151Alexander Hamilton’s Second Draft of the Report on the Subject of Manufactures, 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury in obedience to the order of the House of Representatives of the fifteenth day of January 1790 has applied his attention, at as early a period as his other duties would permit to the subject of Manufactures and particularly to the means of promoting such as will tend to render the United States, independent on foreign nations, for military and other essential...
152Enclosure G: [Nathanael Greene to Robert Morris], 2 February 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of the 18th of September, by Mr. Hayward, with the Bills enclosed, I forgot to acknowledge in my last. He promises me the money very soon; Mr. Drayton also promises to pay me very shortly. The clothier’s, quarter master’s and medical departments, together with the bills drawn for two months pay for the officers, give me no small uneasiness, for fear the amount should exceed your...
153Enclosure M: [Note from Joseph Banks], 7 May 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
Whereas the honorable General Greene did, in the month of April last past, become security for us, John Banks, James Hunter and Robert Forsyth, as for themselves as others concerned, in the sum of thirty two thousand one hundred and twenty five pounds, sterling money, unto Messrs Neucomen and Collett, Harris and Blackford, and James Warington, merchants, Charleston. We, the afternamed, Do, by...
154To Alexander Hamilton from James Reynolds, 15 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I am very sorry to find out that I have been so Cruelly treated by a person that I took to be my best friend instead of that my greatest Enimy. You have deprived me of every thing thats near and dear to me, I discovred whenever I Came into the house. after being out I found Mrs Reynolds weeping I ask’d her the Cause of being so unhappy. She always told me that she had bin Reding. and she could...
155To Alexander Hamilton from Joseph Whipple, 15 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, December 15, 1791. “Mr. Parrott the 2nd Mate of the Scammel having an advantageous offer in the Command of a Ship has risigned his place in the Scammel.… I was obliged to acquiesce in this resignation which is rendered the more inconvenient by the Scarcity of young men Suitable for the Station of 1st. Mate to which I recommended Mr Parrott.… I would propose for your...
156To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, 17 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
By the inclosed memorandum you will see the state of the imports into this district from Island of Hispaniole from the first of august 1790 to the end of that year and the state of the imports from the same Island from the first day of August 1791 to first Jany 1792 have not yet felt so sensibly as I expected we had the consequences of the disorders in that Island. From a suggestion given,...
157To Alexander Hamilton from John Nicholson, 29 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have recd. instructions from his Excelly. the Governor to confer with you on the subject contained in your letter to him of the 21 Inst. If the difficulty suggested should arise in a doubt, whether part of the assumed debt of Pennsa. by the United States might not consist of Certificates given for a like sum of others of the United States not exchanged and to be surrendered, it will be...
158To Alexander Hamilton from William Barton, [31 December 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The sheets which compose the pamphlet, herewith inclosed, will be comprized in the third Volume of the Philosophical Society’s Transactions, now in the press. Being favored by the printer with a few Copies of this part, (with the addition of a Title page), I beg, Sir, Your Acceptance of One. If some additional Observations on the same subject, resulting from the Census, which have been read in...
159From Alexander Hamilton to Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard, 27 January … (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, January 27, 1792. “The Treasurer of the United States has been directed to draw upon you a Bill, at ten days, for 95.947½ Guilders, in favor of Mr. Jefferson, the Secretary for the Department of State, to which I request you to pay due honor.” Copy, RG 233, Reports of the Treasury Department, 1792–1793, Vol. III, National Archives. This letter was enclosed in H’s “Report...
160To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Lee, 29 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the 18th. Instant and I shall act conformably to it with respect to the clauses of the Collection Law, to which it refers. As to the appointment of a person to measure vessels, in considering the parts of the Coasting Law, which apply to the subject, more particularly the third and thirty first sections, I have conceived that the measurement of every vessel ought...
161Alexander Hamilton’s Fourth Draft of the Report on the Subject of Manufactures, 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury in obedience to the order of the House of Representatives, of the 15. day of January 1790, has applied his attention, at as early a period as his other duties would permit, to the subject of manufactures and particularly to the means of promoting such, as will tend to render the United States independent on foreign nations, for military and other essential...
162Enclosure O: [John Banks’ Statement], 3 January 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
It having been suggested, from a misinterpretation of my letter of October 1782, to Mr. James Hunter, that the honorable Major General Greene was interested, or intimated a desire of holding a commercial connection with me in Charleston—I do, therefore, as well for the sake of removing such an idea, as to avert from myself any mischief, that a heedless surmise, expressed in a confidential...
