George Washington Papers

From George Washington to the United States Senate, 6 August 1790

To the United States Senate

United States [New York]
August 6th 1790.

Gentlemen of the Senate,

I nominate the following persons to be Commissioners of Loans in the States to which their names are respectively affixed, viz.

In the State of New Hampshire Nathaniel Gilman1
Massachusetts Nathaniel Appleton
Rhode Island 2
Connecticut William Imlay
New York John Cochran
New Jersey James Ewing
Pennsylvania Thomas Smith
Delaware James Tilton
Maryland Thomas Harwood
Virginia John Hopkins
North Carolina William Skinner3
South Carolina John Neufville4
Georgia Richard Wylley5

Go: Washington

LS, DNA: RG 46, First Congress, 1789–91, Records of Executive Proceedings, President’s Messages—Executive Nominations; LB, DLC:GW.

At the bottom of the page of this message, written by Tobias Lear, is noted in a different hand, “Ordered to lie,” and next to each name is the notation “c,” probably indicating Senate confirmation of or concurrence to each nomination. The Senate took up the message the next day and advised and consented to each appointment (DHFC, description begins Linda Grant De Pauw et al., eds. Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791. 20 vols. to date. Baltimore, 1972–. description ends 2:89–90).

1Nathaniel Gilman (1759–1847) of Exeter, N.H., brother of John Taylor Gilman and U.S. congressman Nicholas Gilman, served in the Revolution as a lieutenant in the 3d New Hampshire Regiment from 1776 until he resigned because of sickness in May 1778. Although he held the corresponding office of state loans commissioner under the Confederation Congress, as did each of GW’s other nominees of 6 Aug. 1790, Gilman declined the federal appointment. GW nominated State Treasurer William Gardner (1751–1834), a Portsmouth, N.H., merchant, in his stead on 24 Dec. 1790 (Gilman to GW, c.27 Sept. 1790 [letter-not-found entry]; Alexander Hamilton to GW, 6 Oct. 1790; DHFC, description begins Linda Grant De Pauw et al., eds. Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791. 20 vols. to date. Baltimore, 1972–. description ends 2:101, 515).

2On 7 Aug. 1790 Sen. Joseph Stanton, Jr., of Rhode Island wrote to GW, observing that “the State of Rhode Island was Left a Blank, in your Excellencys Nomination of yesterday for Commissioner” and recommending for the office James Shelden, member of the Rhode Island general assembly from Richmond. Stanton noted that his colleague, Sen. Theodore Foster, “only regrets his not Living in Newport or providence, I prefer him on that Very Account, Because it must be Acknowledged Every Attention hath Been paid those two towns. Not to mention particular Families” (DLC:GW). GW, however, nominated Jabez Bowen of Providence as Rhode Island commissioner of loans. William Ellery, who had held the office under the Confederation, had been appointed collector of the port of Newport by GW on 14 June 1790 (Board of Treasury to GW, 15 June [1789], source note, GW to the U.S. Senate, 14 June 1790, GW to the U.S. Senate, 7 Aug. 1790 [second letter]).

3William Skinner (1730–1798) of Edenton, N.C., served in the Revolution as a militia lieutenant colonel and brigadier general. He was also a member of the North Carolina provincial congress from 1775 to 1776 and state treasurer in 1779 (DHFC, description begins Linda Grant De Pauw et al., eds. Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791. 20 vols. to date. Baltimore, 1972–. description ends 2:531; D.A.R. Patriot Index, description begins D.A.R. Patriot Index. Centennial Edition. 3 vols. Washington, D.C., 1990. description ends 3:2684).

4John Neufville (1727–1804) was a wealthy Charleston, S.C., merchant and early supporter of the Revolution. He served in the state provincial congresses, general assembly, and privy council. After Charleston fell to the British in May 1780, he was exiled to St. Augustine until his exchange in 1781 (DHFC, description begins Linda Grant De Pauw et al., eds. Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791. 20 vols. to date. Baltimore, 1972–. description ends 2:544; Bailey, Bio. Dir. of the S.C. Senate, description begins N. Louise Bailey et al., eds. Biographical Directory of the South Carolina Senate, 1776–1985. 3 vols. Columbia, S.C., 1986. description ends 2:1196–97).

5Richard Wylly (1744–1801) was a native of Ireland who served in the Revolution as a colonel and quartermaster general in the Continental Army and also sat as a member of the Georgia provincial congress and the state committee of safety (DHFC, description begins Linda Grant De Pauw et al., eds. Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791. 20 vols. to date. Baltimore, 1972–. description ends 2:494; D.A.R. Patriot Index, description begins D.A.R. Patriot Index. Centennial Edition. 3 vols. Washington, D.C., 1990. description ends 3:3315).

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