Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 12 December 1792
From: Coxe, Tench
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Treasury Department, Revenue Office, December 12, 1792. “I have the honor to inclose to you a letter from the Supervisor of Massachusetts for the purpose of obtaining the pleasure of the President upon the request contained in its conclusion. I also inclose a letter from the Supervisor of New Hampshire in order that the information relative to the Clothing and accommodation of the troops on which I presume instructions have gone from you, may be in your possession.…”


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from James Reynolds, 12 December 1792
From: Reynolds, James
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[Philadelphia, December 12, 1792. On this date “Mr. Reynolds sent a letter to Col. Hamilton by a girl; which letter [Jacob] Clingman saw delivered to the girl.” Letter not found.]


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 13 December 1792
From: Coxe, Tench
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Treasury Department, Revenue Office, December 13, 1792. “The Supervisor of North Carolina not having yet answered my letter of the 14th September relative to a variation of the arrangement of the State, nor having transmitted the Name of any person as suitable to fill the Office of Inspector of the 1st Survey vacant by the resignation of James Read Esqr. I have the honor to communicate to you the result of my reflexions after a careful examination and particular enquiry of several of the Members of the two houses of Congress from that State. It appeared probable that the three sea Coast Surveys … might be converted … into two.… Enquiry has been made of the honble Mr. Johnson, Hawkins, Steele and Grove (which last Gentleman represents that part of the State) who approve of the suggested alteration.… It is … to be observed that the Inspector of the 2nd Survey will continue to possess a mark of the public confidence in the office of Collector of the Customs for Newbern and that the Emoluments of the Inspectorship being only a third of a Commission of 2 pr. Cent on 1000 Dollars can be no object. It is indeed plain, that Mr. Daves has never regarded the office as worthy of attention.… The persons who have been mentioned as qualified for the office of Inspector of the 1st Survey are Col. Robert Rowan, of Fayetteville, Mr. Callender of Wilmington and Col. Overton … who resides on Cape Fear River about 50 Miles above Fayetteville.… The extract from the Supervisors letter which I delivered to you will shew the Idea he has of a division of the fifth Survey and his reasons for it. On examination and mature consideration nothing but the increase of expence and of officers appears against it.… Mr. Steele who represents the district and who approves of the division of the fifth survey, also approves of the Supervisors performing by way of experiment the duties of Inspector of that one of the proposed Surveys, in which he resides: namely the eastermost being the district of Salisbury.… As the fund assigned for Compensations and expences by the legislature is apparently … disposed of, agreeably to the Estimates communicated to both houses by the President, measures which may occasion additions to the disbursement … will require a very cautious and very particular preconsideration.”


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 13 December 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Delany, Sharp

Treasury Department, December 13, 1792. “I received with your letter of the 26th Ultimo an estimate of the Duties which have accrued in your Office during the third quarter of the present year amounting to 402,540 dollars. It does not appear, whether the expences that have occurred during the quarter, are deducted from the sum. If not, I request to be informed of the amount.…”


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 13 December 1792
From: Olney, Jeremiah
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Providence, December 13, 1792. “I have been Honored with your Letter of the 27th Ulto. on the Subject of the Threatned prossecutions in the Case of the Brigantine Neptune, which are now commenced, your Directions shall be Particularly attended to. I have engaged Mr. David Leonard Barnes, as Further Councill in this Business who I have Consulted on the matter of an appeal to the Fœderal Court, and his opinion is enclosed. I have reason to hope a favourable Issue of this business even before the State Court.”


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Jonathan Burrall, 14 December 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Burrall, Jonathan

Treasury Department Decr 14th 1792
Sir

I request you to invest the sum of fifty thousand Dollars in the funded debt of the united states, bearing a present interest of six per [c]entum; provided it can be obtained at 20 shillings in the pound, with an additional allowance of the Interest that shall be due upon the stock to the time of purchase.
The transfer of the stock which you may purchase must be made to the President of the Senate, the chief Justice, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Attorney General for the time being.
Enclosed is a letter to the President and Directors of the Office of discount & deposit, requesting them to pay to you the above mentioned sum, of which you will however only avail yourself in proportion to the actual purchase you shall make.
I am Sir   Your Obedt Servt

Alex Hamilton
Jonathan Burrall EsqrCashier of the office ofdiscount & depositN York.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 14 December 1792
From: Coxe, Tench
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Treasury Department,Revenue Office, December 14th 1792.
Sir,

In the close of the report, which I had the honor to make on the 11th Instant, concerning the alterations and amendments in the laws relative to distilled Spirits, wines and teas, I intimated, that I should make a separate communication with respect to alterations having relation to the Judicial System.
It has frequently occured in conferences with you, with the Attorney General and the Attorney for the District of Pennsylvania, that there are circumstances in the Judicial System of the United States, in the laws relative to the public Revenues, in the Judicial Systems of some of the States, and in the practice in the State courts, which creating doubts and difficulties, rendered it desirable that they might receive attention, whenever the legislature should have the Business of the Revenue before them. The state of the laws of the Union in regard to bail, the state of the laws of Pennsylvania in regard to costs, in suits wherein the sum recovered does not exceed a certain amount, and the want of a detailed procedure for Cases of distress, are among the matters contemplated. These and other things, which having been only occasionally mentioned in conversation, are not within my recollection have suggested to me and now induce me to submit to you the expediency of an application to the Attorney General for a statement of such amendments of the laws as have occured to him as necessary to give more convenience and promptitude to the execution of the Acts of Congress for raising a revenue on distilled Spirits.
I have the honor to be with great Respect,   Sir,   your most Obedt. Servant

Tench Coxe,Commissr. of the Revenue.
The honorableThe Secretary of the Treasury.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 14 December 1792
From: Coxe, Tench
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Treasury DepartmentRevenue Office, Decemr 14th 1792.
Sir,

I have the honor to inform you that the Result of my Enquiries relative to Messrs. Perry, Chamberlain, Richardson and Eccleston have issued as follows.
It appears to be the unanimous opinion of those Gentlemen, among whom are the Senator and Representative who reside in the Survey, that Mr. Chamberlain is a Man of excellent character and of a standing in the community equal to the Office, but that in point of official energy, and particularly of the kind requisite in the Revenue business that he would be excelled by all the other Gentlemen.
I find nothing affirmed of Mr. Perry to give him a preference to Messrs. Richardson, and Eccleston, nor do I perceive any disposition to support him as a candidate. My opinion is from symptoms in one quarter and opinions expressed in the other two, that his appointment would not be considered as advantageous to the public Service. It should be mentioned that he is now of the State Senate.
There appears to be a great deal of decision in favor of Messrs. Richardson and Eccleston’s real qualifications, and suitableness in all respects, but a manifest disposition to support Mr. Eccleston.
In regard to Mr. Richardson he has been heretofore in view as the Governor of Maryland, and has been several times in popular employments. His family at present enjoy several places under the State.
In regard to Mr. Eccleston he was a Colonel in the Army, is said to have been in the confidence of General Greene, is a man of pure and extensive public Esteem, lives in the distilling Country, and the centre of the Survey, has been recently sherriff of the County with great satisfaction to the bar, which evinces his punctuality and office talents. He has served in popular offices, but has had nothing lucrative in the executive line. Tho’ not at all involved, it is supposed the emoluments of the present Office would be pleasing and convenient to him, and it appears to me that his appointment would carry the impression of remunerating Services and bestowing a benefit where it has been merited, and is likely to be compensated by future official desert.
I have the honor to be with great respect, Sir,   your most Obedient Servant

Tench Coxe,Commissr. of the Revenue.
The honorableThe Secretary of the Treasury.


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Jefferson, 14 December 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Jefferson, Thomas

Treasury Department, December 14, 1792. I … enclose … copies of two letters to me—with my answers thereto—which concern the Commerce between this Country & St Domingo.…”


Title: Meeting of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, [14 December 1792]
From: Commissioners of the Sinking Fund
To:

[Philadelphia, December 14, 1792]

At a meeting of the trustees of the sinking fund, on the 14th day of December, 1792,
Present: The Vice President, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General.
The Secretary of the Treasury having informed the Board that he held one hundred thousand dollars at their disposal:
Resolved, That the said sum of one hundred thousand dollars be invested in stock, according to the limits prescribed by the last resolution of the Board; that the money be employed either in Philadelphia or New York, or both; and that Samuel Meredith, the Treasurer of the United States, be the agent at Philadelphia, and that the cashier of the Office of Discount and Deposite at New York, be the agent there.


