Letter to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney from George Washington, August 24, 1795.

Letter to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney from George Washington, August 24, 1795.

1795-08-24

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

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Ms. 178, George Washington Correspondence

Ms178_Ser1No6

Philadelphia 24th Augt, 1795

My dear Sir, (Private)

The Office of Secretary of State has become vacant by the resignation of Mr. Randolph. Is the period yet arrived, when the situation of your private concerns would permit you to accept it? – As a preliminary mean of information, I have resorted to your letter of the 24th of February 1794, and tho' the time there allotted for this purpose is not quite accomplished, there is not much wasting of it. And I have heard, besides, that you were, in a manner, returning from the pursuits of your profession.

It is unnecessary for me to repeat sentiments which you have so often heard me express, respecting my wishes to see you in the Administration of the General government. The sincerity of which you can have no doubt. Equally unnecessary is it to observe to you, that the affairs of this country are in a violent paroxysm

and
and that it is the duty of its old, and uniform friends to assist in piloting the vessel, in which we are all embarked, between the rocks of Scylla and Charybdis, for more pains never were taken, I believe, than to throw it upon one or the other, and to embroil us in the disputes of Europe.

I shall add nothing further, however, on this subject for nothing, I am certain, I could say would be new to a person of your observation and information. I will come therefore to the point at once: can you or can you not, make it comfort, with your interest and inclination, to accept the appointment of Office of State? If you answer in the affirmative, it will occur to you instantly, that an office of such dignity, and high importance, out not to be without a head, at such a crisis as this, a moment if it could well be avoided. If (which I should sincerely regret.) your answer should be in the negative the less (for reasons which will readily occur to you) there is said of the offer, the better. In either case, be so good as to favor me with an answer as soon as your mind is made up, relative thereto.

With very sincere esteem and regard I am my dear Sir
Your Obedient and Affectionate Servt.
G. Washington

Majr. Genl. Pinckney
Bal. Aug. ‘30

The Honbl.
Majr. Genl. Chs. C. Pinckney
Charleston
So. Carolina

President
U.S.

Offer of the State Department
24 Augt. 1795
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