To George Washington from Hewes, Smith, & Allen, 4 January 1780
From Hewes, Smith, & Allen
Edenton [N.C.] 4th Jan. 1780.
Sir
Herewith you have enclosed a letter from a gentleman in Thinerieff once honored with your aquaintance.1 It accompanied a pipe of Wine for your Excellency in one of our Boats called the Hancok arrived from that place. A Mr Turnbull2 who was himself transporting a large quantity of goods to the northward was very anxious to take charge of this pipe of Wine, from the good character we have received of this gentleman & the ardent desire he has expressed of serving you, we have ventured to send it in by him, without your Excellency’s orders which we hope will go safe, & that we shall be pardoned for the freedom we have taken.3 We have the honor to be, with hearts full of esteem—Your Excellency’s most obedient & humble Servts
Hewes Smith & Allen
Sprague transcript, DLC:GW.
The mercantile firm owned by Joseph Hewes, Robert Smith (d. 1787), and Nathaniel Allen (c.1755–1805) in Edenton, N.C., had often acted as a Continental agent. The firm dissolved after the death of Hewes in November 1779 (see Smith to GW, 3 March).
2. Mr. Turnbull probably was John Turnbull, one of the brothers of Philadelphia merchant William Turnbull, who owned a trading firm in that city (see William Turnbull to GW, 19 May, DLC:GW).
3. GW replied on 4 Feb., but that letter has not been found (see Smith to GW, 3 March; see also Robert Morris to GW, 1 Feb., and GW to Morris, 4 Feb.).