Letter to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney from George Washington, January 22, 1794.

Letter to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney from George Washington, January 22, 1794.

1794-01-22

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.

Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth

Cox, Danielle

Copyright has not been assigned to the Charleston Library Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Special Collections Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Charleston Library Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

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Ms. 178, George Washington Correspondence

Ms178_Ser1No5

22 1A
Free

Chas. Cotesworth Pinckney
Esquire
Charleston
So. Carolina
President
U.S.

The offer of the War Department
22nd Jany 1794
[Blank]
Philadelphia Jany 22d, 1794

My dear Sir, (Confidential)

Although I am not encouraged by the joint letter which I had the honor to receive from you, and our friend Mr. E. Rutledge (under date of the 12th of June 1791)

yet, in a measure to which I am strongly prompted both by judgment and inclination, I am unable to restrain myself from making a second application to you, similar to the former one.

I have cause to believe that, the private concerns of the Gentleman who is now at the head of the department of War, will occasion his resignation of that office unless imperious circumstances (which heaven avert) should force us into a war with any of the Belligerent Powers

and, under such circumstances, he should hold it dishonorable to retreat from his post.

Towards,
Towards, or at, the close of the present session of Congress (which is hardly to be expected before April, if then) this event, if it takes place, is likely to happen.

Will you, upon this hypothesis, allow me to endulge [sic] a hope that you would fill his place? It is not for the meer [sic] detail duties of the office I am in pursuit of a character

these, might be well executed by a less important one than yours. But, as the officer who is at the head of that department is a branch of the Executive, and called to its councils upon interesting question of national importance

he ought to be a man not only of competent skill in the science of War, but possessing a general knowledge of political subjects

of known attachment to the government we have chosen

and of proved integrity. To whom then can I turn my eyes with more propriety than on you? I mean not to compliment, but to express the real sentiments and wishes of my heart.

The intention of writing this letter, and the purpose of it, is unknown to any one but myself

the result may be equally so, since it is placed upon a hypothetical base, and declared to be confidential. No more therefore than you chuse [sic] need be disclosed until the event, which has given rise to the application, shall have taken place

although it is essential I should know in the mean while on what ground I rest

without which inconveniencies [sic] might result from the vacancy of the office. With much truth & sincerity

I am, Dear Sir
Your Affect. Servt.
G. Washington

Charleston Cotesworth Pinckney Esq.