51From George Washington to James Anderson, 5 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 1st instant, with the weekly reports, are received. If all that part of the new road from the Causey to the white gates is completed and fit for use, it has gone on better than I expected; and makes me wish more, that the other part was done; that the whole might be fit for use against my return; but I do not desire it to be attempted to the injury of more important work....
52From George Washington to James Anderson (of Scotland), 15 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you in December, I have been favored with your letter of the 15th of September, on the subject of Iron Bridges. The invention is ingenious, and if it answers as well in practice as it appears in theory it will be a valuable and useful discovery. I see no reason why it should not, as the construction is upon mathematical principles. I should fear, however, if you have not been...
53From George Washington to Mary Dabney Anderson, 20 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
Not before the 8th instant had I the honor to receive your favor of the 17th of May, accompanied with a piece of Silk of your own manufacture. Contrary as it is to an established maxim of mine—not to accept a Present from any one—yet, considering this as a mark of your peculiar attention to me and as an evidence of what our climate, aided by industry, is capable of yielding, I receive, and...
54Enclosure: To Annapolis, Maryland, Citizens, 16 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
Conscious of having had in view the Interest & Happiness of the people of the United States, in the discharge of my public duties; and fully persuaded that remaining in a state of neutrality during the present contest between the powers of Europe, if not absolutely necessary to these objects, would tend in a very considerable degree to promote them, I receive with infinite satisfaction,...
55From George Washington to John Armstrong, 6 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
Acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 29th of December, and offering you my best thanks for the interest it expresses in my behalf, I beg you to be persuaded that neither my late silence nor my present brevity are in any degree the consequence of diminished regard. Your friendship receives from me the same grateful & affectionate return which I have ever made to it—but the multiplied...
56From George Washington to John Armstrong, 23 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Believing that there may be times and occasions, on which my opinions of the anonymous letters and their author, as delivered to the army in 1783, may be turned to some personal and malignant purpose, I do hereby declare, that I did not, at the time of writing my address, regard you as the author of the said letters; and farther, that I have since had sufficient reason for believing, that the...
57From George Washington to John Armstrong, 11 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir, Philad. March 11th 1792 I am persuaded that no one will be more ready than yourself to make the proper allowances for my not having sooner acknowledged the receipt of your friendly letter of the 23d of December, as you there express a conviction that the pressure of my public duties will allow me but very little time to attend to my private correspondences. This is...
58From George Washington to Samuel Ashe, 25 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have received your very friendly letter of the 30th of last month, covering the address of the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina. The Sentiments expressed by the General Assembly, and their testimony of the usefulness of my public services, while honorable and grateful to me personally, I value still more as a citizen of the country to whose freedom and prosperity those...
59From George Washington to Mary Atlee, 14 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President wishes Mrs Atlee to be assured that, his disposition to prevent tears of distress from flowing, is far beyond his means to accomplish; and that he should be extremely happy if the latter were adequate to the numerous calls that are made upon the former. Mrs Atlees case being entirely unknown to the President—Her application of course, is not well understood by him. ADf , DLC:GW ;...
60From George Washington to Abraham Baldwin, 7 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 30th of April, containing the resignation of your seat at the general Board of Commissioners for finally adjusting all accounts between the United States and the individual States; and shall cause it to be filed in the proper office as soon as the necessary arrangemt of departments shall have been made. I am, with great esteem, Sir, Your most Obedt Servt...
61From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 16 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
At length your clover-seed, and chocolate Nut shells, are on Ship board for Alexandria; consigned to the care of Colo. Gilpin. The Vessel was to have sailed this day, but whether she is gone, or not, I am unable to say—she has been going every day for ten days, but I would not put your things nor my own Seeds on board until the last moment, lest they should get heated in the hold. yesterday...
62From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 18 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you, from Mount Vernon, I have seen & conversed with Mr Morris on the subject of a person to Manage a Tilt-hammer for you. He says it is difficult to get one who understands the business, & in other respects is worthy of confidence. The Person he had, he was obliged to discharge, on account of his inebrity, & knows not where to supply his place but by importation; which is...
63From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 3 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
In due course of the Post I have received your letters of the 17th of December & 21st of the last month; and congratulate you on the birth of a Son—and the passage of your family through the Small Pox. As you had acknowledged the receipt of the needful for purchasing the Buck Wht, and had assured me that no disappointment should follow, I have not given you the trouble of a letter until now,...
