101To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 7 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
Since I had the honor to transmit to you Doctor Stevens’ dispatches, relative to the affairs of St. Domingo, they have much engaged the attention of myself and colleagues. We are all of opinion, that the arret of Roume, the particular agent of the Directory, of the 25th of April, cannot be considered as commensurate with those conditions which in the original instructions to Doctor Stevens...
102To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 4 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 28th ult. and in consequence of your intimation that a successor to Mr. Daniel Hawley might properly be sought for, I inclose the testimonies of many respectable merchants of Philadelphia and New-York, & from Brigr. General Hughes of the latter city, recommending Mr. John Morton of New-York to be the Consul of the United States in some port in...
103To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 4 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter for you came to hand this morning, without any letter from Mr. Adams to me. And the pamphlet accompanying this arrived yesterday, with letters from Mr. King, of which the duplicates have been before recd. and forwarded to you. A letter from Mr. Murray dated March 10th. is also inclosed. I have the honor to be / with great respect / sir your obt. servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
104To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 1 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received the inclosed letter from General Toussaint, which for the reason suggested in my last, I thought you would approve of my opening. It is of an old date, and only expressive of his impatience to have the intercourse with St. Domingo renewed. I have the honor to be / with great respect / Sir, your most obt. servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
105To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 30 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
At the moment of closing my letter of yesterday, just before the departure of the mail, I forgot to inclose the two laws of the French Republic referred to in the arret of the Agent of St. Domingo, and General Toussaint’s letter to you. This letter I conceived He should rather have addressed to the department of state, and as it could relate only to the affairs conducted thro’ that department,...
106To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 29 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letter from Doctor Edward Stevens, dated May 3d, the decree of the agency of St. Domingo, dated April 25, and the documents numbered from 1 to 8, were recd. here on the 25th, in my absence from town; together with his interesting private letter of May 6th. By a vessel arrived here on Sunday (the 26th) I received a duplicate of the Doctor’s letter of May 3d, and verbal information...
107To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 21 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I received letters from Algiers, dated the 22d. of February. In one of that date written by Captain Eaton (Consul for Tunis) and signed by him and Captain O’Brien, is the following interesting passage. “This morning Consul General O’Brien informed me that he had just now concluded a settlement of all accounts between the Dey and the United States, which he desired me to sketch in the...
108To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 21 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to submit to your consideration the inclosed letter from Mr. John Ferrers of New-York, with five documents inclosed, respecting the conduct of Daniel Hawley, the Consul of the U. States for the Havana. I also inclose Mr. Hawley’s letter of the 11th. in answer to mine in which I had transmitted Mr. Ferrer’s first statement of facts (marked No. 3) as far as his signature of the...
109To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 18 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning been honored with your letter of the 13th. and will introduce in the 10th article the idea you have been pleased to suggest, in the instructions to Mr. King, to negociate a commercial treaty with Prussia. A copy of these instructions shall be transmitted to Mr. Adams at Berlin, with the fresh instructions you direct. Yesterday I received from our Consul at Gibraltar the...
110To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 18 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor to inclose the Commission for Governor Davie, for the President’s signature. MHi : Adams Papers.
111To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 15 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Liston informs me, that on information recd. by Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, of one of the mutineers and murderers of the officers of the British Frigate Hermione being at Charleston So. Carolina, the Admiral sent thither a vessel on purpose to receive and carry the culprit to the fleet to be tried: but that the district judge had not deemed it proper to deliver him up. This question has...
112To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 14 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed should have been forwarded last Saturday. MHi : Adams Papers.
113To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 10 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose Mr. Liston’s note of the 8th. requesting the usual Exequatur for Thomas Barclay Esqr. and Benjamin Moodie Esqr. whom his Britannic Majesty has appointed—The former Consul General for the Eastern States, and the latter Consul for North & South Carolina and Georgia. Mr. Barclay is the gentleman who was the British Commissioner for settling the question of the St....
114To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 9 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning been honoured with your letter of the 1st; and am happy that the measures & plans taken in concert with Mr. Liston & Genl. Maitland relative to St. Domingo have met with your approbation. One of the papers, No. 7. being my letter to Mr. King, inclosed in mine to you of April 23d, I shall be obliged by your returning, as I have no other copy; and the original was sent to Mr....
