1To John Adams from Tobias Lear, 3 October 1793 (Adams Papers)
I am at this place on my way to New York, from whence I expect to sail for Europe.—I promised myself the pleasure of waiting upon and taking leave of you at Quincy; but a detention of some days in Portsmouth, longer than I had calculated upon, and previous arrangements to be in New York at a fixed time, make it necessary for me to hasten on to that City—which I shall do by the Stage of...
2Tobias Lear to John Quincy Adams, 2 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
When I was at Bush Hill this Morning it was my intention to have requested your Company to dine tomorrow at the Presidents, by his desire; but as I did not see you at that time it slipped my recollection, and occasions you the trouble of this letter, which is to make the same request—to which you will be kind enough to give an Answer by the Servant. I am Dear Sir Your most Obedt Servt ALS ,...
3Tobias Lear to William Allum and William Talbot, 17 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States has this day received your letter of the 19th ultimo with the pamphlet accompanying it; for your politeness in sending of which to him he directs me ⟨to⟩ beg your acceptance of his best thanks. I have the honor to be Gentlemen, very respectfully Your most Obet Ser. ADfS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DLC:GW . The text in angle brackets is from the...
4Tobias Lear to William Goddard & James Angell, 6 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to insert the enclosed advertisement in your paper for six weeks successively and charge the same in your annual account with the President of the United States—which account you will be good enough to present whenever it becomes due. I am, Gentlemen, Your most obedient Servant LB , DLC:GW . William Goddard and James Angell (d. 1797) were the publishers of the Maryland...
5Tobias Lear to Francis Bailey, 26 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States has received Mr Bailey’s polite note offering him the perusal of an english translation of Lavater’s treatise on physiognomy and has commanded T. Lear to return his thanks to Mr Bailey for his politeness, and to inform him that the President’s time is so much occupied by business as not to permit him to profit of Mr Bailey’s offer. LB , DLC:GW . Johann Caspar...
6Tobias Lear to Gerard Bancker, 20 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your Letter of th⟨is⟩ date, accompanying a Sett of the Laws of the St⟨ate⟩ of New York, as lately revised, which you sent for ⟨the use⟩ of the President of the United States, in pursuan⟨ce of⟩ concurrent Resolutions of the Senate & Assembly of ⟨the⟩ State of New York. The Sett of Laws has been delivered to th⟨e President⟩ of the United States, who requests that his...
7Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 2 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 30th ultimo came to hand last evening accompanied with the Padusoy for Mrs Washington, the bill of which was enclosed. The President will thank you to get from Mr Bartram a list of the plants & shrubs which he has for sale, with the price affixed to each, and also a note to each of the time proper for transplanting them, as he is desireous of having some sent to Mount Vernon...
8Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 22 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
New York, 22 July 1790. Encloses a draft on the Bank of North America for $200 to be credited to GW’s account. ALS , PHi : Washington-Biddle Correspondence; ADfS , ViMtvL ; LB , DLC:GW . Biddle acknowledged receipt of the bank check on 26 July 1790 ( PHi : Clement Biddle Letter Book).
9Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 14 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have now before me your several favors of the 15th, 19th and 29th of August, and 2d of September. The Prayer-Books came safe to hand, and were much approved of by Mrs Washington. As there is, at present, no opportunity from this place to So. Carolina by water, I have taken the liberty to commit the enclosed letter to your care, requesting that you will be so good as to have it put on board...
10Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 16 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
The President has sent to Virginia a German who is to be a Gardener for him there. As he cannot speak the English Language and is unacquainted with the Country—I have paid his passage in the Stage to Philadelphia; and have written to Mr Inskeep—proprieter of the Stage there, to forward him from thence to Alexandria, and have informed him that the Amount of his Passage to the latter place would...
11Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 17 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
I acknowledge the rect of your favor of the 11th Inst.—and will thank you to get & deliver to Mr Lewis, the Presidents Nephew who will have the pleasure to deliver this, a German & English Dictionary for the Presidents German Gardner —and charge the same to the President’s Acct. The President went on Saturday to R. Island —he will return in about 8 days & I think will leave this for Virginia...
12Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 17 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 5th ultimo, in which you mention your having given the memo. contained in my letter of the 2d of October to a nephew of Mr Bartram who would deliver it to his uncle; but I have not since received any information relative to the plants & shrubs, my absence from New York with the President has undoubtedly been the cause of it. The President...
13Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 3 October 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favored with your letter of the 27th Ultimo and this morning Captain Albertson handed me your favor of the 23d. One hundred and sixty dollars is the lowest Captain Alberson will take for his vessels; and this exclusive of the Cabin, which he says was never comprehended in his conversation with you; and that it is always considered as seperate from the vessel when a vessel is...
14Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 5 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your letters of the 16th & 23d ultimo. We are furnished with a Carpet for the room which I had described to you; but are therefore no less obliged to you for the trouble you have had in making inquiries respecting it. The President will thank you to make an addition of two hundred bushels to the quantity of Buckwheat you have procured for him. It is probable that it...
15Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 21 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge your three favors of the 22d & 30th of Novr and 10th of Decr—all of which have been duly laid before the President, who now directs me to request that you will be so good as to inform me in your next, at what price per bushel 350 bushels of Buckwht could be delivered at Alexandria if sent in bags, includg the cost of the Buckwheat—the bags—commission on purchasing—freight...
16Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 3 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
New York, 3 June 1790. “The Cook arrived and entered upon his duty on the 1st of may; he gives us good dinners, and the Steward says he conducts himself well. We are much obliged by your agency in obtaining him.” ALS , PHi : Washington-Biddle Correspondence; copy, in Lear’s writing, ViMtvL ; LB , DLC:GW . For the search for a cook for the presidential household, see Tobias Lear to Daniel...
17Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 11 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge your favors of the 24th of June and the 4th & 8th of the present month; the former enclosing the Account of coach hire &c. paid by you—and the latter covering Mr Hare’s bill & rect for Porter sent to Mount Vernon. The President will thank you to inform me if plated waiters, suitable for carrying tea round to company, can be had with you—their sizes & cost—There are some...
18Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 14 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favoured with your letters of the 9th and 10th inst. —the latter enclosing the President’s acct as it then stood with you. In reply to your wish to know the President’s birth day, it will be sufficient to observe that it is on the 11th of February Old Style; but the Almanack-makers have generally set it down opposite to the 11th day of the present Style. How far this may go...
19Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 28 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your much esteemed favors of the 16th & 25th instts are before me. The President’s acct contained in the former is right. Mrs Washington will thank you to get for her and send on here, 15 Yards of Padusoy of the enclosed Pattern. The President wishes to procure a considerable quantity of Clover seed; I will, therefore, thank you to inform me at what price a quantity can be had with you—and the...
20Tobias Lear to Daniel Bowen, 28 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
Mr Lear presents his Compliments to Mr Bowen & will thank him to send by the Bearer the six framed pictures which Mr B. bid off yesterday for the President —Whenever Mr Bowen has leisure to draw off the Acct of the Prints &c. bo[ugh]t by him for the President Mr Lear will immediately pay it—and it would be pleasing to the President if he could know what would be a compensation to Mr Bowen for...
21Tobias Lear to the Cabinet, 24 February 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The President of the United States requests the attendance of the Secretary of State, at nine O’clock tomorrow morning , at the President’s House, on the subject of the Note sent to the Secretary from the President, on the 17th Inst. and that the Secretary will bring with him such remarks as he may have committed to writing in pursuance of said Note. At the same time the President will lay...
22Tobias Lear to the Cabinet, 24 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States requests the attendance of the Secretary of State, at nine O’clock tomorrow morning, at the President’s House, on the subject of the note sent to the Secretary from the President, on the 17th Inst. and that the Secretary will bring with him such remarks as he may have committed to writing in pursuance of said note. At the same time the President will lay...
23Tobias Lear to John Churchman, 10 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter with its enclosure last evening, and agreeably to your request submitted them to the inspection of the President of the United States. There has ⟨been⟩ no other letter for you passed through the Presidents hands, except the one which you mention to have received. The manuscripts, pamphlets & Charts which accompany this, were received by the President some weeks ago, by a...
24Tobias Lear to Matthew Clarkson, 29 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States has received your letter of the 22d instant, expressing an intention of resigning the Office of Marshal for the New York District. While the President regrets the loss of your services to the public, he hopes the circumstances which have induced a resignation of your appointment, are such as will conduce to your personal happiness and prosperity. But, Sir,...
