Secretary Of State Writes Response To David Lenox, Philadelphia Merchant And Marshal, Criticizing Him For His Tone: “Long Accustomed To Reproach, As Public Men Will Be, I Suffer From It Perhaps As Little As Any Man…”

TIMOTHY PICKERING (1745-1829). Pickering was the third United States Secretary of State under Presidents George Washington and John Adams between 1795 to 1800. He had previously served as United States Postmaster General and Secretary of War. He later represented Massachusetts in both houses of Congress as a member of the Federalist Party. DAVID LENOX (1753-1828). Lenox served in the Revolutionary War and later became a successful merchant, Federal marshal during the Whiskey Rebellion, diplomat, and banker in Philadelphia. ALS. 2 pg. 8” x 10”. January 2, 1800. Philadelphia. An autograph letter signed “Timothy Pickering” to “David Lenox Esqr.”: “By your last private letter (of July 15, 1799) it is manifest that mine to which it refers was considered by you as containing only empty professions: and you intimate a contradiction between that and a former letter, on the subject of your salary. Of the last you will feel little difficulty in admitting that I could have no recollection: but if it had rested on my memory, it would not have induced any recollection in the Subsequent letter, any further than after referring to it…Long accustomed to reproach, as public men will be, I suffer from it perhaps as little as any man, whether the reproach be the offspring of error or malice; and but once or twice have given myself the trouble of repelling it. Indeed the refutation of news-paper slander would be an endless labor; and enjoying the consciousness of upright intentions, it does not disturb any repose. I think too highly of your integrity and candour [sic] not to ascribe your injurious suspicions & intimidations to error arising, or indulged, from a defective knowledge of my character, in which, if there be any thing estimable, it is my sincerity; and it is because I think well of you that I wish the error to be corrected…” This is a letterpress copy of a correspondence between Secretary of State Timothy Pickering and David Lenox, who was then serving as Agent for the United States to the Court of St. James (England), during which he worked to exchange American sailors who were captured by the British and French during the Quasi-War. Pickering later claims that the conflict is a salary dispute. Though Pickering claims he rarely quarrels with opponents, he later was forced out of the Adams administration over public and private opposition to Adams’ peace deal with France and was later censured by the United States Senate for publicly attacking the Embargo Act. The letter is in good condition, with some minor creases and tears along the edges. The first page has chipping to the lower right corner that does not affect any words. Included is a transcription of the entire letter and some historical context.