1To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 5 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
In conformity to the intimation you were pleased to honor me with on evening last I have reflected on the etiquette proper to be observed by the President and now submit the ideas which have occurred to me on the subject. The public good requires as a primary object that the dignity of the office should be supported. Whatever is essential to this ought to be pursued though at the risk of...
2To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 20 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to your desire, I sit down to commit a few lines to the Post. Nothing worth particular mention has occurred since your Departure; except a report brought by Mr Keane from So. Carolina, that McGilivray the Indian Chief had, after a short conference, left our Commissioners, declaring that what they had suggested was only a repe[ti]tion of the old Storey and inadmissible, or something...
3To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 3 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury having, in consequence of the Act for the Establishment and support of Light-houses, directed his Enquiries to that object begs leave most respectfully to submit the result to The President of the United States of America. New Hampshire. In this State is only one Light house situated on a point of land on the Island of New-Castle, three miles from Portsmouth,...
4To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 29 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury begs leave respectfully to inform the President of the United States of America, That, in order to be able to furnish in the course of the ensuing month for the compensation of the members of Congress, & the officers and Servants of the two houses, a sum of about sixty thousand dollars; for the payment of the Salaries of the Civil List to the end of the present...
5To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 6 May 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor to inform the President of the United states of America, that he has received a letter from the Governor of Virginia intimating, that it is necessary an election should be made of the particular spot upon which it may be deemed proper to erect the intended Light house on Cape Henry, after which the Cession will be completed. The said Secretary having...
6To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 28 May 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of the United states, for his approbation, five Contracts made by the superintendant of the Light house, piers &c. on the river and Bay of Delaware, and the letter received with them. After due examination in this Office, the Contracts appear advantageous to the United states. Should they be approved, immediate...
7To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 29 May 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to the President of the United states and submits to his consideration some remarks on the Resolutions, which have passed the two Houses respecting the Lines of Virginia and North Carolina. The Secretary has taken this method of communication as the one best calculated to place the subject under the eye of the President with least trouble to...
8To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 18 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of the United states for his consideration, a Contract (with the letter that accompanied it) betwen William Allibone Superintendant of the Light-house, Beacons, Buoys & public Piers on the river and Bay of Delaware and Abraham Hargis, Keeper of the Light-house at Cape Henlopen—The yearly Salary of £130. altho’...
9To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 21 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of the United states, for his approbation, the enclosed contract for timber, boards, Nails and workmanship, for a Beacon to be placed near the Light-house on Sandy-hook; the terms of which, he begs leave to observe, are, in his opinion favourable to the U. States. LB , DLC:GW . The enclosed contract has not...
10To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 26 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to inform the President of the United states, that he has received a letter from the Collector of Charleston in South Carolina, from which he learns that some misconception has arisen as to the nature of the qualifications of Mr Thomas Hollingsby, who on the joint recommendation of the Collector & commissioners of Pilotage for that port...
11To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 26 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to inform the President of the United states that the collector of Charleston in south Carolina has stated to him, that a proposal has been made by James Robinson of Newport, Rhode Island, to the collector, through the commissioners of Pilotage of that Port, to supply six hundred gallons of spermaceti Oil, for the use of the Light house,...
12To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 8 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
Memorandum of the substance of a Communication made on Thursday the Eighth of July 1790 to the Subscriber by Major Beckwith as by direction of Lord Dorchester. Major Beckwith began by stating that Lord Dorchester had directed him to make his acknowlegements for the politeness which had been shewn in respect to the desire he had intimated to pass by New York on his way to England, adding that...
13To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 15–22 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
In my second interview with Major Beckwith which was on Thursday the 22d instant I spoke to him nearly as follows. I have made the proper use of what you said to me at our last interview. As to what regards the objects of a general nature mentioned by you, though your authority for the purpose from Lord Dorchester is out of question, and though I presume from his Lordship’s station &...
