1. The enclosure has not been identified. Levan sought a position under “An Act for establishing Trading Houses with the Indian Tribes,” approved 18 April (1 Stat. description begins Richard Peters, ed. The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, from the Organization of the Government in 1789, to March 3, 1845 . . .. 8 vols. Boston, 1845-67. description ends 452–53).

William Wilson wrote GW from Harrisburg, Pa., on 18 July: “The Memorial of William Wilson most respectfully sheweth

“That your Memoralist has for many years been in the Mercantile Line and being now fixed with his Family in the Back Settlements of Pennsylvania and desireous of an Industrious Active Life—Requests that your Execellency amongst your Appointments to Persons in Trust for the Trade between the United States and the Indian Nations, may be pleased to Commission your Memoralist, upon the Recommendations and Security to be offered to your Excellency’s Satisfaction.

“That such an Appointment will be thankfully acknowledged and punctually attended to by your Memorialist” (ADS, DLC:GW). Below Wilson’s signature, seven prominent citizens of Dauphin County, Pa., subscribed their names to a statement, which is in the same handwriting as Wilson’s memorial: “We the Subscribers being well acquainted with William Wilson Esquire and Knowing him to be in the Mercantile Line of Buisiness for a Number of years past, holding now a Commission as a Magistrate beg leave to recommend him as a Confidential Person suitable and well qualified to Superintend one of the Public Stores in the Indian Trade.”

Major Swiney wrote GW from Harrisburg on 28 July: “The memorial of Major Swiney Sheweth, that your Memorialist from long practice and intense observation, both of foreign and domestick trade, hath acquired a competent knowledge of both; and as it is judiciously appointed by Goverment, that houses in different parts of the frontier of the Union should be stored with Merchandize suitable to the use of Indians. Your Memorialist conscious of the rectitude of his own intentions, and looking up with an humble degree of confidence to Your Excellency, would request an appointment to superintend one of these Stores; flattering himself by his assiduity, to promote the genuine intention contemplated by your Excellency in recommending those kind of publick warehouses, that after trial, your Memorialist would render to the publick as faithful, and as satisfactory accounts of the trust reposed in him, as those who may have a train of signatures to recommend them.

“Your Memorialist would further beg leave to observe that the support of a family chiefly consisting of boys, stimulates him in some measure to make this request, being possessed of an opinion that your Excellency may encourage the honest exertion of a man endeavouring to support and educate a family by industry: and however excentrick this application to some might appear without a long appendage of recommendation, which your Memorialist intentionally declines to exhibit, as he conceives it tacitly dictating to your Excellency, who ought, or ought not to be the proper objects of your choice in the above business. He will only add, that he is acquainted with the quality of Peltry & Fur; and should he through the philanthropy of your Excellency have an appointment of one of those Stores, he will for thaithful performance of the trust reposed in him, pledge to Your Excellency, his three sons, namely George Washington, Montgomery, and Franklin, all advanced in liturature as far as any of their respective age in the States, and he Your Memorialist; has sanguine hopes, that at a future period they will in some degree, emulate the ever memorable characters whose names they bear” (ALS, DLC:GW). Below Swiney’s signature, John Andre Hanna and John Kean signed a statement: “We know Major Swiney, the above Memorialist, And think unreserved confidence may be placed in him.” The oldest son, George Washington Swiney, was about thirteen years old.

Major Swiney (d. 1799) emigrated from Ireland to escape taxation sometime before 1792 (see Swiney to GW, 25 Oct. 1792). Apparently jailed for supporting the Whiskey Insurrection, he later moved from Harrisburg and drowned at Nescopeck Falls, Pa. (see Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser [Philadelphia], 21 June 1799, and Morgan, Dauphin County, description begins George H. Morgan. Centennial. The Settlement, Formation and Progress of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, from 1785 to 1876. Harrisburg, Pa., 1877. description ends 212).

For another aspirant, see John Lee to GW, 19 September.