1To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 3 December 1799 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Timothy Pickering, 3 Dec. 1799. GW’s letter of 24 Nov. to Pickering is docketed by Pickering, “answd Decr 3d.”
2To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 November 1799 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Timothy Pickering, 5 Nov. 1799. GW wrote Pickering on 24 Nov. : “Your favour of the 5th instant came to hand in due course.”
3To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 24 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
(Private) (& Confidential) Sir, Trenton [N.J.] Oct. 24. 1799 I am this evening honoured with your letter of the 20th. When I last wrote you, I had grounds to expect, on the President’s arrival; that the mission to France would be suspended, until the fate of its government should be known. This great question I supposed (& my colleagues had formed the same expectation) would be a subject of...
4To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 9 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
(private) Sir, Trenton [N.J.] Oct. 9. 1799. I received yesterday the inclosed letter from Mr Murray. The President is on his way to this place. Govr Davie has been here a week; and Mr Ellsworth writes me, in a letter recd this morning, that he will arrive himself by Friday morning. The question about the mission to France will, I expect, be then settled. The state of the President’s mind, when...
5To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
(confidential) The most ⟨satisfactory⟩ communication I have it in my power now to make, is the probability that the mission to France will at least be suspended. This morning I recd a letter dated the 26th from Judge Ellsworth, in which he says—“The following is an extract of a letter I have just ⟨been⟩ honoured with from the President—the convulsions in France, the change of the Directory,...
6To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 22 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed I have cut from a New-York paper. It reminds me of what I have repeatedly proposed to different citizens of Philadelphia— That in order to avoid the impurities of docks partly uncovered at low water, and to preserve a sufficient depth of water for vessels to enter, & even lie afloat, the wharfing of the city should be newly arranged. For this end, fixing a curve line which should...
7To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
(confidential) Sir, Philadelphia August 2. 1799. A letter from Mr Murray of May 17 received this week, covers a letter from Talleyrand, dated May 12th, assuring him that the Executive Directory will receive the Envoys of the U. States in their official character; and that they shall enjoy all the prerogatives attached to it by the law of nations; and that one or more ministers shall be duly...
8To 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...
9To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 1 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
This morning’s mail brought me your letter of the 25th. I will forward the two letters you inclosed for John Trumbull Esqr. & Mr Dandridge, to the care of Mr King, by the Grantham packet, which is to sail this week. Governor Davie of No. Carolina is appointed, and, should the mission proceed, will accept the place of Envoy to the French Republic, in the room of Patrick Henry Esqr. who...
10To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 11 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
(Confidential) Sir, Philadelphia March 11.1799 I have been honored with your letter of the 3d. The business to which it relates will I believe be put on a footing to produce less mischief than was apprehended—a footing far beyond my hopes. I have this morning received the two letters inclosed for Mr Lear and J. Dandridge Esqr. I mention in confidence, what I this morning received from Mr King,...
11To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 28 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
(private) Sir, Philadelphia Feby 28. 1799. I am happy to inform you, that altho’ the evil of the original nomination of a minister to treat with France cannot be wholly cured, it has since been palliated, by the nomination of Chief Justice Elsworth, Patrick Henry, and Mr Murray, “to be Envoys Extraordinary & ministers plenipotentiary to the French Republic, with full powers to discuss and...
12To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 21 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
(private) Sir, Philadelphia Feby 21. 1799. I have been honoured with your letter of the 21st. My letter of the 8th contained nothing that need be concealed from your friends. except when I mark a letter confidential, you will be pleased to make such use of it as you think proper. The subject of the present one is not an exception, as to your discreet friends: for I am sure no officer about the...
13To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 8 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
It will give you additional pleasure to learn that such is the increased and increasing respectability of the U. States among the European powers—that from being viewed with indifference & even contempt, our friendship and commerce are courted. The Russian minister at London has suggested to Mr King that a Commercial treaty with the U. States would be agreeable to the Emperor Paul; and added,...
14To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your last letters to be forwarded to Europe I expect will proceed next week. The three for England I shall put under cover to Mr King and send them by the British packet which is to sail next Wednesday or Thursday. I have the honor to inclose copies of the Presidents communications to Congress on the 18th & 21st of January, concerning French affairs. In my report, I had noticed (in as gentle...
15To 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...
16To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 27 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed interesting pamphlet is a faithful translation from the original French, transmitted to me by Mr King. As it details facts which demonstrate the perfidy and violence of the French Government, I had it translated, and recommended it to the printer in this place; hoping the dissemination of it in America might do good. I think the Government could expend money in no way more...
