To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Ogden, 5 October 1795
From Samuel Ogden1
Newark [New Jersey] October 5,1795. “Being informed that Mr Dessasure2 has lately resigned his Office as director of the Mint; and that several Characters of the very first respectability of this State, have recommended to the President of the United States, David Ford,3 as a proper person to succeed him; I take up my pen to inform you, that I think him very well Quallified to fill that Office, and that I believe, as a Man, of Business, and strict integrity, none will be found to exceed him, or give more general satisfaction…”4
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Ogden, the brother-in-law of Gouverneur Morris and the founder of Ogdensburg, New York, was a New Jersey iron manufacturer and land speculator.
2. David Rittenhouse had resigned as Director of the Mint in June, 1795, and was succeeded by Henry William De Saussure on July 9. For De Saussure’s temporary commission, see Edmund Randolph to De Saussure, July 9, 1795 (LC, RG 59, Domestic Letters of the Department of State, Vol. 8, December 6, 1794–October 12, 1795, National Archives). Although De Saussure wished to resign at the end of September, 1795 (De Saussure to George Washington, September 7, 1795 [ALS, RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters, 1790–1799, National Archives]), he remained in office until October 28, 1795 (RG 217, Miscellaneous Treasury Accounts, 1790–1894, Account Nos. 7228, 7302, National Archives). See also Washington to De Saussure, November 1, 1795 (ALS, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress; LC, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress), and De Saussure to Washington, November 1, 1795 (ALS, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress).
3. Captain David Ford of the New Jersey militia applied to Washington for the position of Director of the Mint on September 5, 1795 (ALS, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress). His application was supported by letters of recommendation from Richard Forrest to Washington, August 29, 1795, from J. J. Feasch to Washington, August 27, 1795, and from Theodore Frelinghuysen to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., August 28, 1795 (ALS, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress).
4. Ford did not receive the appointment. On September 10, 1795, Acting Secretary of State Timothy Pickering offered the position to Elias Boudinot, a New Jersey lawyer and businessman who had been a member of the House of Representatives from March 4, 1789, to March 3, 1795 (ALS, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress). Boudinot accepted the offer on September 16 (ALS, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress). As Congress was not in session, Boudinot received a temporary commission on October 28, 1795 (Pickering to Boudinot [LS, RG 59, Domestic Letters of the Department of State, Vol. 9, October 12, 1795–February 28, 1797, National Archives]). Washington nominated Boudinot on December 10, 1795, and the Senate agreed to his appointment on the following day (, 194, 195).