George Washington Papers

From George Washington to James McHenry, 20 August 1798

To James McHenry

Mount Vernon 20th Augt 1798.

Dear Sir,

I was very glad to find by your letter of the 13th instant that you had got well enough to resume your seat in the Office. On this circumstance I sincerely congratulate you.

You must know as much of Mr Hoops as I do, and have it more in your power to obtain correct information of his character & fitness for the place that is suggested; but from respect to Mr Morris, and in justice to Mr Hoops, I could not withhold the testimonial that is adduced in the enclosed letter from the former.1

The devise (though not fixed) wch you have conceived for the

Colours ordered by Mrs Washington is appropriate, and wd answer I think very well.2 Mr Laws Box arrived safe. I am always and Affectionately—Yours

Go: Washington

ALS (letterpress copy), DLC:GW.

1He is referring to Robert Morris’s missing letter of 8 August. See GW to Robert Morris, 19 August. Adam Hoops (1760–1846) was the son of Adam Hoops (1709–1771) of Carlisle, Pa., one of the main subcontractors for Gen. John Forbes’s campaign against Fort Duquesne in 1758. Adam Hoops, Jr., commandant of New York Harbor, wrote to GW from Philadelphia on 10 Dec. 1798: “Mr Morris having informed me that he had been so good as to write to you on the subject of my application for a military appointment I beg leave to lay before you the inclosed concise statement relative to that subject” (DLC: Hamilton Papers). The enclosure is also in DLC: Hamilton Papers.

2GW first wrote McHenry on 27 July about the company of “Silver Greys,” or “Greyheads” as GW called them, of Alexandria. See also GW to McHenry, 2 Aug., and McHenry to GW, 13 Aug., n.4.

Index Entries