To George Washington from Anthony Walton White, 1 May 1789
From Anthony Walton White
Sans Souci [N.Y.] May 1st 1789
Sir,
My friends have advised me to offer myself a candidate for the office of Collector of the Impost of this State. Presuming Sir, that it would intrude too much on your time to read the letters and Certificates my friends have offered, induced me to decline accepting any to accompany this application, and I should not have enclosed the letter from the Governor of my Native State, did I not conceive that his friendly sentiments respecting the old Servants of America would be pleasing on any occasion to their Commander in cheif. Should my character in private life be unknown to you Sir, permit me to refer you to the following Honorable characters, who have known me for many years; The Chancellor, the Minister of foreign affairs, the Cheif Justice, the Attorney Genl the Mayor, & many of the old & respectable Merchants of this City.1 If I am honord with the appointment I now solicit, punctuality, and Integrity shall ever regulate my Conduct in the discharge of the duties of office.2 I have the honor to be with great Respect your Excellency’s Most obedt & very H: Sert
Anthy W: White
ALS, DLC:GW.
Anthony Walton White (1750–1803) of New Jersey was the son of Anthony and Elizabeth Morris White. His grandfather was Gov. Lewis Morris of New Jersey. During the Revolution White was in various New Jersey regiments, ending the war as a colonel. In 1788 he moved to New York City and remained there until 1793, attempting to restore his finances, ravaged by the war and a series of unsuccessful business investments.
1. White is referring GW to Robert R. Livingston, the chancellor of the state of New York, John Jay, secretary for foreign affairs, Richard Morris, chief justice of New York, Richard Varick, attorney general, and James Duane, mayor of New York City.
2. Failing to get the position he asked for, White wrote again on 22 Sept. to offer himself as “a Candidate for the Marshals Office of this State or any other appointment you may please to confer on me under the New Government, at the same time I must assure you Sir, that it is not the wish of my friends nor my intention to oppose any Candidate for Office, who took an earlier & ⟨ ⟩ part in the Service of his Country, who risqued a larger property by entering her service at the commencement of the war who has a prior claim as a Soldier or a Captain & who may merit greater attention from his ability” (DLC:GW).