To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 26 July 1792
From Alexander Hamilton
Treasury Departmt July 26. 1792.
Sir,
Samuel Hobart, third Mate of the Cutter on the New Hampshire Station, has tendered his resignation and sent forward his Commission which I retain ’till your return not to encumber you with it at Mount Vernon. This occasions two vacancies, as to that Cutter, of first & third Mate. The Collector of Portsmouth recommends the second Mate, John Adams, for first Mate, and a Benjamin Gunnison, who has been a Master of a Vessel, as second Mate. From a conversation which I had with Mr Langdon, while here I believe the recommendation of the Collector well founded.1
The Captain of the Cutter, on the New York Station, informs that Mr Morris the first Mate has accepted an advantageous offer on board of an India-Ship. This leaves the Cutter without any other Officer than the Master, who, and the Collector of New York recommend Capt: Ashur Cook as first Mate, and one John Fenley as second Mate. Captn Dennis also mentions a son of the present Surveyor of New York for third Mate.
The keeping up in the Cutters their due complement of Officers and Men is now become interesting to the public service. As it will not be easy to obtain better lights, I am induced to submit as they stand the recommendations respecting the first and second Mates of each Cutter. As to the third Mate for the New York Cutter some further enquiry is necessary.2
Should you approve, and be without blank Commissions, it is still desireable that I should be able as early as convenient to notify your determination. The persons will enter into service upon that notification and then Commissions can be antedated. With the most perfect respect and truest attachment, I have the honor to be &c.
Alexander Hamilton
P.S. May I be permitted to remind you of the vacancies in the Maryland Cutter, about which you intended to enquire on your way?3
LB, DLC:GW.
1. In response to Tench Coxe’s note of 17 Dec. 1791 to Tobias Lear (DLC:GW), Lear wrote Thomas Jefferson on 19 Dec. that the president “wishes Commissions to be made out for the following persons as officers on board the Revenue Cutter on the New Hampshire station—vizt. John Parrott, first mate; vice [John] Flagg—declined. John Adams, second mate; vice Parrott—promoted. Samuel Hobart Junr third mate” (DLC:GW). For the collector of Portsmouth Joseph Whipple’s recommendations, see Whipple to Hamilton, 7 Oct. 1791 and 30 June 1792 ( 9:297–99, 11:610).
2. In his letter to Hamilton of 5 Aug., GW approved the appointments of Adams, Gunnison, Cook, and Fenley and agreed that further inquiry was needed before a third mate could be chosen for the N.Y. cutter.
3. For GW’s inquiries into the vacancies in the Maryland cutter service on his way home to Mount Vernon, see GW to Hamilton, 5 Aug. 1792.