From George Washington to John Marshall, 8 July 1796
To John Marshall
Private
Mount Vernon 8th July 1796
Dear Sir,
In confidence I inform you, that it has become indispensably necessary to recall our Minister at Paris; and to send one in his place who will explain, faithfully, the views of this government, and ascertain those of France.
Nothing would be more pleasing to me, than that you should be this Organ; if it were only for a temporary absence of a few months. But it being feared that even this could not be made to comport with your present pursuits, I have, in order that as little delay as possible may be incurred, put the enclosed letter under cover to be forwarded to its address, if you decline the present offer; or to be returned to me, if you accept it.1
Your own correct knowledge of circumstances render details unnecessary, I shall only add therefore that I am—Dear Sir Your Obedt
Go: Washington
P.S. Hearing that you propose to attend the next meeting of the Supreme Court at Philadelphia I should be glad to see you at this place in your way.2
ALS, NNGL; LB, DLC:GW. The postscript only appears on the ALS.
2. Marshall replied to GW from Richmond on 11 July: “I will not attempt to express those sensations which your letter of the 8th instant has increasd.
“Was it possible for me in the present crisis of my affairs to leave the United States, such is my conviction of the importance of that duty which you woud confide to me, & (pardon me if I add) of the fidelity with which I shoud attempt to perform it, that I woud certainly forego any consideration not decisive with respect to my future fortunes, & woud surmount that just diffidence I have ever entertaind of myself, to make one effort to convey truely & faithfully to the government of France those sentiments which I have ever beleivd to be entertaind by that of the United States.
“I have forwarded your letter to Mr Pinkney.
“The recall of our minister at Paris has been conjecturd while its probable necessity has been regretted by those who love more than all others our own country.
“I will certainly do myself the honor of waiting on you at Mount Vernon” (ALS, DLC:GW). GW replied to Marshall on 15 July.
GW subsequently wrote Marshall from Mount Vernon on 10 Aug.: “If you can recollect by whom, or in what manner the letter for General Pinckney, which went under cover to you, was sent to the Post Office in Richmond, I would thank you for information respecting it.
“That letter, with a note enclosed therein, containing three bank bills for one hundred dollars each, for the sufferers by fire in Charleston, had not on the 26th of July been received by that Gentleman; although duplicates, written after I had been favoured with your answer has been acknowledged by him.
“In confidence, I inform you that General Pinckney accepts his appointment to France, and will soon be in Phila. to prepare for the Mission” (ALS [facsimile], in Sotheby’s, Fine Printed and Manuscript Americana … sale 5837 [25 April 1989], item 89; ALS [retained copy], Germany: Kunstammlungen der Veste Coburg; LB, DLC:GW). For the safe arrival of GW’s original letters to Pinckney dated 8 July (letter 1, letter 2), see Pinckney to GW, 2–5 Aug., postscript. Pinckney had commented on duplicates reaching him before the originals when he wrote GW on 27 July.
Marshall replied to GW from Richmond on 12 Aug.: “Your letter to General Pinckney was deliverd by myself to the postmaster, the night on which I receivd it, & was, as he says, immediately forwarded by him. Its loss is the more remarkable as it coud not have been opend from a hope that it containd bank notes.
“Permit me Sir to express my gratification as a citizen of the United States, that a gentleman of General Pinckneys character will represent our government at the court of France” (ALS, DLC:GW). Marshall again wrote GW on 14 Aug.: “I take the liberty to inform you that the delay experienced by your letter to Genl Pinckney is probably producd by its having been inattentively forwarded by the post-master to Pinckney court house instead of Charlestown. This mistake, if it has been committed, will, I trust, produce no other inconvenience than delay. An enquiry into it has been directed” (ALS, RuSpRNB).
Pinckneyville, also known as Pinckney Court House, was located on the southwest side of Broad River in current Union County, S.C., roughly 150 miles from Charleston.