301To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel David Humphreys, 21 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received at Lebanon ⟨your favour of the 15th and⟩ shall yield implicit obedience to the contents —but having been obliged to procure a Horse near N. Haven in the room of one of mine which I had lamed, I shall be under the necessity of sending tither ⟨&⟩ my return will be delayed a week or ten days; unless I should be honored with your further Commands which will find me at this place. I...
302To George Washington from David Humphreys, 28 June 1794 (Washington Papers)
By every opportunity which has occurred, I have endeavoured to keep you informed of the great events taking place in Europe, through the medium of my correspondence with the Secretary of State. While affairs have been growing every day more & more interesting and critical, I have had many conversations with the public Agents of Denmark & Sweden (who alone seem to be disposed to oppose...
303To George Washington from David Humphreys, 30 June 1794 (Washington Papers)
(Secret & confidential) My dear Sir. Lisbon June 30th 1794. Before this shall arrive, you will probably have received information from Mr Pinckney, that a new Treaty has some time since been concluded in London, between G. Britain & Portugal. I knew that such a measure was attempted a year ago by the British Minister here, without effect. The above-mentioned Treaty, negociated by Lord...
304To George Washington from David Humphreys, 7 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
(secret & confidential) My dear Sir. Gibralter Octr 7th 1793. By my letters of yesterday & to-day to the Secretary of State, you will learn that the Algerines have concluded a Truce with the Portuguese; and that the Algerine fleet has gone into the Atlantic. I think they would not have passed the Streights with all their force, without having much better Pilots than usual. In dreading the...
305To George Washington from David Humphreys, 23 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
By my Dispatch of this date to the Secretary of State, you will perceive what measures I have thought it necessary to adopt respecting the subsistence of our Captives in Algiers; as also the reasons why I have judged it highly expedient to go myself to Gibralter to find and take care of the public property which must have been left there by the late Mr Barclay. I hope that these proceedings...
306To George Washington from David Humphreys, 3 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
I seize the earliest moment to inform you of my safe arrival here (after a most disagreeable passage of sixty one days) on the very urgent & important business, stated in my three last letters from Lisbon (Nrs 149, 150 & 151) to the Secretary of State. I hope the Originals will have reached him; or, if they should have miscarried, that the Copies (which I forwarded at Sea, on the 28th of...
307To George Washington from David Humphreys, 13 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
The consolation I derive from your good & friendly letter of the 23d of March compensates a great deal for the cruel chagrine I feel for so long an absence from every thing my heart holds most dear. It is particularly a cordial for many uneasy sensations I feel at the present moment, respecting the interesting affair in which I am engaging. It was somewhat of a curious circumstance that I...
308To George Washington from David Humphreys, 23 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Secret & confidential) My dear Sir. Alicant [Spain] Novr 23d 1793. By my letter of the 19th to the Secry of State, & particularly by that of this date to him (of which I forward Duplicates) you will find that the Dey of Algiers has refused to grant a Passport for me to come to Algiers. All hopes of any accomodation by negotiation for the present are therefore at an end. To use the Dey’s own...
309To George Washington from David Humphreys, 9 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment been honored with your letter of the 22nd of Octr & am thereby relieved from some anxiety for fear mine of the 24th of Septr had miscarried. For the reasons you mention, I think it will be best that the General Meeting of the Cincinnati should be holden at Philadelphia. I am happy that the enclosures have met with your approbation. A few days ago, I addressed a letter to you...
310To George Washington from David Humphreys, 15 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
I forward to your Excellency the Report of the Depy Qr Master, the Forage & Waggon Mastr Genls on the subject of Forage, together with their Estimate of the Quantity necessary, and Plan for obtaining it; in hopes that these papers may come to your hands before you shall have left Philadelphia, that the opinion of the Financier may be taken, and definitive Arrangements be made on the spot. The...
311To George Washington from David Humphreys, 6 January 1784 (Washington Papers)
After your public Audience was concluded on the 23d of Deer the President of Congress took me aside, and requested, “if any thing should occur to me in consequence of what had just been suggested in favor of the Gentlemen of General Washington’s family who had continued with him to that moment, that I would communicate it to him in a Letter,” and further observed, that he should take great...
312To George Washington from David Humphreys, 1 November 1785 (Washington Papers)
Being uncertain whether this letter will arrive at Bourdeaux in time to be carried to America by the vessel which brought me your favour of the 25th of July, I will content myself with assuring you how deeply I am penetrated by those expressions of confidence & friendship with which it is replete. Whether I should, or should not be at liberty to accept the liberal offer you make I cannot at...
313To George Washington from David Humphreys, 13 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
Seventeen Miles east of Camden [S.C.] My dear Genl Octr 13th 1789. Having been led to believe that this route was the shortest & best, we left Augusta this day week; and having now an opportunity by Charles Town, I write (in conformity to the intimation you was pleased to give) for the purpose of keeping you advised of our progress. From the Savannah at Augusta to the Congaree at Friday’s...
