1From 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...
2From George Washington to James McHenry, 16 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Private & confidential My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 16th Sepr 1798. Your confidential letter—dated Trenton the 10th Instant, with its enclosures, have been duly received. The latter are returned. The contents of them have filled my mind with much disquietude & embarrassment; but it is impossible for me to make any move, in consequence, at this time, from the want of Official ground; without...
3To George Washington from Alexander Spotswood, 16 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
your favour of the 14th was forwarded to me last evening by Mr Park—and which I now proceed to answer—tho not so Fully as you or myself wish. My overseer Roger Farril accepts your Terms—and will be with you Soon after christmas—but Says, should Richard Rhodes decline your Bussiness—he shall give the preference to the Farm at £45 pr year &c. From Rhodes I have received no Answer to my letters;...
4To George Washington from Benjamin Stoddert, 16 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
You will I know, pardon me for trespassing on your time, my object being the Public good. If we are to create such a navy, as will make our Commerce respected, and this I cannot doubt, will be the policy of our Country, one Navy yard at least must be established for building Ships. This subject will probably engage the attention of Congress at the ensuing Session, and it will be my Duty, to...
5To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you a hasty letter on the 13th—Upon further consideration, we have judged it most advisable that a letter should be written by Mr Wolcott alone; in order that the strong point of view in which the facts and arguments in the case may be placed, may be presented by Reason only, to which the mind yields more willingly than to formal advice, in the semblance of official authority. This is...
6To George Washington from John Trumbull, 18 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
By the Ship Nancy, Captain Davidson bound to Alexandria, I have sent a small Box, addressed to you, and containing the Four Pair of Prints for which you did me the honour to subscribe so long since, and two Volumes which I was requested by my friend Mr West to forward to you with his best Respects: the prints are the finest impressions and, for security are rolled, and enclosed in a Tin Case....
7To George Washington from James McHenry, 19 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter of the 14th instant yesterday evening. Be assured I regret and lament from the bottom of my soul the delays, and heart distressing obstructions which have prevented the nomination of the field and other officers for the 12 additional regiments and cavalry. It is not however (whatever the public opinion may be) to me that any of them can be ascribed; for whatever depended...
8To George Washington from John C. Ogden, 20 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
More than ten years have elapsed, since from time to time, I have most respectfully and circumstantially, stated the doings of Calvinists in The United States, in their concerted endeavors to defeat that liberty, toleration and protection in religion, which our laws establish, and upon which our national honor, happiness and safety depend. The moderation, caution, prudence, polite & respectful...
9To George Washington from James McHenry, 21 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
(Confidential) My dear Sir Trenton [N.J.] 21 Sepr 1798 I received your letter of the 16 inst. yesterday evening. I thought it of consequence to make another effort, and acquaint the President with a part of its contents, in aid of the representation signed by Mr Wolcott, and to lose no time in conveying it to him. Inclosed is the copy of what I have which you will be pleased to return. I...
10To George Washington from Bushrod Washington, 21 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have lately recieved a letter from Mr Thomas Turner of King George, in which he expresses an ardent desire to enter into the service of his Country in the military line, and requests that I would mention him to you. This I do with much pleasure, because a long and intimate acquaintance with him assures me that there are few candidates who can possess more worth than he does. Warmly and I...
11To George Washington from Thomas Law, 22 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Unless you are irrevocably fix’d, as the Lots are so nearly equal in respect to prospect & nature of the ground permit me to observe that a House in the South Lot will rent better & promote the object you have in view more —Vizt the encouragemt of accomodations for Congress, as it will be forming an Avenue by cooperating in building & all the digging will be for public improvement—If you...
12To George Washington from Alexander Spotswood, 23 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
My last—dated I think on the 16—informed you, that my overseer had accepted your Terms—but that he Should Take the farm in preference to the home house—should Rhodes decline Takeing yr bussiness—From Whoom I have recd no answer to my Several letters, the first of which I am certain was lodged at his house—Consequently you had better look out—but should Rhodes come to my house, or write me...
