A dispute between Mr. Joseph Jones of King George and Mr. William Lee being mutually referred to us: We are of opinion that Mr. Jones never was an enemy to the payment of British or other debts: We are also of opinion that Mr. Lee’s inference respecting the opposition of Mr. Jones to the payment of debts, was founded on Mr. Jones’ support to the prohibitory laws revived last session of...
2To George Washington from Henry Lee, 4 July 1784 (Washington Papers)
It is with Particular Pleasure I communicate to you that the General Assembly have Appointed a Committee of both Houses, to present to you an Address Expressive of the high Sense they entertain of your Singular Services and Merits, in the late Glorious revolution. a Copy of Which the Committee have directed me to inclose and to Announce to your Excellency, their intention of Waiting upon you...
3To George Washington from Henry Lee, 15 November 1784 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Henry Lee, 15 Nov. 1784. On 18 Nov. Lee wrote to GW : “I did myself the pleasure of writing to you on the 15th.”
4To George Washington from Henry Lee, 16 April 1785 (Washington Papers)
I have Sent you by your Servant 2½ bushels of the Naked Italian Barley wch will be Enough for your ground as it branches much I never Sewed it very thick; it requires Strong Land, & never grows tall, has a thick Stem & large luxuriant heads, wch hangs near the Earth, and if Cut there is a great waste of the grain in harvesting; therefore I have it pulled up by the hand, and as it is a rear...
5To James Madison from Henry Lee, 16 February 1786 (Madison Papers)
By way of introduction of a correspondence, with a character I love & respect so sincerely, I enclose a report passed yesterday by Congress, the only material business done lately & which proves the dreadful situation of our fœderal government. The report speaks so fully on the subject that I withhold remarks which might [my?] solicitude for the public gives birth to. We have received some...
6To James Madison from Henry Lee, 19 October 1786 (Madison Papers)
In our letter of this date to the Assembly you will know our sentiments on the interesting subject of finance. I am persuaded if the suggestions meet the approbation of the Legislature and any plans calculated on the principles of our letter, should be properly executed much good will accrue to the state. We omitted one subject which involves the respectability of our country viz that of a...
7To James Madison from Henry Lee, 25 October 1786 (Madison Papers)
You now have the report from the secretary of war mentioned in my last letter & omitted. The opinions I conveyed then relative to the eastern commotions are daily supported by additional intelligence. The eastern gentlemen here are confirmed in sentiments on this matter and beleive that the discontents will never be settled but by the sword. Perhaps their apprehensions may have some operation...
8To James Madison from Henry Lee, 11 November 1786 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 11 November 1786. Mentioned in JM’s letter to Lee of 23 November 1786 . Concerned Lee’s sense of injury at being dropped by the Virginia legislature from the state delegation to Congress, and the “deriliction of the friendship” between JM and Lee because of JM’s being elected, so Lee thought, in his place ( Lee to JM, 20 Dec. 1786 ).
9To James Madison from Henry Lee, 20 December 1786 (Madison Papers)
After the notification of my disgrace which reached me about the 20th. Novr. I hastened from N York & pressed forward to my home. Every difficulty of weather and roads opposed my progress and retarded us effectually, for it took us three weeks to reach this place which I had reckoned on accomplishing in twelve days. At Length we arrived on the banks of potomac, and thro our avidity to embrace...
10To George Washington from Henry Lee, 28 April 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have Sent you by my Servant One bushel of Italian forward black eyed Peas they were first brought into this Country by Mr Madza on James river they are the best Sort of Pea of the kind. I am Sorry to hear you have an Attack of the Rheumatizm I have been Severely afflicted with it, this Winter & Spring tho’ I am now able to ride out—otherwise I should have paid my respects to you at Mount...
11To James Madison from Henry Lee, 7 December 1787 (Madison Papers)
Having a few moments only to devote, you must be satisfied with a very laconic letr. Such is my distance from the line of posts, that to use it, I must avail myself of accidental conveyances, which are often like the present, sudden. It is with real Grief I inform you that by a late vote of the assembly of Virga. on a collateral question, they have manifested hostility to the new constitution....
12To James Madison from Henry Lee, [ca. 20 December] 1787 (Madison Papers)
I am so far on my return from a visit to Richmond. On my route I spent a day with Judge Pendleton. He continues amidst the strange change of opinion on the worth of the fœderal Government, unalterable. This firmness does not belong to all the bench, for it was declared as indubitable, that the Cheif Justice had abandoned his first sentiments on this subject. I wished to have given you a...
13To James Madison from Henry Lee, 14 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
To aid Mr. Twining I put my name on his bill & procured the endorsement of Mr. Constable to authenticate it in N York. Mr. Twinings bill is not paid by the Postmaster General who gave me his written assurance that it should be paid when due on condition that the contract was performed relating to the mail. This letr. Mr. Constable has & you can see. I am called on for the money & without the...
14To Alexander Hamilton from Henry Lee, [16 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
God bless you & your efforts to save me from the manifold ⟨–⟩ misfortunes which have & continue to oppress me, whenever I attempt to aid human nature. You will do what you think best & whatever you do I will confirm. Hazard has acted the part of a decided rascal & if I fail in my right, I may not in personal revenge. Our Convention is in full debate on the great business of Federal...
15To James Madison from Henry Lee, 29 October 1788 (Madison Papers)
This letr. is written purposely to inform you of the project mentioned to you in New york concerning the land at the Great falls. The quantity is 500 acres, the price may be called 4,000£ with the incumbrance of an annual rent of 150£ sterling. The advantages infinitely exceed that of any spot of ground in the U. States. The canal runs thro the land, & the bason is in the land, the situation...
