To George Washington from Daniel Delozier, 19 July 1794
From Daniel Delozier
Baltimore, July 19th 1794
Profound Sir
The death of General Williams, Collector of this port, I presume has been anounced to your Excellency before this, the event took place on tuesday last,1 about thirty miles on the road from Winchester towards the sweet-springs.
It is probable that your Excellency will receive many applications for the Office of the deceased, and amongst them will be one from Mr Robert Purviance, the present Naval Officer;2 this gentlemen, from his age respectabliity and situation, seems to have well founded expectations, and in the event of his being appointed, I beg leave to solicit the Office which he at present holds: But shou’d your Excellency see cause not to promote that gentleman, and be of opinion that my experiance in the Customs, first as Deputy Collector and at present Surveyor of the Port, entitles me to the appointment of Collector, I shall be gratefull for the obligation, and will uniformly pay that attention to the business which the importance of the Office requires.3 I have the honor to be, with great veneration, Your Excellency’s Most Ob: & very Humble Servant
D. Delozier
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The preceding Tuesday was 15 July.
2. See Purviance to GW, this date.
3. GW indeed appointed Purviance to the post of collector. Delozier’s candidacy for naval officer was strong enough that on 9 Sept. John Lynch wrote GW to apply for Delozier’s post, citing the "general opinion . . . that Mr Delosure the present Surveyor of the Port of Baltimore, will be appointed Naval Officer, as he is next in Succession and confessedly merits that Promotion" (DLC:GW; see also , 3:261). However, GW appointed Maryland marshal Nathaniel Ramsay to be naval officer (Senate Executive Journal, 165).