From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 30 June 1792
To Alexander Hamilton
[Philadelphia, 30 June 1792]
For carrying into execution the provisions of the third section of the Act intitled, “An Act making certain appropriations therein specified,[”] passed the Eighth day of May in this present year.1
I do hereby authorise you the said Secretary of the Treasury in the name and on the credit of the United States to borrow of any body or bodies politic, person or persons whomsoever the sum of Fifty thousand Dollars; and to enter into such Agreements for the reimbursement thereof as shall be needful and proper; hereby promising to ratify whatever you shall lawfully do in the premises.2
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my hand at the City of Philadelphia the thirtieth day of June in the year One thousand seven hundred and ninety two.
G: Washington
LB, DLC:GW.
1. Section 3 of this act required that “a sum of fifty thousand dollars, in addition to the provision heretofore made, be appropriated to defray any expense which may be incurred in relation to the intercourse between the United States and foreign nations” ( , 2d Cong., 1st sess., 1387).
2. For the background to this document, see Thomas Jefferson to GW, 30 May, and note 1. On 30 June, Hamilton informed William Short, the U.S. minister at The Hague, that as a result of Hamilton’s proposal to Jefferson of the previous day, a “bill has been drawn in favour of the Secretary of State on our Commissioners [in Holland] for One hundred and twenty three thousand, seven hundred and fifty Guilders,” the equivalent of $50,000 ( 11:609).