Alexander Hamilton Papers

From Alexander Hamilton to the Executors of the Estate of David Cay, 1 May 1794

To the Executors of the Estate of David Cay1

Treasy. Dept. May 1. 1794

Gentlemen

I conceive it to be my duty to apprize you that the Attorney General of the United States2 has communicated it as his opinion that the Stock of the United States standing in the names of Individuals on the Books of the Treasury is not liable to attachment by the Laws of Pennsylvania.

The officers of the Treasury will hereafter govern themselves by this opinion and of course the attachment which has been laid by the late Andrew Clow & David Cay on the stock of James Brown & of Donald & Burton3 will not after this time be considered as a bar to any transfer.

I am yr. obt. servt.

Executors to the este. of David Cay
Surviving Partner of Andw Clow & Co.

Copy, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford.

1David Cay had been a Philadelphia broker and a partner in Andrew Clow and Company.

For background to this letter, see Oliver Wolcott, Jr., to H, January 4, 1794; H to William Rawle, January 13, 20, 25, 1794; Rawle to H, April 16, 1794; William Bradford to H, April 15, 1794; H to Robert Morris, April 29, 1794.

2William Bradford.

3Alexander Donald and Robert Burton. See Wolcott to H, January 4, 1794, note 3.

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