51To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 16 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter from Governor St Clair was received yesterday by post. The proposed visit of the Chiefs of the Sioux, Puans &c. will be postponed of course, at least for one year— unless they come forward without an invitation or consent. Were it otherwise, I should doubt the expediency of the visit. All the means of attaching those numerous Indian nations to the United States it would...
52To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
At the request of the Chairman of the Committee on the bill for regulating trade with the Indian Tribes, I furnished him with a copy of Governor Blount’s letter mentioning the intended intrusions on the Cherokee lands; and also with a copy of the Attorney General’s letter to me on that subject. The chairman called upon me last evening, and suggested, that if the President officially...
53To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 7 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of War respectfully informs the President, that if Mr Wolcott has completed the information he undertook to obtain relative to Spanish commerce, there will be nothing to prevent the President’s commencing his journey to-morrow. For it is found impracticable to prepare instructions for further negociations with G. Britain, the instructions & correspondence of Mr Jay being...
54To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 25 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
The left wing of the army, commencing its march at seven o’clock to morrow morning, will proceed by the Continental Village to Nelson’s Point, where on Sunday boats will be in readiness to carry the troops to West Point; from whence they will march over Butter Hill in the road leading to Murderer’s Creek. On their descent from the Hill, the quarter masters of brigades will join and conduct...
55To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 20 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
The President will read with pleasure the postscript of the inclosed letter from Robert Montgomery our Consul at Alicante, which I have received this day—excepting what relates to the capture of another American vessel by Tripo⟨li⟩ concerning which however Mr Barlow’s words are consoling. The last sentence broken by the seal I read thus—“I have taken now what I think will be effectual measures...
56To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 26 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
Since your Excellency spoke to me yesterday relative to the movement of the army,I have more maturely considered of the means of effecting that movement, and the time requisite for collecting the horses and oxen to Verplank’s Point. In consequence of the orders given the 23d instant, I expect all the public horses and oxen on the west side of the river will have crossed over at Newburgh, one...
57To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 9 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have just received from Colo. Hughes a letter of which the inclosed is an extract. Mr Pomeroy (the bearer of it, brother to the D.Q.M.) informs me that the towns who were called on early in March to send forward their salted meat, got themselves excused by the government, under pretence that the roads were impassable, promising to turn out when the roads were good. But when called upon, the...
58To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 24 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the U. States—the draught of A message to Congress on the subject of Genl St Clair’s letter— Message to the Senate naming a district attorney for Massachusetts— A letter to Mr Pinckney —and A letter to Mr Parrish, Consul of the U. States at Hamburg. ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, GW’s Correspondence...
59To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 12 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the United States, lists of the names of such persons as his enquiries or personal knowledge induce him to think eligible for the respective objects prefixed to the lists. Theophilus Parsons Massachusetts Judge Hobart New-York Edward Tilghman } Pennsylvania Thomas FitzSimons Gunning Bedford (Judge) Delaware Christopher Gore...
60To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 6 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President a letter & inclosure received to-day from the Governor of Virginia, by which it appears that he has given orders to detain the vessels destined to export the horses purchased by the British in Virginia. Seeing the Executive of that state entertains such erroneous ideas on the subject, it seemed to the Secretary expedient to transmit...
61To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 19 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President the draught of a letter to communicate to Congress the report of the Director of the Mint. His report last year was laid before each house thro’ the Secretary, by the President’s direction. If approved, the present report will be communicated to-day. ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters. Pickering’s draft letter to Congress...
62To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 4 April 1795 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter from Genl Wayne has just arrived at this office. Peace with the Indians seems no longer doubtful. The act of Congress correcting an error in a former act about the bounty to soldiers who should reinlist, was passed the 29th of January, and on the 31st I forwarded it with that to which it related, to General Wayne, for his information on the subject of recruiting. His letter...
63To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 1 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Director of the Mint has presented the inclosed statement to show at what rate he can probably import ten tons of sheet copper for the mint. He can purchase no more here and all that has been purchased has been coined. The rate of exchange being extremely favourable at this moment, he wishes to obtain your approbation of his estimate to enable him to obtain from the Treasury the sum...
