Alexander Hamilton Papers

To Alexander Hamilton from Richard Potts, 17 July 1794

From Richard Potts1

Frederick [Maryland] July 17, 1794. “Before my leaving Philadelphia, Mr. King2 at my request was obliging enough to mention to you my wish to succeed to the office of Collector of the Port of Baltimore, on the vacancy likely to happen by the expected death of General Williams who then filled it. That Event hath now taken place in Virginia, on his way to the sweet Springs,3 and I now take the liberty of reviving to you that subject.…”4

ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.

1. Potts had been United States attorney for the District of Maryland from 1789 to 1791 and chief judge of Maryland’s Fifth Judicial Circuit from 1791 to 1793. He was elected to fill the Senate vacancy resulting from the resignation of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, and he took office on January 10, 1793.

2. Rufus King.

3. See Otho H. Williams to H, June 5, 1794, note 3.

4. On December 10, 1794, George Washington nominated Robert Purviance, the naval officer at Baltimore, to be collector of customs at Baltimore. The Senate confirmed the nomination on December 11, 1794 (Executive Journal, I description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate (Washington, 1828), I. description ends , 164–65).

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    Hamilton Papers
    Title
    To Alexander Hamilton from Richard Potts, 17 July 1794
    Author
    Potts, Richard
    Recipient
    Hamilton, Alexander
    Date
    17 July 1794

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To Alexander Hamilton from Richard Potts, 17 July 1794,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-16-02-0612. [Original source: The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, vol. 16, February 1794 – July 1794, ed. Harold C. Syrett. New York: Columbia University Press, 1972, p. 607.]