1From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 18 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 26. of December came duly to hand, but occurences of various kinds have prevented an acknowledgement of it till this time. I am not at all uneasy at the delay, or impatient for the settlement of the estate accounts of my deceased Mother; I am persuaded they will be rendered in due time, and to the satisfaction of all concerned—To pay all she owed is my first wish—to render...
2From George Washington to the Maryland Legislature, 20 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
I receive with the liveliest emotions of satisfaction, your expressions of gratitude for my having accepted the Office of President of the United States, and your congratulations on that event. From the enlightened policy of the Legislature of the Union, in conjunction with the patriotic measures of the State Assemblies, I anticipate the Blessings in reserve for these United States: and so far...
3From George Washington to David Forman, 21 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
Acknowledging the receipt of your letters of the 3rd and 18th instant, I desire to assure you that I have not been inattentive to your communications. In order that the most prudential steps might be taken on the subject, to which your letters related, they were laid before the Chief-Justice of the United States, who thought that a reference of them to the Executive of this State was the most...
4From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 21 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure to receive duly your letter dated the 15th of Decr last; but I thought proper to delay answering or mentioning the contents of it, until after the arrival of Mr Madison, who I understood had been with you. He arrived yesterday, and I now take the earliest opportunity of mentioning to you the result of my reflections; and the expediency of your deciding, at as early a period...
5From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 21 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary for the Department of War, has submitted to me certain principles to serve as a plan for the general arrangement of the Militia of the United States. Conceiving the subject to be of the highest importance to the welfare of our Country, and liable to be placed in various points of view, I have directed him to lay the plan before Congress for their information, in order that they...
6From George Washington to Ebenezer Tucker, 24 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
Captain Burnett delivered me your letter of the 18. instant , and is so obliging as to take charge of this answer. It is my sincere opinion that the land mentioned in it is worth what I asked for it—to wit four dollars per acre, and once would have sold for it; but, if, in the present scarcity of cash it will not fetch that sum, let those, who are really inclinable to buy, come forward, like...
7From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 25 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have received from His Excellency John E. Howard, Governor of the State of Maryland, an Act of the Legislature of Maryland to ratify certain Articles in addition to, and amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America proposed by Congress to the Legislatures of the several States; and have directed my Secretary to lay a copy of the same before you, together with the copy of a...
8From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 28 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have directed my Secretary to lay before you the copy of an Act of the Legislature of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, entitled “An Act for calling a Convention to take into consideration the Constitution proposed for the United States, passed on the 17th day of September A.D. 1787, by the General Convention held at Philadelphia,”—together with the copy of a letter accompanying said...
9From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 1 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have received from His Excellency Alexander Martin Governor of the State of North Carolina, an Act of the General Assembly of that State, entitled “an Act for the purpose of ceding to the United States of America, certain Western Lands therein described”—and have directed my Secretary to lay a Copy of the same before you, together with the copy of a Letter accompanying said Act from His...
10From George Washington to William Craik, 8 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 25 of last month, and return you my thanks for your attention to my dispute with Stromat respecting the Proclamation warrant. If Mr Stromat will fulfil the offer of compromise in the manner he has proposed to you—or in such a manner as you, under the aid of Mr Dunnington’s information, (who is perfectly acquainted with all the land to which Stromat lays...
11From George Washington to the United States Senate, 9 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
United States [New York] Gentlemen of the Senate, February 9th 1790 You will perceive from the papers herewith delivered, and which are enumerated in the annexed list, that a difference subsists between Great Britain and the United States relative to the boundary line between our Eastern, and their Territories. A plan for deciding this difference, was laid before the late Congress; and whether...
12Enclosure, 9 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
A List of the papers deliver’d to the Senate with the foregoing Message In the Bundle marked A. Papers in the bundle marked B. LB , DLC:GW . All of these enclosures are printed in DHFC, Linda Grant De Pauw et al., eds. Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791 . 20 vols. to date. Baltimore, 1972–. 2:362–87. The actual resolve...
13From George Washington to the United States Senate, 9 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
United States [New York] Gentlemen of the Senate, February 9th 1790. Among the persons appointed during your late Session, to offices under the national Government, there were some who declined serving. Their names and offices are specified in the first column of the annexed list. I supplied these Vacancies, agreeably to the Constitution, by temporary appointments; which you will find...