64From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 21 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have in due course of post, been favoured with your letter of the 11th instant. I thank you for the prompt compliance with my request—as I do Mr Fitzhugh also for the ready belief he yielded that I would do nothing unfriendly, or ungenteel in the case you were desired to mention to him. Before the receipt of your letter, I had dispatched Howell Lewis (who was first to go to Fredericksburg...
65From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 24 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
I am glad to find by your letter of the 13th instant that the bracelets were received, & pleased. The chocolate shells which you request shall be procured and sent when the Clover Seed goes, which I hope will now soon happen, as the navigation is once more just opened; and because it is high time that both you and my Manager had received the latter; that is the clover Seed. No Vessel is yet up...
66From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 19 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 7th instt came duly to hand, but the multiplicity of matters that pressed upon me at the time, prevented an earlier acknowledgment. I write to you now respecting an exchange of Lands because you wished to hear from me soon, on that subject—not because I think there is the least probability of such an exchange taking effect; I judge so from the ideas I have formed (from the...
67From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 27 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
Eight or ten days ago I wrote to you concerning a Manager for the Tilt hammer which you contemplated the erection of; since which I have received your letter of the 15th instant; in which, doubts of going on with it are expressed. As I am equally ignorant of the expence of erecting, & the profit when erected, I can say nothing encouraging or discouraging of the measure: but if from an...
68From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 25 September 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 10th instt from the Sulpher Springs has been recd. When General Knox (who for several days has been expected) returns, I will deliver your letter to him —and from him (in whose department the business lyes) you will receive an answer to your proposition. I hear with the greatest pleasure of the spirit which so generally pervades the Militia of every State that has been...
69From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 24 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 16th Instant, from Leesburgh. In answer to which, respecting the purchase of Buck Wheat, I send you a Bank note for two hundred dollars; being more disposed to give two & six pence pr Bushel in Loudoun than depend upon the purchase here, & the uncertainty of getting it round in time. What the Waggonage of it to my house from thence (as fast as it is...
70From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 2 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 19th of December and 9th Ulto came duly to hand in the usual course of the Posts. I was not unmindful of the contents, altho’ I did not acknowledge the receipt of them. Genl Knox, who was in Office when the first came to hand, said (as well as I recollect) that nothing could be done in the matter without an Act of the Legislature of Virginia, consenting to the purchase of...
71From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 4 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
Previously to the receipt of your letter of the 25th Ulto, some persons had been mentioned to me as well qualified for the superintendence of my business at Mount Vernon; and until something is decided with respect to them (letters having passed on the subject) I can say nothing further with respect to Mr Lawrence Lewis. So much am I engaged in public business, and so little haveg it in my...
72From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 18 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 26. of December came duly to hand, but occurences of various kinds have prevented an acknowledgement of it till this time. I am not at all uneasy at the delay, or impatient for the settlement of the estate accounts of my deceased Mother; I am persuaded they will be rendered in due time, and to the satisfaction of all concerned—To pay all she owed is my first wish—to render...
73From George Washington to Burgess Ball and Charles Carter, 18 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
Having set out on a tour through the Eastern States, it was at this place your letter of the 8th Instt overtook me. Not having my fathers Will to recur to when I wrote to my Sister, nor any recollection of the Devises in it, I supposed she was entitled to a Childs part of the Negros; but if they were otherwise disposed of by that Will (as I believe is the case) she is certainly excluded; and...
74From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 10 August 1794 (Washington Papers)
We removed to this place about twelve days ago to avoid the heat of Philadelphia, & probably may remain at it until the middle of next month. It was here I received your letter of the 5th instant, which came to my hands yesterday. The business of establishing Arsenals, and providing proper places for them is within the Department of War; the Secretary of which (General Knox) set out on Friday...
75From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 23 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
By a letter I have just received from my Manager, Mr Pearce, dated the 18th instt I find he had received no more at that time, than 131 bushls of the Buck Wheat you were to procure for me. I hope there will be no disappointment of the remainder. It would fall hard upon me, as I have not the quantity of Seed Oats necessary to carry my plan into affect this year; a failure of both would leave my...
76From George Washington to the Baltimore Merchants and Traders, 27 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
At this eventful period when caution must be united with firmness to preserve to the United States the blessings of peace, & at the same time to maintain our rights as an independent nation, it affords me no small degree of satisfaction to find that my endeavours to promote these objects, by declaring the neutrality of the U. States, has met your approbation. While the measures of this...
