Cabot, George (1752-1823) to Jonathan Williams
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 #: GLC05588.01 Author/Creator: Cabot, George (1752-1823) Place Written: Brookline, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 May 1798 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 22.2 x 18.1 cm. Order a Copy
Cabot, former United States Senator, informs Williams that he "must decline the Secretaryship of the Navy; to this determination I was ultimately brought by a full conviction that I cou'd not go through the labor of an office so difficult ... in estimating the forces that cou'd be employed to overcome the obstacles in a path hitherto untrod in this country I assure you that my mind constantly resorted to you as the principle, & if I cou'd have been induced to take upon myself so weighty an engagement I shou'd have relied greatly upon your assistance in every part of the performance of it." Referring to President John Adams, relates his regret "to refuse anything of a public nature which the President had thought it expedient to require." States that Mrs. Cabot sends her regards to Mrs. Williams.
Williams, a grand nephew of Benjamin Franklin, served as Franklin's secretary during the Revolutionary War. He was appointed as the first Superintendent of the United States Military Academy in 1802, and served as a United States Representative from Pennsylvania 1815-1816.
Brookline May 12. 1798 -
Dear Sir -
The occupation of much company prevented me from acknowledging by this day's post the receipt of your very friendly letter of the 2d - I cou'd only find a moment to write an official notice that I must decline the Secretaryship of the Navy; to this determination I was ultimately brought by a full conviction that I cou'd not go through the labor of an office so difficult - I say this because the solicitations of those, to whom I cou'd refuse nothing in my power to perform, had overcome all my private objections & led me to consider [inserted: simply] whether it wou'd be possible for me to [inserted: fulfil] their expectations. -- I saw plainly that I cou'd not & have therefore declined the undertaking. -- in estimating the forces that cou'd be employed to overcome the obstacles in a path hitherto untrod in this country I assure you that my mind constantly resorted to you as the principal, & if I cou'd have been induced to take upon myself so weighty an Engagement I shou'd have relied greatly upon your assistance in every part of the performance of it. [2] it has given me great uneasiness to be obliged to refuse anything of a public nature which the President had thought it expedient to require - but a thorough knowledge of my incompetency to a work of so much difficulty render'd a denial a duty. -
Mrs. Cabot unites with me in sincere regards for
Mrs. Williams & her amiable Daughter.-
I am ever your assured friend
G.CABOT. -
Jona. Williams Esqr -
[address leaf]
To
Jonathon, William Esq
as Mount Pleasant
near Philadelphia.
[docket]
12 May 1798 Brookline
Geo Cabot
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.