To George Washington from John Kean, 7 July 1792
From John Kean
Philadelphia July 7th 1792.
Sir
The Commission with which I have this day been honored is a mark of your approbation highly grateful to me—I shall endeavour by my actions to merit & preserve it.1
My present occupation will not permit me to appropriate to the expediting this business so much of my time as I could wish & the nature of the service may require; but no exertion shall be wanting on my part so far as my time will allow to facilitate the exertions of my Colleagues to bring the business to as speedy a conclusion as the nature of the case will admit of.2 With sentiments of the most exalted esteem I have the honor to be sir Yr Obt Servt
John Kean
ALS, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters.
1. For Kean’s attempt on 31 Oct. 1791 to resign as one of the commissioners to settle the Revolutionary War accounts between the United States and the individual states because of his appointment as cashier of the Bank of the United States and GW’s successful effort to dissuade him from that course, see GW to Kean, 10 Nov. 1791, and source note. The “Commission” Kean is referring to is the agreement that he continue to serve as one of the commissioners settling Revolutionary War accounts.
2. The commissioners submitted their final report to GW in late June 1793, and GW forwarded it to Congress in early December of that year (see Commissioners for Settling Revolutionary War Accounts to GW, 29 June 1793; , 6:19).