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to the President and Directors of the New York Office of Discount and Deposit of the Bank of the United States, 14 December 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: President and Directors of the New York Office of Discount and Deposit of the Bank of the United States

Treasury Department Decr 14th 1792
Gentlemen

I have to request that you will pay to Jonathan Burrall Esquire, Cashier of your institution the sum of fifty thousand Dollars, to be by him invested in the funded debt, on account of the united States.
After the object shall have been effected, the sum will be adjusted by a regular warrant.
I have the honor to be   Gentlemen   Your obedt Servt

Alexander Hamilton
The President & Directorsof the Office of Discount & DepositNew York


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Ambrose Vasse, 14 December 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Vasse, Ambrose

Treasury DepartmentDecr 14 1792
Sir

I have duly received your letter without date.
I regret very much the disappointment you mention & you may be assured if any thing was in my power, which could afford relief in the case it would not be omitted.
But it is to be presumed that the refusal to pay the Bills in question is the effect of circumstances too imperious to be controuled; and not to be remedied by any interference which could at present take place.
I have nevertheless inclosed a Copy of your letter to the Secy of State, to which Department the object of your application more immediately relates, but I do not perceive that any thing will be in his power.
I am &c

A H
Mr Ambrosse VasseMerchtPhiladelphia


Title: Conversation with George Hammond, [15–28 December 1792]
From: Hammond, George,Hamilton, Alexander
To:

[Philadelphia, December 15–28, 1792]

Since this conversation with Mr. Jefferson I have had one with Mr. Hamilton upon the same subject, to whom I expressed similar sentiments, and from whom I have received a letter, of which I have the honor of inclosing a copy, as being explanatory of the actual views of this Government upon this particular point, as far as they can now be defined.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 15 December 1792
From: Coxe, Tench
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Treasury Department,Revenue Office, December 15th. 1792.
(Private)
Sir

I have the honor to inclose to you a letter received a last Evening from the Supervisor of Pennsylvania, upon a subject extremely painful in a public and private view. On my expressing to him some time ago my wishes that the returns from that district might be brought forward he observed, that he was apprehensive Mr. Collins would not prove a very regular official Man; and he very lately informed me that he feared he should have difficulty with him in regard to the revenue received. The latter you will remember I mentioned to you, and I have great pain in finding the Supervisors apprehension realized.
When it shall suit your convenience I will attend you upon this unpleasant business.
I have the honor to be, Sir,   Your most Obedt. Servt.

Tench Coxe,Commissr. of the Revenue.
The honble.The Secretary of the Treasury.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 16 December 1792
From: Jay, John
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[New York, December 16, 1792. On December 18, 1792, Hamilton wrote to Jay: “Your favours of the 26 of November & 16 instant have duly come to hand.” Letter of December 16 not found.]


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Hodgdon, 17 December 1792
From: Hodgdon, Samuel
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[Philadelphia, December 17, 1792. On December 18, 1792, Hamilton wrote to Hodgdon: “I am to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of yesterday.” Letter not found.]


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from William Short, 17 December 1792
From: Short, William
To: Hamilton, Alexander

The Hague Dec. 17. 1792
Sir

I had the honor of writing to you on the 29th. ulto by the English packet, the day after I had recieved the letters of the Secretary of State relative to the business in Spain. I expected then to be able, to set out from this place, much sooner. I have been detained by the answer from Paris not arriving as soon as it might have done & by my wish to recieve from the commissioners at Amsterdam & forward to you previously to my departure, the account you had asked of me of the monies paid by my order. I have now the honor of inclosing you that account reduced to the simplest & clearest form possible. It consists of two parts. The monies paid to the French government posterior to Nov. 1790 & The monies paid to me or on my draughts from the time of my being left at Paris as Chargé des affaires (Sep. 24. 1789) up to July 1. 1792.
No. 1. shews the amount of the sums paid to the French government No. 1 (a) & No. 1.(b) are the general account of the commissaries of the French treasury (viz the copy furnished me by M. Morris the original remaining in his hands) in which you will find the same payments comprehended & which vouch them.
No. 2 Is a statement of all the monies that I have recieved or that have been paid on my draughts for any cause whatever, whether on my account or not, up to the 5th. of July last. I chose to have the statement made in that form that there might be no possibility of an omission, although there are several articles which should not enter into my account with the U.S. & which are not entered into the accounts wch. I have transmitted to the department of State. These articles are explained by marginal notes annexed to No. 2. They are for monies which M. Jefferson desired me to pay for him by draughts on the commissioners, & which were to enter into his acct. with the U.S. which has certainly been done, as I sent him the accounts of these expenditures made for him, which he approved. That I might not be obliged to keep an account of those draughts I stated in my letters of advice, the purposes for which they were made, desiring that they might be placed in M. Jefferson’s account with the U.S. I rather apprehend however that this was not attended to & that the commissioners have placed them in my acct. In that case I must ask the favor of you to advert to Mr. Jefferson’s acct. with the U.S. or to M. Jefferson himself, which will immediately shew that these draughts noted in the margin were for him. I wish this reference to be made, because these draughts were not stated in my accts. transmitted annually to the department of state—& also that you may see that I have scrupulously observed a rule which I prescribed to myself as being particularly proper in my situation, namely of never drawing for any part of my salary before it became due. This would not appear to be the case if the draughts made by me on acct. of expenditures for Mr. Jefferson, were to be considered as made on my own acct. for salary & contingencies of stationary, postage &c. I hope & trust that ere this the accts. transmitted by me, on acct of my salary & contingencies will have been carried through the proper process by the department of state, & I ask it as a favor that if any article should not carry the most complete satisfaction with it, that I may be informed of it at present whilst in the way to procure the proper eclaircissements if any should be wanting, although I endeavoured by the accts. themselves & the letters to the Secretary of State accompanying them to leave nothing deficient. I asked his orders with respect to the vouchers for the contingencies disbursed on public account, which remained in my hands, not chusing to venture them across the Atlantic without his directions which I have not yet recieved.
No. 3. Is an account furnished me by M. de Wolf of his draughts on the commissioners at Amsterdam for the payment of the interest due the 1st. inst. on the Antwerp loan. I have had it compared with the books of the commissioners & found it to be just. The draughts were made by M. de Wolf with much care & attention to the interests of the U.S. The favorable moments of the exchange were made use of so as to have obtained a considerable advantage as you will see.
I have formerly mentioned to you that 950 of the bonds of this loan had been suppressed by me, & were left at Paris unsigned in M. Morris’s hands. This acct of the payment of the interest will ascertain that they have never been delivered, & that the loan is in fact only 2,050,000 florins. M. de Wolf informs me that these bonds now sell [at] 101½ so that the American credit is higher than that of any other power at Antwerp. I have long ago transmitted you his acct. on the reciepts on this loan & the payments made by him to France, which you will find confirmed also by the acct. of the commissaries inclosed.
Finding that I should be detained both by the necessity of recieving information from Paris as to the certainty of my passage through France, & also by the delay of the commissioners in furnishing me the accts I had asked, I determined to go to Amsterdam for a few days in order to examine myself into the state of American affairs there & give you as just an idea as I could previously to my leaving this country. I have already informed you of what has passed between the commissioners & myself as to the powers they wished me to obtain from you to borrow at an higher rate of interest than 4. per cent. I have not undecieved them as to the limits of my powers, but on the contrary impressed on them how averse I was sure you would be to raise the rate of interest on any occasion whatever. I have recommended it to them particularly to impress this idea on their undertakers & money lenders, if they wished to confine the loans to Amsterdam, letting them understand at the same time that I had better offers made me elsewhere than any rate above 4. per cent interest. They seemed to attend to this part of our conversation with some kind of anxiety, altho’ they were unwilling to let me suppose they concieved any danger of our being tempted by offers elsewhere. It will become in future an object of some delicacy to manage this business so as to keep off by means of Antwerp all hope of raising the rate of interest at Amsterdam. The commissioners would certainly procure a loan at any rate of interest however low rather than see us make use of Antwerp—but they have some motives of much weight for not forcing this rate of interest too low in the first instance if left to themselves. Should the interest be as low as it may be reduced hereafter they lose the profits which they contemplate on the reduction of the rate of interest by opening new loans in future for the same at the reduced rate. By this means you will observe a loan at 4½ or 5. p cent interest, besides the profits it yields immediately holds out the certainty of its producing a second time by its conversion to one of a reduced rate. I mention these as considerations so far as the rate of interest would be under the control of the commissioners—but it might so happen that it would not be under their control—& certainly would so happen if the U.S. were obliged to go on the market at present. The present state of Europe induces all the money lenders to hold back their money on the contemplation of an advanced rate of interest—but above all the present state of the English stocks produces this effect to an incalculable degree. Many people at Amsterdam & other parts of this country have made fortunes by purchasing into the English stocks at the lowest rate & selling out at the highest; so they have been their own witnesses of these ebbs & flows in those stocks, nothing will be so tempting to them as the present prospect of their fluctuation. Every money lender will stand on the watch & hold himself ready for the first turn of the tide. All the borrowing powers at Amsterdam feel the effects of this disposition most sensibly—the American bonds continue the highest but the 4. per cents are down decidedly to 96. & if any person should wish to dispose of any quantity of them they wd. not produce more than 95. The late Spanish loan at 4½ per cent interest hangs an heavy load on those who are interested in it, although supported by Hope’s house & all their influence.
You will easily see under this state of the market how essential it is for the U.S. not to be forced on it. I cannot too often repeat how essential it is to ingraft fully the idea of their fixed determination not to retrograde in their rate of interest. Every effort should be made rather than to do this. If once the money lenders were allowed to suppose we might be induced to retrograde, it would certainly have an unhappy influence for some time to come—not to mention the double expence to the U.S. of making the loan first at an advanced rate of interest with a view to reduce it hereafter. I flatter myself particularly from your purposing to remit for the payment of interest in future, that there will be no necessity for a new loan for a long time to come—& I derive much pleasure from this consideration. Should you have disposed of the large sums remaining in the hands of the commissioners on recieving information of their being locked up there by the King’s suspension, This will enable you I should hope to provide for the million re-imbursement next June from home. It is impossible to say what will be the then state of the market, but it would be dangerous to rely on it lest the U.S. should be forced to make sacrifices in coming on it. The great object is to keep the matter so in our own hands as to be able to come on the market or not—& this is so important that I trust you will excuse the importunity with which I urge it.
As yet no draught of yours on the commissioners has arrived since the suspension except the 100,000 florins you mentioned to me. Should you instead of remitting for the interest due in the first months of the next year, have the payments made from the monies here on hand, & call for the rest—this will enable you to remit for the re-imbursement in June instead of the interest as was your intention, & thus secure the U.S. from being forced on the market against their will. I shall flatter myself at least with this hope as long as I can, as it seems to me to be well founded.
Whilst at Amsterdam I examined also into the state of the Spanish payment. The exchange with Madrid has taken so unfavourable a rise that the commissioners have suspended taking bills. They are persuaded a change will soon take place. As yet no answer has ever been recieved from the Spanish government. These circumstances joined together made me adopt the delay of the commissioners. Should the exchange become more favorable they will remit—if not they will await my orders from Madrid, where I shall be able to learn the cause of the unaccountable silence of the ministry on this subject to Mr. Carmichael.
As you are acquainted with my mission to Spain I need not observe to you how much delay it will occasion if you should continue to transmit through me your orders to the Commissioners. It will probably be more advisable to charge the minister of the U.S. at London or Paris, with a branch so important at this moment & likely to become critical during the next year. A nearer view of the ground than I can possibly have at Madrid may be important & particularly a correspondence more rapid than can take place from thence. I hope you will excuse the liberty I take in suggesting these considerations lest they should escape you in the immense circle you are obliged to embrace.
I shall leave this place the day after to-morrow without fail & pursue my route to Madrid through France. I have the honor to be most respectfully
Sir   your most obedient &   most humble servant

