1From George Washington to James McHenry, 3 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have received your very friendly letter of the 28th of June, and feel a grateful sense of the interest which you take in my welfare and happiness, and the kind solicitude which you express for the recovery of my health—I have now the pleasure to inform you that my health is restored, but a feebleness still hangs upon me, and I am yet much incommoded by the incision which was made in a very...
2From George Washington to James McHenry, 30 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
(Confidential) Dear Sir, New York Novr 30th 1789. I have received your letter of the 14th instt—and in consequence of the suggestions contained therein, added to other considerations which occurred to me, I have thought it best to return Judge Harrison his Commission, and I sincerely hope that upon a further consideration of the Subject he may be induced to revoke his former determination &...
3From George Washington to James McHenry, 11 July 1792 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to James McHenry, c.11 July 1792. McHenry wrote GW on 17 July that he had received GW’s letter, noting: “It has the Philadelphia post mark of the 11th.”
4From George Washington to James McHenry, 13 August 1792 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir, Mount Vernon Augt 13th 1792. Your letter of the 17th of July came duly to hand. I could, with pleasure, spend a day in Baltimore on my return to Philadelphia, if time & circumstances would permit; but it is not for me at this moment to say whether either would suit me; besides, I shall confess to you candidly, I have no relish for formal & ceremonious engagements, and only...
5From George Washington to James McHenry, 31 August 1792 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir, Mount Vernon Augt 31st 1792 The characters given of Messrs Smith & Hollingsworth by you, comports very much with those I have received from others, and therefore of the two, the preference is given to the former. But as neither stand upon such high grounds as Mr Tilghman or Mr Hammond, and as it is my duty as well as inclination to fill Offices with the most suitable...
6From George Washington to James McHenry, 21 September 1792 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir, Mount Vernon Septr 21st [1792]. Fearing some accident may have prevented my last (enclosing a letter for Mr Robt Smith) from reaching your hands, I take the liberty of giving you the trouble to receive this, requesting to be informed if this be the fact—and if not, what has been the result of your enquiries in the business Committed to you. I have had many applications in...
7From George Washington to James McHenry, 28 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your letter of the 11th of this month, and thank you very cordially for the information contained in it. I have also received your letter of the 9th instant, recommending Mr J. H. Purviance to fill the Office of Surveyor of the Port of Baltimore. And altho’ you know it is not my custom to answer letters of this description; yet on the present occasion I have thought it...
8From George Washington to James McHenry, 8 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir, Philadelphia 8th April 1794 Your private letters of the 31st of March & 3d instt have been duly received. Although it is a rare, if not an entire new thing with me, to answer letters applying for appointments, yet from motives of esteem & regard, & our former connexion in public life, I shall acknowledge the receipt of yours on this head; although I can say nothing more on...
9From George Washington to James McHenry, 1 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to James McHenry, 1 July 1795. A purported ALS was offered for sale by Parke-Bernet, The James McHenry Papers, Part I: Public Auction Sale, (3 May 1944), item 213.
10From George Washington to James McHenry, 20 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
Let this letter be received with the same friendship and frankness, with which it is written, nothing would add more to the satisfaction this would give me, than your acceptance of the offer I am going to make you. Without further preface then, will you suffer me to nominate you to the office of Secretary of War? That I may give evidence of the candour I have professed above, I shall inform...
11From George Washington to James McHenry, 28 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 21st & 24th instant have been duly received. The last, in time on tuesday, to give in the nominations of yourself & Mr Chase for the Offices contemplated. The day following they were advised & consented to by the Senate; and the Commissions will be ready for the reception of you both on your arrival in this City. of this be so good as to inform Mr Chase; and, if he is still...
12From George Washington to James McHenry, 11 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
The letters, with their enclosures from Genl Wilkenson, shew in an additional strong point of view, the indispensable necessity of moving the requisite quantity of Provisions & Stores to the upper Posts of the Army, North West of the Ohio. I therefore desire, you will not only make the necessary arrangements with Genl Wayne (to whom the contents of these Papers might be communicated) but...
13From George Washington to James McHenry, 8 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed letter presents a serious—perhaps a just view of the subject which has been under consideration—and as I wish in every thing, particularly in matters of foreign relation, to conduct with caution; I request that your letter to the Govr General of Canada; the Instructions to Major Lewis; and all your arrangements respecting the reception of the Posts may accord with the ideas...
14From George Washington to James McHenry, 4 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
Return the enclosed as soon as Mr Ross (under strong injunctions) have read it—Never put papers, improper to be seen, under a cover sealed with a Wafer—At any time, but especially when wet, the contents m⟨ay⟩ be seen and the cover closed ⟨mutilated ⟩ without suspicion, or appearan⟨ce⟩ of being opened. ALS (photocopy), DLC : James McHenry Papers. McHenry wrote a note dated 4 June 1796 at the...
15From George Washington to James McHenry, 4 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
If it is not too late for Fenno’s Paper of this Afternoon, an extract from Chapins letter, respecting the removal of the artillery, Stores &ca from Niagara, to the other side of the River (British side) might afford pleasing information. I presume there can be no doubt of its authenticity. Yrs always ALS , PHi : Dreer Collection. The letter’s date derives from the publication of the suggested...