13From 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...
14From George Washington to Alexander Spotswood, 24 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
As the Season is far advanced for good Overseers to be disengaged, and as you had heard nothing from Richard Rhodes at the date of your last—Septr the 16th—and a Man in your neighbourhood one —— Garrett Overseer for a Mr Fontain Murray at a ⟨place⟩ called White Plains near Fredericksburgh, has been strongly recommended to me by Mr Betton & others, & who was willing to come to me, but informed...
15From 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...
16To George Washington from Marmaduke Leigh, 25 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
I am told you wish to dispose of your Lands on the ohio river in the State of Virginia, I would willingly become a purchaser of a tract of your Land, particularly that tract below the Little Kenhawa river. Should the price and terms of payment suit me, As I am acquainted with the quality of your Lands on the ohio river, If you will Let me know your price and the terms of payment I will Let you...
17From George Washington to James McHenry, 26 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 26th Sepr 1798. Your confidential letter of the 21st instant is before me; but the long letter which is promised therein, has not got to hand. Probably the messenger who carries this, and other letters to the Post Office this afternoon, may return with it. As you have given extracts of my letter of the 16th to the President, & informed him, that you thought it...
18From George Washington to Benjamin Stoddert, 26 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
It will afford me pleasure to give you any information in my power, and any opinion, so far as I am able to form one, on the subject of your letter of the 16th instant; which did not come to my hands till the 24th. I cannot entertain a doubt, but it will be the policy of this Country to create such a navy as will protect our commerce from the insults and depredations to which it has been...
19To George Washington from Charles Carter, 27 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
When we set out for the upper Country, Mrs Carter and I indulged the pleasing Thoughts of paying our respects to the good people of Mount Vernon before we return’d to the Place of small Comfort, but Alas, How often are our most sanguine Hopes, Inclinations and Expectations baffled and prove abortive—an unlucky accident which you have heard of, has deprived us of that pleasure, and very nearly...
20To George Washington from the District of Columbia Commissioners, 27 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
We do ourselves the pleasure of enclosing you the number of square feet contained in your two purchases made of the public and Mr Carroll. We received Mr Carroll’s answer in writing, on the monday after you left the City, giving his full consent to confirm the Sale of the Lot on the terms proposed, and promising to execute the proper conveyance in the course of the present Week. It may be well...
21To George Washington from Alexander Spotswood, 27 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Mr Peter favoured me with his Company at Newpost last Tuseday evening; and delivered me your letter of the 24th; with one Inclosed from Mr Anderson to garret; an overseer now in the employ of Mr Fontaine Maury. which letter I forwarded the next day, and this morning had an interview with Garret—he would not determine whether to receive your offer or not until he returned home and Consulted his...
22From George Washington to William Washington, 27 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Late this afternoon Major Simons presented me with your letter of the 22d of July; and anxious to proceed on his journey, proposes to continue it in the morning early: this allows me but little time to say any thing, when I wished to have said a great deal to you. I have never yet heard whether you have accepted, or declined, your late appointment. The crisis is important, and if the French...
23From 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;...
24To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 28 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have at length got to this place & will do myself the pleasure to call at Mt Vernon on my return home. In the mean time I shd be happy to hear whether you accede to my proposition when last with you of taking good property for the whole debt due to you. I have houses & lots in the fœderal city: well situated & which to close our business I would part with even at this present dull period,...
25From George Washington to Zechariah Lewis, 28 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
The best apology I can make, for suffering your letter of the 11th of July to remain so long unacknowledged, is to offer a plain & simple detail of facts. Soon after it came to hand, I requested a Gentleman of my acquaintance in Alexandria, to obtain for me the route & distance from that place to the Natural Bridge. This though promised, from causes unnecessary to enumerate, was not...
26From George Washington to William Russell, 28 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 8th instt is received, and I thank you for your obliging attention to the articles promised me, when I had the pleasure of seeing you at this place. I will direct twenty of my best ewes to be reserved for the Ram you have kindly promised me; which, with the Chaff machine, I shall look for when an opportunity will allow you to send them. The cause which has prevented their...
