To George Washington from Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 27 July 1796
From Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Charleston [S.C.] July 27th 1796
Dear Sr
Duplicates of your two favours of the 8th of July I received this morning; the originals are not yet arrived. Tho’ my affairs have not hitherto been arranged as I could wish them, the manner in which you state our political situation, & the Interests of this Country as they relate to France, obliges me to accept your appointment without hesitation. I am only apprehensive that your friendship has been too partial to the little merit I may possess, & that the matters intrusted to me may fail through my want of ability. You may however depend that what talent I have, shall be diligently exercised in performing the objects of my mission, & promoting, as far as I can, the honour & interest of our Country. I will endeavour to arrange my affairs in a fortnight or three weeks, & shall then proceed with Mrs Pinckney by the first Vessel for Philadelphia, where I hope to return you thanks in person for all your kindness to me, & to assure you that I always am with the sincerest regard & the highest veneration, Esteem, & attachment Your affectionate & obliged Sevt
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
ALS, MHi: Pickering Papers; ALS (duplicate), DLC:GW; ALS (triplicate), DLC:GW.
GW replied to Pinckney from Mount Vernon on 10 Aug.: “With sincere pleasure I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th ulto—learning by it that you may be so soon expected with your lady in Phila. to proceed on the Mission to Fr.
“If this letter should find you in Charleston, it is intended to express a regret, that my original letters had not been received by you; and to ask, if there has been any miscarriage of a Mail in the Southern quarter—aiming thereby to come at some clue to the discovery of this accident. The Sum sent was three hundred dollars in 3 Bank notes of Columbia. My best respects attend Mrs Pinckney” (ADfS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW). GW mistakenly wrote “26th” for Pinckney’s letter to him accepting appointment as U.S. minister to France. For Pinckney’s decision and eventual departure for Paris in late September, see 133–39; see also Pinckney to GW, 2–5 and 12 August. GW had sent Pinckney money for the relief of fire victims in Charleston (see GW’s second letter to Pinckney, 8 July).