W: Short
The HonbleAlexander Hamilton Secretary of the Treasury Philadelphia


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 18 December 1792
From: Coxe, Tench
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Treasury Department, Revenue Office, December 18, 1792. Encloses “an account of Abraham Hargis the Contractor for sinking and completing the well at the Cape Henlopen or Delaware light House.” Discusses the terms of the contract and compares it with the contract for the repair of the lighthouse at Cape Henry in Virginia. Discusses the compensation of the keeper of the Portland lighthouse.


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Samuel Hodgdon, 18 December 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Hodgdon, Samuel

Treasury Department 18th Decemr. 1792
Sir,

I am to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of yesterday.
That the amount of the Monies received by you for Arms &c. sold to the State of South Carolina, may be ascertained according to the established usage of the Treasury Department, it will be necessary that you present an account thereof with the proper documents at the Auditors Office. A warrant will then issue upon you in favor of the Treasurer, for such sum as may be reported by the Auditor and certified by the Comptroller, to be in your hands on account of the United States.
I am with Consideration   Sir   Your most Obedt. Servant

Alexander Hamilton
Samuel Hodgdon Esquire


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, 18 December 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Jay, John

Philadelphia Decembr 18. 1792
My Dear Sir

Your favours of the 26 of November & 16 instant have duly come to hand. I am ashamed that the former has remained so long unacknowleged; though I am persuaded my friends would readily excuse my delinquencies could they appreciate my situation. Tis not the load of proper official business that alone engrosses me; though this would be enough to occupy any man. Tis not the extra attentions I am obliged to pay to the course of legislative manoevres that alone add to my burthen and perplexity. Tis the malicious intrigues to stab me in the dark, against which I am too often obliged to guard myself, that distract and harrass me to a point, which rendering my situation scarcely tolerable interferes with objects to which friendship & inclination would prompt me.
I have not however been unmindful of the subject of your letters. Mr. King will tell you the state the business was in. Nothing material has happened since. The representation will probably produce some effect though not as great as ought to be expected. Some changes for the better I trust will take place.
The success of the Vice President is as great a source of satisfaction as that of Mr Clinton would have been of mortification & pain to me. Willingly however would I relinquish my share of the command, to the Antifoederalists if I thought they were to be trusted—but I have so many proofs of the contrary as to make me dread the experience of their preponderancy. Yr. note to Mrs. Gibbons has been sent.
Very respectfully & Affecly   D Sir   Yr Obed serv

A Hamilton
The Honble J Jay


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [18 December 1792]
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Washington, George

[Philadelphia, December 18, 1792]

William Richardson of the County of Caroline in the State of Maryland “Inspector of the Revenue for Survey No. 3. of the District of Maryland.”
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor to send above the memorandum which he promised this morning to the President.
18~. Decemr. 1792


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [19 December 1792]
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Washington, George

[Philadelphia, December 19, 1792]

The Secretary of the Treasury, presenting his respects to the President, submits the enclosed papers concerning the execution of a Contract for building a Well on Cape Henlopen. He will in the course of the week wait on the President for his orders.
Decr. 19. 1792


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to the President and Directors of the Bank of the United States, [20 December 1792]
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: President and Directors of the Bank of the United States

[Treasury Department, December 20, 1792. Letter listed in dealer’s catalogue. Letter not found.]


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from George Gale, 20 December 1792
From: Gale, George
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Baltimore Dec. 20th. 1792.
My Dear Sir

When I was first Officially informed by Mr Coxe of the Division of the District of Maryland into three Surveys I was led to beleive that if the President had conceived he could constitutionally appoint the Inspector during the recess of the Senate the Appointment would have immediately taken place. As nothing has been done in this Business since the Meeting of Congress I am becoming very unhappy least there may be some doubts of the Character on whom the Choice should fall. As it is a point in which I am very Materially interested I have taken the Liberty of recalling your Attention to it. Altho in Compliance with Mr. Coxes Instructions I transmitted the Names of three Gentlemen as very Suitable for the Office I had no Idea that either of the other two Gentlemen Named nor indeed any other person could enter into a Competition with Mr. Perry for the Appointment. He is a Man of Business—is a respectable Character that has served 10 Years in the Senate of Maryland with reputation. He has ever been a Steady friend to the Genl. Government and has an interest in the State which may be very useful. As a proof of his Interest I need only say that he lost but one Vote of the Electors who Chose the last senate. He is the Brother in Law of Mr. Hindman who will soon be a Member of the House of Representatives & has also a considerable influence with another of the new Members. In fine I can assure you that there is no such Character in my Opinion for this appointment ’tho I doubt not there are many presented to the president. Among others that are here Mentioned tis said A Mr. James Tilghman is a Candidate. He is the Friend & Relative of Mr. Coxe and no Doubt will be supported by him Altho I am convinced that if Mr. Coxe knew Mr. Tilghman as well as I do he would not advocate him. If Mr Tilghman is not a Candidate Mr. Coxe may still very probably thro the Channel of his Connexions have received very unfavourable impressions of Mr. Perry—who supported Mr. Hindman against Mr Tilghman (in the last Election to Congress) which a mere candid Statement of the facts that then happened would remove. I repeat that I am convinced if you place Mr. Coxe in my Situation he would determine as I do—tho from the Delicacy of the Connexion I do not think it prudent to Submit the Question to him and therefore beg that you would be pleased to consider this Communication as solely for your own Eye. I have no View in it but the public Interest and I do most solemnly assure you that the promotion of that is the Motive with me for wishing Mr. Perry’s appointment.
I am very Sincerely   Dr. Sir   Your affe & Obt. Servt.

Geo. Gale


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from James Monroe, [20 December 1792]
From: Monroe, James
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[Philadelphia, December 20, 1792]
Sir

I have the honor to inclose you copies of the papers requested in yrs. a few days past. That of the notes you will retain—the others you will be pleased, after transcribing, to return me. With due respect I have the honor to be yr. very
humble servant

Jas. Monroe

Every thing you desire in the letter above mentioned shall be most strictly complied with.

Phila. Decr 20. 1792
The honble Alexr. Hamilton Esqr.Philadelphia.


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Joseph Whipple, 20 December 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Whipple, Joseph

[Philadelphia, December 20, 1792. On January 19, 1793, Whipple wrote to Hamilton: “I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th December.” Letter not found.]


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 21 December 1792
From: Coxe, Tench
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Treasury Department, Revenue Office, December 21, 1792. Discusses rearrangement of revenue surveys and compensation for revenue officers in North Carolina.


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Jonathan Burrall, 22 December 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Burrall, Jonathan

Treasury Department Decr 22d 1792
Sir

I request that you will invest a further sum not exceeding Forty thousand Dollars in the funded Debt of the united States, bearing a present Interest of six per centum, upon the same principles mentioned in my letter of the 14th instant.
The Office of Discount & Deposit will furnish you with the sum, upon the enclosed Letter.
I am Sir   Your obedt Servt

A Hamilton
Jonathan Burrall EsqrCashier of the Office of Discount & DepositNew York


Title: Catullus No. VI, [22 December 1792]
From: “Catullus”,Hamilton, Alexander
To:

[Philadelphia, December 22, 1792]

For the GAZETTE of the UNITED STATES.
If perseverance can supply the want of judgment, Mr. Jefferson has an excellent advocate in the writer of his “Vindication.” But I mistake, if his last attempt is not found to involve still more deeply the character he wishes to extricate.
To repel the imputation on Mr Jefferson, arising from the advice which he gave to Congress respecting the debt to France; he not only labors to shew, that taken in all its circumstances it is not of the exceptionable complexion under which it has been represented, but endeavors to infuse a belief, that the sense of the extract originally communicated, has been altered by the interpolation of certain words as well as by the suppression of a part of the paragraph, from which the extract is derived.