14From George Washington to the United States Senate, 9 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
United States [New York] Gentlemen of the Senate, February 9th 1790 I nominate as Collectors, Naval Officer, and Surveyors for the Ports of the several Districts in the State of North Carolina, the persons whose names are respectively annexed to the Offices in the following list. Districts. Ports. Officers. Nominations { Collector James Read Wilmington. { Wilmington Naval John Walker Officer...
15From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 10 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of this date and Shall give it that attention which the importance of the subject, to which it relates, demands. When I have made up my opinion on the matter you shall be informed thereof—with very gret esteem I am Sir, Yr most Obedt Sert Df , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DLC:GW . Letter not found, but see GW to Randolph, 11 Feb. 1790 .
16From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 11 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have weighed with deliberate attention the contents of your letter of yesterday; and altho’ that consideration may result in an approbation of the ideas the[re]in suggested; yet I do not, at present, feel myself authorized to give a sanction to the measures which you propose. For, as the Constitution of the United States, & the Laws made under it, must mark the line of my official conduct, I...
17From George Washington to William Drayton, 13 February 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to William Drayton, 13 Feb. 1790. In a 16 Mar. 1790 letter to GW, Drayton refers to GW’s letter “dated Feby 13th.” See also GW to U.S. Senate, 9 Feb. 1790 (second letter), n.3 .
18From George Washington to Cyrus Griffin, 13 February 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Cyrus Griffin, 13 Feb. 1790. In his letter to GW of 16 Mar. 1790 Griffin mentions GW’s letter of “February the 13th.” See also GW to U.S. Senate, 9 Feb. 1790 (second letter), n.3 .
19From George Washington to William Nelson, 13 February 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to William Nelson, Jr., 13 Feb. 1790. In a letter of 2 Mar. 1790 to GW, William Nelson, Jr., refers to GW’s letter of “13th of last month.” See also GW to U.S. Senate, 9 Feb. 1790 (second letter), n.3 .
20From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 13 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of this morning, and in consideration of the reasons urged in that, & a former letter I consent to your returning to Virginia; but hope that your absence from the Seat of Government will not exceed the time mentioned in your letter to me of the 5th inst. With very great esteem, I am Sir, Your most Obedt Servt. Df , in Tobias Lear’s writing, DNA : RG 59,...
21From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 15 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have directed my Secretary to lay before you the copy of a vote of the Legislature of the State of New Hampshire, to accept the Articles proposed in addition to, and amendment of, the Constitution of the United States of America, except the second Article—At the same time, will be delivered to you, the copy of a letter from His Excellency the President of the State of New Hampshire to the...
22From George Washington to the United States Senate, 18 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
United States [New York] Gentlemen of the Senate, February 18th, 1790. By the mail of last evening I received a Letter from His Excellency John Hancock Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, enclosing a Resolve of the Senate and House of Representatives of that Commonwealth, and sundry documents relative to the eastern boundary of the United States. I have directed a copy of the Letter...
23From George Washington to James Madison, 20 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I return Mr Jefferson’s letter with thanks for the perusal of it. I am glad he has resolved to accept the appointment of Secretary of State, but sorry it is so repugnant to his own inclinations that it is done. Sincerely & Affectly I am—Yrs ALS , NjP : Straus Autograph Collection. Madison had undoubtedly shown GW the letter Jefferson had written to him from Monticello on 14 Feb. 1790. The...
24From George Washington to Samuel Powel, 21 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of a letter, which you have been so good as to write to me by the direction of the Philadelphia Society for promoting agriculture—and I beg leave to request your communication of my thanks to the Society for their polite attention, in the present which accompanied it. Among the advantages resulting from this Institution, it is particularly...
25From George Washington to George Augustine Washington, 21 February 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to George Augustine Washington, 21 Feb. 1790. On 5 Mar. George Augustine Washington wrote GW referring to “your letter of the 21st Ulto.”
