To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 15 April 1795
From Edmund Randolph
Philadelphia April 15. 1795.
Sir
The mail from New-York yesterday brought me a letter from Mr Pinckney, dated the second of february.1 He speaks of the extraordinary severity of the winter, and the prevalence of the most uncommon high winds from the North East; so that for a considerable time no vessels had arrived from America in England, and none had been able to go out. He says, that the last date received from me was on the 13th of November. His commission for Madrid was sent on the 2d of december, and a duplicate on the 13th of december.2 Consequently he was still in London on the 2d of february. He does not mention the trip to Madrid in this letter at all; nor has he ever mentioned it, except by generally acknowledging the receipt of the letter, which first intimated it to him, and adding that it would be attended to, or something of that import.3
Mr Jay was then in London; and Mr Pinckney is silent as to his (Mr Jay’s) departure;4 but he says, that he finds little difficulty in relieving our seamen, who are impressed into the British Service.
General Schuyler told Mr Wolcott, that Mr Varick was every way qualified; but that he certainly would not come; that Mr Laurance had not sufficient activity, and Mr Troup was not adapted to the office.5 We are looking out again to the Eastward; but it is possible, that in Baltimore you may hear of some fit man, and thus be able to furnish a check to the principal in the department from a different quarter of the Union.
The newspapers undertake to say, that the Active, which has arrived at New-York from Liverpool, brings dispatches to the President from Mr Jay.6 There is no reason to believe this; as Mr Pinckney’s letter came by that vessel, and was sent in the mail of yesterday. I have the honor to be Sir with an affectionate attachment and the highest respect yr mo. ob. serv.
Edm: Randolph
ALS, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB, DNA: RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. According to the internal address of the ALS, Randolph mailed the letter to GW at Baltimore.
1. For Thomas Pinckney’s letter of 2 Feb. to Edmund Randolph, see DNA: RG 59, Despatches from U.S. Ministers to Great Britain.
2. For developments that led to the appointment of Thomas Pinckney, U.S. minister to Great Britain, as envoy to negotiate with Spain, and for his letter of credence to Charles IV of Spain, see GW to Randolph, 19 Aug. 1794, n.2; Randolph to GW, 2–3 Oct.; and GW to the U.S. Senate, 21 Nov., and n.2. Pinckney left England on 11 May 1795. Randolph’s letter to Pinckney of 13 Nov. 1794 is in DLC: Thomas Pinckney Papers. Pinckney’s commission was dated 24 Nov. 1794 (: Foreign Relations, 1:533). The letter transmitting the commission was dated 28 Nov. and was enclosed with Randolph’s letter to Pinckney of 3 Dec. (DNA: RG 59, Diplomatic and Consular Instructions, 1791–1801). The letter transmitting the duplicate commission has not been identified. Pinckney acknowledged receipt of the commission in his letter to Randolph of 23 Feb. (DNA: RG 59, Despatches from U.S. Ministers to Great Britain).
3. Randolph’s letter to Pinckney intimating the latter’s appointment as special envoy to Spain was dated 3 Nov. 1794 (DNA: RG 59, Diplomatic and Consular Instructions, 1791–1801). Pinckney’s acknowledgment to Randolph has not been identified, but see his letter to GW of 30 January.
4. John Jay left Bristol, England, on 12 April.
5. Philip Schuyler, who had been a major general in the Continental army, most likely was advising about possible candidates for appointment as comptroller of the treasury.
6. The Aurora General Advertiser (Philadelphia) and The Independent Gazetteer (Philadelphia) printed the announcement on 15 April.