It will strike the most careless observer, as not a little extraordinary that a person (who by undertaking to state the contents of a letter, with precise accuracy, and even to detect a minute verbal deviation, must be understood to have access to the original)—should instead of submitting to the public eye a literal transcript of that original, content himself with giving his own paraphrase of it, and should expect that this would be accepted, upon the strength of his assurance, that it exhibits the genuine contents of the letter, on the point in dispute contained in one paragraph only—“That the arrangement of the idea is the same, and that in substance, nothing has been added to, or taken from it,” thus modestly offering his own construction of substance, the very thing in question, for the thing itself.
That the extract, as given by me, is correct in every material expression, is proved by the statement in the Vindication. That it is literally correct, I must continue to believe until something more to be depended upon than constructive substance, is offered in lieu of it.
The information I possess, is drawn from two sources; one a memorandum in the handwriting of a friend which was given to me as an exact transcript of the words of the letter, and which was copied verbatim, in the second of these papers; the other, a document of unquestionable authenticity, not long since consulted, which states the contents of Mr. Jefferson’s letter in the following form:
Mr. Jefferson suggests that “if there is a danger of the public payments not being punctual, whether it might not be better that the discontents which would then arise, should be transferred from a court, of whose good will we have so much need to the breasts of a private company.”
“That the credit of the United States is sound in Holland, and that it would probably not be difficult to borrow in that country the whole sum of money due to the court of France; and to discharge that debt without any deduction, thereby doing what would be grateful to the court, and establishing with them a confidence in our honor.”
This statement in the document alluded to, serves to confirm the memorandum, in form as well as substance. Speaking in the third person, it represents Mr. Jefferson as suggesting, “whether it might not be better, &c.” whence it is natural to infer, that speaking in the first person in the letter, the terms are, “I submit whether it may not be better, &c.”
The form of conveying the idea by way of question, is common to both vouchers; and the word “whether,” which is also common to both, presupposes the words “I suggest,” or “I submit,” the last being the most accurate, and in that view the most likely to have been used.
It is observable, also, that the same statement disconnects the two propositions, and gives them a distinct and independent aspect. The conjunction “But,” which is alledged to be in the original, does not appear in that statement.
It is possible, nevertheless, that some immaterial departures from literal precision, may have found their way into the transcripts, which are relied upon. But while this concession, as a bare possibility is made, it is not intended as an escape from a rigorous responsibility for the essential accuracy of the disclosure. If there be in what has been communicated as a literal extract, any expression the least material, tending to the crimination of Mr. Jefferson, which is not to be found in the original, it is admitted to be inexcusable. But not having been possessed of the original, as has been several times stated, any accidental variation of expression, not affecting at all the sense of the quotation, or not affecting it disadvantageously to Mr. Jefferson, cannot be admitted to be of moment; in regard either to the merits of the discussion or to the fairness of procedure. To press such a variance, as an objection, is to cavil, and to betray a consciousness of weakness.

Now, it happens, that the variance, which is alledged to exist, if it had any influence upon the meaning of the passage, has one favorable to Mr. Jefferson; taking it for granted, that his Apologist has given a true account of it. This will be seen by carefully contrasting the phraseology in the two cases.
The extract, as stated by me, is in these words—“If there is a danger of the public payments not being punctual, I submit whether it may not be better, that the discontents which would then arise, should be transferred from a Court, of whose good will we have so much need, to the breasts of a private company.”
The statement in the vindication represents, that Mr. Jefferson, “Having stated the proposition as above (referring to the proposition for the purchase of the debt) observes further upon it, in its relation to this country, that if there be a danger our payments may not be punctual, it might be better, that the discontents which would then arise, should be transferred from a court, of whose good will we have so much need, to the breasts of a private company.”
All the material and exceptionable phrases are the same in the two statements. The only difference between them is, that in the first Mr. Jefferson is made to submit in the modest form of a question, “whether it might not be better.” the identical sentiment or advice, which, in the last, he is made to convey in the affirmative tone of an observation, that “it might be better”—The last mode of expression is certainly stronger than the first, and if the sentiment conveyed be, as it undoubtedly is, an improper one, the censure due to it is encreased by the greater degree of decision with which it is expressed, as being an indication of a more decided state of mind concerning it. This remark, which might otherwise appear nice and critical, is naturally drawn forth by the attempt to have it understood, that the words “I submit whether,” which are said to have been interpolated, have an influence upon the sense of the clause injurious to Mr. Jefferson.

   The words “might not be better,” are also said to have been interpolated—though all but the “not” are in the quotation made by the Vindicator; a specimen of his accuracy.

The result is, that the alteration of terms said to have been made, if real, must have been casual, because it either does not vary the sense, or varies it favorably to Mr. Jefferson: and consequently that the charge which has been brought, rests upon him in its primitive force, unmitigated by the alledged change of terms.
In like manner admitting the statement of what is said to follow as a part of the same paragraph, to be truly represented in the vindication—it either corresponds with the view I have heretofore given of the matter, or it implicates Mr. Jefferson in greater reprehensibility than has been yet charged upon him. If either presents an alternative proposition predicated upon the supposition of a state of things different from that which is the base of the first, namely, the danger of a deficiency of means for punctual payment, and in that case does not derogate from the first; or proceeding upon the supposition of the same state of things, it contains advice to Congress to avail themselves of the yet sound state of their credit in Holland, treacherously to induce individuals upon the invitation of the government to lend them money on the ordinary terms, for the purpose of making full payment to France, in order to guard her from loss, and preserve her confidence, in direct contemplation of not being able to render the stipulated justice to those individuals. If this was the advice of Mr. Jefferson, it leaves his conduct without even those slight extenuations which have been supposed to afford a semblance of apology. It takes away the feeble pretexts deduced from the offer having originated with the Company, and from their gaining a considerable boom in the first purchase.
The last, I acknowledge, is the construction best warranted by the structure of the paragraph as delineated in the vindication. This, as it there stands, would be the most obvious and natural reading. If there be a danger that our payments may not be punctual, it may be better that the discontents which would then arise should be transferred from a Court of whose good will we have so much need to the breasts of a private company. But still it has occurred to me that we may do what is preferable to accepting the proposition of the Dutch Company. We may find occasion to do what would be grateful to the Court of France, and establish with them a confidence in our honor. Our credit is good in Holland—may it not be possible then to borrow there the four and twenty millions due to France, and pay them the whole debt at once. This, besides transferring the discontents, to be expected from the want of punctual payments, from the Court of France, to the breasts of individuals would have the farther advantage of saving that court from any loss on our account. It is in this sense only, that the first suggestion can be considered as over-ruled by, or absorbed in the last, and that Mr. Jefferson can be said to have discountenanced the proposition made by the Dutch Company. If this be the meaning intended to be contended for, no pains will be taken to dispute it; and the comment will be left to Mr. Jefferson’s most partial admirers.
The writer of the vindication continues to insist, that Mr. Jefferson was only the vehicle of communication, assigning as reasons for this assertion that the transaction had taken place between the parties, before any mention was made of it to him, and that in communicating it to Congress he only made known to that body the desire both of the company and of the French Court; That the opinion which he gave arose out of the proposition, was in furtherance of the views of the parties, and that in fact no decision could be formed on it, either by the Congress, or himself, without a comparison of the parties as creditors of the United States. But these reasons do not prove that Mr. Jefferson was only the vehicle of communication; they prove the contrary; that he was both the vehicle of communication, and the patron, though not the author of the proposition. The precise difference between being the mere vehicle, and being both the vehicle and the patron of a proposition consists in this; that in the first case the agent does nothing more than communicate the proposition—in the last he gives an opinion arising out of it, in furtherance of the views of the proposers; which is exactly, what is acknowledged to have been done by Mr. Jefferson.
The plea that there could be no immorality or indelicacy, in espousing a proposition coming from the parties interested, amounts to nothing. The charge is not, that advice was given to accede to the proposition; but that advice was given to accede to it upon a ground which was dishonorable and unjust. It is the condition upon which the acceptance is advised, that constitutes the culpability.
In No. 4. of the vindication, the attack upon Mr. Jefferson is said to proceed from private revenge. In No. 5. it changes its nature, and becomes an attack upon principles; a monarchical plot against the republican character of the community. How long, and how often are the people of America to be insulted with this hypocritical rant? When will these political pharisees learn, that their countrymen have too much discernment to be the dupes of their hollow and ostentatious pretensions? That the citizens of the United States know how to distinguish the men who serve them, from those who only flatter them, the men who have substantial claims to their confidence, from those who study to conceal the want of qualities, really solid and useful, under the mask of extraordinary and exclusive patriotism and purity?
It is curious to observe the pathetic wailings which have been produced by the animadversions in these papers. It would seem as if a certain party considered themselves as the sole and rightful censors of the Republic; and every attempt to bestow praise or blame not originating with them, as an usurpation of their prerogative, every stricture on any of their immaculate band as a breach of their privilege. They appear to think themselves authorized to deal out anathemas, without measure, or mercy, against all who dare to swerve from their standard of political orthodoxy, which are to be borne without retaliation or murmur. And if any system of either shews itself, they are sure to raise the dismal cry of persecution; themselves the first to assail, and the first to complain. But what is not permitted to men who have so clearly established a title, little less than divine, to a monopoly of all the patriotic virtues!
The only answer, which is due to the feint of offering to enter into arrangements, for ascertaining whether the writer of these papers has in the instance under consideration been guilty of misrepresentation—and the breach of an official duty—is to remind the public that in my first paper I declared myself willing to be known on proper terms to the officer concerned. To this I adhere, in the spirit of the original intimation, but I deem a personal disclosure to any subaltern of his, improper; nor do I perceive that it is in the present case necessary to an investigation of facts. The writer of the vindication admits in substance what is alledged, and as to his collateral statements, it has been shewn that they imply more blame on the character meant to be exculpated, than was originally charged. I forbear any comment on the indecency of naming upon conjecture the person who has been named as the author of these papers, or upon the palpable artifice of making an avowal of them, by that particular person, the condition of a disclosure of the name of the writer of the vindication. Indecency and artifice are the proper weapons of such adversaries.

