To George Washington from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 1 July 1796
From Oliver Wolcott, Jr.
[Philadelphia, 1 July 1796]
I have had the honour to receive your Letter of June 27th and have disposed of the enclosures agreably to direction.
Last Evening I called on Mr T. W. Francis and he informed me that your Wine was in good condition & perfectly safe stored in the Compting House with two Pipes of Mr Willings: it was Mr Francis’s opinion that the situation was much better for the improvement of the wine than any Cellar: I am no judge of the matter my self & can cause a removal at any time, if the President judges it adviseable.1
There is nothing new in town—Baches paper continues as usual to be filled with abuse against the Government & predictions of French hostility.2 I believe however that his publications make but little impression3—Browns paper of last evening, stated that President was expected to return here in a few days—I have not been able to trace the origin of the report, but I presume it to be a trick of some person to incite alarm—it will be contradicted.4
The questions proposed by the Presidt being of great consequence we have thought it best to keep them under consideration a few days—The pressure of business with me is such that I have not been able to bestow all the attention which I wish.5
The new Stock will I fear remain unsold notwithstanding the long Credit which was offered—some new expedient must be adopted; what will be best I cannot yet determine.6 I shall act with caution & pursuant to the best advice which I can obtain.7 With perfect deference & attachment, I remain Sir, your obedt servt
Oliver Wolcott Jr
ALS, DLC:GW; ADf (partial), CtHi: Oliver Wolcott, Jr., Papers. GW docketed the ALS as “without date, received the 4th July 1796.” The ascribed date, which is consistent with the travel time between Philadelphia and Mount Vernon, was determined by reference to the publication in “Browns paper of last evening” (see n.4 below). The draft was dated “June [ ] 1796.”
1. For GW’s instructions about storage of the wine, see his private letter to Wolcott dated 24 June.
2. On the draft, Wolcott wrote “encourage the enterprises of the French” rather than the previous four words.
3. The draft ends with a closing following this word.
4. Andrew Brown’s Philadelphia Gazette & Universal Daily Advertiser for 30 June printed an item: “We hear that the President of the United States is expected to return to this city in a few days.” The Gazette of the United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser for 1 July provided the promised contradiction: “A report was circulated last evening that the President of U.S. was arrived in town. This is not true, nor is there any foundation for the report that he is expected in a few days. And it is difficult to assign any just reason for it.”
5. Wolcott pondered questions concerning French policy posed in GW’s letter to Timothy Pickering of 24 June.
6. Wolcott is referring to stock certificates authorized in “An Act making provision for the payment of certain Debts of the United States,” 31 May ( 488–89). The Gazette of the United States (Philadelphia) for 16 June printed a notice from the Bank of the United States dated 14 June with conditions for the purchase of this stock.
7. GW replied to Wolcott from Mount Vernon on 6 July: “Private … Your private letter (without date) by the last Post, has been received.
“It is quite agreeable to me, that my Wine should remain in the Store of Messrs Willing & Francis, till I shall have occasion to remove it.
“There is little doubt, but the insertion in Browns Paper, of my sudden return, was put there to answer some insiduous purpose; for sure I am, nothing ever dropped from me to authorise such a publication. and it is to be regretted that the authors of them could not be brot to light.
“A Report has circulated here, that the William Penn has been captured by the Flying-Fish; but as it is of some days standing, & your letter is silent on the subject I hope it is void of foundation. That Mr Bache will continue his attacks on the Government, there can be no doubt—but that they will make no Impression on the public mind is not so certain, for drops of Water will Impress (in time) the hardest Marble.
“I hear with concern, that the New Stock is likely to remain unsold, notwithstanding the long credit which was offered. Let the expedient (whatever it be) be well considered.
“If any thing should occur of an interesting nature altho’ it should not require official communication let me hear it” (ALS, CtHi: Oliver Wolcott, Jr., Papers). The French privateer Flying Fish did not capture the William Penn, which sailed for London on 10 June and returned to Philadelphia that fall (see The Philadelphia Gazette & Universal Daily Advertiser, 18 June, and Gazette of the United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser, 13 Oct.).