To George Washington from Ebenezer Brush, 28 July 1790
From Ebenezer Brush
New York, 28 July 1790. Suggests that an American consul be appointed in the Dutch colonies of Surinam and Demerara and represents that he would be a worthy candidate because of his past residence and continuing economic interest there.1
ALS, DLC:GW.
New York City merchant Ebenezer Brush (1763–1814) was a native of Huntington, New York. GW nominated him on 2 Aug. 1790 as consul “for the port of Surinam and for such other parts of the Colony of Guiana as shall be nearer to the said port than to the residence of any other Consul or Vice-Consul of the United States within the same allegiance” on Jefferson’s advice. The Senate confirmed the appointment on 5 Aug. 1790, and Brush served in that post for two years (GW to Senate, 2 Aug. 1790 and note 11; 2:85, 88, 521).
1. New York City merchants John Alsop, William Bayard, Nicholas Gouverneur, John Lamb, Herman LeRoy, Daniel McCormick, Daniel Phœnix, Thomas Randall, Isaac Roosevelt, William Seton, and James Watson signed a 28 July 1790 recommendation of Brush prepared by the applicant (DLC:GW).
On 30 July Jedediah Huntington wrote from New London to Jonathan Trumbull: “I just hear[d] that somebody, I do not know who, is gone to apply for a Consulship at Demarara—If the President should think proper to appoint one—I beleive Elisha Lothrop who has established himself there would fill the Place to entire Satisfaction. I have a high Opinion of his Abilities & Integrity & wish you would mention him” (DLC:GW).