CATULLUS.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 22 December 1792
From: Lear, Tobias
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[Philadelphia] December 22, 1792. “By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return … with the President’s approbation annexed thereto, two Contracts between the Superintendent of the Lighthouse at New London, and Daniel Harris and Nathaniel Richards.…”


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 22 December 1792
From: Lear, Tobias
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[Philadelphia] December 22, 1792. “… T. Lear has the honor to inform the Secretary of the Treasury that the President has appointed Lemuel Cornick to be keeper of the Light House on Cape Henry in Virginia.”


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Lincoln, 22 December 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Lincoln, Benjamin

Treasury Department, December 22, 1792. “Pursuant to an application from John Lee Esqr, Collector of Penobscot, I have to request that you will supply him with a dozen Certificates of Registry without delay.”


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to John Miller, Junior, 22 December 1792
From: Miller, John, Jr.
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[Philadelphia, December 22, 1792. On January 3, 1793, Hamilton wrote to Miller and referred to “your letter of the 22nd ulto.” Letter not found.]


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Gouverneur Morris, 23 December 1792
From: Morris, Gouverneur
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Paris 23 December 1792
Dear Sir

I have written to you on the seventeenth of August, twenty-first, and twenty-fifth of September, and second of November. If any of these Letters should be missing, be so kind as to mention it to me, excepting always that of the twenty-first of September, which was on a meer private Affair of a mercantile House at Rouen. I did hope that my last contain’d the End of all Correspondence with Mr. Short, respecting the Payment which at his Request I had agreed for with the Commissioners of the Treasury here; but as soon as the Communication with Holland open’d the Correspondence also open’d as you will see by the Enclosed Copies of Mr. Shorts Letters to me of the 26th. & 27th: of October, with my Answers of the 12th. and 14th. of November. To these I add Copy of the Commrs Letter to me of the 16th. of November. It appears to me proper that you should have in your Office all these Documents, since Time and Change of Circumstances, may render them useful.
I have receiv’d yours of the thirteenth of September, and the Sum of one hundred and five thousand Guilders is (agreably to your Orders) at my Disposition. I will place the Management of this affair in the Hands of Messieurs Grand and Company, who remain very cautious and very solid, if I can prevail on them to come into some regular agreement on the Subject, about which they are very shy lest they should in these perilous Times be exposed to malevolent Insinuation or ungenerous Suspicion.
I fully comprehend the mode of Payment which you recommend, but I must vary from it a little to comply with your just wishes; Otherwise I shall make some Gain to the United States, which is not to be desired or expose them to some Loss which is very much to be avoided. In Order to explain this you must know that the Exchange here fluctuates from Day to Day, nay from Hour to Hour, surprizingly. Ten Day, nay six Days, ago one hundred Dollars in Amsterdam would have produc’d little better than eight hundred livres here in Assignats, and yesterday the same Sum would have produc’d above nine hundred; last April it would have produc’d a thousand. The present Exchange is almost as low as that of the Begining of last August, and seems to be going down, but there is no reasoning justly about it. The ablest Bankers are as much at Fault, here, as other People, and it is common to see a variance of five Per Cent in one Day. If therefore I start the Idea of an Exchange on florins, we shall have altercations without End, because the Gentlemen concern’d (knowing nothing of Money Transactions) employ what are call’d here des hommes d’affaires who know just enough to be very suspicious, and very troublesome. It was therefore my Plan to procure the precise Specie Dollars, but on proposing it to the acting Partner in Grands House he objected thereto, and prefered the Specie Livres. He has promis’d to make his Estimates and Enquiries, and I ought before the present moment to have known the Result. If I cannot bring them to Act, I will get (if possible) some other person, or else do the Business myself, which will be very very disagreable for Reasons which I need not state to you; but I am determin’d if possible to secure to the Officers full Value without Loss to the United States.
This same acting Partner in Grands House, to whom I delivered the Letter you enclos’d for them, tells me that the Vouchers you ask for shall be transmitted, as soon as possible, but that the Trouble of finding and selecting them is so much the greater, as they are mingled in the mass of old Papers which (in Order to prepare for Events) had been packed up long ago.


Title: Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 26 October 1792
From: Short, William
To: Morris, Gouverneur

The Hague Oct 26 1792
Dear Sir

After more than four weeks interruption some of the French mails in arrear were recieved here yesterday & we had hoped therefore that this day, being the regular postday, would have brought us the rest—in this we have been disappointed, & of course conclude that the post communication with Paris is not yet freed from all its obstacles. I therefore send by the way of England my acknowlegement of such of your letters as were recieved yesterday—viz. those dated Sep. 20.–23–24–& 27.
In answer to them I must promise that you cannot desire more ardently than I do the end of our correspondence on the subject in question. I had hoped it would have taken place long ago; & it seems to me a very little effort on your part would have done it—if instead of determining all at once to take no further step in the late payment, you had simply taken the trouble to see that the commissaries gave the U.S. credit for the six millions of livres for which you had agreed & which was a matter altogether between you & them—of course out of my reach & incapable of being settled in Amsterdam. All that could be done there, was done, that is to say the sum you mention in florins was paid & to the persons you desired. Whether the evidence of this payment being effected was a reciept or a bill or any thing else I suppose very immaterial to your arrangement with the commissaries—but it is by no means immaterial to the U.S. that this payment should remain expressed in florins instead of livres. & this for reasons so evident & so often mentioned that I will not fatigue you with repeating them.
I suppose you will dispense me also from examining what mode of effecting this payment would have been best under all the supposable contingencies of French affairs. It is a discussion that would at present be at least useless as to the present affair. I cannot help however observing that I do not pretend to be skilled in futurity, & particularly in matters where so many interests & so many agents out of my knowlege are concerned. I can only see objects which are present & conjecture as to things which are to follow. Whatever may have happened since or may happen in future, yet I think the conjecture which dictated the kind of reciept which I desired from Hogguer, was the most simple at that time & I repeat that I have not the gift of seeing into futurity. I should mention however that there was an error in my expression to you on this subject & that my intention was that it should be expressed as being on account of the debt due à la France & to be held (the payment) at the disposition of H. M. C. Majesty. It is true this latter part was not precisely the expression of the day—but it was an inaccuracy which would have been easily forgiven by any succeeding government, as would also, I still imagine, the nature of the reciept required. And this it appeared to me was the point to be obtained—viz. to make the payment so as to stop the interest on six millions of livres & to make it so as that hereafter neither the U.S. nor their agents should be blamed. I hardly think it would have been a disagreeable thing to the government with whom the final settlement should be made to find this sum in the hands of their agents and at that time it might have been expected that this settlement might be made without a very great delay or that the U.S. might have given the orders they judged proper.
Now as to the delay which took place between the time of your agreeing with the commissaries & of the payment made, & which you seem to think denatured the operation—I have already mentioned to you that your letters of the 6th. & 9th. of August were recieved at the same time & by what means, being brought by the same post, they did not get to my hands until the 17th. And as I have said above that I have not the gift of seeing into futurity I must say here I have not the spirit of divination & therefore could not know here before recieving your letter what you had done at Paris. Of course the delay of the month stated by you is not wholly to be attributed to me but only from the 17th. to the 4th. How many days delay you could consider as changing the nature of the affair I cannot say—but you certainly did consider some delay as optional without this risk since you said the bankers in order to avoid the rise of agio might make the payment at their liesure. On the 17th. I gave the orders to the bankers which were reiterated the 19th. Hogguer begged for time to consider of the offer made—our bankers supposed he wrote to Paris for orders—whether he did or not that part of the delay came from him—& when he gave his answer the rest was consumed in letters going & coming between this & Amsterdam, in the hopes of our bankers being able to settle some mode of payment which should avoid the danger I so much apprehended—& I hoped by every post also to recieve more & more information from you, relying really & absolutely on your judgment in this business. On the 4th. of Sep. I recieved yours of the 27th. of Aug. & the same day directed the payment. I think then from the nature of the case & from the expressions of your letters the delay wch. took place cannot be considered either by you or any body else as denaturing it.
Another principle of change which you mention as having been introduced by my doubting, is the bill instead of a reciept or no reciept at all. Now here is a distinction in which there may be a difference but I must own I do not see it—& whether so or not I am entirely innocent; & even if no suspension had taken place of the King or of the payment still this same unfortunate bill would have existed—that being the mode as I am informed which our bankers have constantly used with the French in the payments made at Amsterdam. My usage has been to give them the orders to make the payments, sometimes by remittances—sometimes by payments to the French agents according to the desire of the French government—in both cases I did nothing more than give the orders—leaving the moyens d’execution to the bankers supposing them better acquainted with such things than myself—& never enquiring whether it was by entry, reciept, bill, bond or what. Of course when you desired me to direct the payment of f 1,62,5000—& I the bankers, supposing there had been no difficulty as to the suspension, they would have done on the 17th. of Aug. precisely what they did on the 5th. of september. The same doubt as to its being the same payment you had stipulated, would therefore have existed in both cases if it can exist in either. I should have supposed that you would have considered it worth while therefore to see that no doubt should be left, by taking the trouble to satisfy yourself that the U.S. were credited on the books of the treasury for six millions of livres—which was all that was necessary as it can hardly be supposed they will credit the U.S. both for the 6. millions of livres & the 1,625m florins. Your seeing to this consummation of the arrangement appears so natural (& particularly if you concieved the bill instead of a receipt or no receipt introduced doubts as to its identity) that I should have thought you would not have failed to have done it, had there been no suspension—& had you done it in the case of the suspension, you see my dear Sir that you would have saved yourself much ennui & importunity & me much trouble.
So much for the operation being denatured by delay or by the bill. Without enquiring further into this subject I rely on its being susceptible of no question which wd. not equally have existed had that payment (which you said the bankers might make at their liesure) been readily made. And as in this case you say there can be no difficulty, whether there be change or no change & whether the acts be valid or annulled, I shall repose on your better judgment & hope there will be none.
I should think this still more certain if you would simply take the trouble to remove the doubts of the commissaries if they have any as to this being the identical payment you had stipulated & to see that the U.S. are credited for 6,000,000 ₶. Who my dear Sir can do this so well as yourself? Who else in fact can do it all? I cannot concieve from whence your aversion comes. I have sollicited you in every manner in my power not to leave the matter to future discussion. When the bills were enclosed to you one word from you would have sufficed in presenting these bills—& at that time I did not think there was a moment to be lost & therefore pressed you in the manner I did. I renew here my intreaty that you should put this matter out of doubt. Had you taken no step in it I should have supposed you would do this for the interest & satisfaction of the U.S.—but in a business where you alone have acted with the commissaries—where you alone can remove their doubts if they chuse to have any, where you alone can see the florins converted actually into the livres you agreed for, I repeat it again, I cannot & never could concieve your reason for refusing to do it, & thus risk future discussion.
I shall desire our bankers to write by the next post to the commissaries as you suggest in your letter of the 27th. of Sept. for greater certainty in preventing their giving the U.S. a double credit for the same payment.
I shall not write to the commissaries another letter; the object of that which I inclosed to you was to effect what I wished in the case of your persisting in taking no further step in the business, & there being as I feared then not time enough left to write after recieving your answer. I flatter myself you will for the interest of the U.S. take the last, & as it appears to me, not an inconvenient, step, to have the florins converted into livres according to your stipulation & carried to the credit. I do not consider this as a deviation from what you think proper to be done viz. to adhere to the original nature & form of the present payment, but the seeing that that nature & form is adhered to by the commissaries. On no other consideration would I have ordered a payment to be made & expressed in florins than the certainty of their value in livres being previously fixed or the standard for fixing it agreed on—& this was an invariable rule with me.
I thought I had formerly sufficiently explained my wishes as to what you call certain other things to be done with the same persons whose authority I deny. My desire was that at a future period when the day of settlement for past payments depreciation &c. came—there should be the fewest questions possible & the business the most possibly in the hands of the U.S. Now to avoid questions it seems to me the first thing is to simplify the subjects as much as possible. The whole of this chapter may be resolved therefore into one simple question to which I leave you the answer. Would this business be more simple & more in the hands of the U.S. if there were book accts. & the obligations paid off still remaining in the treasury or if the only such obligations remained as were still unpaid? I had thought in this latter case the acct. would be more simple & the affair of depreciation more absolutely in the power of the U.S.
I thought another thing also in which it seems from your letters that I was mistaken, & which of course puts an end to this part of the subject; so that I must ask you to regard what I have said on it as an impertinent trouble which I have given you. I had thought I know not why, but supposed I had seen it in the resolves of Congress that the reciepts constituting the debt were for much smaller sums—if they are as you state them only in three, nothing of course can be done of the nature I proposed. I intended to have answered another part of your letters but having been interrupted by persons who have detained me until the hour of the post I must defer it until my next—assuring you at present that I am my dear Sir,
truly yours

