George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Joseph Bloomfield, 16 April 1792

From Joseph Bloomfield

Burlington [N.J.] April 16: 1792.

Sir,

I take the liberty of Offering myself to Your notice as a candidate for the Office of Treasurer of the mint.

Whether in the course of my services in the army, I was so fortunate as to be known, and shall now be so happy as to be recollected by You Sir, I do not know, but those services will at least be proofs of my zeal for the American cause and revolution.

The appointment of Attorney-General for New-Jersey where I reside, which I at this time hold, and have held for Nine Years, is in some degree an evidence of the confidence which is reposed in me by the legislature of the state. The very severe drudgery attendant upon the duties of that Office, and upon my professional pursuits, has reconciled me to the determination of relinquishing both.

The Members in Congress from New-Jersey, are, I presume, for the most part Acquainted with my situation, my circumstances and more particularly with my character in those respects which more immediately qualify the person for a trust of such a nature as the one in question.1 I have the honor to be Sir, with the most perfect respect Your most Obedt servt

Joseph Bloomfield.

ALS, DLC:GW.

Joseph Bloomfield (1753–1823), who was born in Woodbridge, N.J., studied law under Attorney General Cortlandt Skinner and was admitted to the bar in 1774. The following year he was commissioned a lieutenant in the New Jersey Light Infantry. Bloomfield became a captain in the 3d New Jersey Regiment in February 1776, and he was promoted to major in November 1776. He served as deputy judge advocate general of the Continental army from 1776 until his resignation in October 1778. Bloomfield fought at the battles of Brandywine and Monmouth, and he was wounded at Brandywine. He was elected state attorney general of New Jersey in 1783 and reelected in 1788. After changing his politics to Jeffersonian republicanism, Bloomfield served as governor of New Jersey 1801–12 and as a member of Congress 1817–21.

1GW appointed Tristram Dalton, not Bloomfield, treasurer of the U.S. Mint on 3 May (see GW to the U.S. Senate, 3 May [second letter]).

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