Beschreibung:

BOUDINOT, ELIAS, 1740-1821, President of the Continental Congress . Document signed ("Elias Boudinot") as Director of the U.S. Mint, [Philadelphia], 17 February 1800. 2 pages, folio, 328 x 202mm. (12 7/8 x 8 in.), top edge a bit worn, small separation at fold . THE DIRECTOR OF THE U.S. MINT CONSIDERS THE MINT'S MOVE FROM PHILADELPHIA TO WASHINGTON A highly interesting letter in which Boudinot, Director of the Mint, "in compliance with the wishes of the Committee to whom was referred the Message of the President," responds formally to five important questions posed by Congress concerning the Mint and its removal to the new Federal capital of Washington, D.C. "...As the law now stands the Mint must be removed [to Washington, D.C.] the first Monday in December...in which case, an Appropriation of Money to defray the necessary Expenses ought to be made...In this Case there will be no Necessity for any Alteration in the present Laws relating to the Mint..." Boudinot specifies five actions to be taken "in case the Mint is continued in this City [Philadelphia], and the Seat of Gov't is removed," especially the need "to repeal...much of the Law passed 16 July 1790 for the removal of the Seat of Government...directing the same to be continued in the City of Philadelphia..." Under Question 4, he states that prior to December 1795, slightly over a million Cents and about 142,000 half cents had been minted. Finally, asked if "measures have been taken relative to the Distribution of the Copper coin into different parts of the U States," Boudinot defers, since "This being a Duty assigned by Law to the Treasurer...the Director [of the Mint] cannot answer it..." Boudinot, who had rendered distinguished service during the Revolution, as Speaker of the House of Representatives, succeeded David Rittenhouse as Director of the United States Mint in 1795, and very successfully reorganized the enterprise. To this day, some of Boudinot's rules are still in practice there.