W Short
M. Morris &c. &c.


Title: Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 27 October 1792
From: Short, William
To: Morris, Gouverneur

The Hague Oct. 27. 1792
Dear Sir

Notwithstanding the immense length & prolixity of my letter of yesterday it wd. have been continued if I had not been interrupted & detained until the hour of the post. You desire me to consider well before hand as to the obligations, whether I would wish to come to a settlement previously with the ministry, in fixing the value &c. If as you suppose the obligations are only three, nothing more need be said on this business. I had supposed it had been different, & thought I had seen somewhere that the debt of 18. millions consisted of twelve reciepts of 1½ million each. In that case I should have proposed taking up such of these reciepts as were fully paid off—counting the livre tournois as it was paid—& leaving the depreciation out of the question for the present so as to avoid any settlement—the surplus which the U.S. may here after judge proper to pay by way of indemnity to be regulated by them at the time of paying this indemnity. The indemnity being as you justly observe optional with the U.S.—the commissaries could not object to recieving the 31,350 000 ₶ already paid according to your statement for that amount for the present.
You desire me to recollect that you never saw my instructions. They are contained as to this subject in different letters from the Secy. of the treasury, with which I made you acquainted before leaving Paris—& the sentiments contained in a letter I recd. from him soon after arriving here, I extracted & forwarded to you. You therefore knew all I knew as low down as the time of your transacting this business with the commissaries.
I find that I committed an error in mentioning to you yesterday that your letters of the 6th & 9th. of Aug. were not recieved until the 17th—for the sake of accuracy I repeat that they were recd. on the night of the 16th. so that I could not act on them until the 17th.
You say the present ministers of France complain much of my intention to place the money out of their reach which conduct they consider as evincing a hostile disposition: As I infer from thence that you see those gentlemen, I cannot help observing thereon that you may notice it to them, if they mean a hostile disposition in the U.S. that their conclusion is a very rapid one & by no means warranted since I could not possibly have any instructions from the U.S. thereon & that what I did would by no means bear the construction they put on it since it was nothing more than the effect of my desire for my own justification to pay the money to that agent or representative of the nation, who alone was known to foreign powers & to whom alone I could have a right to pay the money. If they mean the hostile disposition in me individually—then of course it will not be worth your while to trouble yourself about it. My own disposition is of no importance to any body but it ever will be to follow my instructions & when ordered to pay money or treat with any country, to consider myself bound to do this with the agents whom our government had acknowleged, & whom alone they could have in view at the time of giving me their orders. As to the right of the people to change their government & give it the form they please I do not suppose it will be ever questioned by an American nor that I shall be considered as questioning it. Such considerations may be proper for governments—certainly I had no right to examine them or in this instance do any thing else than follow as near as I could the orders recieved, without any kind of enquiry into the chapter of political rights or the proper mode of exercising them.
I am my dear Sir, truly yours

W: Short
M. Morris &c &c.


Title: Enclosure: Commissaries of the French Treasury to Gouverneur Morris, 16 November 1792
From: Commissaries of the French Treasury
To: Morris, Gouverneur

Paris 16. Novbre. 1792L’an premier a la republique

En reponse Monsieur à la lettre que vous nous aves fait L’honneur de nous Ecrire le 14 de ce mois, nous avons celui dernier dire que les Etats unis de l’Amerique ont été Credités sous les Livres a la Tresorerie Pour la datte du 5 Septembre dernier a la Somme de L. 6,000,000. pour le produit des Bco. f 1,625,000. a raison de 34 ⟨–⟩ ⅌ 8d. remis le dit Jour par Mess. Wilhem & Jan Willink, & Nicolas & Jacob Vanstaphorst d’Amsterdam, a nos agents &c &c—Hoguer Grand & Compe. le dit. Lieu.…


Title: Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to William Short, 14 November 1792
From: Morris, Gouverneur
To: Short, William