26From George Washington to John Hancock, 22 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellencys letter of the 10th inst. enclosing a Resolve of the Senate & House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and sundry documents relative to the Eastern boundary of the United States. Previous to the receipt of your Excellency’s letter I had laid this subject before the Senate of the United States for their consideration, with such...
27From George Washington to Beverley Randolph, 26 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s letter of the 13th inst. enclosing the duplicate of an act of the General Assembly of Virginia, authorizing the Governor to convey certain lands to the United States for the purpose of building a Light-House. Upon receiving your letter of the 18th of December, covering the first copy of the above act, I immediately transmitted it to the Secretary of the...
28From George Washington to George Augustine Washington, 28 February 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to George Augustine Washington, 28 Feb. 1790. In a 19 Mar. 1790 letter to GW , George Augustine Washington refers to “Your two favors of the 28th Ulto.”
29From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 1 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you, dated the 13 of October, I have removed to a larger house (the one lately occupied by the Count de Moustier) —enlarged my table, and of course my Guests—let me therefore request the favor of you to add two pieces to the number of plateaux required in the above letter, and ornaments equivalent—for it will take these in addition to what I before asked, to decorate the...
30From George Washington to Warner Lewis, 5 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 18 of last month, enclosing the copy of one dated the 26 of October came duly to hand —The best, indeed the only apology I can make for suffering the latter to remain so long unacknowledged, is, that on my return from a tour through the eastern States in november, I found such a multiplicity of public letters and other papers, which required to be acted upon, that those of...
31From George Washington to George Augustine Washington, 7 March 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to George Augustine Washington, 7 Mar. 1790. In a 19 Mar. 1790 letter to GW , George Augustine Washington refers to letters “of the 28th Ulto & 7th Inst.”
32From George Washington to Henry Knox, 8 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have taken into consideration your letter of the 15th of last month, and I approve of the proposals therein suggested, of endeavoring to avoid a War with the Creek nation of Indians. I approve particularly of your requesting Mr Hawkins to send the letter to Alexander McGillivray a copy of which you have enclosed—and I authorize you to employ a suitable person to conduct the business, and to...
33From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 8 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have received from his Excellency Joshua Clayton President of the State of Delaware the articles proposed by Congress to the Legislatures of the several States as amendments to the Constitution of the United States; which articles were transmitted to him for the consideration of the Legislature of Delaware, and are now returned with the following Resolutions annexed to them—viz. The General...
34From George Washington to Beverley Randolph, 9 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
In compliance with the request signified in your Excellency’s letter of the 23d ultimo, I now inclose copies of all the papers in my possession relative to the dispute between Messrs Beauregard and Bourgeois of New Orleans and Oliver Pollock Esquire agent for the State of Virginia; and have the honor to be, with very great esteem, Your Excellency’s most Obedt Servt LS , PHi : Dreer Collection;...
35From George Washington to George Augustine Washington, 14 March 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to George Augustine Washington, 14 Mar. 1790. In a letter to GW, 26 Mar. 1790 , George Augustine Washington refers to a letter of “the 14th.”
36Household Expenses, 15–22 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
⟨illegible⟩kles and the Quantity Consumed weekly in the family of the President of the United States Exclusive of marketing & Ctr. from 15th of March to 22 1790 £ s. d. Madr. Wine 30 Btls. @ 3/6 5. 5. 0 Champaine 4 @ 6/ 1. 4. 0 Claret 2 @ 6/ 0.12. 0 Sweet wine 1 @ 2/ 0. 2. 0 Common wine for Cook & Ctr. 14 @ /10d. 0.12. 0 Spirits 3 @ 2/
37From George Washington to Thomas Mifflin, 15 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your Excellency’s letter of the 10th inst enclosing “a letter addressed to the Executive of the State of Pennsylvania by several very respectable Inhabitants of the County of Washington” representing the mischiefs which have been done for several years past in that County, by the Indians—expressing their apprehensions of further interruption—and requesting the...
38From George Washington to Roman Catholics in America, c.15 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
United States of America [New York] Gentlemen, [ c.15 March 1790 ] While I now receive with much satisfaction your congratulations on my being called, by an unanimous vote, to the first station in my Country; I cannot but duly notice your politeness in offering an apology for the unavoidable delay. As that delay has given you an opportunity of realizing, instead of anticipating, the benefits...
