Coxe, Tench (1755-1824) 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 #: GLC02437.05059 Author/Creator: Coxe, Tench (1755-1824) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 July 1791 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 22.6 x 19.4 cm. Order a Copy
Marked "private." Written by Coxe as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury to Knox as Secretary of War. Has heard the Postmaster General (Samuel Osgood) has resigned or signified to President Washington his desire to resign. Would like Knox to nominate him for the job. Writes, "The Emoluments of the office are less than those of the office I hold, but there are circumstances, which I will have the honor to explain to you, that induce me to wish the change & Col. Hamilton is strongly impressed with their weight. I am authorized by him to say in confidence to you, that tho [inserted: he] feels a wish that he may not bring forward the name of a person so nearly connected with him," as they work in the same department, "he will give me his entire support." Suggests the best way to bring up the appointment: "if you can make it convenient to mention me as from yourself to the President before you leave his house, you would be so obliging as to do it, adding such opinions as you may think the interests of the United States & truth will permit." Knox docketed the letter as 10 July 1791, while Coxe marked it as 11 July 1791.
Coxe did not get the position; Timothy Pickering was appointed on 12 August 1791.
[draft excerpt:]
...there are circumstances...that induce me to wish the change & Col. Hamilton is strongly impressed with their weight. I am authorized by him to say in confidence to you that tho he feels a wish that he may not bring forward the name of a person so nearly connected with him, he will give me his entire support -
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.