451To George Washington from James Madison, 20 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
I was favoured on Saturday with your letter of the 7th instant, along with which was covered the printed letter of Col. R. H. Lee to the Governour. It does not appear to me to be a very formidable attack on the new Constitution; unless it should derive an influence from the names of the correspondents, which its intrinsic merits do not entitle it to. He is certainly not perfectly accurate in...
452To George Washington from Charles Carter (of Ludlow), 21 December 1787 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Charles Carter (of Ludlow), 21 Dec. 1787. On 20 Jan. 1788 GW wrote Carter that his “favor of the 21st of last month” had come to hand.
453To George Washington from Chastellux, 21 December 1787 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Chastellux, 21 Dec. 1787. On 25 April 1788 GW wrote to Chastellux : “In reading your very friendly and acceptable letter of the 21st of December 1787. . . .”
454From George Washington to David Stuart, 22 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
To the best of my recollection I have sent you Seven numbers of the Fœderalist, under the signature of Publius. The subsequent numbers that have come to my hands, I herewith enclose. Have you received a letter from me, enclosing one for my Nephew Bushrod Washington; containing queries respecting my lands in the Western Country? It is sometime since it was dispatched from this, & having...
455To George Washington from Michael Ryan, 23 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
Having had the honor of being known to your Excelly in the Army I make bold to adress you, on a subject extremely interesting to me and perhaps not indifferent to your Excellency. A Mr Whitcroft of Annapolis and myself have lately by purchase become joint proprietors of Two Hundred thousand Acres of Land on the Western Waters of Virginia, Eighty thousand Acres of which lie contiguous to your...
456To George Washington from William McWhir, 24 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
Patronage and Bounty has so very essentially contributed to the growth and respectability of our school, that it would be highly blamable and imprudent in me, who am supported by it, to think of undertaking any thing which might have the smallest probability of injuring it, without taking the liberty of consulting you. Especially as your approbation or disapprobation of the measure, would...
457GW to Bushrod Washington, 24 December 1787 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: GW to Bushrod Washington, 24 Dec. 1787. Letter listed in American Book Prices Current, 27 (1921), 1021.
458From George Washington to Thomas Lewis, 25 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
It is my desire, and I am told it is the wish of many—and sure I am policy requires it—that the uncultivated tracts of land on the Great Kankawa and Ohio belonging to the military should be setled. The difficulty with me respecting mine has been, how to draw the line of mutual advantage for Landlord and Tenant, with respect to the terms; and where to find a confidential person on, or near the...
459From George Washington to Edward Newenham, 25 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have reed your letters of the 9th of Decr 1786—27th of Feby and 2d of march 1787. They should have had an earlier & more regular acknowledgment had not the publick business in which I was, in a manner, compeled to engage the last summer, joined to the unremitting attention which my own private affairs require rendered it almost impossible to observe that punctuallity with my correspondents...
460To George Washington from David Stuart, 25 December 1787 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from David Stuart, 25 Dec. 1787. On 29 Dec. GW wrote Stuart : “your letter of the 25th is come to hand.”
461To George Washington from James Madison, 26 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
I am just informed by a Delegate from New Hamshire that he has a letter from President Sullivan which tells him that the Legislature had unanimously agreed to call a convention as recommended, to meet in February. The second Wednesday is the day if I have not mistaken it. We have no further information of much importance from Massachusetts. It appears that Cambridge the residence of Mr Gerry...
462To George Washington from Battaile Muse, 26 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have only Time as the Post is waiting To Say I have Enclosed and Order on Mr Willim Hunter for £50—altho I am not in your Debt —I Shall write To you Very Fully by First opportunity. I have the Honour to be your Faithfull Servant Please To inform me whether my orders are accepted To Ennable me To do what may be wright. ALS , DLC:GW . Written on the cover: “Mr [Thomas] Po[r]ter will much...
463To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 27 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed pamphlet speaks so fully for itself, that any explanation of it from me would be useless. I send it to you, because I know your friendship for the writer, and because I take pleasure in subscribing myself at all times, with unfeigned truth my dear sir Yr obliged friend & serv. ALS , DLC:GW . The pamphlet contained Randolph’s letter to the speaker of the house of delegates, dated...
464From George Washington to David Stuart, 29 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
In more fear that this letter will not find you in Richmond than of expectation that it will, it goes from me by the Post of this day. The sole intent therefore of it is to request the favor of you to give the packet enclosed with it the safest conveyance that offers, to Colo. Thos Lewis of Point Pleasant in Greenbrier County—to whom I have delagated a power to let my lands on the Great...
465From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 29 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ I have little expectation that this letter will find you in Richmond I still send it thither. Under this persuation, I shall add no more than to acct for the enclosure being so long in my possession. The truth of the case is, with a letter for myself, from Mr Smith, it was enclosed with the Papers with which he was furnished for prosecuting the ejectments of the People living on my...
466To George Washington from James Wilkinson, 30 December 1787 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from James Wilkinson, 30 Dec. 1787. GW wrote Wilkinson on 20 Feb. 1788 : “I have received your letter of the 30th of December.”
467Editorial Note (Washington Papers)
Editorial Note David Humphreys wrote GW from France on 30 Sept. 1784 about the utility of having a biography of George Washington, particularly one written by GW himself. In early 1785 Humphreys began suggesting himself as a possible biographer, to which GW agreed ( Humphreys to GW, 15 Jan. 1785 , GW to Humphreys, 25 July 1785 ). Humphreys apparently started work on the biography when he...
468Remarks, 1787–1788 (Washington Papers)
It was rather the wish of my eldest brother (on whom the general concerns of the family devolved) that this shd take place & the matter was contemplated by him—My father died when I was only 10 years old. He was not appointed Adjutant General of the Militia of Virginia untill after his return from the expedition to Carthagena. Nor did he Command the Colonial troops on that occasion. these were...