314To George Washington from David Humphreys, 30 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
I was obliged to close my last Letter of the 18th of Augst so abruptly that I had not even time to tell you how much satisfaction it would afford me, should I be able by my communications to contribute in any degree to your amusement or information, as you were pleased to intimate—permit me now to assure you, that the delightful employment of thus conversing with my dearest General, under the...
315To George Washington from David Humphreys, 31 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
(Secret & Confidential) My Dear Sir. Lisbon Janry 31st 1794 Immediately after my return from Spain, I asked an audience of Mr Pinto the Secretary of State for foreign affairs for the purpose of learning decisively, whether the Truce between Portugal & Algiers was likely to be improved into a Peace, or not. Yesterday I waited upon him, and, with as much delicacy as I was master of endeavoured...
316To George Washington from David Humphreys, 1 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency some time ago from Hartford & enclosed you the draft of a letter on the subject we talked of when I left Mount Vernon. I hope you have duly received it, tho’ I shall not be free from anxiety until I know with certainty that has been the case. When I wrote that letter, I was in hopes that it might have been in my power before this time, to give you a favorable account of...
317To George Washington from David Humphreys, 28 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the pleasure of writing you last, I have received Orders to march the part of my Regt which is raised in Connecticut to this place. Two compleat Companies arrived on Saturday last. They occupy the Barracks & take the guard of the Arsenal & Magazines. I intend to return to Hartford in a few days, & shall remain there probably for some time. As I conceived you would be anxious to...
318To George Washington from David Humphreys, 30 November 1790 (Washington Papers)
(Secret) My Dear General Lisbon Nov 30th 1790. I have forwarded to Mr Jefferson for your information the continuation of my Proceedings until the present time. You will be pleased to observe by my letter to him of this date, that the Court of Lisbon, having, from a desire of opening an official intercourse with the U.S., made the first advances by appointing a Minister Resident to repair...
319To George Washington from David Humphreys, 24 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Secret & confidential) My dear Sir. Lisbon March 24th 1793. I took the liberty of addressing a letter to you from Gibralter on the 8th of last month, which I hope will have come safe to your hand. I mentioned therein that my design in writing was only to suggest two hints, the first whether you would wish to make use of Mr Church in the Morocco business, as he was soon expected at Lisbon? The...
320To George Washington from David Humphreys, 7 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
Memorandum for His Excellency the Commander in Chief. In consequence of the frequent encouragement your Excellency has given me, to suggest freely whatever might occur which appeared benificial to the public Interest, I have the honor to submit the following observations respecting the object of the Campaign for your consideration & future decision. In the first place, I believe we may venture...
321To George Washington from David Humphreys, 8 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Private & confidential) My dear Sir. Gibralter Feby 8th 1793. An easterly wind having suddenly sprung up, I am obliged to leave this in an hour for the Port of Lagos, (not very distant from Lisbon) or run the risque of being detained here several weeks, or even perhaps Months. For information, I beg leave to refer you to my two last public letters, of equal date, to the Secretary State. My...
322To George Washington from David Humphreys, 4 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Secret & confidential) My dear Sir. Lisbon April 4th 1793. Since I had the honour of addressing you on the 24th Ultimo, I have seen two letters from Captn Obrian (the last of the 12th of February) to the Messrs Bulkeleys of this Town. In these he mentions, “that a Peace had been made by the instrumentality of Spain, between Prussia & Algiers for One hundred & forty thousand Mexico Dollars:...
323To George Washington from David Humphreys, 16 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have written you twice within these few days, and agreeably to the promise in my last, I have now the honor of enclosing papers containing the state of facts respecting Captn Asgill’s confinement—I have no fear but that the truth will become generally known, I hope it is digested & printed in a manner that will be acceptable to you. I would have sent you several of the late papers from the...
324To George Washington from Major David Humphreys, 23 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have taken the liberty to present Your Excellency, with the Copy of an Address to the Armies under your command, which was begun for my own amusement, compleated with the Design suggested in the introduction, and suffered to be published, on the representation of my friends, that it might in some measure answer so valuable and important a purpose. Should it be so fortunate as to have any...
325To George Washington from David Humphreys, 3 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
The Swedish vessel which was to have sailed with my last letters three days ago, has been unexpectedly detained until this time, I therefore take the liberty of addressing you again, principally with the object of recommending Mr James Simpson of Gibralter to be appointed Consul of the U.S. for that Port. This I am the rather induced to do, because I think a Consul at that Place highly...
326IV. To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel David Humphreys, 23 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
General Greene, directs me to inform your Excellency, that from the best intelligence he is able to obtain, the Enemy are now out in force, with seventeen Pieces of Artillery—At first they made a demonstration of acting on his right; and large parties were seen from the heights of Springfield filing off in that direction: A considerable Column, in the mean time advanced on his left, where...
327To George Washington from David Humphreys, 28 September 1787 (Washington Papers)
I would not trespass on your attention, while you was occupied in such momentuous affairs as the revisal of the confederation: the last time I had the honor of addressing a letter to you, was, I believe, in the beginning of June, from this place—in that letter was enclosed the sketch of an Answer to Mr Jefferson. I hope it came safe to your hands. We have been, a few days since, gratified with...
