Tobias Lear to Alexander Hamilton, 18 February 1793
Tobias Lear to Alexander Hamilton
[Philadelphia] Monday 18th febry 1793.
Dear Sir,
The President does not recollect the name of the person mentioned to succeed the Collector of Edenton (N: C.)—and wishes you to send it.1 Is it intended that the person mentioned should be appointed Inspector of Survey No. 2. which office was held by the Collector of Edenton? Inspector of the Port he will be of course. Is William Munson to be appointed Inspector as well as Surveyor of the Port of New Haven? and if so, how is the matter to be settled with the Collector, who has heretofore held the office of Inspector?2
The President is desirous that the nominations should go to the Senate to day, which is the cause of my giving you this trouble.3 I call’d at your House & Office to mention these matters; but had not the pleasure to find you at either. I am &c.
Tos Lear.
S.P.U.S.
LB, DLC:GW.
1. Thomas Benbury, the collector at Edenton, N.C., had died on 6 Feb. (GW to U.S. Senate, 28 Jan. 1793, n.1).
2. A note at the bottom of the letter-book copy reads: “Note—In answer to the above the Secretary of the Treasury returned—that Saml Tredwell (now Deputy Collector) is to succeed the Collector of Edenton. If Benbury was appointed Inspector of Survey No. 2. by the last arrangement of all, Tredwell is to be appointed also. Wm Munson is to be Inspector & Surveyor of Nw Haven. The Collector, who has heretofore held the office of Inspector, has been written to on the score of it’s being a general arrangement.” The current collector at New Haven, Conn., Jonathan Fitch, had been appointed inspector by mistake (GW to U.S. Senate, 6 Mar. 1792 [third letter], and 18 Feb. 1793). For Munson’s letters of application, see Munson to GW, 18 Feb. 1793, and note 1.