Swan, James (fl. 1790) to Henry Knox
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.04743 Author/Creator: Swan, James (fl. 1790) Place Written: Paris, France Type: Autograph letter Date: 3 October 1790 Pagination: 4 p. ; 22.8 x 19 cm. Order a Copy
Writes that he received Knox's letter from a year ago and would have replied sooner if he had anything interesting to say. He asks Knox to look at a letter he sent to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson regarding a contract for "supplies to the french navy and the Kinds Rationers in the Colonies-to receive in payment for such orders from the Treasury...in part of the debt of the United States to france." Swan describes that the bankers in Amsterdam are holding out from repaying any "Company or persons who may hold the bonds, other than the Government here." Swan is concerned that a trading partnership cannot develop as a result "unless Mr. Jefferson by his recommendation to the Secretary of the Treasury and to the President, shall propose an Instruction to the Dutchmen...that they shall pay the money due to France." Swan wishes for Knox to exert his influence on both Jefferson and Hamilton in order to achieve a favorable trading relationship.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.