To George Washington from Martin Eichelberger, 8 August 1793
From Martin Eichelberger
Baltimore August 8th 1793
Sir
By the death of Colo. Ballard the Office of Surveyor has become Vacant,1 as I was an Applicant at the Commencement of the Revenue Law for that Office, I beg leave to renew my former Application & to refer Your Excellency, to my former & present Recommendations2—should your Excellency, think proper to honour me with the Appointment of Surveyor, I flatter myself that my Conduct would be pleasing to Your Excellency, & to my fellow Citizens.3 I have the honour to be with every sentiment of the most sincere Attachment & respect your Excellency’s most Obt hble Servant
Martin Eichelberger
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. On the vacancy created by the death of Robert Ballard and the competition for the office of surveyor of customs at Baltimore, see David Plunket to GW, 7 Aug. 1793, n.1.
2. For Eichelberger’s earlier application, see James McHenry to GW, 2 July 1789, and note 1. Congressman Samuel Smith’s second letter to GW of 8 Aug., written at Baltimore, recommended Eichelberger: “On the Commencement of the Revenue Law [of 31 July 1789] he was Appointed Weigh Master for this Port. In the Execution of which Trust his Conduct has ha⟨d⟩ the General Approbation of the Citizens & the Collector” (DLC:GW). John Eager Howard also recommended Eichelberger, in a letter written at Baltimore to GW on 8 Aug. 1793, as a person who would “discharge the duties with punctuality, integrity, zeal and much to the satisfaction of the publick” (DLC:GW). GW received both recommendations on 10 Aug. 1793. An undated statement signed by Samuel Smith and eighty-seven other “Citizens of Baltimore” certified that Eichelberger, “who has been Weigher of this Port … has Conducted himself to our entire Satisfaction” and recommended him as “Worthy of Promotion” to the surveyor’s office (DLC:GW).
3. For GW’s selection of another applicant, see Daniel Delozier to GW, 8 Aug. 1793, n.3.