To George Washington from Hodge, Allen, & Campbell, 16 July 1789
From Hodge, Allen, & Campbell
[New York] Thursday 12 OClock [16 July 1789]
Sir
Having almost finished a neat American Edition of the Rise Progress & Termination of the late revolution, by Dr Gordon;1 We humbly beg the privilidge to dignify our list of Subscribers, which is very numerous, by adding Your respectable Name thereto.2
Our knowledge of Your desire to encourage the rising manufactures of our Country, emboldens us to sollicit this favour, which we hope your Excelly will freely grant, & Oblige Sir Your most Obdt & very hble Servts
Hodge, Allen & Campbell
LS, ViU: Tracy W. McGregor Collection.
Robert Hodge, Thomas Allen, and Samuel Campbell were New York booksellers. Although each maintained separate book and stationery stores, they had earlier combined to establish a printing firm with offices at 37 Maiden Lane.
1. For background to William Gordon’s History, see Gordon to GW, 24 Sept. 1788, source note. In February 1789 Hodge, Allen, & Campbell announced plans for publication of the first American edition of The History of the Rise, Progress, and Establishment, of the Independence of the United States of America: Including an Account of the Late War; and of the Thirteen Colonies, from Their Origin to That Period. By William Gordon, D.D. (Daily Advertiser [New York], 24 Feb. 1789). The work was published in three volumes near the end of the year.
2. GW declined becoming a subscriber in his letter to the firm, 17 July 1789.