11To George Washington from Paul Richard Randall, May 1789 (Washington Papers)
It is with extreme diffidence I obtrude myself upon your notice in expressing an inclination to serve my country in some publick Employment. I have no meritorious claims to urge in support of my pretensions having had very little opportunity of manifesting a patriotick zeal. After receiving an education suitable to the bar, and being admitted to practise in this state, I made a small tour in...
12From George Washington to the United Baptist Churches of Virginia, May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I request that you will accept my best acknowledgments for your congratulation on my appointment to the first office in the nation. The kind manner in which you mention my past conduct equally claims the expression of my gratitude. After we had, by the smiles of Heaven on our exertions, obtained the object for which we contended, I retired at the conclusion of the war, with an idea that my...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Rodolphe Tillier, May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Berne, May 1789 . Had delayed thanking TJ for kindness to him on passing through Paris “with Mrs. Tillier and Son in Law C. Penrose” because a friend who wanted to apply to TJ for information “about a family de Graffenried settled in Virginia … has detained me.” But he “will not wait longer to present my best ofers of services and Mrs. Tillier, and her sons most dutifull respects” to TJ and...
The President of the United States wishes to avail himself of your sentiments on the following points— 1 st Whether a line of Conduct, equally distant from an association with all kinds of Company on the one hand, and from a total seclusion from Society on the other ought to be adopted by him?— and in that case how it is to be done? 2 d: What will be the least exceptionable Method of bringing...
15Abigail Adams to John Adams, 1 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
I received your kind favours of the 19 & 22 of April. the printers were very obliging in taking particular care to supply me daily with the paper’s by which I learnt the arrival and Reception of the Pressident, & vice Pressident. if I thought I could compliment in so courtly and masterly a stile, I would say that the address to the Senate was exactly what it ought to be, neither giving too...
16John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
It has been impossible to get time to write you.— Morning, Noon, and Night, has been taken up with Business, or Visits.— Yesterday the President was Sworn, amidst the Acclamations of the People.— But I must refer you to Gazettes & Spectators.— I write this abed.— M r Allen del d. me, Yesterday your Letter.— I like very much your Plan of coming on, with Charles and Thomas, before Commencement....
17To George Washington from John Cochran, 1 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Permit me to congratulate you & my Country on your Appointment to the chief Presidency of the united states of America by the unanimous voice of its Citizens. That you may be happy & successful in the discharge of this important Trust is my most ardent Wish. A reliance on the Benevolence of my Countrymen & Necessity have compelled me to make an application, which I could wish I did not stand...
18To George Washington from Moustier, 1 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
It is truly mortifying to me to be under the disadvantage of using a foreign language in which I am so little versed. I conceive I must have committed errors, from the interpretation you have given, Sir, to my preceding letter, in regard to two points which were far from my intention. The first is relative to the application of the general principle on which I thought that a private audience...
19To George Washington from Annis Boudinot Stockton, 1 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Can the muse, can the freind forbear! (for oh I must Call thee friend, great as thou art) to pay the poor tribute she is capable off, when she is so interested in the universal Congratulation—I thought I Could testify my Joy when I saw you—but words were vain, and my heart was so filled with respect, love, and gratitude, that I Could not utter an Idea. Be pleased to accept the enclosed...
20To George Washington from Anthony Walton White, 1 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
My friends have advised me to offer myself a candidate for the office of Collector of the Impost of this State. Presuming Sir, that it would intrude too much on your time to read the letters and Certificates my friends have offered, induced me to decline accepting any to accompany this application, and I should not have enclosed the letter from the Governor of my Native State, did I not...