From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 29 May 1794
To Alexander Hamilton
Philada 29. May 1794
Sir,
As the million of dollars, granted by the Act of the 20th of march, last, was certainly for the objects in Algiers,1 I was anxious that some steps should be taken concerning the money. But as you represent in your letter of the 27th instant,2 that this cannot be done yet, you will inform me when you shall find that it can be done; and in the mean time, I wish to know, whether some provisions could not be made for borrowing it if an opening should hereafter appear for a treaty with Algiers, and for the redemption of our unhappy fellow citizens there.
Geo. Washington
LB, DLC:GW.
1. GW was referring to "An Act making further provision for the expenses attending the intercourse of the United States with foreign nations; and further to continue in force the act intituled ’An act providing the means of intercourse between the United States and foreign nations’" (. 1:345). For a summary of U.S. efforts to ransom American captives at Algiers and obtain a treaty with that state, see Thomas Jefferson’s report on Morocco and Algiers, 14 Dec. 1793, enclosed in GW to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 16 Dec. 1793 (second letter).