To George Washington from Jonathan Elmer, 14 February 1791
From Jonathan Elmer
14th February 1791
Sir
My public engagements for some years past have obliged me to relinquish my professional business, entirely; &, upon taking a seat in the national Senate, I resigned my Civil Employment in my own State. The term of my present service will expire the fourth of March. I shall then be wholly disengaged. Thus circumstanced, I have been advised to offer my service to my Country, as Supervisor of the Revenue in New Jersey under the Act now before Congress, should it finally pass into a Law.
I have taken the liberty to mention this matter to you, Sir, perhaps rather prematurely. It will however afford the more time for deliberation, & it is my wish that, in making the appointment, the public good should alone be considered.
If any further communications are necessary, I shall consider myself very much obliged in receiving early information of it. I have the Honour to be Sir Your most obedient & very Hble Servant
Jonathn Elmer
ALS, DLC:GW.
Jonathan Elmer (1745–1817) trained as a physician in Philadelphia and established himself in medical practice in Cumberland County, New Jersey. He was elected to the New Jersey provincial congress in 1775 and served in the Continental Congress in 1776–78, 1781–84, and 1787–88. An ardent Federalist, he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1788, where he was a consistent supporter of the administration and of Hamilton’s financial program. He served until the close of the First Congress, having drawn a two-year term. He received no appointment from GW.