To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 12 March 1796
From Timothy Pickering
March 12. 1796.
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the United States, lists of the names of such persons as his enquiries or personal knowledge induce him to think eligible for the respective objects prefixed to the lists.1
| Theophilus Parsons | Massachusetts | |
| Judge Hobart | New-York | |
| Edward Tilghman |  |
Pennsylvania |
| Thomas FitzSimons | ||
| Gunning Bedford (Judge)2 | Delaware | |
| Christopher Gore | Massachusetts | |
| Amasa Learned | |
Connecticut |
| James Davenport3 | ||
| Egbert Benson | New-York | |
| Richard Stockton4 | New-Jersey | |
| George Gale | Maryland |
| General Knox | |
Massachusetts |
| General John Brooks |
With regard to the northwestern boundary, measures are to be taken in concert between his Britannic Majesty’s Government in America and the Government of the United-States, for making a joint survey of the upper part of the Missisipi, preparatory to the settlement of the boundary: Hence the Secretary supposes it would be premature at this time to name the principal agent or agents on the part of the United States.5
T. Pickering
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Pickering was suggesting appointees for commissions to be established under articles VI, VII, and V, respectively, of the Jay Treaty ( 249–53).
2. Gunning Bedford, Jr. (1747–1812), formerly a delegate to the Continental Congress and to the constitutional convention of 1787, served as federal district judge for Delaware from 1789 until his death.
3. James Davenport (1758–1797) was at this time a judge and member of the Connecticut state senate. Later this year he was elected to Congress.
4. Richard Stockton (1764–1828) was a lawyer who served as federal district attorney for New Jersey in 1789 and 1790. Later this year he was elected to the U.S. Senate.
5. Pickering is referring to Article IV of the Jay Treaty ( 248).