1From George Washington to John Adams, 21 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
The letter with which you were pleased to honor me—dated the 9th instant—was received by the last Mail; and demands my particular acknowledgments. It was with sincere concern I received the account of Mrs Adams’s low state of health, and your consequent indisposition. If my fervent wishes would restore her, and you, to perfect health, this object would soon be accomplished: and in these...
2From George Washington to John Adams, 3 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honoured with your favour of the 19th Ulto, mentioning the nomination of Mr Murray to be Minister Plenipotentiary to the French Republic. With the writer of the letter, which I did myself the honour to enclose in my last to you, I truly observed that I had never held any correspondence; and I only knew him in his public mission from this Country to the Barbary States, the...
3From George Washington to John Adams, 25 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
With all the respect which is due to your public station, and with the regard I entertain for your private character, the following representation is presented to your consideration. If in the course of it, any expression should escape me which may appear to be incompatible with either, let the purity of my intentions; the candour of my declarations; and a due respect for my own character, be...
4From George Washington to John Adams, 1 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
The letter herewith enclosed from Mr Joel Barlow (though the old date) came to my hands only yesterday. I have conceived it to be my duty to transmit it to you without delay—and without a comment; except that it must have been written with a very good, or a very bad design: which of the two, you can judge better than I. For, from the known abilities of that Gentleman, such a letter could not...
5From George Washington to John Quincy Adams, 20 January 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with a letter from you, dated at Berlin the 29th of Octr last; covering one from a namesake of mine, & who, very probably, may be a distant relation; as our families were from the same Country. Mine earlier than his; two brothers migrating during the Commonwealth of England. or rather, during the troubles of Charles the First. Not knowing through what other medium to...
6From George Washington to Alexander Addison, 4 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 31st ofjany, enclosing your second charge to the Grand Juries of the County Courts of the fifth Circuit of the State of Pennsylvania, at the last Decr Sessions, has been duly received, and for the Enclosure I thank you. I wish, sincerely, that your good example, in endeavouring to bring the People of these United States more acquainted with the Laws & principles of their...
7From George Washington to Alexander Addison, 6 December 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 21st Ulto enclosing thoughts on the “Liberty of Speech and of the Press in a charge to the Grand Juries of the County Courts of the fifth circuit of the State of Pennsylvania” has been duly received, and I pray you to accept my thanks for this fresh inst[anc]e of your attention & politeness to me. I am persuaded I shall read it with the same pleasure, & marked approbation...
8From George Washington to James Anderson, 1 November 1798 (Washington Papers)
Circumstances may render it necessary for me to make a journey to the Seat of Government: and letters which I expect every Post day, will determine whether I shall take it or not. If I go, my departure will be sudden, and how long I may be absent from home, is uncertain; I do not expect however, that it can exceed four, or at most five Weeks. With respect to the Farms and Meadows I shall say...
9From George Washington to James Anderson, 3 November 1798 (Washington Papers)
By the way of Boston, I have just received a letter from Mr Richd Parkinson, dated “Liverpool 28th Augt 1798.” The contents of this letter have surprised me; and that you may know from whence this surprise has proceeded, I shall lodge in your hands (as I am going from home, and may be absent four or five weeks) Mr Parkinsons first and second letters to me; and my answer to him; (a duplicate,...
10From George Washington to James Anderson, 16 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
I am too much hurried and perplexed by the variety, and importance of the correspondence which I am thrown into, by recent & unexpected events, to find time to be answering long letters of complaint & remonstrances, at my expressing a sentiment at any time, respecting matters in which my interest is deeply concerned; when a personal conversation of five minutes would, at any time, in the...
11From George Washington to James Anderson, 17 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
I am not certain that I perfectly understood (when I was speaking to you on the subject the other day) what parts of the Banks in Union Farm Meadow, were sowed with Clover; and therefore make the enquiry now; first, because I am strongly impressed with an idea that that part which is in Wheat, on the North Side of the Branch from the Barn lane downwards (especially as far as the rough plowed...
12From George Washington to Joseph Anthony, 17 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have, lately, received from John Trumbull Esqr. (now in London) four setts of the Battle of Bunkers Hill, and death of General Montgomery; for which I subscribed, & am ready to pay; if I knew who was authorised to receive what is due thereupon. Conceiving it most likely that his brother, Governor Trumbull, was so empowered, I wrote to him on the subject, but received for answer that he was...
13From George Washington to George Ball, 17 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
It is somewhat singular, that instead of receiving Three hundred and three pounds in April of the last year, as per agreement for the land I sold you (lying in Gloucester County of this State) that I should never have seen, nor heard a tittle from you, respecting this payment, at the time it became due, nor since for near a year. The first Instalment of the residue will become due the 10th of...
