To George Washington from William Jackson, 20 April 1787

From William Jackson

[c.20 April 1787]

My dear General,

Flattered by the opinions of some of my friends, who have expressed a wish that I would offer myself a Candidate for the Office of Secretary to the fœderal Convention—I presume to communicate to you my intention—and to request (so far as you shall deem it consonant with the more important interests of the Public) your influence in procuring me the honor of that appointment.1

To say more on this subject would be to offend against that generous friendship, which I am persuaded, if held compatible with the service of our Country, will prompt an active goodness in my favor. With the most respectful affection I am, my dear General, Your obedient Servant

W. Jackson

ALS, DLC:GW. GW docketed the undated letter: “recd 24th Apr. 1787.”

1. Jackson was elected secretary of the Convention when it was organized on 25 May. For a description of Jackson’s unsatisfactory journal, or minutes, of the Federal Convention, see Farrand, Records of the Federal Convention, description begins Max Farrand, ed. The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787. Rev. ed. 4 vols. New Haven, 1966. description ends i:xi-xiv.

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Source Project: Washington Papers
Title: To George Washington from William Jackson, 20 April 1787
Author: Jackson, William
Recipient: Washington, George
Date: 20 April 1787

Reference

Cite as: “To George Washington from William Jackson, 20 April 1787,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/04-05-02-0141. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Confederation Series, vol. 5, 1 February 1787 – 31 December 1787, ed. W. W. Abbot. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1997, pp. 150–151.]

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