328To George Washington from David Humphreys, 31 October 1790 (Washington Papers)
(Secret) My dear General London Octr 31st 1790. Since my arrival here, on the 14th inst., I have written four letters to Mr Jefferson, by different conveyances, in which I have given him a detail of such political facts & reports as I supposed might be in any degree, interesting in America. As these communications will be submitted to your inspection, I forebear troubling you with any...
329To George Washington from David Humphreys, 11 February 1786 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you by the ship which brought me your affectionate favour of the 25th of July; since which I have been honoured by the receipt of your letters of the 1st of Septr & 30th of Octr—they reached me a few days ago in this city, where I have been about two months. You may naturally expect I should give some little account of this great wonder of the world and the reception I have...
330To George Washington from David Humphreys, 1 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
I would not trouble you with an acknowledgment of your friendly letter which I received by the hand of Captn O’Brien, because I could only repeat my sensibility of your kindness & my unalterable attachment to you. I wished not therefore to consume your time in reading a letter which contained only what you knew before. At present, the season of annual festivity seems to encourage me in...
331To George Washington from David Humphreys, 21 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
I did not trouble you with a letter from Savannah, because our public Dispatch to the Secretary at War would inform you of our proceedings to that time. Besides the oppressive nature of the intollerable heat & the exertion we were obliged to make to get forward on our journey, occasioned such a relaxation & consequent sickness as rendered me almost incapable of writing. We are all now well....
332To George Washington from David Humphreys, 1 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
In taking leave of you, at the moment of your departure while I strove in vain to check an impulse which I apprehended betrayed too much weakness, I found the burden on my heart choaked the passage of utterance. In that moment a multitude of ideas crouded into my mind. A long seperation from one’s friends & country, under an idea of going into a nation where one is a total stranger, however...
333To George Washington from David Humphreys, 8 April 1795 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to explain myself on a part of the plan for the management of the Algerine business, on which I had not an opportunity of doing it in conversation. My idea is that Mr Donaldson should not commence any negociation whatsoever at Algiers, or even appear in a public character (but merely as the bearer of a letter & under sanction of a Flag) unless he shall receive secret & confidential...
334To George Washington from David Humphreys, 22 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
Upon my arrival at this place, I applied to Colonel Hughs respecting Quarters for Your Excellency—As it was imagined the Governors House would be far more convenient than any other; and the Quarter Master having suggested, that Mr Bedlow’s family (being very small) might be accomodated in Cases House the whole of which he would obtain for that purpose, the proposal was made by him—but some...
335To George Washington from David Humphreys, 8 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to put under cover to you a letter for Mr Manley the Engraver in Philadelphia, who is about to strike the Medal containing your likeness. At the moment when I was leaving New York he asked me for my opinion on the subject, and requested that I would write to him as soon as I might find it convenient—which I promised. In case there should be any thing erroneous in the Model,...
336To George Washington from David Humphreys, 4 November 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from David Humphreys, 4 Nov. 1790. Frank Landon Humphreys claimed that before his vessel “finally left England, Col. Humphreys sent a letter to Gen. Washington from Gravesend on November 4.” This could have been, however, the letter Humphreys had written to the president four days earlier (see Humphreys, Life and Times of David Humphreys, Francis Landon Humphreys. Life and...
337To George Washington from David Humphreys, 5 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Secret & confidential) My dear Sir. Lisbon May 5th 1793 I wrote to the Secretary of State on the 29th Ulto by way of Boston. In that Dispatch, I mentioned having seen a letter of the 20th of March from Captn Obryen, on Algerine affairs. I now take the liberty of enclosing the copy of a letter from him to a Gentleman in this city, for your information. I pretend to make no comments upon it, as...
338From David Humphreys to Samuel Blachley Webb, 26 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief has directed me to inform you he would have you commence the March of the Light Infantry at day break tomorrow Morng, & proceed on the route by the River to the Fork of the Road just above the Redoubt at Dobbs’s Ferry (where Sheldons Legion was quartered last Campaign) from whence you will please to detach one Battalion to the height immediately above the Redoubt on the...
339From David Humphreys to Hezekiah Wetmore, 8 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief is clearly of opinion, that under the peculiar circumstances of the R. Island Regt the full amount of subsistence for all the Officers of it ought to be paid for the Month of March. I am Sr. &c. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
340From David Humphreys to Hezekiah Wetmore, 8 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have it in charge from His Excellency the Commander in Chief to direct that you should remove your Office to West Point, as soon as room can be made in the Barracks for your accomodation by the Officers going into Tents. A principal object is to prevent detachments & reduce the number of Guards as much as possible. A Single Sentinel from the Main Guard at West Point will then answer all the...
341David Humphreys’ Thoughts on Garrisonning the Western Posts, July 1783 to August 1783 (Washington Papers)
Thoughts respecting the Minuter Arrangements necessary for garresoning the Western Posts. Congress having left the Arrangement of the subject entirely to the discretion of the Commander in Chief; and the primary Plans for possessing the Posts on the western Waters by a Detachment of the Army; for transporting them thither; and for supplying them with Provisions, having already been adopted—it...