Thomas Jefferson Papers

From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 4 June 1793

To George Washington

June 4. 1793.

Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President a letter from Mr. Pinckney covering proposals from a Mr. Holloway to come over as engraver to our mint. It does not appear that Mr. Holloway was very eminent, as far as we can judge from the expressions in Mr. Pinckney’s letter: his idea of making it a kind of appointment for life seems inadmissible; and the delay to which his appointment would subject the commencement of our coinage of silver and gold, would be injurious. It therefore appears adviseable to decline his proposition by the packet now about to sail. Th:J. has indeed received information from Mr. T. Digges on the subject of coining which to him appears interesting. He has put it into the hands of Mr. Rittenhouse; if he should find in it any thing which can be useful, Th: J. will have the honor of laying it before the President.

RC (DNA: RG 59, MLR); addressed: “The President of the US.”; endorsed by Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr. PrC (DLC). Tr (Lb in DNA: RG 59, SDC). Recorded in SJPL. Enclosure: Thomas Pinckney to TJ, 6 Apr. 1793, and enclosure.

David Rittenhouse evidently reported that the letters received from Thomas Digges were potentially useful, possibly in a missing letter to TJ of 7 June 1793 recorded in SJL as received the same day, for TJ submitted them to the President in a note of 12 June 1793.

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