77Circular to Barbary Powers, 30 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
To (1.) Being desirous of establishing and cultivating peace and Harmony between our nation and (2.) I have appointed David Humphreys, one of our distinguished citizens, a Commissioner plenipotentiary, giving him full power to negotiate and conclude a Treaty of Amity and Commerce with you and I pray you to give full credit to whatever shall be delivered to you on the part of the United States,...
78From George Washington to Thomas Barclay, 11 June 1792 (Washington Papers)
Congress having furnished me with means for procuring peace, and ransoming our captive citizens from the government of Algiers, I have thought it best, while you are engaged at Marocco, to appoint Admiral Jones to proceed to Algiers, and therefore have sent him a commission for establishing peace, another for the ransom of our captives, and a third to act there as Consul for the U.S. and full...
79George Washington to Thomas Barclay, 11 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress having furnished me with means for procuring peace, and ransoming our captive citizens from the government of Algiers, I have thought it best, while you are engaged at Marocco, to appoint Admiral Jones to proceed to Algiers, and therefore have sent him a commission for establishing peace, another for the ransom of our captives, and a third to act there as Consul for the U.S. and full...
80From George Washington to Joseph Barrell, 30 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 25th of Novr last, and the Sea Otter skin with which you were pleased to present me by the hands of Colo. Sergant, were not (as he probably has informed you) received at this place until a few days ago; or I should, most assuredly, have thanked you ’ere this for your kind and polite attention to me. I now pray you to accept my acknowledgment of the favor—and the assurance of...
81From George Washington to John Barry, 6 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have received a list of the Ships that were in Canton in China the last year which you were so good as to send me on the 30th of June; and must beg your acceptance of my best thanks for this polite mark of attention. I am, Sir, Your most Obedt Servt LS , NHyF ; LB , DLC:GW . Following his illustrious naval career during the American Revolution, John Barry (1745–1803) settled at Strawberry...
82From George Washington to John Joseph De Barth, 30 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
As there appears no prospect of your making the stipulated payments for the lands which you agreed to purchase from me, lying on the Kanawas &c. and the object of my disposing of them being thereby defeated—I think it would be best that the bargain should be cancelled (as you expressed to Mr Lear a readiness to do it if required by me); for it would be an unpleasant thing for me to pursue...
83From George Washington to the Dey of Algiers, 3 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
To the most excellent and most illustrious Vizer Hassan Bashaw, Dey of the City and Regency of Algiers. Health, Peace, and Prosperity. I have received your Excellency’s letter bearing date the 5th of May last, by James Leander Cathcart, informing me that altho’ eight months had then elapsed since peace and harmony had been settled between our two Nations, not one Article of the agreement had...
84From George Washington to the Dey of Algiers, 13 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
To the most Excellent and most Illustrious Hassan Bashaw Dey of the City and Regency of Algiers. By the late arrival of Captain O’Brien from Lisbon, with letters from Colonel Humphreys, I have received the painful intelligence that the money stipulated by Joseph Donaldson Junior when he concluded a treaty with you in behalf of the United States, has not yet been paid. This disappointment I...
85From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, Jr., 24 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 17th inst: was received yesterday. With you, I sincerely regret the death of your amiable Sister; but as it is one of those events which is dispensed by an allwise and uncontroulable Providence; and as I believe no person could be better prepared to meet it, it is the duty of her relatives to submit, with as little repining as the Sensibility of our natures is capable of. Mr...
86From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, Jr., 4 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Copy) Dear Sir, Philadelphia March 4th 1793. Your letter of the 18th Ulto, & its enclosure, came duly to hand. Expected as the death of my departed relation and friend was, I could not but feel sensibly when the news of it arrived. And I take the present occasion to offer you my condolence on the death of your father & my friend, Colo. Bassett, for whom, when alive, I had the sincerest...
87Enclosure: Executive Order to Thomas Beall and John Mackall Gantt, 10 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
Whereas in and by certain Deeds executed by Amos Smith and others, whereby the whole Land of the Said Amos Smith and others, situated in the Town of Carrollsburgh and also of Hamburgh (now included in the City of Washington) is vested in you, subject to the Trusts in the said Deeds mentioned; and whereas all the Lands belonging to Minors, persons absent out of the State, married women, or...
88From George Washington to Béhague, 3 June 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have received the duplicate of the polite letter which you did me the honor of writing to me on the 28th of may 1791. The first has not reached my hands. The obliging manner in which you express your wishes to prove the sincerity of your attachment to the United States by keeping up and encouraging the treaty of amity which unites France and America, merits the acknowledgements of the good...
