Washington, George (1732-1799) to Oliver Pollock
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05454 Author/Creator: Washington, George (1732-1799) Place Written: Mount Vernon, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 June 1788 Pagination: 2 p. ; 23.2 x 19.1 cm. Order a Copy
States that upon receiving Pollock's previous letter, he was engaged in a business meeting with the director of the Potomac Company at Shenandoah Falls, Virginia. Declines Pollock's request for recommendation to Esteban Rodriguez Miro y Sabater, the Governor of Louisiana. Declares that such a recommendation would be improper, stating "I have never had the Lever of a personal acquaintance ... with the Governor- I do not feel myself authorized to take a greater latitude of freedom in this respect than any other unknown private citizen."
Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
Oliver Pollock operated as a merchant in Spanish New Orleans during the American Revolution and served as United States Agent at Havana, Cuba, 1783-1784. Following the Revolution, George Washington organized the Potomac Company to construct canals along the Potomac River.
Mount Vernon June 8th . 1788
Sir,
I received your letter of the 11th. of May at the moment when I was setting out for a preconcerted journey to meet the Directors of the Potomack Company on business of importance at the Shenandoah Falls- that circumstance has necessitated me to defer giving an acknowledgement until this time.-
It would be with particular pleasure that I should write to his Excellency the Governor of Louisiana on your behalf if I did not think that there would be a glaring impropriety in my assuming that liberty with that Representative of the Spanish King- especially as I have never had the honor of a personal acquaintance or any corrispondence with the Governor - I do not feel myself authorised to take a greater latitude of freedom in this respect than any other unknown private citizen these motives of delicacy on my part I hope will be considered in the same [2] point of light, and of the same weight by you as they have appeared to me. - With sentiments of consideration & respect I am
Sir
Your Most Obed. & Most Hble
Servant
Go: Washington
Oliver Pollock Esqr.
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