39From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 16 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have directed my Secretary to lay before you the copy of an act and the form of ratification, of certain articles of amendment to the Constitution of the United States, by the Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania; together with the copy of a letter which accompanied the said act, from the Speaker of the House of Assembly of Pennsylvania to the the President of the United States. The...
40From George Washington to Charleston, S.C., Officials, 18 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
I receive your congratulations on my unanimous appointment to the first magistracy of a free People with that grateful sensibility which is due to the occasion, and which your flattering expressions of regard could not fail to awaken. Persuaded that the candor of my countrymen will do justice to the rectitude of my intentions, I am happy under the assurance that their active support of the...
41From George Washington to the Georgia Legislature, 18 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
The congratulations presented to me by the different branches of the Legislature of the State of Georgia, upon my having been elected with unanimity to the Presidency of the United States, affect my mind with the most pleasing sensations, and demand my best acknowledgements. From the observation that “in the great concerns of mankind, success has not always been attendant on the performance of...
42From George Washington to Beverley Randolph, 20 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s letter of the 10th inst. with its enclosures has been duly received. It appears from the best information which I can obtain, that the place where Piamingo’s amunition was deposited, at the time of Colo. Campbell’s writing to the Executive of Virginia, is not such as to subject it to the danger which was apprehended; for the vicinity is pretty well inhabited, and the people...
43Conversation with Thomas Jefferson, 23 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
[New York] 23 March 1790. In his diary for this day GW notes that there was “A full, & very respectable Levee to day—previous to which I had a conversation with the Secretary of State on the following points, viz— First, with respect to our Captives in Algiers, in which, after detailing their situation—the measures he had taken for their relief and the train in which the business was in by...
44From George Washington to Friedrich von Poellnitz, 23 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
I received, a few days ago, your letter on the subject of establishing a farm, under the public patronage, for the purpose of encreasing & extending agricultural knowledge—in answer to which, I have only leisure to make the following general observations. As I have passed a considerable portion of my life very satisfactorily in the business of agriculture, it will be understood, that I am...
45From George Washington to David Stuart, 23 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
The only answer I can give to your letter of the 11th Instt is, that under my present view of the subject, the agreement you have entered into with Mr Robt Alexander had better be carried into effect. But I must declare to you at the sametime, that from my imperfect knowledge of the original bargain—of the proceedings which have been had under it—and of the points on which the dispute between...
46From George Washington to John Eager Howard, 25 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
You will receive with this a Medal struck by order of the late Congress in commemoration of your much approved conduct in the battle of the Cowpens—and presented to you as a mark of the high sense which your Country entertains of your services on that occasion. This Medal was put into my hands by Mr Jefferson; and it is with singular pleasure that I now transmit it to you.I am, with very great...
47From George Washington to William Washington, 25 March 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to William Washington, 25 Mar. 1790. William Washington wrote to GW on 7 Nov. 1790 , referring to “Your Excellency’s favor of March 25th.” See GW to John Eager Howard, 25 Mar. 1790, n.1 .
48From George Washington to Robert Morris, 27 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
The President and Mrs W——Compliments and thanks to Mr Morris for his politeness. They have nothing to charge Mr Morris with but their affectionate regards for Mrs Morris and the family; and to wish him a pleasanter journey than the state of the Roads promise, and a safe return to this City when his business in Philadelphia shall be accomplished. AL , PWacD : Sol Feinstone Collection, on...
49From George Washington to David Stuart, 28 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 15th enclosing the Act of Assembly authorising an agreement with Mr Alexander came to my hand in the moment my last to you was dispatched. I am sorry such jealousies as you relate should be gaining ground, & poisoning the minds of the Southern people. But, admit the fact which is alledged as the cause of them, and give it full scope, does it amount to more than what was...
50From George Washington to the United States Senate, 30 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
United States [New York] Gentlemen of the Senate, March 30th 1790. I nominate the following persons to fill the Offices which are affixed to their respective names—viz. Rufus Putnam, to be one of the Judges in the Western Territory, in the place of Samuel Holden Parsons deceased. James Brown, to be Attorney for the United States in the District of Kentucky, in the place of George Nicholas who...