From George Washington to Tobias Lear, 6 May 1796
To Tobias Lear
Philadelphia 6th May 1796
Dear Sir
This letter will be put into your hands by Mr Volney—who proposes to visit the Federal City.1 If you are not acquainted with him personally, I am sure you must have a knowledge of his character—his travels & works; I therefore recommend him to your civilities while he remains in the Federal City.2 I am always and sincerely Yours
Go: Washington
ALS, DLC: Tobias Lear Papers.
Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser for 28 July 1796 printed an item from “A CUSTOMER” to “Mr. Printer” with a purported letter of introduction from GW: “The bearer C. F. Volney, so well known and admired in the literary world, needs no recommendation from George Washington, President of the United States.” The Rural Repository (Leominster, Mass.) for 18 Aug. 1796 identified the printer as “Mr. Pleasant,” presumably Samuel Pleasants, Jr., editor of the Richmond and Manchester Advertiser in Virginia.
1. See Thomas Law to GW, 11 May.
2. Gouverneur Morris had written GW on 29 Oct. 1793 to introduce Constantin-François Chasseboeuf Volney.