14From George Washington to Andrew E. Belknap, 8 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 20th Ult. came duly to hand. William Herbert Esqr. of Alexandria will receive, distribute, & collect the money agreeably to the subscription I sent you; but it will be necessary to accompany the Books with the original Paper, or a copy thereof for his information with respect to the subscribers; & Instructions. You will please to recollect that I am in possession already of...
15From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 20 January 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 13th Inst. has been duly received. It would oblige me very much if you could procure, and send ⟨me⟩ by the first opportunity which may offer, one bushel of English, or blue grass seeds, Fresh & good —without which, or if it be defective, or foul, my purpose—which is to sow a Lawn before my door, would not be answered. If Blue grass-seeds cannot be obtained, send white clover...
16From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 1 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 27th Ulto was received last Night. As the whole quantity of Blue-grass seed was purchased before my last letter to you got to hand, it may be sent on without diminution. Let it be accompanied, if to be had fresh and good, with twelve pounds of White clover seed; and the like quantity of Lucern. You will remark how pointed I am with respect to the goodness & quality of the...
17From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 17 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
On the 18th Ulto, I remitted you in a letter, One hundred Dollars in Bank Notes of the United States. Having received no acknowledgement of the letter’s getting to hand; and being yet without the Lucerne Seed, therein mentioned, (as well as in former letters) I am not entirely free from apprehension of a miscarriage, although I have heard of no accident to the Mail. As the Season of sowing...
18From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 18 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter and a/c current, with the Bills enclosed, have been duly received; and under cover of this letter I send you One hundred Dollars to be placed to my Credit. Ellwood has not yet called upon me, nor is he arrived at Alexandria that I have heard of. I thank you for the information respecting the price of Flour; and shall be obliged by your mentioning of it occasionally; especially if...
19From George Washington to William Booker, 7 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 31st Ulto has been duly received. The first of June will answer my purposes very well, for you to be here; and I shall expect you at that time, or by the 10th accordingly. It will not, I presume, require much time to erect the Mill, and if done before the Water of my Grist Mill fails, it is all I require. In the meanwhile the Scantling shall be prepared agreeably to your...
20From George Washington to William Booker, 3 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
Mr Anderson has shewn me your letter of the 23d Ultimo, to him, with an estimate of the expence of building horse Mills, differently constructed. For the trouble you have taken in this business, I feel myself very much obliged. A Mill grinding from 15 to 20 bushls a day, with two horses, would nearly, if not entirely, answer all my purposes; with the occasional aid of the Water Mill, which in...
21From George Washington to Edward Carrington, 22 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
To what cause, or causes, the delay in appointing Officers under the “Act, to augment the Army of the United States, and for other purposes” is to be ascribed, I am unable to say. I fear the spirit that was enkindled at the time of its Passing, has not a little evaporated. No decisive plan has yet been formed for this purpose, that has come to my knowledge; but the Secretary of War having...
22From George Washington to Charles Carroll, Jr., 13 December 1798 (Washington Papers)
Mr McHenry—Secretary of War—communicated to me your wish to receive an Appointment in the Corps of Light Dragoons, about to be raised. Conceiving that the inducement to this application could be no other than a laudable zeal to serve your Country, and a desire to set an example to the young Gentlemen of family & fortune in it, which, undoubtedly would be attended with a happy effect; I...
23From George Washington to Landon Carter, 5 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 1st instt has been received, and if it had been convenient, I should have been glad of your company as you travelled to Annapolis. As you propose however to send in your Servant, and I am generally on horse back between breakfast & dinner, that he may not be delayed, or disappointed, you will receive, enclosed, one letter for the Govr of Maryland (an old acquaintance of...
24From George Washington to Rawleigh Colston, 21 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
It is not more than three or four days since your letter enclosing one from Mr Thomas Marshall, has been received. That Gentleman is, as I myself also am in doubt whether more than one draug[h]t has not been made upon me by Colo. Marshall, for the taxes which he has been so kind as to pay for my land in Kentucky. But as the voluminous papers which I brought from Philadelphia are not yet...
25From George Washington to the District of Columbia Commissioners, 17 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 15th, enclosing Mr Blagdens statement, relative to my proposed buildings, did not reach my hands until last night. He has not accompanied this Statement with Specific prices; nor has it altered my opinion of the unreasonableness of the former estimates of some of its parts. But being desirous of closing the matter with Mr Blagden some way, or other, I make him the following...