64To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 10 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor to inform the President of the United States, that having examined the Constitution & the law respecting the President & Vice President of the U. States, he sees no part requiring that the Vice-President elect should come to the Seat of Government to take the oath to support the Constitution of the U.S. which appears to be the only oath required of him....
65To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 26 October 1797 (Washington Papers)
Last evening I received from Mr John Parish, our former Consul at Hamburg, a letter dated the 3d of August, from which I transcribe the last paragraph, as follows. “Permit me, before concluding, to request that you will do me the honor of representing to General Washington, that an old servant of the United States would be happy to send from hence any thing which he may think will in the...
66To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor to request the approbation of the President of the United States, of the purchase of copper made by the Director of the mint, agreeably to the inclosed account, amounting to three thousand two hundred & fifty one dollars & seven cents—being nearly 2½ cents per pound cheaper than the preceeding purchase. ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA :...
67To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 12 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was at Fishkill this morning4 & from Mr Stevens’s account of provisions received from Connecticut, compared with Mr Josiah Pomeroy’s, I am apprehensive your Excellency has been informed of larger quantities of salted provisions being put up in the towns westward of Connecticut river than were in fact provided. By Mr Stevens’s acct it appears, that from the 6th of February to the 11th inst....
68To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 30 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
On the 23d instant I had the honour of writing to your Excellency; and mentioned my expectation of leaving town the last week. But Mr Morris is not yet prepared for my departure, and he desires me to stay yet longer. I suppose he has informed your Excellency of his embarrassments, in consequence of the states witholding their taxes. I expect that Colo. Miles will send from hence, by the 15th...
69To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Major Platt having signified to me his intentions to quit my department, I immediately sought for a suitable character for the office of deputy quarter master to the main army; and after due inquiry, have fixed on lieut. colo. Dearborn. He has consented to serve: but being in the line of the army, he cannot be taken from thence without your Excellency’s approbation, which I now solicit. The...
70To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
It may be proper that I report to your Excellency the circumstances & events of my late journey to Williamsburgh. I was unable to leave camp the 2d inst. till late in the afternoon, which prevented my reaching Williamsburgh till the evening. I immediately waited on the Intendant with Count Chastellux’s letter, reciting the agreement he had made with me respecting the future employment of the...
71To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 24 January 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have been so much occupied since the receipt of your letter desiring a copy of one you wrote last year, that I have not had time to search for the original: as soon as I can I will do it, & if found, forward a copy. Your letter of the 15th covering one for Mr Murray & one for Lafayette I will take care of, and forward those two to their destination in a few days, when I shall write to Mr...
72To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 11 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
Since closing my letter of this date, arrived a letter from Major Craig at Pittsburg in which is this passage. “The quarter master general by his letter of the 3d ulto (August) informs me a treaty with all the western Indians was concluded on that day.” The hour for closing the mail is past; but I shall request a new mail to be formed, that this intelligence may not be delayed. With the...
73To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 23 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you by Monday’s post. That afternoon I went to see Mr Peters; and had the pleasure to find that your accommodation and a suitable provision for Congress had engaged the attention of him and divers other citizens of Philadelphia who were scattered in the adjacent country. They have had some consultations on the subject; and will continue them until suitable provision shall be made; of...
74To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 8 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your Excellency’s letter of yesterday. The military stores ordered from hence are all gone, together with near twenty (I think) casks of flints which some of the ox teams had brought on from Springfield. The whole were a few days ago advanced as far as Sussex Court House, and are under the care of Ebenezer Brannon conductor of military stores. Lest there should not be...
75To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 3 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
In the inclosed proposition for general orders, I have these objects in view: To ascertain the quantity of forage consumed in this county, by knowing the numbers of cattle fed there—To find who are possessed of public horses—To see who keep horses to whom public forage is not allowed, or who keep more horses than are allowed them, or than your Excellency shall judge necessary; that what are...
