To George Washington from Vincent Gray, 5 April 1793
From Vincent Gray
Alexandria [Va.] 5th April 1793
Sir,
Charles Lee Esquire having resigned his office as Collector of the Customs for the Port of Alexandria, I take the liberty of offering my Services to you as his Successor should you think me qualified to execute the duties of that office—I will beg leave to observe to you that I have served in the said office with Mr Lee as his Deputy Since the Commencement of the present Goverment[.]1 I am Sir Very respectfully Your most Obedient Servant
Vincent Gray
ALS, DLC:GW. On the cover of this letter, beneath the address, Gray wrote “Mr Dandridge.” Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., currently serving as one of GW’s secretaries, had accompanied GW on his trip from Philadelphia to Mount Vernon.
1. For Charles Lee’s resignation and his recommendation of both Vincent Gray and John Fitzgerald to succeed him, see his letter to GW of 4 April 1793. For Fitzgerald’s appointment to the collectorship, see GW to Fitzgerald, 12 April, to U.S. Senate, 27 Dec. 1793. Later this year GW appointed Gray the surveyor for the district of Alexandria and inspector of the revenue for the port of Alexandria (GW to U.S. Senate, 27 Dec. 1793).