New York June 13. 1785
My dear Nephew,
Your favor of June the 11th has been just now put into my hands, and had it come sooner would have renderd unnecessary some parts of my letter to you of yesterday,1 which, with this will be delivered by Mr. Joseph Harrison. I am very sure that without incurring the smallest danger of being charged with self applause, I can safely appeal to all those acquainted with my political progress, for a full testimonial that neither indolence, inattention or neglect have marked my proceedings - And most certainly I should not have first commenced such practice with so respectable a character as Doctor Franklin. When Congress determined to indulge the Doctor, upon his request, with leave to retire, the business of communicating that determination was expressly assigned to the Secretary for foreign Affairs among the other duties of his Office2 - And did not enter at all into my business. In me it would have been a work of Supererogation and I think myself warranted in doing justice to the honorable Secretary for foreign Affairs by assuring you that his information was sent by the earliest good opportunity that offered after the Act of Congress passed.3 I thank you for your obliging attention to my affairs - but you say nothing about the covering for my Charriot - is it gone, or in what State is that affair? The Gout shoes are come & I believe will answer well. God bless you.
Farewell,
Richard Henry Lee
Receiver's copy, Shippen Family Papers, Library of Congress.
1 Not found.
2 See JCC, 28:13 - 14, 122, 189 - 90.
3 In a postscript to a June 22 letter to Shippen, Lee confirmed that "I have spoken with Mr. Secretary Jay and he assures me that he sent by the first Packet that sailed after the Act of Congress passed a Notification to Dr. Franklin that he had leave to retire - How causeless then, & how improper was a censure placed on me in whose department it was not, and when he in whose line it was, had actually done it?!" Shippen Family Papers, DLC. Lee, Letters (Ballagh), 2:375.