To George Washington from John Rutledge, Sr., 15 April 1791
From John Rutledge, Sr.
Charleston [S.C.] April 15. 1791.
Dr Sir
I am extremely sorry, that official Duty prevents (which nothing but indispensable necessity should,) my going, with my Son, to meet you, at the Boundary-Line of North-Carolina:1 He will do himself the Honour of waiting on you, from thence but I flatter myself, that I shall have an opportunity of paying my Respects, to you, in Person, on your Tour thro’ the upper Country, (where I must be for several Weeks, on the Circuit,) & of joining my Fellow Citizens there, in expressing, & testifying those Sentiments of Affection for your Person, & Veneration for your Character, which prevail in every part of this State, as much as in any part of the United States. I have the Honour to be, with the greatest Esteem & Respect, Dr Sir yr obliged & most obedt Sert
J. Rutledge
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. John Rutledge, Sr., resigned as senior associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in February 1791 to become chief justice of South Carolina. See Jacob Read to GW, 16 Feb. 1791 and note 1. On 3 May GW breakfasted privately with Rutledge’s wife, Elizabeth Grimké Rutledge (1741–1792), in Charleston. See , 6:129.