25Tobias Lear to Jonathan Dayton, 9 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
In reply to your letter of this date, the President of the United States directs me to inform you, that he is ready to do, at any time, whatever may depend on him towards completing the “grant and conveyance of certain lands to John Cleves Symmes and his associates,” in conformity to An Act of the Legislature passed during the last session of Congress. But as the President understands that...
26Tobias Lear to William Deakins, Jr., 5 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
The President has directed me to enclose the within advertisement to you—and request that you will be good enough to hand one to the Printer at Georgetown, and forward the other to the Printer at Frederick Town, to be inserted in their papers for six weeks. I am Sir, very respectfully, Your most obedient Servant LB , DLC:GW . The enclosure has not been found. The Georgetown newspaper to which...
27Tobias Lear to “John A. Dingwell”, 18 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
The letter which you addressed to General Knox and myself, enclosing one for the President, came to hand this morning; and as the President is not expected to return from Rhode Island in less than 6 or 8 days from this time, we have, so far as is in our power, complied with your wishes, as you will see by the enclosed engagement. I will now add, that Colo. McGillivary and the Indians leave...
28Tobias Lear to William Duer, 4 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States will keep the Carriage provided for his use previous to his arrival in New-York—and as it will be considered upon the same footing with other articles furnished at that time and for that purpose —Mr Manley will therefore bring in his Accot accordingly. I am sir, with great respect Your most Obt Servt LB , DLC:GW . See Tobias Lear to Alexander Hamilton, 28...
29Tobias Lear to Oliver Evans, 26 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
The President presuming from your general acquaintance with Mills and Millers, that you will be able to give him the best information of the annual sum for which he can obtain a first rate Miller, that is, one capable of taking charge of a merchant mill, for his mill in Virginia, in addition to the perquisites which he allows to his present miller, and which will be here stated, has directed...
30Tobias Lear to Oliver Evans, 29 August 1791 (Washington Papers)
The President has been informed by his manager at Mount Vernon that the work of his mill is in such a stage as not to admit of any delay in erecting your improvements without stopping the whole progress of the work, which at this time would be a serious inconvenience. The mill-wright who has been employed in repairing the President’s mill has been to view your improvements at the Ochoquan...
31Tobias Lear to John Field, 7 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States having observed in the papers of this morning that a number of respectable citizens have engaged in a benevolent plan for the relief of such persons as the inclemency of the season and other circumstances had reduced to great distress, he has directed me to transmit ten pounds to you as the Treasurer, to be applied in such a manner as may best answer the...
32Tobias Lear to Andrew G. Fraunces, 14 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
In the letter which I wrote to you by the President’s order on the 3d inst. you was informed that the President had directed the Secretary of the Treasury to report to him, in writing, on the subject of your letter to the President of the 31st of July. This Report has accordingly been made by the Secretary—and the President directs me to inform you, that he finds therein such cogent reasons...
33Tobias Lear to Albert Gallatin, 11 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
On Saturday last the President recd a letter, wh. was enclosed in one to you from Mr Thos Bowen, in wh. Mr Bowen requests to be informed by the President, of the person who administerd on the Estate of a Mr George Harrison who formerly lived near Alexandria. In reply to Mr Bowen’s enquiry, the President has directed me to give you the following information (which is all he possesses on the...
34Tobias Lear to Elbridge Gerry, 8 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, 8 Dec. 1791. Having received “the Pears and the curious fluted Cymbling which Mr. Gerry has been so good as to send them,” the president and Mrs. Washington “beg his acceptance of their best thanks for this mark of polite attention.” George D. Smith catalog #172, 1912–13, item 521. Cymling was a contemporary name for pattypan squash ( Shannon, American Dictionary of Culinary...
35Tobias Lear to Daniel Grant, 8 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
Mrs Washington requests me to present, and begs your acceptance of her best thanks for the very excellent mutton and pair of canvas-back Ducks which you have been so polite as to send to her. I have delayed acknowledging the receipt of your letter or informing you of the safe arrival of the mutton until we should have an opportunity of judging of its goodness otherwise than by the eye. This...
36Tobias Lear to Daniel Grant, 28 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
About 3 or 4 weeks ago I wrote to Philadelphia to know if a good Cook could be had from that City for the family of the President of the United States—I received for answer that a complete one could not be found there at that time, but that it was probable one might be obtained from Baltimore, and Mr Moyston had accordingly written to Baltimore for one who had lately gone thither from Philada....
