To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 1 July 1799
From Timothy Pickering
Philadelphia July 1. 1799.
Sir
This morning’s mail brought me your letter of the 25th. I will forward the two letters you inclosed for John Trumbull Esqr. & Mr Dandridge, to the care of Mr King, by the Grantham packet, which is to sail this week.1
Governor Davie of No. Carolina is appointed, and, should the mission proceed, will accept the place of Envoy to the French Republic, in the room of Patrick Henry Esqr. who declined, and is since dead.2 I have made no publication of this fact, nor shall I do it. Would to God it was possible to annihilate the original act—and the remembrance of it. I am most respectfully sir, your obt servt
Timothy Pickering
P.S. I inclose a letter confirming the report that La Fayette has been thought of for the French Envoy to the U. States.3
ALS (letterpress copy), MHi: Pickering Papers.
1. Neither GW’s letter to Pickering of 25 June nor one to Bartholomew Dandridge of recent date has been found. His letter to John Trumbull is dated 25 June.
2. Pickering on 1 June sent to William R. Davie his appointment as “Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the French Republic,” with the request that Davie would advise him “whether, if it should become necessary, your acceptance of it may be expected.” Davie’s acceptance is dated 17 June (MHi: Pickering Papers).
3. The enclosure has not been found, but on 14 July GW wrote Pickering that since receiving the enclosure Charles Cotesworth Pinckney “has given me the whole of Major [James C.] Mountf[l]orence’s letter to him.” See Pinckney to GW, 25 June 1799, n.2.