26From George Washington to the District of Columbia Commissioners, 22 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 18th instt, enclosing a letter from Mr Blagdin of the same date, came duly to hand; and although I am perfectly satisfied that by doing the Carpenters & Joiners work with my own People, by a correct Bill of the materials required, & obtained from a reputable Mill on the Eastern Shore to suit the buildings, that I could save a thousand dollars under that head alone—yet, to...
27From George Washington to the District of Columbia Commissioners, 28 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of yesterday’s date is received. and enclosed are checks on the Bank of Alexandria for $428.40 amount of payment for the lot had of Mr D. Carroll, which you will please to deliver when the Conveyance is received; and $178.57 being the third of $535.70 to be paid for lot No. 16 in square 634 purchased from you. I feel very much obliged by the trouble you have taken in this business;...
28From George Washington to the District of Columbia Commissioners, 27 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
When Mr Blagden came here yesterday with your favor of the 25 inst., and the plans, specifications &c. of my houses, I was out on my usual ride about my farms, and when I returned home I found Company, which prevented my answering your letter by him. The sketch of an agreement enclosed in your letter comports fully with my ideas. I have made one or two triffling alterations in it in...
29From George Washington to the District of Columbia Commissioners, 4 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to receive your letter of the 3d instt, last Night. Mr Blagdens estimate of the cost of the houses I had proposed to build, far exceeds any aggregate Sum I had contemplated; or think I could command; unless more punctuality was to be found in the fulfilment of Contracts than is, I believe, experienced by any one. Eight, or at most $10,000, was the extent of my calculation. The...
30From George Washington to Bartholomew Dandridge, 25 January 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 11th of May, 16th of July, 20th of August and 10th of October are all before me. The receipt of the two first I have acknowledged; but as my letters wch travel across the Atlantic have not been fortunate in getting to their Address, these may have shared the usual fate. Being of little importance, however, no duplicate was sent, nor copy taken: Nor is it at all material...
31From George Washington to Julius Burbidge Dandridge, 25 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed came undercover to me a few days ago, and not knowing into whose hands better to place it than yours, I forward it to you accordingly. The doing so, furnishes an opportunity of condoling with you, and the other friends of Mr John Dandridge, on his death; an event I sincerely regretted. From the Superscription, I know the enclosed letter is from your brother Bartholomew; who, no...
32From George Washington to William Richardson Davie, 28 December 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your Letters, on the subject of Candidates and proper characters for military appointments in the State of North Carolina, were received when I was in Philadelphia, where I have lately been, at the request of the Secretary of war, to make arrangements for the organization of the additional Army about to be raised. While on this business, in conjuction with Major Generals Hamilton and Pinckney,...
33From George Washington to William Richardson Davie, 24 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
I am not informed of the cause, or causes which have impeded the appointment of the Regimental Officers agreeably to the Act “To augment the Army of the United States, and for other purposes.” The want of which has, of course (unpropitiously it is to be feared) retarded the Recruiting Service; nor do I know that any plan is yet adopted to effect either of these purposes. But the Secretary of...
34From George Washington to Francis Deakins, 25 January 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 16th instant enclosing one from Mr Hesekiah Veatch of the 1st of December last, with a statement of the A/c against Mr Charles McDavitt is received. Your directions to, & Mr Veatch’s proceedings in consequence thereof, respecting the mode of obtaining the Rent due from McDavitt, were very proper, and are very satisfactory to me. The Bond of the latter may either remain in Mr...
35From George Washington to George Deneale, 19 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
You will please to grant a license for the Marriage of Eleanor Parke Custis with Lawrence Lewis, and this shall be your authority for so doing from—Sir Your Very Hble Servt ALS , NNPM ; ADf , DLC:GW ; LB , in hand of Albin Rawlins, owned (1976) by Miss Penissa Wills and Mr. L. J. Wills, Halesowen, England. GW had Thomas Peter and George Washington Parke Custis witness his application to the...
36From George Washington to James Ewing, 26 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
The Columbian Alphabet which you were so polite as to send me, came safe, and for which I pray you to accept my thanks. It is curious, and if it could be introduced, might be useful for the purposes proposed; but it will be a work of time, it is to be feared, before it shall be adopted, generally. I am Sir Your most Obedt Hble Servant ALS (letterpress copy), NN : Washington Papers; LB , in...
37From George Washington to Bryan Fairfax, 20 January 1799 (Washington Papers)
Since your departure from Mount Eagle, I have been favored with three letters from you. The first, dated in Hampton Road, June the 17th, came speedily to hand—the 2d, begun on the 21st and ended the 23d of August, in London, and the 3d from York of the 7th of September, have also been received ⟨at the⟩ following times—viz.—That from York, a day or two before I commenced a journey for...