37To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 21 January 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] January 21, 1793 . “By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of the Treasury, three contracts made by the Collector of Washington in North Carolina for the stakeage of the shoals, sounds &c. in that State; which contracts are ratified by the President.” LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. See Tench Coxe to H, January 2, 1793 ,...
38Tobias Lear to Alexander Hamilton, 13 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to inform the Secretary of the Treasury that the President has appointed William Lewis to be keeper of the Light-house on Cape Henry, with a salary of four hundred Dollars per annum. The President does not conceive that the circumstance of mister Cormicks being employed to oversee the building of the Lighthouse, tho’ in his favor, as...
39To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 12 August 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to inform The Secretary of the Treasury, that as Mr. Short’s mission to Madrid will probably cause much delay in negotiating the intended additional loan, if instructions on this subject should be sent to him to transact the business—the President thinks, with you, that it would be best to address the instructions for this business immediately...
40Tobias Lear to Alexander Hamilton, 18 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by the President of the United States to send you the enclosed letter from General Hazen dated Decr 16th—and likewise a memorial from the same person of the 12th inst: together with the Copy of a letter written by the Presidents command in answer to the enclosed Memorial. I have the honor to be with perfect consideration Sir Your most Obedt Servt LB , DLC:GW . None of these...
41To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 8 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] March 8, 1791 . Transmits “a commission for Stephen Keyes, Collector of Allburgh in Vermont.” LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Vermont was admitted to the Union on March 4, 1791. On the same day Keyes, a Burlington, Vermont, merchant, was appointed collector of Alburg.
42To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 15 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
By the Presidents command T. Lear has the honor to transmit to the Secretary of the Treasury a letter from Mr. Governr. Morris to the president respecting the Debt of the United States in France; which the President requests the Secretary to take into consideration, and to draft such an answer as will be proper for the President to give to Mr. Morris on this subject. LC , George Washington...
43Tobias Lear to Alexander Hamilton, 13 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
The sum of two thousand five Dollars is necessary to be advanced to take up notes which were given for money advanced for the household of the President of the United States previous to the organization of the Treasury Department. This sum added to two thousand Dollars which you have already advanced for the purpose of taking up Notes, will compleat the payment of all Monies advanced for the...
44To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 10 October 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I shall sail from this place for London early in November, and if before that time you can find it convenient to give me the letters which you had the goodness to promise I shall esteem it a mark of peculiar favor. I shall go from London to Amsterdam and letters to our Bankers or other respectable Characters in the latter place might greatly facilitate my business, by shewing them that I am...
45To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 23 January 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
By the President’s direction T. Lear has the honor to transmit to the Secretary of the Treasury a Copy of the Resolution of the House of representatives relative to the Loans made in Holland; with which the President requests the Secretary to comply as soon as he conveniently can. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. The enclosed resolution, passed by the House of...
46To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 15 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
By the President’s command T Lear has the honor to transmit to the Secretary of the treasury the proposals which have this day been submitted to the President, for rebuilding the lanthorn story & wooden work of the Light House in South Carolina which has lately been consumed by fire, and likewise proposals for plastering the same —All of which have been approved by the President of the United...
47Tobias Lear to Alexander Hamilton, 9 July 1791 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, 9 July 1791. “The President has received a letter from Mr Rue, who was appointed second Mate of the revenue Cutter on the Delaware station, declining his appointment & returning his commission.” LB , DLC:GW . The letter of resignation from Benjamin Rue to GW has not been found but must have been written between 28 June and this date. Tench Coxe wrote to Tobias Lear on 28 June...
48To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 4 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] August 4, 1790 . Encloses commissions for persons appointed to the customs service in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
49To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 5 January 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
By direction of the President of the United States, I have the honor herewith to transmit to you a letter from the Governor of Virginia, dated December 18th, 1789, enclosing an Act (which is likewise sent you) of the general Assembly of that Commonwealth, passed Novr. 13th. 1789, to convey to the United States in Congress assembled certain Land for the purpose of building a Light House on Cape...
50To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 11 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, January 11, 1791. “The President of the United States having duly considered the subject of building a Light House on Cape Henry in Virginia, as submitted to him on the 5th Instant by the Secretary of the Treasury … it appears to him that the proposal made by John McComb Junr. of New York is most advantageous to the United States, and he is therefore of opinion that the...