14To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 5 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
Treasury Department [New York], 5 Aug. 1790. Submits a contract made by William Allibone, superintendent of the lighthouse on the Delaware River, with Thomas McHam and observes that the terms of the agreement appear advantageous to the United States. LB , DLC:GW . For previous correspondence concerning contracts for the Delaware River and Bay establishments, see Hamilton to GW, 28 May 1790...
15To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 26 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
Treasury Department [New York], 26 Aug. 1790. Submits a new contract made by William Allibone, superintendent of the lighthouse and establishments on the Delaware River, with Abraham Hargis as keeper of the Cape Henlopen in place of the previous contract, of which GW did not approve. “The Secretary humbly begs leave to remark, that the terms of the contract . . . appear to him consistent with...
16To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 26 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully begs leave to submit to the President of the United States copies of a letter from Messrs Wilhem & Jan Willink and Nicholas and Jacob Van Staphorst & Hubbard of the 25th day of January last, and of an answer thereto of the 7th day of May following. The President will perceive that the last mentioned letter was formed upon a plan not to discourage the...
17To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 28 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of the U. States for his determination a request from the Naval Officer of the District of New York. The Secretary humbly remarks, that it appears desireable, as far as possible, to avoid absences of such important Officers for so long a duration, but that if the nature of the reasons should induce the...
18To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 3 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to your direction I conversed the day after your departure with the Secretary of State on the subject of an Agent for conducting the Loans to be made abroad. I stated to him, that you had expressed to me a preference of Mr Shorts being employed, if he could be spared the requisite time from France, without injury to the affairs depending there; and that I conceived it wou’d be...
19To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 10 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
The public service appearing to require the early establishment of the boats or cutters for the protection of the revenue, agreeably to the provision made by the Legislature in their last Session, I do myself the honor respectfully to submit to you what has occured upon that subject. Cutters from forty to fifty feet keel being deemed by experienced persons the most eligible, my enquiries have...
20To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 15 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
The urgent avovations, in which I have been engaged, towards putting, in a train of execution, the laws of the last session, affecting my department, and a desire of reflecting, maturely, and giving the reasons for the result of my reflections, fully, have caused me to delay, longer than I wished, the answers to the questions, with which you honored me, and I hope will excuse the delay. The...
21Enclosure: Answers to Questions proposed by the President of the United States to the Secretary of the Treasury., 15 … (Washington Papers)
Question the first “What should be the answer of the Executive of the United States to Lord Dorchester, in case he should apply for permission to march troops through the territory of said States from Detroit to the Mississippi?” Answer In order to a right judgment of what ought to be done in such case, it may be of use previously to consider the following points. First. Whether there be a...
22To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 18 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
[New York] 18 Sept. 1790. Informs GW “that on the 15th inst: your Commission to William Winn as Surveyor of the port of Winton in N. Carolina was brought to my Office by a gentleman from that State. Conceiving it an irregular mode of procedure in a case of that nature, I have written to Mr Winn a letter of which the enclosed is a copy. In the mean time I have deemed it my duty to lay the...
23To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 21 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
Doctor Craigie has communicated to me, a letter from Mr Daniel Parker to him, dated, London the 12th of July, which mentions that he had just seen Mr De Miranda, who had recently conversed with the Marquis Del Campo, from whom he had learnt that the Court of Spain had acceded to our right of navigating the Mississippi. Col: Smith has also read to me a passage out of another letter of the 6th...
24To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 29 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honor’d with your two letters of the 18th and 20th of Septemr. My opinion on a certain subject has been forwarded, and I hope will, ere this, have come to hand. Inclosed you will be pleased to receive a list of such characters, as from the documents furnished by Mr Lear, from my inquiries, and from the intimations contained in your letter of the 20th, appear to stand, upon the...
25To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 30 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
I had lately a visit from a certain Gentleman the sole object of which was to make some observations of a delicate nature, concerning another Gentleman employed on a particular errand; which, as they were doubtless intended for your ear, and (such as they are) ought to be known to you, it is of course my duty to communicate. He began (in a manner somewhat embarrassed which betrayed rather more...
