To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 February 1796
From Timothy Pickering
Department of State Feby 18. 1796.
The Secretary of State has the honor to request the approbation of the President of the United States, of the purchase of copper made by the Director of the mint, agreeably to the inclosed account, amounting to three thousand two hundred & fifty one dollars & seven cents—being nearly 2½ cents per pound cheaper than the preceeding purchase.1
Timothy Pickering
ALS, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB, DNA: RG 59, Domestic Letters; LB, DNA: RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State.
On this date, GW invited a Mr. Thomas, probably Pennsylvania congressman Richard Thomas, to dine with him at four o’clock on “Thursday next” (D, printed card with ms insertions, PWcHi).
1. The enclosed account has not been identified, but GW approved the copper purchase on this date ( 333). For the earlier copper purchase, see Pickering to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 30 Dec. 1795, and n.1.
The account may have been related to a letter of this date from Treasury Secretary Oliver Wolcott, Jr., to Pickering (not identified). According to Pickering’s reply of 1 March, that letter stated two “informal advances” made from the treasury to the mint. Pickering informed Wolcott that he had laid the letter before GW, who replied that he “sees no necessity for his interference; and notwithstanding any former usage, he thinks it most suitable for the Secretary of the Treasury to determine when advances for the mint should be made, on the application of the Director” (DNA: RG 59, Domestic Letters).