To George Washington from Nathaniel Ramsay, 19 July 1794
From Nathaniel Ramsay
City Tavern [Baltimore]
Saturday evening [19 July 1794]1
Sir,
By the death of General Williams which event took place a few days ago the office of Collector for the Port of Baltimore is become vacant. I most humbly and respectfully beg leave to offer my services as his successor. If your Excellency will have the goodness to appoint me, it shall be my future business by every exertion and the most carefull atten[tion] to the duties of the office to Justify your choice.2
I could not think of intruding myself on you at this late hour and such was my anxiety to make the communication that I have taken the liberty of addressing this letter to you and will with your permission have the honor of waiting on you in person on Monday morning. I am with due respect your most obedient Humble Servant
Nat: Ramsey3
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Otho Holland Williams died on 15 July 1794; 19 July was the Saturday "a few days" later.
2. The appointment as collector went to Robert Purviance, the naval officer for Baltimore; however, Ramsay was appointed to succeed Purviance as naval officer.
3. Nathaniel Ramsay signed as "Ramsey" in letters of 1780 and 1789 as well as this letter, but he changed his signature to "Ramsay" by the time of his letter to GW of 10 Oct. 1794. His appointments as marshal in 1789 and naval officer in 1794 were recorded as "Nathaniel Ramsay" (Senate Executive Journal, 29, 31, 165).