89From George Washington to Gabriel Dupare de Bellegard, 15 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter dated the 18th of September 1789; and in reply to it, must inform you, that so far from living upon terms of intimacy and friendship with the late General Oglethorpe, (as it appears by your letter you have understood that I did) I never was so happy as to have any personal acquaintance with that Gentleman, nor any other knowledge of him but from his general...
90From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 9 September 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Clement Biddle, 9 Sept. 1790. On Tuesday, 14 Sept. 1790, Biddle mentioned in a letter to Tobias Lear that he “had a few Lines from the President at Baltimore dated on Thursday.” GW’s letter to Biddle probably covered his 9 Sept. 1790 letter to David & Francis Clark (see Tobias Lear to GW, 26 Sept. 1790, n.7 ).
91From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 20 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
The first request of this letter is that you would burn it as soon as you have read it and keep the contents to yourself; at least for the present. Some months ago farms lately in the tenure of Mr Abel James were advertised for sale by you and Mr Henry Drinker —These farms I have seen; but not, it is to be acknowledged with the eyes of a Purchaser—The ⟨one⟩ near Frankfort you inform the public...
92From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 18 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Mrs Washington proposing to leave Mount Vernon as this day, will, I expect, be in Philadelphia on Thursday; and as she proposes to lodge at Mr Morris’s I would be obliged to you for having the enclosed letter for her lodged there against her arrival as she may find it necessary to write to me by Fridays Post. I am Dr Sir Yr most obedt Servt ALS , PWacD . Letter not found. Mrs. Washington...
93From George Washington to Henry Merttins Bird, 6 May 1792 (Washington Papers)
I request you will accept my thanks for your polite attention in sending me the copy of Genl Lloyd’s work which accompanied your letter of the 4th of February. Mrs Washington joins me in Compliments to Mrs Bird and in acknowledgements for the kind offer of your & her services. I am Sir, with esteem, Your most Obedt Servt. Df , in Tobias Lear’s hand, DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB ,...
94From George Washington to the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 29 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I return to you individually, and (through you) to your Society collectively in the United States my thanks for the demonstrations of affections, and the expressions of joy, offered in their behalf, on my late appointment. It shall still be my endeavor to manifest, by overt acts, the purity of my inclinations for promoting the happiness of mankind, as well as the sincerity of my desires to...
95Pass for Jean-Pierre Blanchard, 9 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
The bearer hereof, Mr. Blanchard a citizen of France, proposing to ascend in a balloon from the city of Philadelphia, at 10 o’clock, A.M. this day, to pass in such direction and to descend in such place as circumstances may render most convenient—T hese are therefore to recommend to all citizens of the United States, and others, that in his passage, descent, return or journeying elsewhere,...
96From George Washington to Martha Dangerfield Bland, 18 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
With every disposition, my dear Madam, to serve you either in my public or private capacity, I have to regret that such is the nature of the request contained in your letter of the 23 ultimo as to preclude the possibility of my being useful to you in the matter to which it relates —This will more fully appear from an opinion on the subject given by the Attorney General, to whom as a legal...
97From George Washington to William Blount and William Cocke, 1 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Some days ago I recd a letter from you with enclosures, recommending John Rhea Esqr. for District Judge, of the District of Tennessee. The Act for establishing that Office, having now obtained all the requi[sit]e forms, the nomination of a character to fill it has become necessary: but before I proceed to it, I wish to know what specific objections, if any, there are to Mr D[avi]d Campbell,...
98From George Washington to the Board of Trustees of Dartmouth College, 14 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
In assigning so important an agency to the endeavors of an individual, as is mentioned in your address, you render a tribute to my services, which a sense of propriety forbids me to assume. For the flattering terms in which you are pleased to express your sentiments of those services, and for the kind wishes you prefer in my behalf, I thank you with grateful sincerity. To the animated spirit...
99From George Washington to William Aylett Booth, 18 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
The attachment, expressed by the resolutions of Shenandoah County, to the Constitution of the U. States; the importance of cultivating peace & harmony with all the world, by just & honorable means; and the grateful acknowledgment of the services rendered by the French nation, meet my full assent. For the favorable sentiments towards myself, I must entreat you, Sir, to communicate my thanks to...
100From George Washington to John Beale Bordley, 13 April 1795 (Washington Papers)
A double sett of Youngs Annals was sent to me sometime ago, by that Gentleman, without his mentioning for whom the dupli[c]ates were intended. taking it for granted however that they were meant to be presented to the Agricultural Society of this City, and understanding that you are Vice-President thereof —I take the liberty of committing them to your care for the use of the said Society. I...