To George Washington from Alexander White, 18 January 1797
From Alexander White
Washington [D.C.] 18th January 1797
Dear Sir
I was honored with your letter of 13th instant, and a copy of your letter of 26th Ulo in course of Post1—I rather expected a Family residence would be required—I need not say, for indeed I scarcely know, what I wished on the occasion; but so far I had made up my mind that I would not remain in Office under circumstances which did not meet your cordial approbation; this I conceive Your letter fully expresses, and considering it as a renewed instance of your favourable sentiments, it is with me a prevailing motive to sacrifice much domestic happiness to the promotion of a public Institution.2
I have hitherto acted in perfect harmony with both my Colleagues, and expect I shall continue to do so; though their neglect in not acquainting me with what was doing or done at Annapolis and their sending for me before the time expired which they had themselves fixed for my return—had made impressions not the most pleasing; in this temper of mine I first saw their Letter to you, mentioning my absence,3 I immediately wrote to you my letter of the 11th instant which evidenced a degree of displeasure; in that I was too hasty; for next morning I mentioned to them, that I thought their letter carried with it an implication of neglect which I had not merited; they declared they had not the most distant thought of communicating such an Idea and offered to write to you stating the circumstances as they really were4—they said they thought I was to have returned the first of January, but in mentioning the circums⟨tance⟩ which led to the appointment of the tenth they perfectly recollected it. I hope I shall not again trouble you on any subject concerning myself5—I hope I shall fulfil your expectati⟨on⟩ of my attention to the duties of my Office and beg you will believe me to be with sentiments of the highest respect, and most sincere regard Dear Sir Your most Obt Servt
Alexr White
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. For GW’s brief letter to White of 13 Jan., enclosing a copy of his earlier letter to him of 26 Dec. 1796, see White to GW, 15 Dec., source note. The copy has not been found.
2. White had considered resigning as D.C. commissioner for professional and family reasons (see White to GW, 15 Dec., and n.5 to that document).
3. See Commissioners for the District of Columbia to GW, 2 January.
The reference to Annapolis pertains to the Maryland legislature’s $100,000 loan to the D.C. commissioners in December 1796 (see John Hoskins Stone to GW, 12 Dec. 1796, and n.2 to that document). In December, White had been at his Winchester, Va., residence. The commissioners’ required presence in Washington, D.C., to sign bonds as security for the loan repayment, made White’s absence problematic (see Commissioners for the District of Columbia to GW, 2 Jan., n.3).
4. No letter from the commissioners to GW explaining White’s circumstances has been found.
5. No further letters from White on this subject in 1797 have been found, and no reply to this letter from GW has been found.