27From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 29 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of yesterday’s date from George Town is received. You know perfectly well what my inducements were to part with the property you purchased of me, but rather than have any difficulty, or unpleasant disputes respecting the payments, agreeable to contract, I would take productive property in the Federal City—in Alexandria—or almost anywhere—or any thing productive, or unproductive, at...
28To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 30 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your obliging favour of the 24th instant has duly come to hand. I see in it a new proof of sentiments towards me which are truly gratifying. But permit me to add my request to the suggestions of your own prudence, that no personal considerations for me may induce more on your part than on mature reflection you may think due to public motives—It is extremely foreign to my wish to create to you...
29From George Washington to James McHenry, 30 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have lately received information, which, in my opinion, merits attention. It is that the brawlers against Governmental measures in some of the most discontented parts of this state, have, all of a sudden, become silent; and, it is added, are very desirous of obtaining Commissions in the Army, about to be raised. This information did not fail to leave an impression upon my mind at the time I...
30To George Washington from Landon Carter, 1 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Health is a grand object with man; but it becomes all important when the preservation of it in any one person comprehends all the relations of a People; when like a focus the views of all direct to a single point: Permit me therefore to lay before you some leading principles; some conclusions; and some consequent practice, for the security of health. I believe it is a fact generally admitted,...
31From George Washington to James McHenry, 1 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 1st Octr 1798 Your confidential letter of the 19th ulto did not reach Alexandria until the 28th. I thank you for the statement, and lengthy details which it contains. The President may have reasons which will justify the inexecution of the law, for augmenting the force of the United States. With my lights, I can discover none: but, if the force is required at...
32From George Washington to James McHenry, 1 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
You will be at no loss to perceive, from my private letter to you of the 16th ulto, extracts from which you sent to the President of the United States; and from my representation to him, dated the 25th following, the rough draught of wch was enclosed in my last, what my determination is, if he perseveres in his Resolution to change the order of the Major Generals, and to disregard the...
33From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 1 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
This letter will contain very little more than an acknowledgment of the receipts of your letters of the 13th & 18th of last month, which came safe to hand. The letter written by Mr Wolcott to the President of the United States, and the representation made by me to him, so soon as I received official information of the change intended, by him, in the relative Rank of the Major Generals, and of...
34From George Washington to James Ross, 1 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive by the enclosed letters, left open for your perusal, the delinquency of Colo. Shreve, and my determination to enforce payment of the Instalment of his judgment Bond, the 1st of June last. Whether, as the Bond was deposited in the Bank of Pennsylvania for collection, it rests with me to draw it from thence for the purpose of putting it in Suit—or for them to order it—your...
35From George Washington to Israel Shreve, 1 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have waited four months to see if, in that time, you would discharge the Instalment of your judgment Bond, due the first of June last. and am determined to wait no longer than the proceedings in a regular course will compel me to do: for which reason I give you notice that by this day’s Post I have requested Mr Ross to obtain from the Bank of Pennsylvania (where it was deposited for...
36To George Washington from Joel Barlow, 2 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
On hearing of your late nomination as commander in chief of the American Armies I rejoice at it, not because I believe the war which that nomination contemplates is yet inevitable and that it will furnish an occasion for a farther display of your military talents, but because it may enable you to exert your influence to a greater effect in preventing the war. By becoming more the centre of...
37To George Washington from James McHenry, 2 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
I received your confidential letter dated the 26th of Septr ulto last Saturday evening. I now return the copy of your letter to the President which I expect will get to him seasonably, and produce a happy effect upon the question it particularly refers to. I had a letter from him dated the 26, this morning, but no notice of the subject of either Mr Wolcotts letter, or mine of the 21st. The...
