To George Washington from Daniel Parker, 21 June 1784
From Daniel Parker
in Philadelphia June 21t 1784
Dear Sir
I had the pleasure to receive your favor of the 28th Ulto respecting the Plate wrote for by my brother Dr Parker,1 since his Arrival in England he wrote me that he should go to Birmingham on purpose to have that Order executed to his mind, & that he expected to Ship them in the Minerva for New York, since which the Minerva has arrived, but he had not return’d from Birmingham before that Ship left London, by the next Ship they will no doubt be sent, & I shall cause them to be forwarded to you, by the first safe Conveyance.2 I am very truly, with great affection & respect, your Obedt Serv’t
Danl Parker
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Letter not found.
2. GW often used the merchant and army contractor Daniel Parker in 1783 to provide him with personal goods and services in New York (see especially his letters to Parker dated 18 June, 12, 18 Sept. 1783). Before leaving New York in late 1783, GW arranged with Parker to obtain for him from England a silver tea and coffee service engraved with the Washington coat of arms (see GW to Melancton Smith, 20 Dec. 1784). Not long after writing this letter, Parker fled the country to escape his creditors. It was not until December 1784 that GW received a letter from Melancton Smith, dated 27 Oct. 1784, enclosing an invoice from London of 28 April 1784 for GW’s engraved silver service. It was headed: “Invoice of sundry Merchandize shipped by Joy & Hopkins ⅌ the Henry Capt. Rawson for New York consigned to Daniel Parker Esqr. for Acct and risque of Messrs Benjn & Daniel Parker” (DLC:GW). See Smith’s letter of 27 Oct. and GW’s response of 20 Dec. 1784, and notes.