To George Washington from Abijah Hart, 13 June 1796
From Abijah Hart
New York June 13. 1796
Sir,
Having some years ago addressed you through my friend Mr Hillhouse on the Mint establishment without success,1 I feel a diffidence now; which nothing but the hope of serving you could surmount—I have a Ship now loading for Lisbon, which will sail on sunday next—My Brother Wm Hart will go out in her on business for me—he has a Letter of Introduction from Dr Dwight President of Yale College, to the American Minister Col. Humphreys—& is a young man who will be happy to convey any Commands to that Minister,2 as he will feel himself much honoured by such an Introduction from the President of the United States. I am &c.
Abijah Hart
ALS, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters.
Abijah Hart (1764–1829) was a New York merchant. He underwent bankruptcy in 1800 and joined the mercantile firm Vanderbilt, Hart & Hicks. That firm dissolved in 1802, and Hart again took bankruptcy protection in 1803. He spent his later years farming in Connecticut.
1. See Hart to GW, 21 April 1792.
2. The letter from Timothy Dwight to David Humphreys has not been identified.
William Hart (1772–1836) graduated from Yale College in 1792. Initially associated with his brother’s business, he spent most of his life as a teacher in Connecticut.
Timothy Dwight (1752–1817), a Congregationalist pastor and man of letters, served as president of Yale College from 1795 until his death.