38From George Washington to Jane Dennison Fairfax, 23 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
General and Mrs Washington present their Compliments to Mrs Fairfax and family and request the favour of their Company at dinner with the newly married couple on Wednesday next. An answer is requested. AL , ViHi . According to GW’s diary two couples dined at Mount Vernon on Wednesday, 27 Feb., but not Mrs. Fairfax, whose husband, Bryan Fairfax, was in England ( Diaries Donald Jackson and...
39From George Washington to John Greenwood, 5 November 1798 (Washington Papers)
In my last of the 3d instant, I requested you to send what you were about to do for me, to the care of the Secretary of War—James McHenry Esqr. —I repeat this request—and inform you that I shall set out this day, to meet him at Trenton—The sooner therefore I could receive the needful at that place the more agreeable would it be to Sir Your Obedt Hble Servant ALS , NN : Washington Collection....
40From George Washington to John Greenwood, 7 December 1798 (Washington Papers)
What you sent me last answer exceedingly well; and I send the first to be altered & made like them, if you can. Your recollection of these—with the directions and observations contained in my two last letters—the latter especially—supercedes the necessity of being particular in this. I will however just remark that the great error in those (now returned to you) is, that the upper teeth & bars...
41From George Washington to John Greenwood, 3 November 1798 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to John Greenwood, 3 Nov. 1798. When writing to Greenwood on 5 Nov. , GW referred to “my last of the 3d instant.”
42From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 25 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir Mount Vernon 25th Feby 1799. Your private letter of the 16th instant came duly to hand, & safe: and I wish you at all times, and upon all occasions, to communicate interesting occurences with your opinions thereon (in the manner you have designated) with the utmost unreservedness, to me. If the augmented force was not intended as an interroram measure, the delay in...
43From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 21 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
The last mail to Alexandria brought me a letter from the President of the United States, in which I am informed that he had signed, and given the Commissions to yourself, Generals Pinckney & Knox, the same date; in hopes that an amicable adjustment, or acquiescence might take place among you. But, if these hopes should be disappointed, and controversies should arise, they will of course be...
44From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 10 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 10th April 1799 I have received your letter of the 27th ulto, enclosing a design of dividing the State of Virginia into Divisions, & subdivisions, for the head quarters of the Rendezvouses in each: asking my opinion of the proper distribution of them, for the convenience of the Recruiting Service. The Grand division of the State, I conceive to be well...
45From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 25 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 14th instant with its enclosures, came to hand by the last Post. In the present State of the Army (or more properly the Embryo of one, for I do not perceive from any thing that has come to my knowledge that we are likely to move beyond this) and until the Augmented force shall have been Recruited, Assembled and in the Field, the residence of the Paymaster Genl (I did not...
46From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 25 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favoured with your letter of the 15th instant. When the disposition was contemplated for assigning to Major General Pinckney and to yourself your respective districts of superintendence, I was of Opinion (as you will see by the enclosed copy of a letter which I wrote to the Secretary of War on my way from Philadelphia to this place) that the whole of General Wilkinson’s...
47From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 24 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 24th Sep. 1798. I have seen the correspondence between the President of the United States & Secretary of War, on the subject of the relative rank of the three Major Generals first appointed. But as it was given in confidence, unaccompanied with an Official letter, I had no ground on which I could proceed, without betraying that confidence. I have therefore...
48From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 10 November 1798 (Washington Papers)
Queries—propounded by the Commander in Chief To Majors Genl Hamilton & Pinckney. 1st Is an Invasion of the United States, by France, to be apprehended whilst that Power continues at War with Great Britain? 2d In case such an Invasion should take place, what part of the United States, in their opinion, is most likely to be first attacked? 3d Is it probable that the French will, in the way of...
49From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 12 November 1798 (Washington Papers)
Herewith you will be furnished with the Copy of a letter from the Secretary of War to me, suggesting many very important matters for consideration, and to be reported on. It is my desire, that you will bestow serious and close attention on them, and be prepared to offer your opinion on each head, when called upon. I also propose, for your consideration and opinion, a number of queries which...
50From George Washington to William B. Harrison, 10 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 28th of last month has been duly received, and is entitled to my thanks for the details it contains; and for the assurance you have given me ⟨o⟩f a preference in Renting yr Land. But as there is not the smallest probability of my Renting, or buying, while you hold both at the rates which have been mentioned, I by no means desire that you should miss an opportunity of doing...