17To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 20 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Recollecting your anxiety that General Pinckney might [not] feel satisfied with the military arrangements of General officers proposed by you, I seize the first moment to relieve you from it. This morning Mr McHenry has received from Genl Hamilton a letter dated yesterday, in which is the following passage: After mentioning the arrival of General Pinckney, Genl Hamilton says— “You will learn...
18To 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...
19To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
I seize the first conveyance to inform you that General Pinckney is out of France. He embarked with his family, about the middle of August, in the ship Hope, Capt. Hendrick Hendrickson, for New-York, where we may daily expect to hear of his arrival. The letter giving me this information is from a Monsieur Hory, dated at Bourdeaux the 27th of August; it came to hand last evening from Chester...
20To 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...
21To 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...
22To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
(private) Sir Trenton [N.J.] Sept. 13 1798. I have this moment received your favour of the 9th. Since mine of the 1st the Secretary of War has received from the President a letter deciding the ranks of the three first General Officers in question—that they shall stand, Knox—Pinckney—Hamilton. This decisive act is the more surprizing, seeing but a fortnight before the President had written to...
23To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 1 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
By William Craig Esqr. who left this place on the 22d ult. I remitted you fifteen hundred dollars, and left in Philadelphia two hundred dollars for Colo. C. Biddle; receipts are inclosed for both sums, being the seventeen hundred dollars paid me by Judge Addison for you. I gave the Judge my receipt for the same. I have the honor to be with great respect, sir, your most obt servt ALS , DLC:GW ;...
24To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 1 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Sir, Trenton [N.J.] Septr 1. 1798. On the 16th of July I was honoured with your answer of the 11th to my letter of the 6th respecting the appointment of General Officers for the New American Army; and was afterwards happy in seeing in the arrangement brought by the Secretary of War from Mount Vernon, that Colo. Hamilton’s name occupied the station in which the public voice,...
25To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 9 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to send herewith a copy of the acts of Congress of the extraordinary session in 1797, and of the late session. I have not had them bound, because it will be proper to connect those of the ensuing session with them. I am with great respect sir your most obt servt ALS , DLC:GW . The Acts of Congress for the May 1797 session perhaps was one of the volumes of the acts owned...
26To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 6 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
My attachment to my country, and my desire to promote its best interests, I trust were never equivocal: and at this time I feel extreme anxiety that our army should be organized in the most efficient manner. The enemy whom we are now preparing to encounter, veterans in arms, led by able and active officers, and accustomed to victory, must be met by the best blood, talents, energy and...
27To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 14 April 1798 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed has just come to hand with Mr King’s public letters. The publication of the instructions to our Envoys to the French Republic and their dispatches is operating admirably. The Democrats in neither House of Congress make much opposition: and out of doors, the French Devotees are rapidly quitting the worship of their idol. The long-enduring patience of the people of the U. States...
28To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 11 April 1798 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to inclose copies of the instructions to and dispatches from the Envoys of the United States at Paris. No statement of the facts described in the latter can give them their proper force: but the facts as related by the envoys, with the manner and all their circumstances, carry irresistable evidence to every fair and unprejudiced mind, that this display of corruption and...
29To 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...
30To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 27 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
In my last I forgot to mention, that Mr Nancrede from Boston, had just left with the three volumes of the Studies of Nature which he dedicated to you, without your permission, but for which you desired me to subscribe, in your behalf. I did so. But the set he has left with me for you are elegantly bound in red Morocco and gilt; and from the manner of the delivery (sending them to my house...
31To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 20 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to receive your letter of the 12th covering one for Mr Williams, late American Consul at Hamburg. He is appointed to succeed Mr Johnson in the Consulate in London, and in connection therewith, on the pressing application of Mr King, and indirectly of Mr Gore, to whom Mr Williams is personally and intimately known, to the agency of Mr Bayard, who has resigned. I shall therefore...
32To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 14 December 1797 (Washington Papers)
I am just honoured with your letter of the 11th. The William Penn will, I am told, sail from this port directly for London, in two days, if the present soft weather continues. If I am disappointed in this conveyance, I will send the letters for Mr King & sir John Sinclair to New-York, to be forwarded by the first vessel for London. The letter for Mr Murray I shall forward in like manner by the...
33To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 20 November 1797 (Washington Papers)
The Spanish letter which you transmitted to me in your favour of the ult. and which I recd the 2d inst. at Trenton, I have had translated; and the sentiments therein expressed being personal to you, as well as official in being addressed to the President of the U. States, I do myself the honor to inclose a copy of the translation. An acknowledgement to those Spanish Officers for their...
