To George Washington from Charlotte de La Saussaye Hazen, 3 August 1795
From Charlotte de La Saussaye Hazen
New York Aug. 3. 1795
Sir
The avidity with which I am Certain you embrace every Oppertunity, presented to you of Aleviating the Misfortunes of Others, induces me to request your benevolent Attention to my present unfortunate situation, Convincd that I shall be Honourd with your Compassionate Attention, should you not think it Improper to direct your Influ[e]nce towards Obtaining for me the desired relief.
My Husband Genl Hazen has been Confined to his bed, without the Ability of ever turning himself therein for upwards of Nine Years1—it cannot be Matter of surprise that this truly distressing situation should have greatly Affected the Natural Mildness of his disposition; He has Exhibited very extensive Claims on the Treasury of the United States, of which the proper Officers have Admitted in part, and even to a Considerable Amount, but refuses maken any payments unless he will Acknowledge a final settlement of all his public Accounts as Allowed,2 to this he has Constantly refused and still Rigidly Adhears to that determination and thereby precluded from receiving any part of that Money Admitted to be Justly due to him. Thus Circumstanced my situation has for a long time past been truly deplorable, having been frequently without a shilling to procure a dinner for my family, but my supplications to the President of the United States has been reserved to this pressing Moment, permit me then Sir, to Ask if there can be any impropriety (under all these Circumstances) in the Secretary of the Treasury advancing a Reasonable sum for the Necessary subsistance of my Family, say a proportionable part of what is Acknowledged to be his due—By a Very polite Letter I lately received from that Gentleman I am Convinced of his wishes to serve me, as far as may appear to him Compattable with the duties of his station,3 should you think my request so deserving your Consideration and Approbation as to sanction it to the Secretary by you⟨r⟩ Opinion in its favour, there can be no doubt of its meeting with success.
being Consious of your great Candour, and Certain of every aid you can with propriety Afford me, induce me to Arrest your Attention thus far from business of greater Moment,4 With a Tender of my most respectful Compliment to Madam Washington, I rema[i]n Your Hum. Servt
Charlott Hazen
ALS, DLC:GW. The cover of the letter is stamped: “Augt 6.”
Charlotte de la Saussaye Hazen (1740–1827) had married Moses Hazen in 1770.
1. Moses Hazen, Charlotte’s husband, was brevetted a brigadier general in the Continental army on 29 June 1781 and retired in 1783. He suffered a stroke in 1786.
2. Moses Hazen made numerous claims against the government after the American Revolution, including requests for a half-pay pension, property loss, and increase of pay for his promotion to brigadier general. Congress settled part of his claims during the 1780s, but continued to reject his pay increase because Hazen had received a brevetted rank. For his memorials to GW and to Congress, see Hazen to GW, 16 Jan. 1792 and 9 Sept. 1793, and the notes to those documents.
3. In his letter to Charlotte Hazen of 13 July, Oliver Wolcott, Jr., wrote that, according to a Treasury Department audit, “a considerable balance is acknowledged to be due” to her husband, but “the sum claimed is … more considerable than that which has been admitted—General Hazen has hitherto contended for his whole demand and has refused to accept as a settlement what the public officers have thought themselves authorized to allow. He has however applied for an advance on account, but to this he has been repeatedly answered, that there was no authority to grant his request.” Wolcott speculated that the former officer’s “long indisposition has been the cause of the mistaken opinion which he has adopted” and expressed hope that the letter would “induce General Hazen to accept what is allowed to be his due” (CtHi: Oliver Wolcott, Jr., Papers).
4. GW replied to Charlotte Hazen on 31 Aug.: “More from a disposition to evince to you that I was not inattentive to your request, than from an apprehension that the Secretary of the Treasury required any stimulus to do you all the justice, and favor, which the rules of his office would permit; I sent the letter which you were pleased to honor me with, to him. Enclosed is the result; & it may not be amiss for you to know, that I have no power, nor would there be any propriety, in my interfering with the settlement of accounts; unless it be in cases of mal-practice in the Officer—I wish that both your own, & Genl Hazens situation were more comportable than you represent them. It depends, it would seem upon himself to make it so, in part” (ADfS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW). Wolcott’s communication has not been identified.
On 23 Jan. 1805 Congress passed “An Act for the relief of Charlotte Hazen, widow and relict of the late Brigadier General Moses Hazen,” which granted her $200 annually retroactive to 4 Feb. 1803 ( 56).