To George Washington from John Jay, 15 July 1779
From John Jay
Philadelphia 15th July 1779
Sir,
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favor of the 9th Inst. with the papers referred to in it—They were immediately committed.
In a late letter I informed Your Excellency that Peter Wikoff Esqr. had been appointed Cloathier-General; That Gentleman not approving the terms of the appointment has declined it, & Lieut. Colonel Percifer Frazer was yesterday elected.1
Your Excellency will receive herewith enclosed a copy of an Act of Congress of the 13th Inst., for forming Captain McClane’s Company & the dismounted Dragoons of Major Lee’s Corps into a fourth troop to be added to that Corps.2 I have the honor to be with the greatest Respect & Esteem Your Excellency’s most Obed. Servt.
LB, DNA:PCC, item 14.
1. For Peter Wikoff’s declination of his appointment, and Persifor Frazer’s election as clothier general, see Jay to GW, 9 July, and n.1 to that document, and 14:836.
Frazer’s election occurred on this date, not 14 July, and he subsequently declined his appointment in a memorial to Congress written at Philadelphia on 19 June that presented “the Salary annex’d” as inadequate (DNA:PCC, item 41; see also Jay to GW, 29 July.
14:836). Congress read Frazer’s memorial on the same date ( 14:853). In a letter of 17 July, Jay had informed Frazer that the annual salary for clothier general was $5,000 (see 13:248). For the selection of James Wilkinson as clothier general, see2. The enclosure has not been identified, but see GW to Henry Lee, Jr., 30 June, and n.3 to that document; see also Lee to GW, 18 May, and GW to Lee, 9 June, and n.2 to that document.