1To George Washington from John H. Purviance, 1 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
Actuated by an earnest desire to provide for a Family which now looks to me as almost their only support, and encouraged by the good Wishes of many of my Fellow-Citizens, I have ventured to prefer the present address to your Excellency for the purpose of solliciting an Office in the appointments shortly to be made in the Customs under the General Government. In the application which my Uncle,...