George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-02-02-0322

To George Washington from Joseph Hardy, 3 June 1789

From Joseph Hardy

New York June 3d 1789.

Sir,

The Bill for Organising the Department of the Treasury having amongst other provisions declared that an Auditor should be appointed to Examine and Adjust Accounts, I beg leave with great humility, to offer myself a Candidate for that Office.

The duties of the Station I am at present employed in, as Accomptant of the Treasury, are similar to those of the Office I now sollicit; although in some respects more extensive: For the manner in which I have discharged it, I beg leave to refer to the Honorable Commissioners of the present Board of Treasury, under whose immediate cognisance I have acted.

If long and early Services in the cause of this Country during the War, an experience of Six Years in the Accounts of the Treasury, the wants of two Sisters whose support I have long been, am a character (as I trust) free from reproach, can give weight to my sollicitation, I flatter myself my present application, will meet with a favorable consideration.1 I have the honor to be with highest respect, Sir, Your most Obedient and devoted Humble Servant,

J: Hardy

ALS, DLC:GW.

Joseph Hardy was commissioned a captain of marines in June 1776 and served aboard the Confederacy. Later captured by the British, he spent some time in an English prison (see Hardy to the Board of Treasury, 13 Sept. 1785, DNA:PCC, item 55). After the war he applied unsuccessfully for a post as one of the commissioners for settling accounts with the states and eventually secured a position as a clerk with the Board of Treasury (Hardy to Richard Henry Lee, 5 Jan. 1785, DNA:PCC, item 78).

1On 18 July Hardy again wrote to GW submitting a letter from the commissioners of the Board of Treasury attesting to his good character (DLC:GW). On 6 Aug. he submitted in support of his application “a Certificate from several Members of the late Congress, with whom I have transacted business in my present Official capacity” (DLC:GW). After the establishment of the Treasury Department in 1789, Hardy served until at least 1791 as first clerk in the comptroller’s office (see Hamilton’s circular to the commissioners of loans, 9 Mar. 1791, in Syrett, Hamilton Papers, description begins Harold C. Syrett et al., eds. The Papers of Alexander Hamilton. 27 vols. New York, 1961–87. description ends 8:169). Hardy approached GW again on 2 Aug. 1790, soliciting a position as New York state commissioner for funding the public debt as he had “for several years past enjoyed the priviledges, and been considered as a Citizen of this State” (DLC:GW).

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