To George Washington from Andrew Parks, 30 April 1796
From Andrew Parks
Baltimore 30th April 1796
Sir
I have had the honour to receive your Letter of the 7th Instt, and pursuant thereto, I have communicated within a few days, that I have been here; the Subject, to my friend Mr McElderry, on which I am so materially interested, for your approbation; he has written to the Secretary at War, and given him an oppinion of me, of which, I presume you have, or will, be advertis’d.1 Mr McElderry, has relinquished his part of the concern, in the business, I have been pursuing, which I shall conduct hereafter on my own Acct, and with industry, and his friendship, I expect will be attended with considerable advantages; this is the only amendment in my prospects, I have it in my power to acquaint you with.2
I hope I possess most of the requisites, necessary to make your Niece, happy; I have been for several Years, accustomed to Business, which has, I am persuaded, kept me clear of a temper, for vicious dispositions; my connexions, are respectable generally, inasmuch as they are people of Business, and mostly in good circumstances. I have described to your Niece, as nearly as I could, what my Situation would afford, in the style of living; which wd not be more than genteel, and comfortable, this she sais, will perfectly satisfy her, and render her happy, provided you can think it sufficient. I am Sir with infinite respect Yr very Hbl. Sert
Andrew Parks
ALS, MH: Jared Sparks Collection.
1. Thomas McElderry wrote James McHenry on 11 April: “I received your favour of the 6th Mentioning Andw Parks’s request to the President, it is the first I have heard of his having such intentions As to his character and Sircumstance I will briefly state them to you, On the failure of his Father in the year 92 being rendered unable to do any thing for his son I took him into Partnership and established him in Business at Fredericksburg and from what I have heard as well as from my own observation he has conducted himself in a verry proper manner and has gaind the esteem of the People generaly, his engaging in Business for himself before he was Nineteen years of age, and conducting it with so much propriety and reputation, induces me to believe he will make a good Husband, much more promising than many of the Virginian Gen[t]lemen with their large Landed Estate and Negroes, He commenced Business in June 92 and on the 16th of September 93 I went to Fredericksburg and took an acct. of his goods when it appear’d he had clear’d 1106£.10s.0 after paying all expences and verry little outstanding debts for his plan is to sell for ready money, since which he has been doing a good Business but I have been so ongaged here that I could not spare time to take an acct. of his stock nor has it been done to my knowledge since so that I cannot explain exactly what he may be worth at this time.
“You will perceive by what I have already done for Mr Parks my Desire of serving him, whether the match contemplated may be a prudent one for him I can not pretend to judge or advise you know I am not much a friend to great Parade or extravagant manner of Life if his Connection would have that tendancy (which I hope Not) it might not be so happy—He is to be here in a few days to lay in his spring supply of goods I know of no other arrangement he has in contemplation at present It will however give me great Pleasure if I can assist him farther on his changing his state, it is probable the young Lady may have something also which could be beneficialy employed by him as I would not whish him to divide the Profit with me when his capitol is equal to do Business by himself which I trust will soon be the case” (MH: Jared Sparks Collection).
2. The Federal Gazette & Baltimore Daily Advertiser for 24 May 1796 printed a notice from McElderry and Parks: “The Partnership which has subsisted between the subscribers at Fredericksburg, Virginia, under the firm of Andrew Parks and Co. was dissolved on the 2d Instant, by mutual consent.”