Bourne, Sylvanus (1761-1817) 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.
A high-resolution version of this object is available for registered users. LOG IN
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.10212 Author/Creator: Bourne, Sylvanus (1761-1817) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 13 April 1788 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; 37.7 x 22.8 cm. Order a Copy
Expresses concern about the ratification of the Constitution and what it might mean for his future career. Describes his "native Ambition of serving [his] Country in Some...capacity..." Asks for help in obtaining a government position and mentions prior experience in commerce and goes on to state that "the establishment of which on proper principles view as one of the great leading Steps to our future national greatness..." States that he has applied for a consulship in Spain. Watermarked "C Taylor" and with a hunting horn in a crest with "GR" underneath.
Bourne was the U.S. consul to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from 1790-1791and Amsterdam, Netherlands from 1794-1817.
[partial-draft]
[1] Commerce being what I have been engaged in: & the establishment of which on proper principles view as one of the great leading Steps to our future national greatness; having treaties formed for that purpose with the [2] different foreign Powers - free from every partial restriction & built on the broad basis of reciprocal Rights: for confident I am that America by a due Arrangement of her resources, may [intead] [sic] of asking favours from any have her Connection courted by all the World -
Prompted by the Advice of my friends & under good assurances, I had in contemplation sometime past to apply for the commercial agency or Consulship, at the Port of Lisbon which would have arisen in consequence of a treaty then on the tapis with that Court and which Mr Adams frequently wrote he had sanguine hopes, of soon accomplishing: but the rancourous policy of a neighboring Power preponderated to obtrude its satisfaction; the Cause of these impediments was not better known than felt, and all saw the necessity of an efficient general Gov.t to give as equal Ranks with other Nations & prevent their future insults & divisions: such a one I hope soon to see - and as the want of commercial Regulations gave the chief spring to its establishment, those will be doubtless among the first objects of its Attention -
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.