When, in 1800, the Treasury Department performed its six days’ journey from Philadelphia to Washington, it went into a plain, three-story building, facing Fifteenth street, erected for the Treasury. It was near the unfinished White House, and, like all the first Federal buildings, plain and small. It was so small, when first taken possession of, that it did not even afford sufficient room for the clerical force, then fifty in number. Its cramped space made it necessary to deposit all the official records brought from Philadelphia in a house known as Sears’ store, and the records, which would now be invaluable, were all consumed. The first official act of the Treasury Department of national interest, dated at the national capital, directed that the Secretary should make an annual report to Congress of the state of the finances of the nation, containing estimates of the public revenue and expenditure, as well as plans for improving and increasing the revenues. Hamilton had done this voluntarily, and his example, of a Cabinet officer making communications with Congress, was now made imperative by the action of law. May 10, 1800, Samuel Dexter, another signer of the Declaration of Independence, was appointed Secretary of the Treasury in place of Oliver Wolcott. On the election of Jefferson, the foe of the Hamiltonian financial policy, the Washingtonian era of the Federal Government ended, and Mr. Dexter found himself out of harmony with the Government. After the lapse of a year, President Jefferson set the precedent of removal, and, January 26, 1802, appointed Albert Gallatin, Secretary of the Treasury. Albert Gallatin was born in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1761. After receiving a liberal education, he came to this country at the age of eighteen. He became a tutor in Harvard College, but removing to Philadelphia, then the national capital, rose so high in public esteem that in 1790, at the age of thirty, he was elected to Congress, and afterwards to the Senate. In this body, his reports on matters of finance attracted universal attention, and, as a result, he was made Secretary of the Treasury of the United States. President Jefferson, on handing him his commission, said: “Mr. Gallatin, your most important duty will be to examine the accounts, and all the records of your department, in order to discover the blunders and frauds of Hamilton, and to ascertain what changes will be required in the system. This is a most important duty, and will require all your industry and acuteness. To do it thoroughly, you may employ whatever extra service you require.”