To Alexander Hamilton from William Ellery, 21 May 1792
From William Ellery
[Newport, Rhode Island] May 21, 1792. “… I wish to be favoured with your instructions respecting the case of the Brig Chance,1 a Statemt. of which I sent to you on the 2nd. of Apl. last, with an explanation respectg. the Thermometer mentioned in my letter of the 9th. of the same month, and with your directions relative to the tare of Sugars mentioned in my letter of the 5th. of last March, when the important business of your office will permit it. Suffer me also to mention that I have acted as Superintendant of the Light House ever since the 11th. of Oct. 1790. and no allowance has been made to me for that Service, agreeably to the expectations your letter of the 27th. of April 17912 induced me to entertain; And I have debited the United States for the money advanced for the Light-House; but no sums have been received by me in virtue of Warrants from the Treasy on account thereon by which the United States might be credited.…”
LC, Newport Historical Society, Newport, Rhode Island.
1. See Ellery to H, April 2, 1792.
2. Letter not found. On June 4, 1792, Ellery wrote to Tench Coxe, commissioner of the revenue: “Permit me … to mention to you that the Secry of the Treasy in a letter to me of the 27th April 1791 writes thus, ‘Your disbursements as Superintendant of the Light-House, are to be kept & rendered separately; for which a commission will probably be allowed by the President, as in the case of the Massachusetts’” (LC, Newport Historical Society, Newport, Rhode Island). See also Ellery to H, July 18, November 11, 1791