Alexander Hamilton Papers

To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 25 September 1789

From George Washington

[New York] 25th. Sepr. 1789.

Dear Sir,

From a great variety of characters who have made a tender of their services for suitable Offices, I have selected the following.1 If Mr. Jay2 & you will take the further trouble of running them over to see if among them there can be found one, who, under all circumstances is more eligable for the Post Office than Col O3 I shall be obliged to you both for your opinion thereon by Eleven ‘Oclock. Another Paper which is enclosed,4 will shew how the appointments stand to this time. And, that you may have the matter fully before you, I shall add that, it is my present intention to nominate Mr. Jefferson5 for Secretary of State, and Mr. Edmd Randolph6 as Attorney Genl; though their acceptance is problamatical—especially the latter.

Yrs. Sincerely

Go: Washington

ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.

1At the bottom of this letter Washington wrote the names of thirty-five individuals.

2On September 24, 1789, John Jay had been nominated by Washington as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; the nomination was confirmed on September 26, 1789.

3Samuel Osgood was nominated for office on September 25, 1789; the nomination was confirmed on September 26.

4The enclosure, “A List of persons holding Offices of a general Nature with the states to which they belong annexed,” is in Tobias Lear’s writing with a few additions by Washington (Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).

5Thomas Jefferson was nominated as Secretary of State on September 25, 1789; the nomination was confirmed on September 26.

6Edmund Randolph was nominated as Attorney General on September 25, 1789; the nomination was confirmed on September 26.

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