1. ALS, sold by C. F. Libbie and Company, Boston, December 12, 1875, Item 537.

Pinckney, a leading South Carolina Federalist and lawyer, had been a member of the South Carolina Provincial Assembly, a brigade commander and aide to George Washington during the American Revolution, a member of the state legislature in 1778, 1779, and 1782, and a delegate to the Federal Convention in 1787. Although he held no office when this letter was written, in 1791 Washington had offered and he had declined both the command of the Army and a seat on the Supreme Court.