From Thomas Jefferson to John Kean, 14 September 1793
To John Kean
Philadelphia Sep. 14. 1793.
Sir
I have recieved your favor of yesterday, and am to thank the Directors of the bank for their assistance in the purchase of bills of exchange. I will therefore ask the favor of you to procure, on account of the Secretary of state, bills of the value of ten thousand dollars, on London or Amsterdam. The remittance [being] finally to be made to the latter place, that circumstance will decide between offers otherwise equal. As I shall be absent from this place some weeks, and our ministers abroad must be nearly in want, I will ask the further favor of you to send the London bills to Mr. Pinckney our minister there, to whom they should be payable, and the Amsterdam bills to the bankers of the US. on account of the Secretary of state. These bills are to be paid for out of the funds of my department lodged in the bank. I have the honor to be with great esteem & respect, Sir, Your most obedt. servt
Th: Jefferson
PrC (DLC); torn, with bracketed word supplied from FC; at foot of text: “John Kean esquire. Cashier of the bank of the US.” FC (Lb in DNA: RG 59, DL).
John Kean (1756–95), who represented South Carolina in the Confederation Congress, 1785–87, and had just completed his service as one of the Commissioners of Accounts for the States, was cashier of the Bank of the United States from its formation in 1791 until his death (; George Washington to the Commissioners of Accounts for the States, [22 June 1793], and note).
In his brief favor of yesterday, Kean transmitted a resolution passed that day by the directors of the Bank of the United States ordering him “to purchase for account of the United States such amount in Bills of exchange as may be directed by the Secretary of State” and indicated that he stood ready to receive TJ’s instructions (RC in MWA; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr. Secy. of State &ca.”; date of letter and resolution reworked from 12 Sep.; endorsed by TJ as received 13 Sep. 1793 and so recorded in SJL).