To Alexander Hamilton from Abishai Thomas, 18 May 1792
From Abishai Thomas1
Philadl. 18 May 1792
Sir
I am directed by a Resolution of the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina to “Inform myself by what means this State obtained a Credit with the United States for a quantity of Leather received of Richard Blackledge,” and to “transmit to the next General Aseembly such vouchers or other information as I may deem proper to give the necessary information to the General Assembly.”2 To enable me to comply with the said Resolution, I am to solicit the favor of you to cause the proper Officer to furnish me with a Certified transcript from the Books of the Treasury department, or those of the late Clothier General,3 of the Credit, or Credits which may exist thereon for account of Leather as aforesaid, or generally, designating if practicable such circumstances relative to the delivery as may enable me, or the General Assembly to trace whether it be the same which was purchased from Mr. Blackledge.
I am Sir very respectfully yr. mo. obt. Serv.
Ab. Thomas
Secretary of the Treasury
Copy, North Carolina Department of Archives and History, Raleigh.
1. Thomas was an agent for the state of North Carolina to support its claims in the final settlement of accounts between the states. For background to this letter, see “Report on the Petitions of Richard Blackledge,” April 28, 1792.
2. This resolution was passed by the North Carolina House of Commons on December 19, 1789 (Journal of the House of Commons. State of North-Carolina. At a General Assembly, begun and held at Fayetteville, on the Second Day of November, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-nine, and in the Fourteenth Year of the Independence of the United States of America: Being the First Session of this Assembly [Edenton: Printed by Hodge & Wills, Printers to the State, n.d.], 63, Microfilm Collection of Early State Records, Library of Congress).
3. James Mease was clothier general from 1776 to 1779.