From George Washington to John Jay, 19 February 1797
To John Jay
Philadelphia 19th Feby 1797.
My dear Sir,
Your favour of the 8th instant from Albany, was duly received; but not before arrangements for many nominations (amongst which that for the Naval Office in New York was one) had been made.
From the character of Mr Remson, I have a very good opinion of his abilities and worth; but as his name was not among those which had been handed to me for this office, and as there seemed to be a concurrent opinion in favour of a Mr Rogers, who has, it seems, been the main spring in the business hitherto, I decided upon him with out much hesitation.1 With very sincere regard, I am—My dear Sir Your Most Obedt and Affectionate Servt
Go: Washington
ALS, NNC.
1. Jay had written GW from Albany on 8 Feb.: “I Yesterday recd Information that Col. [Benjamin] Walker the naval officer for New York, has resigned; and am requested to mention Mr Henry Remson, the Son of the late Mr Henry Remson of that City, as a proper Person to succeed him.
“I am apprized of the Delicacy of such Recommendations—they too often require a Degree of Caution and Reserve, not easy to observe or express with Precision—on this occasion I find myself free from Embarasments.
“mr Remson was formerly a clerk in Mr Thompsons office—His modest Deportment, together with mr Thompsons Recommendation, enduced me to select him for the place of under Secretary or first Clerk in the office for foreign affairs. when you did me the Honor to place me on the Bench, I left him in the office, without having had Reason to wish that his Conduct on any occasion had been otherwise than it was. He has since accepted an appointment in the Branch Bank at New York, where he now is.
“I think him competent to the office in Question. of his Integrity Punctuality and Industry I never entertained a Doubt; nor have I ever heard of any Doubts or opinions to his prejudice being entertained by others” (ALS, DLC:GW).
Henry Remsen, Jr., a former clerk to secretary of Congress Charles Thomson and a former chief clerk in the State Department, later served for several years as president of the Manhattan Bank (see Alexander Hamilton to GW, 14 Jan. 1795, n.3).
For the recommendations of Richard Rogers as naval officer for the District of New York, see Hamilton to GW, 31 Jan., n.1; see also GW to the U.S. Senate, 17 Feb.; and , 226–27.