163To Alexander Hamilton from Joseph Whipple, 16 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, December 16, 1791. “I have received your Circular letter to the Agents of the Cutters of the 17th. Ultimo. As the directions given In that letter supersedes the Necessity of a particular Statement … I will only observe that the cost of 232 days of the mens victualling amounted to 33 20/100 Dollars being about 14⅓ cents pr. ration. Cap Yeaton has however agreed to...
164To Alexander Hamilton from James Reynolds, 17 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I Suppose you will be surprised in my writing to you Repeatedly as I do. but dont be Alarmed for its Mrs. R. wish to See you. and for My own happiness and hers. I have not the Least Objections to your Calling. as a friend to Boath of us. and must Rely intirely on your and her honnor. when I conversed with you last. I told you it would be disagreeable to me for you to Call, but Sence, I am...
165To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 18 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] January 18, 1792 . “… T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of the Treasury General Lincoln’s Letter of the 1st of December, respecting the Compensation of the Keeper of the Light House at Portland, and to inform the Secretary that the President conceives from the statement made in Genl. Lincoln’s letter, that the addition of twenty dollars, to the annual sum of...
166Conversation with George Hammond, [1–8 January 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
Since my conversation with the Secretary of the Treasury, of which I had the honor of giving your Lordship an account in my dispatch No 13, I have lately had another interview with that Gentleman, in the course of which we entered into a loose and general discussion of some of the questions that are likely to become subjects of negociation between our two countries. After some comments upon...
167From Alexander Hamilton to Otho H. Williams, 5 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
If the Supervisor of the District of Maryland should apply to you for four hundred Dollars, you will advance him that sum, which he will repay to you out of the duties on Spirits distilled within his district as soon as a sufficient sum shall be received. You will nevertheless take duplicate receipts and transmit one to the Treasury. The state of the business does not permit that this sum...
168To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 30 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The question respectg. masters of vessels convicted of havg. sworn falsely was the result of a conversation I had with a gentleman on that subject. He conceived that as the credibility of such men must be greatly impaired, it was the intention of the Legislature that they should not be permitted to act in a capacity which would necessarily subject them to take oaths. I had carefully examined...
169Enclosure Q: Letter from Robert Forsyth, 3 March 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
It having been insinuated by some, and propagated by others, that the honorable General Greene was concerned in the Charleston speculation, with John Banks and Company, and with the contract for the army, I do hereby certify, that the General was in no ways interested in either, with the said Copartnership.
170Enclosure U: Letter from Charles Pettit, 16 March 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
Your favor of the 11th instant was handed to me yesterday-afternoon, desiring my evidence respecting General Greene’s disappointment of monies, he expected from Banks and Company, which were to have been paid in Philadelphia. How far the facts, within my knowledge, and the circumstances arising from my transactions, will tend to establish the material points, I am not ascertained; but I shall...
171To Alexander Hamilton from James Reynolds, 17 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I now have taken till tuesday morning to Consider on What Steps will be Best for me to take. I should not have let the matter Rested till then, if it had not been for the newes of the death of my Sister. which it Semes as if all my troubles are Comming on me in one moment. if it had been any other person except yourself. that treated me as you have done. I should not have taken the trouble to...
172To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Wadsworth, [10 December 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed you have the paper I promised You; if you wish for anything more or any explanation of that inclosed I will wait on you when You Please. Your Hume Svt ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. For background to this letter, see George Cabot to H, December 8, 1791, note 1 . Wadsworth, who during the American Revolution had served as commissary general of purchases and as a...
173To Alexander Hamilton from George Cabot, 18 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
It is well stated by a Gentleman who has examined the subject that in 1784 the British Govt having taken measures for drawing over to their service the whalefishermen of the U S, the Govt of France at once saw the danger of suffering her great maritime Rival to acquire the advantage of 4 or 5000 excellent Seamen & with them an Act of immense value in marine consideration (as the Nursery of...
174From Alexander Hamilton to the President and Directors of the Bank of the United States, 18 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
There are various arrangements necessary to be made between the Government and the Bank of the United States, which will better be treated of in a personal conference than by writing. I request therefore that such proceeding as may appear proper to the Direction, for that purpose, may be adopted. With great consideration I have the honor to be Gentlemen Your obedient servant ALS , Historical...
175To Alexander Hamilton from John Nicholson, 18 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] January 18, 1792 . “Inclosed is one Certificate of each kind granted by the State of Pennsylvania. That Number’d 13768 … is the only kind granted for the Debt of the United States, & on which the question arises whether any thereof have been subscribed to the funding system of the United States. The other two kinds No. 1687 for depreciation of the Army and 2506 for all other...
