Washington, George (1732-1799) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.09429 Author/Creator: Washington, George (1732-1799) Place Written: Germantown, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 August 1794 Pagination: 1 p. : docket : address ; 23 x 18.1 cm. Order a Copy
Marked 'private' by George Washington at the top of page one. Discusses an insurrection (the Whiskey Rebellion) and mentions a letter from [Attorney General William] Bradford concerning Colonel [John] Neville and Major [David] Lenox (the federal inspector and U.S. marshal, respectively, who had fled the area of disturbance in western Pennsylvania). Based on the new information, gives consent to Knox to absent himself from government to manage affairs on his plantation in frontier Maine.
The Neville mansion in Pennsylvania was burned in 1794 by irate farmers during the Whiskey Rebellion. Bradford is often reffered to as a leader in the rebellion.
Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
German Town Friday 8 oclock PM
Dear Sir (Private)
Mr Bradfords letter (which I presume you have seen, and) which was sent to me by Express, conveyed to my mind a different idea than it is now impressed with, from the Secretary of States account of the conversation he has had with Col.o Nevile and Major Lenox. - I concluded from the first (combined with the articles in the Morning Gazettes) that the Insurrection West of the Mountains was not only general, but that the [strike-out] Insurgents were on the point of embodying - & would receive no mission. - Under these circumstances I could see no propriety in the absence of the Officers of the government - nor how I could stand justified in permitting the measure. - But as I do not perceive that the acc.ts of the Inspector & Marshall place matters in a worse light than they stood before - I consent to your pursuing your plan - & wish you a good journey & a safe & speedy return.
Yours always
G:o Washington
[address]
General Knox
Philadelphia
[docket]
German Town, Near Philadelph [text loss] PM
8th A[text loss]794
The President of the
United States
Original
No 34
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