To George Washington from Pierce Butler, 3 August 1791
From Pierce Butler
Charleston [S.C.J 3 August 1791. Encloses an application for a federal customs appointment from the lieutenant governor of this state and assures GW “that No Gentleman in Carolina can have a stronger Claim to Your Attention, or is better suited for the Station than Mr Holmes; And I am persuaded that His Appointment woud give general satisfaction.”1
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The enclosed letter of Lt. Gov. Isaac Holmes (d. 1812) of 3 Aug. to GW solicited appointment either to the federal collectorship for Charleston, vacated by the death of George Abbott Hall on 1 Aug., or to Abraham Motte’s position as naval officer for that port if Motte was promoted to collector (DLC:GW). On 3 Aug. Richard Hutson also recommended Holmes to GW (DLC:GW). Motte applied to GW for the collectorship on 3 Aug., “stimulated to it by the assistance which it will enable me to render an aged & amiable mother, who from a state of opulence is much injured in her circumstances by having large payments made her in depreciated Continental money.” Edward Weyman, surveyor for the port, applied to GW on 3 Aug. for the post of naval officer in the event of Motte’s promotion (DLC:GW), and on 4 Aug. Charles Pinckney recommended to GW Holmes and Steven Drayton for that office (DLC:GW). GW also received an application dated 3 Aug. from John Mitchell for the collector’s post (see Mitchell to GW, 20 May 1789, n.1). GW apparently appointed Holmes collector, who served until he was removed in 1797 for his inability to collect delinquent accounts (see GW to the U.S. Senate, 31 Oct. 1791).