38To George Washington from the District of Columbia Commissioners, 3 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
We had the honor of your favor of the 28 th ulto enclosing two Checks on the Bank of Alexandria; the one for D. Carroll for $428 40/100 the other for the Commissioners $178 57/100, and have directed the proper conveyances to be prepared for your purchases of the public; the deed from Mr Carroll was executed this day. Mr Blagdin delivered in his estimate yesterday amounting to $12,982 29/100....
39To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 3 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have to-day received some letters from Mr King dated in London July 28 August 1st & 5th. By them it appears there is more than ever a prospect of a new coalition against France: but a fact, and a very important one, stated by Mr King, has chiefly induced me to write. It is this. That Austria & Naples have entered into a defensive alliance for their mutual protection against France; and...
40From George Washington to William Augustine Washington, 3 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 27th of July has remained unacknowledged ’till now, that I embrace the opportunity afforded by General Lee’s return, to do it. To a person not in the habit of sending regularly to the Post Office, nearest to them, it is almost useless to write by the Mail; and with very few exceptions, addressing letters by private hands, is almost as bad; very few people paying much...
41From 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...
42From George Washington to William Herbert, 4 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
A day or two ago, I received the enclosed letter—Will you be so good as to enable me to answer it. Observing to you, not long since, that the want of money prevented my doing something (I have forgot now what) you said, if I understood you rightly, that I might be accomodated at the Bank of Alexandria. I think it not unlikely that in the course of next spring, or summer, if I undertake a...
43From 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...
44To George Washington from William Herbert, 5 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of yesterday Inclosing a letter from mr Be [1] knap I received this Morning, you may Instruct that Gentleman to Direct the Books he mentions, to my Care. I will distribute them Among the Subscribers here, & receive the money for them, if so ordered By him. it will be necessary that a List of the Subscribers Should Accompany them, with such Instructions as mr Belknap may think...
45To George Washington from Henry Lee, 5 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Mr Custis presented me with yr letr last night. Be assured I shall offer you no property not clear in title unless I may be imposed on, to prevent which am I here daily engaged in exploring the truth. I have a tract of land near gunston recd from W. Steptoe at valuation for money lent to him some years past. this I propose to offer among other property all of which will be submitted to you...
46To George Washington from James McHenry, 5 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour to receive last night your letter dated the 30th of Sepr Ulto. I have reason to beleive that the information it contains is well founded. It would be a real and might produce the most extensive & lasting bad consequences, were the army to be composed of men who have heretofore opposed the government & its measures, and beleived in French professions and infallibility. I have a...
47To George Washington from James McHenry, 5 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have received my dear Generals two letters dated the first instant, last night. You will have seen by the newspapers that I have sent an advertisement inviting proposals for clothing for the new regiments and cavalry; but I have not as yet, been able to accomplish a like measure to supply them with subsistence. It is not however too late, as contracts of this kind can be soon formed. When I...
48From George Washington to William Augustine Washington, 5 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed letter was written, as you will perceive, to go by General Lee; who I know is at George Town, and promised to call here on his way down. But as his ways are not like the ways of other men, and Jerry has called here on his return from Corbin Washington’s, I embrace his, as the most speedy & certain conveyance of the two. All those who have lots in the Federal City, contiguous to...
49Address from the Virginia Militia, 6 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
At a full meeting of the Officers of the 10th & 91st Regiments of the Virginia Militia, convened at Bedford Court-House on 6th day of October 1798 for the purpose of being trained &c. it was unanimously agreed that Colo. Thomas Leftwich, Colo. John Trigg, Majr David Saunders, Majr Thomas Hubbard, Majr Samuel Handcock, Majr William Burton, Capt. Joel Leftwich & Capt. Isaac Okey be appointed a...
50To George Washington from Rawleigh Colston, 6 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have a letter I lately received from Mr Thomas Marshall junr of Kentucky, who wrote me at the same time, that there was some small balance due from you to his father Col. Marshall, which he wished to be paid into my hands: If you will be pleased to inform me the amount, I will when agreeable to you, draw for it in favour of my Correspondent in Alexandria⟨.⟩ With my best wishes,...