George Washington Papers
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From George Washington to Henry Knox, 8 June 1796

To Henry Knox

Philadelphia 8th June 1796

My dear Sir,

I would not let Mr Bingham (who says he is about to visit you) depart without acknowledging the receipt of sevl letters from you;1 and offering Mrs Knox & yourself my sincere condolence on your late heavy loss. Great, and trying as it must be to your sensibility, I am persuaded after the first severe pangs are over you both possess fortitude enough to view the event as the dispensation of Providence, and will submit to its decrees with Philosophical resignation.2

The footing on which you placed the non-acceptance of the Commission for ascertaining the true St Croix, was such, as to leave no hope of your embarking in that undertaking after the arrival of the Commissioner from Great Britain, and his readiness to proceed therein was announced.3 I therefore nominated, and Mr Howell (of Rhode Island) by the advice & consent of the Senate, is appointed in your place; and Mr Sullivan is designated to prepare the business for them.4

Mr Bingham is so well versed in the Politics of this place, and South of it. & so well acquainted with all the movements in both houses of Congress, that it would be a work of supererogation in me, to give you the details. To him then I refer you, for such relations as are interesting.

On Monday next,5 if not prevented by occurrances yet unforeseen, I shall commence my Journey for Mt Vernon; but shall, myself, be returned to this City again before the first of September; not chusing to be longer absent from the Seat of Government. My best wishes, in which Mrs Washington unites, are tendered to Mrs Knox, your self & family; and with sincere friendship, and affectionate regard, I am always Yours

Go: Washington

ALS (photocopy), DLC: Papers of Thomas J. Clay; ALS (letterpress copy), ICHi; LB, DLC:GW. Only the second page of the letterpress copy has been found.

GW wrote William Bingham on “Thursday Morning,” 9 June: “The President presents his compliments to Mr Bingham. Takes the liberty of troubling him with the care of the enclosed letter to General Knox; and of wishing him, Mrs Bingham and the Party, a pleasant journey, and Safe return.

“Recollecting that Mr Bingham, some days ago, was making some enquiries on the subject of Manures, and having had several Copies of a propd Report sent to him by Sir John Sinclair, the Presidt asks Mr Bingham’s acceptance of one copy of the said Report” (AL, NjP: De Coppet Collection). GW likely enclosed Robert Somerville’s Outlines of the Fifteenth Chapter of the Proposed General Report from the Board of Agriculture. On the Subject of Manures (London, 1795), which evidently had been sent with John Sinclair’s letters to GW of 18 July 1795. For the travel of Bingham and his party northwards later in the month, see Knox to Bingham, 20 June, and Bingham to David Cobb, 28 June, in Allis, William Bingham’s Maine Lands, description begins Frederick S. Allis, Jr., ed. William Bingham’s Maine Lands 1790–1820. 2 vols. Boston, 1954. In Publications of The Colonial Society of Massachusetts, vols. 36-37. description ends 2:760–64.

1Knox had written letters to GW dated 28 Jan., 21 Feb., and 14 April 1796.

2Two of Knox’s children, Augusta Henrietta and Marcus Bingham, had died in late April from throat disorders (see Bingham to Knox, 12 May, in Allis, William Bingham’s Maine Lands, description begins Frederick S. Allis, Jr., ed. William Bingham’s Maine Lands 1790–1820. 2 vols. Boston, 1954. In Publications of The Colonial Society of Massachusetts, vols. 36-37. description ends 2:750–52).

3GW is referring to Knox’s letter of 14 April.

The British commissioner to determine the true St. Croix River under Article V of the Jay Treaty was Thomas Henry Barclay, who learned of his appointment at New York on 10 May and then visited Philadelphia (see Barclay to Lord Grenville, 30 May, in Correspondence of Barclay, description begins George Lockhart Rives, ed. Selections from the Correspondence of Thomas Barclay, Formerly British Consul-General at New York. New York, 1894. description ends 47–48).

Thomas Henry Barclay (1753–1830) was a lawyer in New York before serving as a Loyalist officer during the Revolutionary War. He subsequently emigrated to Nova Scotia and held office as speaker of the assembly in that province. Barclay became British consul general at New York in 1799.

5The next Monday was 13 June.

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