Books and Manuscripts

New York, August 14, 1790. One sheet folded to make four pages, 9 5/8 x 7 3/4 in. (244 x 197 mm). One-page manuscript document, signed by Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State, to William Imlay, sending him his commission to be Commissioner of Loans in the State of Connecticut: "Sir, The President of the United States desiring to avail the Public of your Services as Commissioner of Loans in the State of Connecticut, I have now the Honor of enclosing you the Commission, and of expressing to you the Sentiments of perfect Esteem with which I am, Sir, Your most obedient and Most humble Servant Th: Jefferson." Creasing from contemporary folds, separations along center vertical fold, and along some horizontal folds; toned; small chip in bottom edge; small loss in top corners of integral leaf from previous mounting, tape residue on same leaf from additional mounting.

William Imlay was born in Bordentown, New Jersey in 1742, and moved to New York City in 1769, where he entered business with his father and joined the Chamber of Commerce. With the outbreak of the American Revolution, and the British occupation of New York City in 1776, Imlay relocated to Connecticut, where he established a mercantile business. In 1780 the Connecticut legislature appointed him Commissioner of the Continental Loan office, a position he retained with the reorganization of the Federal government, as is seen in this letter from Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, transmitting his appointment from President George Washington. Imlay's reappointment under the new government was spurred by letters he sent to the President in August and September, 1789, expressing his desire to continue his public service in the Loan Office, and which included letters of recommendation from Register of the Treasury, Joseph Nourse (1754-1841), and Connecticut merchant Jeremiah Wadsworth (1743-1804). Imlay remained in the Loan Office until his death in 1807.