Paris 14 November 1792
My dear Sir

I have already acknowleged yours of the twenty sixth and twenty seventh of last Month. I will now reply to them. And first I have just written to the Commissaries of the Treasury desiring a Copy of the Entry made in their Books of the Payment in question. Secondly I must inform you that my Reluctance has arisen from a Circumstance highly disagreable and which in my Situation you would have felt I think as I did. The Ministry had taken up the Idea that the Management of what relates to the Debt was in my Hands and that you acted in Consequence of Directions from me. They wish’d me to do things which were by no Means in my Power. I endeavor’d to undeceive them but in vain. Every step I took in Relation to it however indifferent was considered as a Proof of their Hypothesis and they treated my Refusal as a Disavowal of the late Revolution. I assured them that I could neither adopt nor reject it being merely an Agent &ca. &ca. but this answer’d little Purpose and the whole Council are personally my Enemies. You may say that they are unreasonable & the like but that does not alter the Thing. This Inconvenience however which is no small one under the Circumstances in which I have liv’d for the last three Months and which has I know excited Representations in America to my Disadvantage, this Inconvenience would not have prevented me from complying with your Wishes if I could have conceiv’d that any valuable End would be answerd and I now comply meerly to satisfy you. My Manner of viewing the Object has ever been the same. Either they entered the Sum in question at the Time I wrote or they did not. Enter it in Livres they must if they keep Books of Account like other People. And if they enter it at the Sum I mention’d they give the Credit you desire. If they do not enter it at that Sum there is a question open on their Letter to me and on my Answer. When shall this question be settled, and with whom? In my opinion it would be settled, in common with all other questions relating to the Debt, when the final Settlement thereof is made. And I found that opinion upon the following simple Reason; that in such final Settlement all anterior Payments must of Course come in question, if the United States continue in the Disposition to pay the Depreciation: for if, for Argument Sake, a Stipulation were made now (or it had been made at any Time since you left Paris) that a Million of real Money should wipe off two Millions of the Debt, I do suppose that afterwards the Government in claiming the Indemnity would be as well founded in stating the Loss of a Million on that Transaction, as in stating any other Loss sustained. If in one Case we could reply, there is your Agreement (to which it might always by the bye be objected that Governments being like orphans ought not to suffer by the Malfeisance of their Guardians) in the other Case we could reply (and I think with far greater Force) there is your Law according to which you have paid and according to which on every Principle of Justice you are bound to receive. Observe that I do not put in question here the Authority of the present Government: first because it would only complicate the Subject, and secondly because I do not think it necessary to raise that question. But if it be raised, you will easily see that it must enforce my Observations.
You tell me that in all Events the Evidence of the Payment made in Amsterdam would have been by a Bill on the Commissaries of the Treasury. In that Case the Manner of doing Business is different from that with which I have been hitherto acquainted: and I must add different from what you considered as proper; because you in the first Instance desired a Receipt. I cannot but think that the natural and simple Mode of concluding that Business would have been to have taken the Receipt of Hoguer Grand and Company for bf 1.625.000 paid by Order of Mr. Short in Conformity to the Agreement made between the Commissaries of the Treasury and Mr. Morris. When the Bankers of the United States made their former Payments at Amsterdam it was perfectly regular to take Bills which of Course ascertaind both the Relation between Florins and Livres and the Period at which the latter should be carried to Account but when by previous Agreement these Points were already adjusted it appears to me that the taking of a Bill of Exchange instead of a Receipt could tend only to undo what had been done. However the Thing is over and it is vain to look back I am oblig’d to repeat because you seem not to have entered fully into the Ideas which I meant to convey. You certainly do not when you contrast that of making Payment at leizure with the Delay which took Place without making any Payment at all but with holding it altogether upon a Contingency foreign to the Convention which was by that Payment to be compleated. By Paying at leizure I meant and could only be supposd to mean such Delay as could procure the Bank Money without raising the Agio and this was of Course but a short Period and might be only a Day if on the Exchange there should be more Venders than Purchasers of Bank Money. When I remark on these Things to you it is not that I think the Transaction cannot substantially be supported and I have endeavor’d to support it always on it’s true Ground. But I am persuaded that if ever a question be rais’d it will be as follows. The Agreement made by Mr. Morris became void because Mr. Short would not and did not comply with it but withheld the Payment untill a particular Kind of Receipt should be given which the Circumstances of the french nation could by no Means permit. Afterwards a Payment was made which as to the Sum in florins was the same with that agreed on but the Proof that it was not the same in other Respects nor made in pursuance of that Agreement is that a Bill was taken on the Commissaries of the Treasury for he Amount. This Bill passed to a third Person would have constituted a Claim on instead of a Payment to the Government and of Course it was not untill the Bill was receivd by the Commissaries that the Payment was made and of Course that Payment was of the Value of that Day and to the Government of that Day.
The question you raise respecting the Obligations really and truly appears to me of mere Indifference. If we could purchase these Obligations for a thousand Guineas would the United States consider that as a Payment would it be so considered by the french Government or by that great Public which judges between Sovereign Powers? I think not. And in like manner tho after full Payment the Obligations should remain where they are no Claim could in my Opinion be rais’d upon them. Now this which may at first Sight strike you perhaps as a Pertness of Reply is connected with some other important Truths. It was propos’d to make over these Obligations to an Individual or Company in Payment of some Contract or otherwise and I was consulted. I declar’d that the United States would never ratify any Bargain respecting those Obligations made without their Concurrence that the Obligations did not constitute but only evidence the Debt which would be acknowleg’d without such Evidence and paid when due not to those who either rightfully or wrongfully might become possest of the Obligations but to our real Creditor who might then settle according to Right and Justice with the Individual or Company. I have Reason to beleive that this also is among the Causes of Disatisfaction which prevails with the Ministry as to me but I care not. I shall pursue the strait Line regardless of Consequences; and I cannot while in the Profession of those which are my real Sentiments and which will I think on Reflection be yours also. I cannot I say higgle about the Possession of Papers which in my Conscience I beleive to be of very little Importance.
However to resume (according to the fashionable Phraseology) you have the best imaginable occasion of setling all these things in your own Way. Mr. Carmichael is very urgent that you should go on to Madrid he has written so to you and mentions it to me in the Fear that his Letters to you may have miscarried. I consider the present Moment as particularly favorable to a Treaty with Spain and I dare say the same thing will strike you forcibly. Of course I shall expect that you will take this City in your Way. You will find it much Changd from what it was; but you will find one Person in it very glad to see you and to reiterate to you the Assurances of the Regard with which he is yours

Gouv Morris


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to the President and Directors of the Bank of the United States, 24 December 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: President and Directors of the Bank of the United States

Treasury Department Decr 24th 1792
Gentlemen

I request that a further sum of 4034 Dollars & 87 Cents may be advanced to Wm Young & Geo. Dannacker on account of their clothing contract, to be charged as heretofore.
This sum added to the former advances will make up the amount of Twenty thousand Dollars.
I have the honor to be   Gentlemen   Your obedt Servt

Alexander Hamilton
The President & Directorsof the Bank of theUnited States


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from George Bush, 24 December 1792
From: Bush, George
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[Wilmington, Delaware, December 24, 1792. On January 4, 1793, Hamilton wrote to Bush: “Your letter under date of the 24th. ulto has been received.” Letter not found.]


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Henry Knox, 24 December [1792]
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Knox, Henry

Treasury Department 24 December [1792]
Sir,

It being among the duties assigned by Law to the Treasury department, to prescribe forms for keeping and rendering all public accounts, I now address you for the purpose of sugg⟨est⟩ing in what manner it will be hereafter expected that the accoun⟨ting⟩ for expenditures in the Indian department be regulated and rendered for settlement. Some forms as essential checks upon the account⟨s⟩ for expenditures relating to the distribution of supplies will accompa⟨ny⟩ the forms for these accounts, and I request that a strict observanc⟨e⟩ of them and of the regulations which are hereafter specified may ⟨be⟩ enjoined on the particular Superintendants in the several departm⟨ents⟩—There being no quarter in which there is greater danger of abuse, proportional care and exactness are called for.
The accounts of the expenditure of money will naturally fall into two divisions, one of which will consist of payments for services performed and contingent expences; another for supplies purchased for the Department—separate accou⟨nts⟩ will be expected for expenditures under these heads.
In relation to the accounts for services it will be necessary that the particulars should be stated in detail and that receipts for the sums paid should be produced. As the rates of allowance for services will in general depend on special circumstanc⟨es,⟩ it is of course confided that every thing will be done to cause them to be regulated by a due attention to œconomy.
It is presumed that all supplies will be procured in consequence of special contracts, or by means of Agents duly authorized by the respective Superintendants, who are to be compensated by a commission on the sums expended. Whenever the nature of the case will admit of it, the former mode under due cautions and restrictions is deemed preferable.
For all supplies which shall be procured by contract, it will be expected that the original agreement or a duplicate thereof will be exhibited at the Treasury, with a particular account from the Contractor of the articles supplied, also a receipt for the sums paid, and a receipt for the specific articles furnished to be signed by some agent authorized and appointed for that purpose, who, it is wished, may be rendered accountable for the issue and delivery thereof in the manner hereafter specified.

For all articles which shall be purchased by an Agent on commission, a particular account will be required to be supported by the original bills of purchase, with receipts for the sums paid; and also a receipt for the specific articles procured, to be signed by the Agent appointed to issue and deliver the same.
It is also my desire that the Agent who may be appointed to receive the articles which shall be procured under the direction of any Superintendant may also receive all such supplies as shall be procured under the Contracts and arrangements of the Treasury for the use of your department, to be in like manner accountable for the issue and delivery thereof. When any such supplies shall be forwarded, it will therefore be expected that duplicate invoices and receipts therefor will be signed by said Agent one of which to be transmitted to the Comptrollers office.
It is foreseen that in a business so complicated, and exposed to so many casualties as that transmitted to the care of the Superintendants no rules of accounting adapted to all the cases which may occur can be prescribed. The forms herewith transmitted have however been prepared, with a view of reducing the accounts to as uniform a system as the subjects will admit, to which I request you to procure a conformity as far as shall be found practicable.
The accounts for personal services and contingencies are to be stated according to the abstract marked (A) and to be supported by vouchers in the manner before described.
The accounts for all supplies procured on Contract or by purchase are to be classed and arranged agreeably to the examples in the form B which is designed as a specimen, and is to be supported by Vouchers from the Contractors or purchasing Agents. For the articles charged in this Account the receipts of the issuing Agent will be indispensible.
The amount of these abstracts will be transferred to an account current according to the form (C) in which all monies received on public account are to be particularly credited.
In accounting for the issuing and delivery of supplies purchased and received, the greatest caution and accuracy are obviously requisite, to which end it is conceived at the Treasury to be of great importance that the Agent who may be appointed for that purpose, should, in each case, be instructed to observe the following regulations,
All the articles and supplies received to be fairly stated in an abstract or abstracts according to the form marked D.
No delivery on any account to be made except on the written order of the Superintendant, or of a person who is the principal at a Treaty or Conference.
All issues and deliveries to Indians or illiterate persons for their use, to be made in presence of some person to be appointed by the Superintendant, or the principal at a treaty or conference, who shall certify on the orders for delivery, that the articles therein mentioned were in fact issued.
The deliveries so made to be entered in an abstract to be stated according to the form (E), to which deliveries ought to be added all the articles which shall be lost, stolen, or destroyed by accident.
The vouchers for articles charged in the abstract of deliveries as lost, stolen, or destroyed, to be certificates or affidavits from disinterested persons, stating the circumstances of each case and whether the loss was or was not in their judgment, occasioned by the negligence of the Agent or of any other person.
It will be an important guide if at the time of rendering the accounts for settlement, a third abstract signed by the Agent stating the supplies remaining unexpended be rendered to the Treasury agreeably to the form marked (F).
I request that information may be speedily transmitted to the Treasury of the arrangements which may be made under this regulation and your instructions by the respective Superintendants, and that all accounts respecting their several departments may be rendered quarterly for settlement on the last day of March June—September and December annually.
In the instructions which may be given in consequence of this communication it will be adviseable to mark to the respective Superintendants that it is not designed to supercede any restraints which may have heretofore been laid upon them with regard to the procuring of supplies. It is my intention and wish, as far as circumstances shall permit, to have the supplies procured under the immediate direction of the Treasury. These regulations have therefore reference only to those cases in which special authority may have been given to them by you in concert with the Treasury or in which casual exigencies have not admitted the distant provision.
I have the honor to be &c

A Hamilton
Henry Knox EsqrSecretary of War


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Sharp Delany, 27 December 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Delany, Sharp

[Philadelphia, December 27, 1792. On the back of a letter which Delany wrote to Hamilton on October 4, 1792, the following words are written: “27 December Answered.” Letter not found.]


