From George Washington to Nicholas Van Staphorst, 1 September 1793
To Nicholas Van Staphorst
Philadelphia Sept. 1st 1793
Sir,
I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2d of may, giving me information of the steps you had taken respecting the bill of Exchange which I remitted to you in January last1. Your attention to this business merits and receives my best thanks.
This letter will be put into your hands by Mr Tobias Lear, a Gentleman who has been my Secretary, and2 a member of my family for seven years last past3—He has been making arrangements for forming an extensive commercial establishment at the Federal City on the River Potomak, and now goes to Europe for the purpose of taking measures th⟨ere⟩ to carry his plan into effect4—His uniform good conduct having entitled him to my highest esteem & regard must be my apology for taking the liberty of introducing him to your civilities while he shall remain in Holland. I have the honor to be Sir Your Most Obedt Hble Ser.
Go: Washington
DfS, partially in the writing of GW, PHi: Society Collection; LB, DLC:GW. Nicholas Van Staphorst (c.1742–1801), of the firm of Willink, Van Staphorst & Hubbard, had acted as a financial agent for the United States in Holland since 1782.
1. GW enclosed the bill of exchange, which was intended to provide funds to the Marquise de Lafayette, in his letter to Van Staphorst of 30 January.
2. GW added “my Secretary, and” above the line.
3. A caret appears on the draft at this point, but no words are inserted.
4. The remainder of the draft is in GW’s handwriting.