To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 19 November 1793
From Alexander Hamilton
Treasury Departmt Novr 19. 1793.
The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully submits to the consideration of the President of the United States a letter from the Commissioner of the revenue of the 15 instant, transmitting two proposals respecting the Carpenters work of the Tybee Lighthouse in Georgia.1
The Secretary agrees in sentiment with the Commissioner of the revenue that it is for the interest of the United States to close with the second proposal of Adrianus van Denne.2
A. Hamilton
LB, DLC:GW.
1. The enclosed letter has not been identified. It evidently transmitted Adrianus Van Denne’s letter of 31 Aug. addressed to Savannah collector John Habersham, which offered to deliver the carpentry work with “a hanging stair case” for £160 sterling, or “a plain Square stair case” for £110 sterling (DNA: RG 26, Lighthouse Deeds and Contracts, 1790–1812).
2. Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., replied to Hamilton on 26 Nov., returning the enclosures and informing him “that the President thinks it proper that the proposal . . . of Adrianus Van Denne for doing the wood work, with the plain stair case, should be accepted” (DLC:GW). According to the letter-book copy, the proposal was marked by GW, “Approved with the plain stair case,” and signed on 23 November.