76To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 26 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
In the letter with which you honored me, bearing date the 27th of June, your expressed your approbation of John Davis, the late Comptroller, to be appointed to the office of District Attorney of Massachusetts, provided his professional knowledge (of which you had no correct information) should be deemed adequate to the discharge of its duties, and he would place himself in a situation to...
77To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 10 March 1798 (Washington Papers)
I duly received your letter of the 6th ulto and must beg your pardon for suffering it to lie so long unanswered. I have shown the letter to all my colleagues; and we are of opinion that it is neither necessary nor expedient for you publicly to contradict the false assertions of Fauchet. The villains who propagate slanders against you in this country do not believe in their own assertions: of...
78To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your Excellencys orders, we have consider’d of an arrangement of Colonel Baldwins regiment of artificers, and are of opinion That all the non commissioned officers & privates should form one company under the direction and command of Capt. Patten and Lieut Lears Artillery Artificers at the Park, and one lieutenant to be taken from said regiment, the whole to do duty at present at...
79To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
In your last dispatches were received two patents passed by the Attorney General for your signature, which I now return for that purpose. I have also the honor to inclose a duplicate commission for John Trumbull Esqr. The original went by Mr King; and to be with perfect respect, sir, your most obt servant ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DNA : RG 59, Domestic Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, GW’s Correspondence...
80To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 21 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
On the 18th I was honoured with your letter of the 14th covering an instrument directing the transfer of the streets and public lots in the City of Washington from Messrs Beall & Gantt to the Commissioners for that city: The seal of the United States has been affixed to it; and by to-morrow’s mail I shall send it to the Commissioners, as you desire. Dr Edwards has handed me the inclosed...
81To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 19 June 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of War respectfully presents to the President the name of Mr George Clymer for one of the Commissioners to hold the treaty with the Creek Indians. Mr Fitzsimons, it is understood, will contest Mr Swanwick’s election for the city of Philadelphia. Mr John D. Cox is highly esteemed for his integrity and candour—his law-knowledge and sound judgement: But he is thought to be slow in...
82To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 10 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have received from my Counsel in Woolsey’s action, a special bail piece, which he says I with my bail must acknowledge before Judge Barber of Wallkill. I have proposed to go to-morrow and return by evening, if your Excellency has no commands to prevent it. I have been some time anxiously waiting for money from Philadelphia, to enable me to complete the payment of debts for which I am daily...
83To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 12 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
General Wayne has requested leave to visit his friends and his home. I wrote to him that your absence from philadelphia prevented a decision on his request. It will be desirable to send him an answer by next Saturday’s post: and lest accident should prevent your arrival here before that time, I send this and a duplicate to meet you either at Baltimore or other place beyond it; requesting to be...
84To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
This morning I saw a New-York paper announcing the arrival of General Pinckney, & that on account of the prevailing fever, he had landed at Paulus Hook: So I expect in two or three days to have the happiness to see him. The inclosed letter I received yesterday morning, with others by the mail from New-York. I have the honor to be with great respect sir your most obt servt ALS , DLC:GW . The...
85To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary respectfully lays before the President of the United States a letter from Governor Blount this moment received by Express, with Genl Robertson’s letter of the 13th of January & the Governor’s answer. Genl Robertson’s letter of Jany 9th mentioned by the Governor in his answer to the General was not inclosed. ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . James Robertson’s letter to William Blount...
86To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 7 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Orders will be given forthwith to have a vessel got ready to carry a 100 barrels of flour to Albany. The necessary orders have been given, & in the most pointed terms, relative to the flour on the communications between this & Pensylvania; & as (other means failing) actual payment is to be resorted to, I cannot entertain an idea of disappointment. An express will go to-morrow for Boston. I...
87To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 31 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the U. States, a letter from Colo. Humphreys dated Octr 6. just received, with inclosures from Mr Barlow. There is but too much reason to fear for the fate of Capt. O’Brien. He sailed from Lisbon the 4th or 5th of August for Algiers, with 225,000 dollars on board. The Secretary has also received to-day another letter from Colo....
88To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 1 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
As I may not have another opportunity, I beg leave now to present to your Excellency the following questions & to be favoured with your answers or advice for my government. l. Whether any batteaux, & if any what number must be provided for the frontier service; and at what places, & by what time in the Spring, they must be ready? 2. For what number of troops, destined for the frontier service,...
