1. Mathews was a delegate to the Continental Congress from South Carolina.

2. Francis Dana of Massachusetts and Arthur Lee of Virginia were the other nominees (JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (Washington, 1904–1937; Reprinted, New York, 1968). description ends , XVIII, 1155–56). On December 19, 1780, Congress named Dana as Minister to the Court of Russia (JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (Washington, 1904–1937; Reprinted, New York, 1968). description ends , XVIII, 1166).

Three months later, on March 6, 1781, John Sullivan wrote to George Washington: “I shall this Day nominate him [H] as Secretary of Foreign Affairs …” (Burnett, Letters description begins Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (Washington, 1921–1938). description ends , VI, 11). On May 10, 1781, John Armstrong of Pennsylvania wrote to his father, General John Armstrong: “Dr Arthur Lee, [James] Lovell, and Young Hamilton are in nomination for the foreign correspondence” (copy, Peter Force Papers, Library of Congress).

No other evidence has been found that H was nominated for this position.