176Conversation with George Hammond, [2–9 January 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
I have received a letter from Lieutenant Governor Clarke, in which he intimates to me his apprehensions that much inconvenience might arise, if any attempt should be made to enforce an act of the last sessions of Congress for “giving effect to the laws of the United States within the State of Vermont.” By this act the residence of a Collector of the customs is established at Alburgh, within...
177To Alexander Hamilton from James Reynolds, [3 January 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
Received Philadelphia January 3. 179[2] of Alexander Hamilton four hundred dollars in full of all demands “Reynolds Pamphlet,” August 31, 1797 . This receipt is printed as document No. VI in the appendix of the “Reynolds Pamphlet,” August 31, 1797 . This was the second of two payments of blackmail made by H to Reynolds. The first payment was made on December 22, 1791. For background to this...
178To Alexander Hamilton from Abishai Thomas, 6 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In submitting the following facts and observations to your consideration perhaps I may have exceeded the bounds of propriety in obtruding any thing like an opinion on the subject, but I have been involuntarily drawn into the measure, I hope it is done with due deference and I rely on your candour for an extenuation of the fault. On the subject of the claim of Wm Courtney esqre refer’d to you...
179Enclosure S: Letter from Edward Carrington, 2 March 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Sometime in the early part of the year 1783, during General Greene’s residence in Charleston, I received a message from him, requesting my attendance at his quarters. Upon my coming there, I met with General Wayne. General Greene told us, he had desired our attendance, in order that we might be present at an interview, he was about to have with Mr. John Banks, whom he had sent for—that he had...
180Enclosure W: Letter from William Burnet, 21 July 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your favor of the 19th instant, informing me, that it had been suggested, that General Greene was a partner with the House of John Banks and Company—that the evidence of their partnership had been in my possession, I having received it among my sons papers; and that General Greene, in his life-time, induced me, by some means or other, to relinquish the said evidence to him; and...
181To Alexander Hamilton from Joseph Whipple, 17 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, December 17, 1791. “I received by the last post your letter of the 2nd Instant directing me to Mention to Cap Yeaton his omitting to notice in the abstract of his journal for October the receiving of manifests from Vessels which I shall mention to him on his return into port.…” ADf , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Portsmouth, Letters Sent, 1791–1792, Vol. 3, National...
182George Washington to Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, [18 December 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
The President requests that Mr —— would give the Letter & statement herewith sent, from the Secretary of War a perusal and return it to him in the course of the day with his opinion as to the propriety of the manner of making the communication to Congress: and whether it ought not, at any rate, to be introduced in some such way as this, (if it is to pass through him to Congress) “Pursuant to...
183To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 19 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Providence, January 19, 1792. “I have recd. your circular Letter of the 2nd. instant; and will attend to the several Matters therein contained. The Cashier of the Bank of the United States has transmitted to me a description of the Notes, with his and the President’s Signatures. My quarterly Accts. have been already forwarded.…” ADfS , Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence. John Kean.
184Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 2 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
It will prevent injury from accidents if the Collectors of the Customs, in all cases of the delivery of a Register to be cancelled, shall cut a hole in the like manner as is directed in the circular letter of the 21st of September last, in regard to the Registers therein mentioned. All certificates of Registry delivered up at any office, wherever issued, are hereafter to be transmitted to the...
185Enclosure No. 2: Extract of a Letter from Major General Greene to Major General Lincoln, Secretary at War, 19 December … (Hamilton Papers)
“You will see by some of my former letters, that, in consequence of your orders, I had taken measures, to provide such articles of clothing, as were necessary to complete the troops with their winter clothing. Messrs. Banks and Company have furnished most of the articles we shall want, and will provide the rest. Mr. Hamilton, the clothier, had instructions to contract with such as would supply...
186From Alexander Hamilton to Tench Coxe, 4 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
It is the intention of the President of the United States, verbally communicated to me that the salary [of the keeper of the Light House Cape Henry] shall be equal to the keeper of the light House on the Delaware. In communicating this you will explain that the first salary proceeded from mistake. I am with much Consideration sir Your Obed Servt [PS Inclosed are the papers concerning the...
187From Alexander Hamilton to the Directors of the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures, 7 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
In consequence of powers vested in me by the Agents named in the instrument of Subscription towards the Society for establishing useful Manufactures, I have made Contracts on behalf of the Society with William Hall, as Superintendent of the printing Business; with Joseph Mort, as an Assistant in the Manufactory, in such way as his Services may be thought most useful. This Gentleman I...
188To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Lee, 8 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Ship Washington and the Brandy that were seized here, have been delivered up to the Owners, they having given bond with security to abide the legal decision of the seizure. I am Sir! respectfully Your most Obedient Servant Copy, RG 56, Letters to and from the Collector at Alexandria, National Archives. For background to this letter, see H to Lee, November 10, 1791 .