Samuel Huntington to George Washington, 14 April 1781
From Samuel Huntington
Philadelphia April 14. 1781
Sir,
Your Excellency’s Letters of the 24th & 31st Ulto the 3d & 4th Instant, with the Despatches to which they refer have been received.1
You will observe by the enclosed Resolve it is the Pleasure of Congress that you employ an additional confidential Secretary, and as many Writers as you shall judge proper to arrange & register the public Letters &c.; and assign them such Salaries as you shall judge reasonable2—I have the Honor to be with the highest respect Your Excellencys most obedient humble Servant
Sam. Huntington President
LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 15. For GW’s acknowledgment, see his letter to Huntington dated 16–19 April, postscript.
1. Huntington means GW’s letter to him on 4 April and, presumably, his Remarks on a Congressional Committee Report, 3 April. He previously acknowledged GW’s letters of 24 and 31 March (see Huntington to GW, 5 April).
2. The enclosed congressional resolution, adopted on 10 April, reads: “Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be and he is hereby authorized to employ an additional confidential Secretary and as many Writers as he shall judge proper to arrange and register the public Letters and other Documents in the Office at head Quarters, and to assign such Salaries for their respective Services, as he shall think reasonable” (DLC:GW; see also , 19:368). GW chose Lt. Col. Richard Varick as the confidential secretary to oversee the copying and arrangement of his papers (see GW to Varick, 25 May, DLC:GW).