16From George Washington to James McHenry, 22 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 14th & 15th instant have been received, but not in time to have been answered by the Post of Monday last; being then on my Journey to this place. The ground on which you place the compliance with Lieutt Geddes’s request, appears to be the best the nature of the case is now susceptible of; and for that purpose, I return the Proceedings of the Court Martial and other Papers...
17From George Washington to James McHenry, 1 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 27th Ulto by Post, with its enclosures (the originals of which, I return) came to my hands on Wednesday. And your other letters of the 27th & 28th by Express, was received about five oclock yesterday afternoon. The accounts brought in the latter, are very pleasing indeed, inasmuch as they will serve to remove the doubts of the credulous (with respect to the Western Posts);...
18From George Washington to James McHenry, 1 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
By the Post, rather than by the Express, you will receive my Official letter, and its Enclosures. For the difference of a few hours, in a case that is not urgent, I would have you avoid sending an Express to me. The latter does not travel faster than the Mail; of course there cannot (unless Sunday intervene’s) be more, in any case (supposing an occasion to arise in one hour after the Mail was...
19From George Washington to James McHenry, 8 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Having written a great many letters for this day’s Post, and being a good deal fatigued thereby and with the heat of the weather, I shall do no more, at present, than to inform you that your letters of the 2d and 3d instant with the enclosures of the first came perfectly safe, and that my letter to the Secretary of State, of this date, will inform you confidentially of my decision with respect...
20From George Washington to James McHenry, 13 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Private The purport of your private letter, of the 7th instant (that part of it I mean, which relates to the Frigate for the Regency of Algiers) has surprised me exceedingly. That no step yet, should have been taken to carry this measure into vigorous execution; and that it should be asked, near six weeks after it had been resolved to comply with the Deys request, and an actual stipulation of...
21From George Washington to James McHenry, 18 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 10th, 12th and 13th instant, with their enclosures, came all by the last Mail to Alexandria; and were received by me on Saturday morning. The contents of such parts as require it, shall be noticed. The greatest, and what appears to me to be an insuperable difficulty in the way of running and marking the boundary line between the United States and the Cherokee tribe of...
22From George Washington to James McHenry, 22 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
(private) Your private letter of the 16 came to my hands at the same time that your official one did of the 18th. From what is there said it appears by the enclosures, I am satisfied no unnecessary delay respecting the Algierine frigate has taken place. From a former one, & perhaps from a solicitude to execute promptly whatever is entrusted to me, I had conceived otherwise. As I have Mr Liston...
23From George Washington to James McHenry, 22 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 18th instant with its enclosures, came to hand by the last Mail. Such of the latter, as are original, I herewith return to your Office. It would appear from the extract of Mr Habersham’s letter, that the Treaty (or rather meeting) between the Georgians and Creek Indians, has terminated unfavourably; and will tend, it is to be feared, to hostilities. A favorable result could...
24From George Washington to James McHenry, 25 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed letter from Mr Landais, transmitting one from you to him, was received by the last Post. Filling the vacancies in the Corps of Artillery, before the adjournment of the Senate, was suggested; but why, as it was not proposed by the military Act, that it should undergo any diminution, it was not done, my memory does not serve me. If there are more Cadets in that Regiment than Mr...
25From George Washington to James McHenry, 1 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Post of Friday last brought me your dispatches of the 26th Ulto, with the Papers therein enclosed. The draught of a letter to the Agent of the Department of War, and the Instructions for the person proposed as Deputy paymaster and Storekeeper in the State of Tennessee, are guarded, and proper. The only doubt remaining with me, is whether so many Officers, in that quarter, are realy...
26From George Washington to James McHenry, 8 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 3d instant, with the information of our possession of Fort Ontario (lately occupied by the Troops of Great Britain) and the correspondence between Captn Bruff of the United States Troops, and Captn Clarke of the British was brought to me by the last Post. Several matters are submitted by the former for consideration; among them, the mode of supplying the Garrison with fire...
27From George Washington to James McHenry, 10 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
Private Colo. Hawkins is now here, on his way to Philadelphia, & proposes to proceed in the S⟨ta⟩ge of tomorrow. He has related many matters, and read many papers relative to the Treaty with the Creek Indians; the conduct of the State Commissioners of ⟨Georgia; &ca &ca.⟩ But as this is not the regular way of bringing business, of this sort, before me; I have requested that he and Mr Clymer...
28From George Washington to James McHenry, 12 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
The originals and drafts of letters enclosed in yours of the 8th instt are herewith returned. The publication of the letters to and from Lieutt Colo. England was certainly improper: and the reprehension of Genl Wilkinson for doing it , or suffering it to be done , is just; and the manner in which it has been conveyed to him is delicate. The draught of the letter to Colo. Gaither, predicated on...
29From George Washington to James McHenry, 7 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
Private The principles of the Enclosed Instructions I approve; and since they are drawn, I shall not object to the Phraseology; tho’ considering that it is Addressed to our agent, for his government part of them, I think is too much in the stile of a talk to the Indians. And I think too, as he is intended for the general Superintendent his attentions seems to be too much confined to the Creek...
30From George Washington to James McHenry, 17 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
By the last Mail I received three letters from you (with their several numerous enclosures) the first dated the 8th and the other two the 10th of this instant. The enclosures are all returned under cover with this letter; and as I expect to be at the Seat of Government by the first of next Month (if the health of those who are to accompany me will permit it) I shall express no Sentiments...