Williams, Jonathan (1750-1815) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.04961 Author/Creator: Williams, Jonathan (1750-1815) Place Written: Richmond, Viriginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 27 May 1791 Pagination: 4 p. ; 33.4 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Williams to Secretary of War Knox. References Knox's letter of 18 May, which returned Colonel Bradford's letter. Sends his answer to Knox (not present) and asks him to pass it along to Bradford. Is not surprised recruitment is slow in the East because "they feel less irritated against the Indians, and are less disposed for that sort of desultory war." Says people in Virginia will not join the expedition westward because they believe the Indians will not enter into a decisive battle. Eloquently states why people seek glory in war and recoil from unopposed depredation. Mentions plans to go in about six weeks to "spend the hot weather over the mountains" in order to study and relax. Speaks about his future domestic and professional possibilities. Seems to be indirectly asking Knox for his assistance in getting a government position. Asks Knox how "the Bank" (First Bank of the U.S., chartered earlier that year) goes, saying "I should not be displeased if I were to be chosen, which is somewhat like saying I should not be displeased at drawing a certain prize in a Lottery, for the one is as improbable as the other."
Williams was born on May 26, 1750 in Boston; son of Jonathan Williams, merchant, and Grace (Harris) Williams, daughter of Benjamin Franklin's sister, Anne; educated in Boston schools; in 1770 went to London to complete training and to make contacts under Franklin's tutelage; in 1776 joined Franklin in France and was immediately appointed by the commissioners of the Continental Congress to France as their agent at Nantes; became involved in a controversy between Silas Deane and Arthur Lee and resigned as agent, but remained in Europe engaged in various business ventures until Franklin returned home in 1785; married Marianne Alexander of Edinburgh, Scotland, on September 12, 1779; in 1796 became associate judge in the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia; served at different times as secretary, councillor, and vice-president of the American Philosophical Society; scientific interests brought him into contact with Thomas Jefferson, who appointed him Inspector of fortifications and superintendent at West Point with the rank of major in 1801; resigned, 1803; reappointed in 1805 with the rank of lieutenant colonel of engineers; planned and supervised the construction of defenses of New York Harbor; resigned from army, July 31, 1812; in War of 1812 served as brevet brigadier general of New York Militia and on a committee in Philadelphia for preparing defenses for the Delaware River; elected to Congress in 1814 but died on May 16, 1815 before taking office.
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[1] ...For my own part I confess I should rather hear of some smart successfull engagements than to hear of a flying enemy not to be overtaken, & to [strikeout] [inserted: have] victory - described by details of depredation. Nothing is more true than [2] than that life is [inserted: the] most valuable thing we have any Idea of losing, yet when we read accounts of Battles fought with Bravery [struck: and] [inserted: this with] Carnage, we connect the Idea of Glory with that of [struck: Victory] [inserted: Destruction] and our humane feelings for the suffering party are buried in the sentiments [strikeout] [inserted: of justifiable revenge or a principle of] natural right; But the burning of Hours, destroying of provisions, & all acts of unopposed depredation cannot be considered without a symathetic [sic] feeling for the miserable [wandering] victims who still live exposed to the most poignant distress; and we have nothing to believe it but a cold Idea of political expediency...
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