The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-01-23
ing from historic standpoint, but de-


cidcdly humorous
The first entry was made in favor OF
DR.. benjamin Franklin, and was to ac-
count for the defraying of his travelling
expenses. The book develops one very
interesting fact, that the American of
l1T6 knew how to live and what to eat
and drink. The book shows that all
the members of the commission were
extremely fond of wine and all the
dclicacies that French cooks are so
noted for-not OF the ordinary brands,
but OF expensive champagnes and Bur
Sundy, some entries recording as high
as eighty cases Of each variety charg-
cd to Uncle Sam, along with some of
the highest priced gastrOnomic features
that the French markets afforded
Very possibly the American repre-
sentativcs felt that they had to make
their French hosts as jolly as was al
lowablc in order TO press their requests
with q greater measure of success ant
tending their efforts. but even this ex-
PLANTATION does not quite account for
luO cases OF wine consumed by one man
in the time that Uncle Sans deputies
were away. Some of the accounts on
which money was paid were trivial,
while others Were OF more moment.
The items show linen, wood Char
lois. servants hire, lanterns, lodg-
inEs. trunks, table ware. wine. snufr
boxes, and, in fact. hundreds of other
things, all charged UP to Uncle Sam,
ana the money refunded TO the mem
bers OF the commission upon it's return
10 TINS country. Indeed. some of the
memberS were sent letters of credit. re-
imbursing them for funds expended
while still abroad The whole amount
or the expense attending the mainte-
nance OF the commission at the French
court Is not given, but from the items
mat are displayed in the journal Of
cash it must have been n pretty SIM.
Under the Continental Congress there
was no such thing as a Treasury De-
partnent board OF treasury being
provided to take charge of the new
nations finances. Soon after this
board of treasury was orranizcd on
April ], 11I6, the Treasurcr's office was
instituted and two weeks later Tho
INST entry was made on the blotter of
the set mentioned above and the keen
ing of the first books containing re-
cords OF the United States TREASURY
department. was begun. although the
department. al that time was unhcard
VI. IL was not until September 9, 1889,
or over thirteen years after the board
OF treasury and the United States
lreasurer's Office were instituted, that
me present United States Treasury
department was created, with Alex
ander Hamilton, of New York. as the
Secretary of the Treasury: Nicholas
l1veleish. of South Carolina, First Con-
troller; Oliver Wolcott, Jr., of Connec-
ticut, First Auditor; Samuel Mere
dith. OF Pennsylvania, Treasurer, and
Joseph Nonrse, Of Virginia, Register.
These were the original officers and
bureaus of the Treasury Department,
nut from time to time, beginning in
1916. other offices or bureaus were
added as the eXigcncies Of the public
service in financial matters required.
The old set of books, however. begun
IN the Treasurer's Office under the old
board of treasury were continued into
me time of the Treasury Department,
hut no mention is made in the books
OF the change, probably because the
Treasurer's office was continued under
practically the same department with
out change from the practices in vogue
under the original board.
One interesting phase of the accounts
shown by these books Is that OF the un-
certainty as TO location Of the head