From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 10 August 1796
To Timothy Pickering
Private
Mount Vernon 10th Augt 1796
Sir.
The last Post brought me the enclosed letter from General Pinckney.1 It becomes necessary now to prepare Instructions for him without delay. To bring him fully and perfectly acquainted with the conduct and policy of this government towards France &c. and the motives which have induced the recall of Mr Monroe.
As this measure will excite, when known, much speculation; and set all the envenomed pens to work; it is worthy of consideration what part, and how much, of the causes which have produced this event, should be spoken of unofficially by the Officers of government.2
It Will be candid, proper and necessary, to apprise Mr Monroe (as the measure, and his successor are decided on) of his recal; and in proper terms, of the motives which have impelled it.3
In the course of next week (probably about the middle of it) I expect to commence my journey for Philadelphia; but as I shall be obliged to halt a day at the Federal City, and from the heat of the season, and other circumstances, must travel slow, it is not likely I shall arrive there before the middle of the following week.
Go: Washington
ALS, MHi: Pickering Papers; LS (retained copy), DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB, DNA: RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State.
2. GW expressed this same sentiment when he wrote Secretary of the Treasury Oliver Wolcott, Jr., on this date.
3. Pickering wrote James Monroe on 22 Aug. that GW believed “it necessary to send a new minister to represent the United States at Paris, and had made a tender of the appointment to General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney.” GW based his decision on “feeling forcibly the obligations of his office to maintain the honor and interests of the U. States in relation to foreign nations; and our connections with France in particular demanding, from various causes, the most constant & pointed attentions, to prevent or remove jealousies & complaints” ( 4:81; see also Cabinet to GW, 2 July, and GW to Pickering, 8 July).
Monroe shared thoughts on his recall as U.S. minister to France when he wrote Virginia congressman James Madison from Paris on 1 Jan. 1797: “My recall is an aff[ron]t upon w[hic]h I presume the adm[inistratio]n has given some expl[anatio]n to the Senate if not to the publick. I sho[ul]d be glad to know what reason they have given for it. I rejoice they have given me that testimony that I had no share in their councils nor portion of their confidence” ( 4:139–40; see also Monroe to Madison, 8 Jan., 4:141, and 139–41).