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Antoine René Charles Mathurin de La Forest, 27 December 1792
From: La Forest, Antoine René Charles Mathurin de
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[Philadelphia, December 27, 1792. On December 29, 1792, Hamilton wrote to George Washington: “The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor to enclose … the translation of a letter of the 27 of December, which he has received from mr. de la Forest.” Letter not found.]


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 27 December 1792
From: Olney, Jeremiah
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Custom HouseDistrict of Providence 27th Decer. 1792
Sir

I have the pleasure to communicate for your information, that Judgment was rendered in my favour before the State Court on the 26 Instant, in the Two Suits brought against me by Messrs. Arnold and Dexter in the Case of the Brigantine Neptune. The Gentlemen are extremely mortified and Disappointed in the Issue of their Suits. They have appealed to the Superiour Court of this State to Meet in this Town on the Third Monday of March next. They had four attorneys to manage their Causes, one of whom was from Boston Saml. Dexter Esqr. of distinguished Tallents. The District Attorney will acquaint you with the particular Ground on which these causes were Conducted before the Court.
I have paid forty Two Dollars for the Fees of Two Attorneys whom I found necessary to engage in the Defense of the Suits. The District Attorney has a Demand to make for his particular attention to the Business which I have not yet paid.
Your Letter of the 12th. Instt., relative to the Providence Bank, has come to hand: The Deposit made with the Commissr. of Loans, was returned previous to the date of our last Letter upon this Subject.
I have the Honor to be &c.

Jereh. Olney Collr.
Alexr. Hamilton Esqr.Secy. of the Treasy.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 28 December 1792
From: Coxe, Tench
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Treasury Department, Revenue Office, December 28, 1792. “In … the Communication from the Secretary of the President of the United States to you relative to the appointment of Lemuel Cornick to the duty of Keeper of the light House, I observe no mention is made of the Compensation which is intended to be allowed. It is necessary that the pleasure of the President on that point be known.”


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 28 December 1792
From: Lear, Tobias
To: Hamilton, Alexander

United States, 28 Decr. 1792.

By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to inform the Secretary of the Treasury, that the President requests the Secretary to have a statement prepared, agreeably to the Resolution of the House of Representatives, of which a copy is enclosed, to be laid before the House as soon as it conveniently can be done.

T. Lear. S. P. U. S.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Smith, 28 December 1792
From: Smith, Thomas
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[Philadelphia] December 28, 1792. Lists “the Stock remaining on the Books of this Office subject to the payment of Interest for the Quarter ending the 31st december 1792.”


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to George Hammond, 29 December 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Hammond, George

Treasury DepartmentDecember 29. 1792
Sir

From the opinion you have been so obliging as to express that arrangements may probably be made in Upper Canada for procuring a supply, from that quarter, of the Indians expected to assemble at O’glaise in the ensuing spring for the purpose of holding a treaty with this government.
I have the honor to inform you that I have concluded to send an Agent into the territory of Upper Canada, to endeavor to effect contracts for the above-mentioned supply; and, as you have authorized me to do, shall count on your good offices to facilitate the object of his mission. When the person shall be determined upon, it will be made known to you.
It is impossible for us to foresee with certainty the number of persons who will be assembled. We conjecture however that they will amount to about five thousand, men women and children; and that they may remain together six weeks. These are the only data we have as to the quantum of supply, which may be requisite.
Any contract however which may be formed must embrace as much more as may be found necessary.
All details will of course be committed to the Agent who shall be sent.
I have the honor to be with respect &c.

Alexander Hamilton
His ExcellencyGeorge Hammond Esqr.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from John Jay, 29 December 1792
From: Jay, John
To: Hamilton, Alexander

New York 29 Decr. 1792
Dear Sir

On my Return this Evening from Rye, I found your Letter of the 18 Inst: at my House.
It is not difficult to perceive that your Situation is unpleasant; and it is easy to predict that your Enemies will endeavour to render it still more so. The Thorns they strew in your way, will (if you please) hereafter blossom, and furnish Garlands to decorate your administration. Resolve not to be driven from your Station; & as your Situation must it seems be militant, act accordingly. Envy will tell Posterity that your Difficulties from the State of Things, were inconsiderable, compared with the great, growing and untouched Resources of the Nation. Your Difficulties from persons and Parties, will by Time be carried out of Sight, unless you prevent it—no other person will possess sufficient facts & Details to do full Justice to the Subject; and I think your Reputation points to the Expediency of memoirs. You want Time, it is true—but few of us know how much Time we can find when we set about it.
Had not your Letter come from the Post office, I should suspect it had been opened. The Wafer looked very much like it. Such Letters should be sealed with wax, impressed with your Seal.
I rejoice with you in the Re-Election of Mr. adams—it has relieved my mind from much Inquietude—it is a great Point gained, but the unceasing Industry and arts of the Anti’s, render Perseverance, union, and constant Efforts necessary.
Be so good as to forward the enclosed. Adieu my Dr Sir
yours sincerely

John Jay
Col. Hamilton


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to Susanna Livingston, 29 December 1792
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Livingston, Susanna

Philadelphia Decr 291792

I am mortified My Dear Miss Livingston that you should have had to write to me on the subject of your Certificates. Of all delinquencies, those towards the Ladies I think the most inexcusable. And hold myself bound by all the laws of chivalry to make the most ample reparation in any mode you shall prescribe. You will of course recollect that I am a married man!
The Certificates have been delayed through the misapprehension of one of my Clerks. They went immediately after you committed them to my care through all the forms of the Treasury; preparatory to a transfer to the Books of Maryland; and do not admit of being reinstated on the Books of New York ’till after a similar process. They are inclosed.
With much esteem & regard   Yr. true friend & Obed ser

A Hamilton
Miss Susan LivingstonBaltimore


Title: From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [29 December 1792]
From: Hamilton, Alexander
To: Washington, George

[Philadelphia, December 29, 1792]

The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor to enclose for the consideration of the President, the translation of a letter of the 27 of December, which he has received from Mr de la Forest. He will wait upon the President on Monday for his orders concerning the subject of it.
December 29 1792


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 31 December 1792
From: Coxe, Tench
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Treasury Department, Revenue Office, December 31, 1792. “The Superintendent of the Establishments on Delaware has occasion for about four hundred and fifteen Dollars to discharge all the balances falling due this day in that part of the public service. I have to ask the favor of a Warrant to him for that Sum.…”


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe, 31 December 1792
From: Coxe, Tench
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Treasury Department,Revenue-Office, December 31st. 1792
Sir,

I have the honor to represent to you that considerable Inconvenience occurs in the execution of a part of the business of this office, which however may be remedied by placing a limited sum of the Monies appropriated for the Establishments connected with navigation in the hands of the Commissioner of the Revenue for which he will be charged and held accountable. The inconveniencies arise from that part of the expenditures relative to the light houses, Beacons, Buoys and public piers, which are not committed to the execution of any particular Superintendent, or which arise from requests of particular Superintendents, that certain articles, which are better, cheaper, or more expeditiously made in Philadelphia may be procured for them by me in that place. The sums are often so small as to render an antecedent passage of the account or Bill through all the forms of the accountant offices of the Treasury very inconvenient; and warrants for a few dollars would swell the public accounts and give trouble in a greater degree than is agreeable. In instances wherein the Sums are larger, prompt payment easily obtained from a private person, is contrasted with the delay necessarily attending every the smallest case, which passes in the first instance through the official forms.
If no objection to it occurs to you, I would request at this time an advance of two hundred and fifty Dollars, for the purpose above-mentioned, which I shall cause to be deposited in the Bank of the United States to the Credit of the Commissioner of the Revenue as Superintendent of the Light Houses &ca to be drawn for only as occasion may require: and I beg leave to add that I shall cheerfully enter into Bond with such surety as the public discretion may appear to require.
I have the honor to be, Sir   your most Obedient Servant

Tench Coxe,Commissr. of the Revenue.
The honbleThe Secretary of the Treasury.


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Richard Harison, 31 December 1792
From: Harison, Richard
To: Hamilton, Alexander

[New York, December 31, 1792. On January 5, 1793, Hamilton wrote to Harison: “Mr. Le Roy has not yet appeared, with the Powers and Receipts mentioned in your letter of the 31 of December.” Letter not found.]


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Joseph Nourse, 31 December 1792
From: Nourse, Joseph
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Treasury Department, Register’s Office, December 31, 1792. States that the balance “in the Hands of the Cashier of the Bank of the United States” is inadequate. Requests “that a Warrant may issue … to be applied in the Payt. of Arrearges of Int. of the Regd. Debt and also of the Dividend becoming due on the first of Jany: 1793.…”


Title: To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Olney, 31 December 1792
From: Olney, Jeremiah
To: Hamilton, Alexander

Providence, December 31, 1792. Replies to Hamilton’s “circular Letter of the 12th of Octr. last.”