Letter to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney from George Washington, May 5, 1789.

Letter to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney from George Washington, May 5, 1789.

1789-05-05

Manuscript copies of Washington's letters (1781-1788) to the Chevalier (later Marquis) de Chastellux made by William Willis (later published by him in 1825 in Charleston (S. C.) as a pamphlet)

also, letters (1789-1798) to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney urging him to accept nomination to first one post and then another (associate justice of the U. S. Supreme Court, Secretary of War, Secretary of State, and minister to France)

a copy of a letter (1796) to the French Republic presenting Pinckney as U. S. envoy

and queries (1798) to Pinckney and Alexander Hamilton concerning France and the development and arming of the U. S. military.
See individual item records for further details. Transcripts are housed with items in Ms.178.

2023-05-18

600 dpi, 16-bit depth, color, Epson Expression 10000XL, Archival masters are tiffs.

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Ms. 178, George Washington Correspondence

Ms178_Ser1No3

Private
Chas. Cotesworth Pinckney
&
Edwd. Rutledge Esquires
Charleston

President Washington
[Blank]
General Pinckney
Charleston

Genl. Washington
[Blank]
New York May 5th 1789

Dear Sir,

I accept with great sensibility your kind congratulations on my appointment to the Chief Magistracy of the United States.

Although I cannot, consistently with the system which I have adopted for the government of my official conduct, make any declaration or offer any sentiment whatever respecting the nomination to office under the General Government, before I shall have obtained a competent knowledge of the subject

yet I may be allowed to say, that I have scarcely ever seen, in the course of my life, more unequivocal testimonials in favor of any public man, than those which have been transmitted from South Carolina in favor of Mr. Hale. - You will, moreover do me the justice to believe, that I shall always be influenced by inclination as well as duty[?] in giving encouragement to able & honest men : at least where it can be well ascertained that men are possessed of such essential requisites for public
service.

Mrs. Washington is not with me, when she arrives (and I expect her arrival soon) I will perform the acceptable commission of Mrs. Pinckney and yourself. In the meantime, I beg you will be persuaded
that any best wishes attend you both and that

I am Dear Sir
With sentiments of great repct & esteem
Your Most Obed. & very Hbl Ser,

Go. Washington

Gen Pinckney