26To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 5 October 1790 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your letter of the 27th ulto, by the mail on the 2d inst: and have in the interval made some enquiries relative to a successor to the late Collector of George town in south Carolina. I am apprehensive from the result, that the necessary information cannot be obtained but from the place, to which end the necessary steps will be taken. I shall also make the requisite...
27To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 6 October 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have recieved from Nathl Gilman Esquire the Commissioner of Loans for New Hampshire, a letter of the 27th September informing me, that he has transmitted his commission to you with a resignation of his Office. I beg leave on this occasion to call to your mind the name of Woodbury Langdon Esquire, who from my recollection of circumstances, and from the result of my enquiries to day, appears...
28To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 8 October 1790 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to inform you, that the result of my enquiries concerning the character of Capt: Jonathan Maltbee, is, that he is a man of fair character and an experienced & good Seaman, who might be expected to execute his duty faithfully as the Commander of a revenue Cutter. I do not learn however, that either he or Capt. Law are remarkable for their activity. The principal point of...
29To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 17 October 1790 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your letter of the 10th instant by the last post. It is certainly very possible, that motives, different from the one avowed, may have produced a certain communication; and in matters of such nature, it is not only allowable, but the dictate of prudence, to receive suggestions with peculiar caution. A British Packet arrived yesterday. The accounts she brings, are...
30To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 26 October 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your several letters of the 12th, 13th, & 15th inst: which finding me in the act of removal from New York to Philadelphia, I have been prevented from the due acknowledgement of their reception at an earlier moment. The Baron Perin’s claim shall be examined as soon as the Officers of the Treasury can complete the arrangement of their Books & papers, which I trust...
31To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 28 October 1790 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor duly to receive your two letters of the 3d and 6th inst:. The packet for the Baron de Steuben contained in the former, was delivered to him agreeably to your direction. The papers concerning Capt. Lyde were transmitted by the post following that which took my letter of the 29th Ulto. No more proper characters having been pointed out by further enquiry, I have, pursuant to your...
32To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 4 November 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform you, that a letter, of which a copy is enclosed, has come to my hands from the Loan officer of North Carolina, since the date of my last letter. On considering minutely the course of the business of the new Loans and the future operations of the Treasury, as they will affect the public stocks, it appeared necessary to the prevention of frauds by Counterfeiters and...
33To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 2 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
The day before yesterday I received a letter from Mr Woodbury Langdon declining the appointment offered him. there was a letter with it for you which I immediately forwarded. Since that time I have conversed with Mr Langdon I have heared from Mr Gilman; the former is warm in his recommendation of Mr Keith Spence; he states that his insolvency was owing to the loss of a valuable ship & Cargo,...
34To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 13 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to transmit here with the copy of a report intended to be presented to the House of Representatives on the subject of a National Bank. This communication would have been earlier made if it had been in my power; but it has been impossible for me to prepare it sooner. With the most perfect respect I have the honor to be Sir, Your Most Obedient & Most humble Servant LB , DLC:GW ....
35To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 15 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to inform the President of the United States that a wish of the Collector of Boston to spend a part of the time of the Session of Congress at the Seat of Government has been intimated to him. An absence from his Office at this season of the year being the least likely to be inconvenient, and it being probable that much useful information...
36To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 23 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of the United States the propriety of appointing a Keeper for the Light-house at Portland in the District of Maine. The enclosed recommendations from that quarter were transmitted to the Superintendant of the Light-houses of Massachusetts under the idea that the appointment was to be made by him. An enquiry of...
37To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 24 December 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Alexander Hamilton, 24 Dec. 1790. Tench Coxe wrote to Tobias Lear on 29 Dec. 1790: “I find on examining the current papers that the communications which the Secretary of the Treasury had the honor to make to the President of the United States on Friday, was transmitted by one of the Gentlemen in the office without enclosing the papers therein refered to. I do myself the...
