From Alexander Hamilton to James Taylor and Abishai Thomas, 3 November 1791
To James Taylor and Abishai Thomas1
Treasury Department Novr. 3rd 1791
Gentlemen,
The measures taken to ascertain the fact, whether the State of North Carolina has ever issued its own certificates in lieu of those of the United States2 not yet having produced the desired information, as inconveniences would arise from longer delay of a determination of the question which arises on the eighteenth section of the Act making provision for the debt of the United States.3
I take the liberty to request the favor of you to give me such information as you may possess concerning the above mentioned fact together with your opinions of the real state of the thing.
I have the honor to be, with great consideration Gentlemen
Your obedt Servant
Alexander Hamilton4
Abisha Thomas & James
Taylor Esqrs Agents for
North Carolina
LS, Duke University Library.
1. Taylor and Thomas were agents of the state of North Carolina to support the claims of that state in the final settlement of accounts between the states.
2. See “Treasury Department Circular to the Governors of the States,” June 27, 1791, and “Treasury Department Circular to the Commissioners of Loans,” May 27, June 6, 1791.
3. 144 (August 4, 1790). For Section 18, see “Treasury Department Circular to the Commissioners of Loans,” May 27, 1791, note 1.
4. The following endorsement appears on the back of this letter: “Secy of the Treasury to the Agents 3rd Novr 1791 reced & Answered the 11th.” This is a mistake, for Taylor and Thomas answered H’s letter on November 14, 1791. The endorsement on the draft of their letter to H reads: “To the Secy. of the Treasury 14 Nov. 91 in answer to his of the 3rd.”