To Alexander Hamilton from John Clark, Junior, 28 January 1795
From John Clark, Junior1
York Town [Pennsylvania] January 28, 1795. “Your intended resignation of an Office that you have filled with so much honor to yourself, and the United States, has given rise to various conjectures, and much speculation; and it is not for me to enquire your reasons: but, I perceive it will occasion a general promotion in the Treasury Department, and that the Office of Post Master Genl. is yet vacant, and not much solicited for; and impressed with the idea, that I have deserved well of my Country at all times, and particularly on the late trying occasion (which has made me very obnoxious among the Rioters to the Westward, where I have practised the Law hitherto) I have applied to the President to appoint me to fill that office….”
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. During the American Revolution Clark was an aide-de-camp to Nathanael Greene. A major in the Second Battalion of the Pennsylvania Flying Camp, Clark was auditor of accounts for the army from February 1, 1778, to November, 1779, when he resigned from the army because of ill health.
Clark was a perennial office seeker. He had applied for the position of auditor of the Treasury on September 2, 1791 (ALS, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress). In 1791 and 1792 friends had recommended him for any available office in the Government (Thomas Hartley to Washington, October 7, 1791 [ALS, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress]; Isaac Huger to Washington, October 12, 1792 [ALS, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress]).
Clark was not appointed Postmaster General. See H to Washington, January 26, 1795, note 1.