To George Washington from James McHenry, 5 December 1795
From James McHenry
Annapolis 5 Decr 1795.
Sir.
Well knowing how employed you must be at this moment I had not calculated on hearing from you till after the meeting of Congress.
The Commissioners of the federal City have not applied to the legislature, but the Potomack company have to interest the State in a certain number of shares which I hope and expect will be taken.1 Mr Lear is with us.
Mr Pinckney a man of real talents and genius and a fascinating speaker took charge of the declaration which respects you. He originated it in the house of delegates and supported it beautifully and irresistably. His influence and conduct on the occasion overawed some restless spirits and reached even into the Senate.2 Yours truly sincerely & affly
James McHenry
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. See the Commissioners for the District of Columbia to GW, 27 Oct., for their thoughts about soliciting a loan from the Maryland legislature.
For the subscription by the Maryland legislature to shares in the Potomac Company, see Tobias Lear to GW, 17 Nov., n.1.
2. For the Maryland resolution of 25 Nov. commending GW, see John Eager Howard to GW, 26 Nov., n.1. William Pinkney (1764–1822), who represented Anne Arundel County in the Maryland House, was a lawyer who had attended the state constitutional ratification convention in 1788, served in the house of delegates and on the executive council, and been elected to Congress in 1791, although he resigned that seat without ever attending, amid controversy over the election. He was appointed by GW as a commissioner under the Jay Treaty and later served in a variety of diplomatic posts, as attorney general of Maryland and of the United States, and in the U.S. House and Senate.