1To George Washington from Charles Lee, 11 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
On the 9th I had the honor to receive your letter of the 4th instant, since which Col. Pickering has found the opinion which was the subject of my former letter; which will enable me to attain a copy without giving you any further trouble. If Col. Pickering has written to you as he intended he probably has informed you that the prospect of peace between France and Great Britain continues to...
2To George Washington from Charles Lee, 24 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
Mr Monroe has lately demanded in a letter to the secretary of state an explanation of the letter of recall which was sent to him in France. That an inconvenient unwise and pernicious precedent might not be set his request has been denied and consequently that affair stands on the original grounds. I did not retain a copy of the opinion which I had the honor to give on this measure and...
3To George Washington from Charles Lee, 14 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have examined the journals of the House of Representatives and also of the Senate respecting your message to Congress of the 18th of February 1793 accompanied with a report and plot of the territory of the United States on Patowmack. In each House an order was made that the message lie on the table. On the next day the Clerk of the House of Representatives delivered to the Senate a message...
4To George Washington from Charles Lee, 7 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
After bestowing the best consideration upon the several matters mentioned in your letter of the 6th I had formed an opinion that our minister plenipotentiary at Paris, ought not to be permitted to continue there, any longer than until the arrival of his Successor; and that it was not only expedient but absolutely necessary that he should be immediately recalled and another minister appointed....
5To George Washington from Charles Lee, 4 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Attorney General having taken into mature consideration “the act for the relief and protection of American Seamen” which grew out of the bill “for the relief and protection of American Seamen” passed in the house of representatives of the United States on the 28th march 1796 and afterwards amended in the Senate, the opinions of William Lewis and William Rawle thereupon, the letter from the...
6To George Washington from Charles Lee, 20 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Attorney General having considered the information contained in Mr Wolcott’s note of the 19th instant most respectfully reports. That it affords reasonable ground to believe that the Republic of France has serious expectations to obtain from the King of Spain all or a part of his territories on the continent of North America, and contemplating a separation in government of the Western from...
7To George Washington from Charles Lee, 8 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have been reflecting on the train of measures to be pursued respecting the western posts which yesterday seemed to meet your approbation. The subject was new to me then, and therefore I hope you will excuse me for presenting to your better judgment the result of mine on the letter proposed to be written to Lord Dorchester. That part of it which is to express an acquiescence on your part in...
8To George Washington from Charles Lee, 22 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
There is reason to believe unless the Congress during their present Session shall make some addition to the fees or emoluments now allowed to the Attornies of the United States in the several Districts, that some of the most useful of those Officers will resign and their vacancies I fear it will be found impossible to fill with fit persons. None but eminent Counsel ought to be called to those...
9To George Washington from Charles Lee, 18 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have conversed with Mr Rawle on the petition of Daniel Hamilton for a pardon of his offence and on the petition of Daniel Leet and others for a general pardon of all those concerned in the late western insurrection to whom the clemency of government has not yet been extended. We concur in opinion that so long as any offender keeps himself out of the power of that court to which he is...
10To George Washington from Charles Lee, 29 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have examined with care the journals of the house of representatives and I have not met with any act of your administration which contradicts your present opinion relative to the right of that house to participate in making treaties, or any other part of your intended message. Col. Pickering was desired to express this as my opinion, and least he should omit it I have thought it necessary to...