From George Washington to James Innes, 4 April 1796
To James Innes
Philada 4th april 1796.
Dear sir,
Before this can have reached your hands, the gazettes will have announced to you that I have taken the liberty (without a previous consultation) to nominate you, conjointly with Thos Fitzsimons esqe an intelligent merchant of this City, one of the Commissioners for carrying the Sixth article of the treaty lately entered into with G. Britain, into effect. As the nomination is confirmed by the Senate, I hope it will be convenient & agreeable to you to accept the trust; for the duties whereof, & other matters relative thereto the article itself will be sufficiently explanatory.1
The compensation will not be less, I conceive, than £1000. sterlg per annum; but as it is not absolutely fixed yet, I cannot speak with more decision on the subject; and request that this letter may not be considered as an official one; but meant only to intimate what has been done, & to know your sentiments thereon; the rest you will receive in due time from the Secy of State.2 With esteem & regard, &c.
G: Washington
LB, DLC:GW.
1. A report on the nomination appeared in the Gazette of the United States (Philadelphia) for 31 March (see also GW to the U.S. Senate, same date, and n.1). Article VI of the 1794 Jay Treaty with Great Britain called for the appointment of five commissioners to determine the amounts owed British creditors for unpaid debts contracted before the 1783 treaty of peace (see 249–51).