George Washington Papers

Clement Biddle to Tobias Lear, 6 July 1790

Clement Biddle to Tobias Lear

[c.6 July 1790]1

Dear Sir,

Mr Heineken,2 Consul from the United Netherlands called on me last evening to request I would ask you if it would be convenient & proper for him to wait on the president, at any time and at what hour tomorrow, to introduce some gentlemen lately arrived & recommended to him from Holland one of whom is a gentleman of fortune, & bein in public offices of respectability there as they leave town on tuesday morning.3

LB, PHi: Clement Biddle Letter Book.

1The entry above this undated letter to Lear in Biddle’s letter book is dated 6 July 1790.

2Jan Hendrick Christiaan Heineken was the Dutch consul for Pennsylvania and Delaware (New York City Directory, description begins The New-York Directory, and Register, for the Year 1790. New York, 1790. description ends 1790, 117).

3Biddle copied Lear’s response into his letter book beneath the undated copy of his outgoing letter. Lear responded: “In reply to your favour of this day; the President directs me to observe that it is his wish to have such foreigners as may their respects to him introduced either by the Representative of their nation if there is one here or in case there is not by the Secretary of State—It being the established custom to have foreigners introduced through one or other of these channels the president is desirous that it should not be departed from unless any circumstances should render it impractiballe to pursue this rule If therefore the Gentlemen whom you have mentioned should be introduced to the President it is proper that direction should be through Mr Jefferson or Mr Van Berkel” (c.6 July, PHi: Clement Biddle Letter Book).

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