may proceed against the Master and Goods as the Law2 directs.

I have also been under the disagreeable necessity of taking into possession Six Chests of Bohea Tea, which, with Forty Bushels of Apples, composed the Freight of the Sloop Clementina, burthen 29 64/95 Tons, Samuel Westcott Master, this Day arrived here from Newport, with neither Manifest nor Permit to proceed; which he says he forgot to call for at the Office to obtain.3 This information I have likewise communicated to the District Attorney.

I have the Honor to be &c.

Jereh. Olney Collr.

Alexr. Hamilton Esquire
Secy. of the Treasury.

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

1William Channing was district attorney for Rhode Island.

2Section 67 of “An Act to provide more effectually for the collection of the duties imposed by law on goods, wares and merchandise imported into the United States, and on the tonnage of ships or vessels” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America (Boston, 1845). description ends 176 [August 4, 1790]) provided the “mode of prosecuting and recovering penalties and forfeitures.”

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