38To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 5 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to inform the President of the United States that in pursuance of his instructions, due public notice was given in the Gazettes of Virginia and of the principal sea ports of the United States, that proposals would be received at the Treasury Office untill the 31st Ultimo, for building by Contract a Light-house, and the necessary...
39To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 6 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to transmit to the President of the United States an account of the cost of a seal for the use of the District Court of Maine, on which he begs leave to remark, that there does not occur any reason to deem it immoderate. The Legislature having by their resolution of the 2nd of August last assigned a part of the fund provided for the...
40To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 8 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to transmit to the President of the United States a Contract made by the Collector of Portsmouth in New Hampshire with Titus Salter for furnishing the Light house on New Castle Island with oil, wick, fuel & candles, and for the care & lighting of the same from the 15th day of August 1789 to the 1st day of July next, including some small...
41To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 23 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to the President and sends him the opinion required which occupied him the greatest part of last night. The Bill for extending the time of opening subscriptions passed yesterday unanimously to an order for engrossing. LB , DLC:GW . See GW to Hamilton, 16 Feb. 1791 . See Journal of the House The Journal of the House of Representatives: George...
42Enclosure: Opinion on the Constitutionality of an Act to Establish a Bank, 23 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury having perused with attention the papers containing the opinions of the Secretary of State and the Attorney General concerning the constitutionality of the Bill for establishing a National Bank, proceeds, according to the order of the President, to submit the reasons which have induced him to entertain a different opinion. It will naturally have been anticipated,...
43To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 24 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
The Bill supplementary to the Bank bill passed the House of Representatives Yesterday—General Schuyler informs me that the friends of the Bank proposed that it should pass to a second reading immediately, and that Mr Carroll opposed it, and moved that it should be printed—that by a rule of the House it was of necessity to comply with Mr Carroll’s objection, a departure requiring unanimous...
44To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 4 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to The President of the United States—He has just ascertained that General Matthews would not accept—His son is older than was believed—29 years of age & has a family As he will have the benefit of his fathers influence which is considerable and is a young man of real merit & as the appointment of any other candidate would be subject to the...
45To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 12 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of the United States a Contract made by the Collector of New London, with Nathaniel Richards for supplying the Light house belonging to that Port. This Contract not having been originally made in a manner sufficiently explanatory of the business, was returned for the purpose of being put into such form as...
46To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 12 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to submit to the President of the United States a Contract which has been recently transmitted from South Carolina for the Keeping of the Light-house in that State. The terms are somewhat less than those of the Ligh[t]house Keeper at Cape Henlopen, and considering the expences of living in south Carolina it is humbly conceived they are...
47To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 27 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have embraced the first moment of leisure to execute your wish, on the subject to which the enclosed Notes are applicable—They are neither so accurate nor so full, as I should have been glad to make them: but they are all that my situation has permitted. Nothing new has occured in my Department worth mentioning —I thought that the following extract of a letter from Mr King might not be...
48To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 10 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your letter of the 4th instant addressed to the Secretary of State the Secretary at War and myself; to which due obedience shall be paid on my part. A letter from Mr Short dated at Amsterdam the 2d of December has just come to hand giving me an account of his proceedings to that period; a copy of which will be forwarded by the tuesday’s post. He informs me, among other...
49To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 11 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have just received a letter from Mr King in these words —“Mr Elliot, who it has been said was appointed will not come to America, owing say his friends here to a disinclination on his part which has arisen from the death of his eldest or only son. Mr Seaton yesterday read me an abstract of a letter from London dated February 2. & written, as he observed, by a man of information, which...
50To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 14 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to send herewith a copy of my letter of the 10th inst: and of that from Mr Short of the 2d of December to which it refers; and also the copy of another letter from Mr Short of the 25th of January. The result of my submission to the Vice President and the heads of Departments has been, that they have unanimously advised me to instruct Mr Short to proceed to open a second loan...