34To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 30 October 1797 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed pamphlet on Orcharding, addressed to you by the author, I received this evening under cover from Mr King. Another copy is also addressed to you, & has the following addition on the cover—“for the philosophical society of Philadelphia, with the author’s compts.” If you think proper to introduce it to the Society, & favour me with your letter for the purpose, I will put that under...
35To 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...
36To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 8 September 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have removed my family & office to this place; and we are all very well. I have received your letter inclosing $35 for the rollers of your copying press. The workman spoke of the goodness of the rollers: but I tried them and found one not sufficiently true in the turning, and made him put it in his lathe to turn it more exactly. On fixing them in the frame, I got Mr Taylor to make an...
37To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 30 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
The immediate publication of Govr Blount’s letter to Carey, after the receipt of the copy sent you by Colo. Henley seemed to render of little consequence this copy, which, however, I return, agreeably to your request on its transmission. To morrow I move my family and office to Trenton. Not that I think the danger of the contagious fever in any measure considerable: but persons are...
38To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 24 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have to-day delivered to the Attorney General, in one packet, the two bundles of papers of reports & opinions of the Heads of Departments &c. which you left in my hands. I have delivered him another packet from Sir John Sinclair, which I received to-day from General Kosciusko; and now inclose the General’s letter to you, with another which was under the ⟨string⟩ of the packet from Sir John...
39To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 19 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
After messages without number, Mr Anthony has brought me your copying press with the new brass rollers, for which he has charged ten dollars more than he at first mentioned as the probable price. The reason he assigns, is the greater weight of brass, increasing the founders bill to twenty one dollars. I have paid him, and inclose his receipt for $35, after endeavouring to reduce his demand....
40To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 10 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 4th did not come to hand till this day. I lose no time to relieve you from your apprehensions relative to the papers in question. I have the two bundles you left with me; and among them I find the opinion of the Attorney General on Mr Monroe’s recall, of which I will let him take a copy; and then restore the original to its place. I will take a safe opportunity to convey the...
41To 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...
42To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 25 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your letter of the 21st covering several letters to be forwarded to Great Britain, which I shall do with great pleasure, and beg you to believe that I shall at all times cheerfully execute Similar commands. The plan for establishing the board of agriculture in England, I will lay before the Committee of Congress on that subject, as you request. Mr Monroe has made a...
43To 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...
44To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 6 June 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inclose two letters received yesterday from Europe, to your address. I was informed that to-day the House of Representatives concurred with the bill sent down from the Senate to prohibit the exportation of arms and military stores. Notwithstanding the persevering opposition given by nearly half the members of the House to some important sentences in the reported address...
45To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 16 May 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have made inquiry concerning Colo. Biddle. He is apparently wealthy, at this time, and is building a large house: but he has failed, I am told, three times, and once after paying away, in the course of a year, of the money of his honest creditors, about six thousand pounds to usurers, in enormous interest. You doubtless take some Philadelphia papers: but lest at this interesting moment yours...
46To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 27 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
Not meeting myself with any private conveyance, I have committed to the Atty Genl the care of forwarding the packet with your buckles; and also mentioned it to Mr Harrison, whose wife will shortly go to her father’s, & who will carry it, if Mr Lee should not find a conveyance. Mr Barlow sent by Capt OBrien a parcel of Barbary mellon seeds, addressed to the Society of Agriculture of...
47To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 21 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
To-day a Jerseyman called on me to enquire whether I knew of any agent of yours in this city, who could receive money for you. He said Colo. Israel Shrieve had formerly purchased some land of you at Red-Stone, which the Colo. sold to the Enquirer’s brother, in whose behalf he had come to pay two hundred pounds. Not knowing of any such agent, I told the man I would inform you of his...
48To 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...
49To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
Capt. OBrien arrived here last Saturday from Lisbon. The Dey of Algiers is entirely our friend. Tripoli has agreed to a perpetual peace, for 40,000 dollars & some peace presents, without an annual tribute. In January last Mr Barlow mentions his expectations that peace would soon be effected with Tunis. The Dey of Algiers is now so warmly attached & has such entire confidence in the Honesty of...
50To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
Of the letters received from Mr King, those which I forwarded this morning were addressed to General Washington: two others, one addressed to the President of the U.S., and one to G.W. President of the U.S., I retained, under the idea that they were official, and presented them to Mr Adams: but he was inclined to think them intended for you personally; and therefore I now do myself the honor...