89To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
In the plan for regulating the quarter-master’s department, there is a list of officers to whom forage shall be allowed; but the enumeration is very defective. Many officers who had very just claims to forage were omitted; but to whom either their stations, or the nature of the duties required of them, rendered the issuing of forage apparently proper. All the characters marked with an o were...
90To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 25 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I wrote last evening to Mr Humphrys, & gave him an account of my expectations respecting forage. The uncommon badness of the roads (either very rough or very miry) has prevented the farmers bringing in the forage the Justices of Ulster & Orange agreed to furnish & have in fact assessed: The present snow will enable them to come in. For instant relief to your Excellency’s horses I directed Mr...
91To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
(private) Sir, Philadelphia July 18, 1799. I am honoured with your letter of the 14th. La Fayette will not come to America as a minister : On the 13th instant I received a private letter from Mr Murray dated the 16th of April, inclosing one from Pichon, dated the 12th, written with Talleyrand’s privity, and indeed by his order. Pichon is eager to be the first to announce to Murray the message...
92To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 7 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Walker has shewn me a letter of this date from Genl Gates to your Excellency, representing that quarters are not yet provided for him. It is very true, yet I have spared no pains to provide for him. This day one of my assistants rode twenty miles from house to house, to find quarters for the director of the Hospital that he might quit Ellisons, but return’d without success. All former...
93To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The return of boats of which your Excellency has a copy, is dated the 2d of April. At that time there appeared to be 60 batteaux at Wappon’s creek that were repairable. On the 29th of April there were eight batteaux there under repair, & fifteen more repairable, but very old. The residue, of consequence, of the 60, had been repaired & taken away. But I do not know of any repaired elsewhere;...
94To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 11 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose another letter from Colo. Humphreys which came in some of his late letters from Lisbon, & which among a mass of dispatches was overlooked. I have yet met with no private conveyance for the case with the buckles mentioned in my last. A letter of January 12 th reed this day from Mr Adams at the Hague, contains his conjectures on the motives of the extraordinary...
95To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 9 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
I put one of your letters for Mr King and the four before received (for Sr John Sinclair & others) on board a vessel bound to London, & which was to have sailed last Sunday or monday; but the continued rainy weather has detained her. Mr Monroe has anticipated me in furnishg you, by his publication in the news-papers, the correspondence between us on the subject of his demanding the reasons of...
96To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 14 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
I submit to your consideration the inclosed draught of instructions for Messrs Ellicott & Freeman, for running the boundary line between the U. States and the Spanish colonies of East & West Florida; and am, most repectfully, your obedt servant I have just heard that Capt. German is arrived, & consequently Mr Pinckney, from Charleston. ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG...
97To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 16 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
General Gates has written to Congress describing his distressed situation from the want of men, money, arms, provisions &c. We were surprized at the mention of arms ; for by a return made in February it appeared that better than 2000 stands were then at Albany, fit for service; and the board have never given any order respecting them. Colo. Malcom says a quantity were sent from thence lately...
98To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State begs leave to inform the President of the United States, that the patent for Benjamin Tyler is destined to be carried to him by Mr Strong, who will leave town to-morrow morning by three o’clock. If the President should find time to attend to it before this evening, the Secretary will then have the honor to receive it at the President’s house. ALS , DNA : RG 59,...
99To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 25 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
yours of the 22d inst. came to hand yesterday evening. I immediately sent orders to the Clothier General to send on to camp without delay all the shirts, over-alls & blankets in his possession, reserving only so many as were necessary to answer the orders given for supplying Colo. Proctors & Colo. Hartley’s regiments. The Clothier General informs me there will then remain but about 150...
100To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 1 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your letter of the 28th ult. by this days post. A copy of the laws neatly bound, and of my letter to General Pinckney with the documents to which it refers, have been some time packed up for you. The workman who undertook to make rollers for your copying press, has been called on many times; and he has often promised to complete them. At the last call, about two days since...