16To James Madison from Henry Lee, 19 November 1788 (Madison Papers)
I wrote to you when I was here last month relative to our project of union in the purchase of the great falls. To this letr. I have as yet received no reply. Mr. Arthur Lee tells me that he left you in Philada. unwell. With respect to the suggested purchase I am more & more persuaded, that it is worthy of our best attention, & that judicious conduct of the business will ensure to us early,...
17To George Washington from Henry Lee, 2 December 1788 (Washington Papers)
The day after you left Alexa., I wrote to Mr Richard Lee in Richmond, requesting him to examine Docr Skinners papers for the pattents & to forward them to me. I have not received his reply. Mr Fendal is not yet decided whether he will go to Barbadoes or to Norfolk—Mrs Fendals situation is more & more precarious & perhaps Mr Fendal will judge it adviseable to proceed directly to the islands. I...
18To James Madison from Henry Lee, 8 December 1788 (Madison Papers)
My business has yet detained me here. Three days ago I returned from a visit to the great falls where Genl. Washington was to have met me. The rain stopped him & the other directors, which to me was a mortifying disappointment as I entertained hopes with their aid to have concluded amicably & advantageously the dispute with Mr Fairfax. This is in train, tho the prospect is not the most...
19To George Washington from Henry Lee, 11 December 1788 (Washington Papers)
It is probable I may take Magnolio in one or two days & send him to So. Carolina. Then let me ask the favor of your furnishing me with his pedigree & age certified & your bill of sale. The lands I pay for him I estimate at 50£. Since I saw you, I have hear’d that Mr John Page offers for the Westd district. This event will render it necessary for me to decline, otherwise the election may take...
20To James Madison from Henry Lee, 17 December 1788 (Madison Papers)
I had presumed from the decision you have taken of standing for your district, that I might have seen you here before I left this town, But as the hour of my departure is approached & my expectation baffled, I now transmit to you for your satisfaction a plot of the canal with Col. Gilpins (one of the potomack companys directors) observations. This gentleman speaks from personal knowledge &...
21To George Washington from Henry Lee, 18 December 1788 (Washington Papers)
If you please, send off Magnolio tomorrow to be delivered to Mr W.A. Lee who lives at his mothers four Miles below Stafford Court-house —It is performable in one day if the horse starts very early. you will be so good as to have him shod & to direct that he wears his cloaths—for the cold weather will injure his appearance, otherwise. I enclose you my bond, as I beleive it will not be in our...
22To George Washington from Henry Lee, 23 December 1788 (Washington Papers)
It would give me great pleasure to wait on you tomorrow, but Mrs Lee situation p(revents) it. She is reduced as low nearly as e(ver) by violent attack of the former s(ickness) which continued for 3 days & nights wi(th) occasional intervals. I will communicate your invitation to Mr Lee &c. The bill of sale is reed, & Magnolio safely delivered agreable to my request for which I beg to return my...
23To James Madison from Henry Lee, 14 January 1789 (Madison Papers)
I am so far on my return from Richmond to Alexa. at which place Mrs Lee still is. The attack which commenced when you was in Alexa. has been very severe & her condition when I last heard from [her] was very unpromising. It may so happen that I shall be detained in Alexa. during the winter, tho’ my hope & intention is to return soon home. Have you recovered my packet with the plan of the canal,...
24To George Washington from Henry Lee, 17 January 1789 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have the patents for the land sold to you. I have Doer Skinners deed with me which is recorded in the general court, therefore when you please my conveyance can be made —It is my custom to convey only with special warrantee viz. against me & all claiming under me—this I hope will be satisfactory to you—the title I have not the smallest doubt of, should you think differently I will...
25To George Washington from Henry Lee, 6 February 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am willing to guarantee the land as you may choose, provided you will agreable to the spirit of our bargain secure my payment for the horse in Kentucky lands, should those sold to you prove insecure or doubtful in title. You have alone or in conjunction with Mr Lewis a tract of land near Suffolk, which if you incline to sell I shall be glad to negotiate for. I must trouble you to forward to...
26To George Washington from Henry Lee, 9 February 1789 (Washington Papers)
Too often am I obliged to intrude on your time, which I assure you I very reluctantly do, as I well know how much the business of others avocate your attention from your own concerns. But the importance of the business which I wish to receive your aid in, I hope will be deemed in some degree an apology. Mr Madison & myself have determined to make sale of part of our joint property at the great...
27To George Washington from Henry Lee, 14 February 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am most thankful my dear General for your transmission of this day—the mode you have adopted, is certainly unexceptionable, & the information you communicate will doubtless answer our wish, which is to acquaint our friend in Europe from the most respectable source, of the advantages of the scite at the great falls. Permit me however to add, that I cannot conceive it possible for the most...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Henry Lee, 6 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
From my knowledge of your unceasing desire to promote the welfare of your country and fellow citizens, joined to the singularity of the situation and circumstances of part of my property, am I induced to ask your attention and assistance. Did the consequences of your aid affect me only without advantaging the adjoining community, no temptation of profit could allure me to request your...
29To James Madison from Henry Lee, 8 March 1789 (Madison Papers)
The papers necessary to our European project are enclosed herewith—viz my power of attorney, your remarks which are so full that I can add nothing, the old plot of the canal which must be kept by you, and a copy sent, it being not fit—& my letr. to Mr. Jefferson. The last explains fully the manner which appeared to be best for us to embrace, but should any thing be improper, you can pass it...
30To George Washington from Henry Lee, 14 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
I shall leave your deed with Mr C. Lee, after having procured the most probable attendants on the general court, to witness it (of which he will be one). As the hour is at hand, when you must again leave your country & my departure this evening or tomorrow prevents my bidding you adieu in person, I beg leave now to offer my most sincere wishes for the continuation of your health and for...