115To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 6 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I gave Mr. King early notice of his appointment to negociate a treaty of amity & commerce with Russia; which I supposed would be sufficient to induce the Russian minister in London to ask of his government the requisite commission to treat with Mr. King. I have now draughted a set of instructions which may probably arrive in London in time for commencing the negociation. I have the honor to...
116To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 30 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a letter from Patrick Henry Esqr. declining the appointment of an envoy to France. I now inclose a letter from Judge Ellsworth, which I have reserved for this expected event: and am, with great respect, / Sir, your most obt. servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
117To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 23 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I was honoured with your letter of the 13th. General Maitland’s departure this morning for St. Domingo, left me no opportunity of conversing with him on the interesting questions you suggest. However, his & Mr. Liston’s powers respect St. Domingo alone. We did not until last Saturday (the 20th) finish our discussions on the arrangements to be adopted respecting St. Domingo: the...
118To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 17 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
With my letter concerning Mr. Jones, the candidate for the Consulate of New-Orleans, I intended to transmit a Commission, that if it seemed to you expedient to appoint him, his commission might be signed and returned, seeing he will very soon depart for that country. I have now the honor to inclose it. I inclose also a copy of a note received this day from Mr. Liston, announcing that the loan...
119To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 12 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
Some time since General Dickinson introduced to me Mr. Evan Jones, brother to the late Dr. Jones of the city of Philadelphia, who had then recently come from Louisiana, where he has dwelt more than twenty years. Mr. Jones is now about to return to New-Orleans, to attend to some commercial objects, and wishes the appointment of Consul from the UStates. His letter to his brother Edward, which I...
120To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 8 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose copies of Mr. Kings letters of the 10th & 16th of January last, with the inclosure in the former; and to be with great respect, / your most obt. servant MHi : Adams Papers.
121To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 8 April 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
You doubtless know General Eustace much better than I do. He mentions your name, as well as Mr. Jays, as of persons whom he respects. The inclosed extract from his news-paper publications of last August give his picture of your friend Mr King. In the same series of papers he undertakes the vindication of Fulwar Skipwith, our late consul general at Paris, as an excellent patriot and an upright...
122To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 5 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
Mr. King’s letters brought by General Maitland, & which I have now decyphered, exhibit the tenor of his conversations with the British ministry concerning the commerce of St. Domingo. It is plain that they contemplate the independence of that French colony, as a very possible—or rather, a very probable event. They have considered its effects upon the future condition of their own colonies in...
123To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 4 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday General Maitland and Colonel Grant arrived here in a sloop of war from England, which they left the 6th of February. Their business respects St. Domingo. I have not yet seen them. Yesterday afternoon Mr. Liston sent me a packet of letters brought by them, one of which for you I have the honor to inclose. Several of Mr. King’s I am decyphering, the contents of which I will transmit as...
124To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 30 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose three draughts of a letter to the Queen of Portugal, in answer to hers of the 12th of October last, now inclosed, which the Chevalier de Freire handed to me since your departure, with an open copy of which he has favoured me with the inclosed translation; stating the birth of a grandson. The Chevalier about the time of your departure was going to wait on you to...
125To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 21 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have just received the inclosed from Mr. Stoddert relative to Mr. James Reid, who desires to be appointed vice-Consul for Canton, as mentioned in my last; and have the honor to be with great respect / sir you most obt. servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
126To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 19 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose General Pinckney’s letter of the 27th ulto. and the information which he communicated relative to the persons & papers which arrived at Charleston in the ship Minerva, Capt. Kramp, from Hamburg.—The mulattoes, instead of being agents of the Directory, probably consider the French government as hostile to the interest of the people of colour and the blacks of St....
127To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 11 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
(Confidential) Sir, Philadelphia March 11.1799 I have been honored with your letter of the 3d. The business to which it relates will I believe be put on a footing to produce less mischief than was apprehended—a footing far beyond my hopes. I have this morning received the two letters inclosed for Mr Lear and J. Dandridge Esqr. I mention in confidence, what I this morning received from Mr King,...
128To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 1 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose Governor St. Clair’s letter of the 6th Ult. recd. last evening, inclosing the nomination of persons from whom five are to be selected for the Legislative Council of the Territory northwest of the River Ohio. The ordinance in Volo. II. page 562 of the Acts of Congress regulates this choice: and the Act of August 7 1793, in Vol. I page 32, gives, I presume, the power...
129To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 28 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
(private) Sir, Philadelphia Feby 28. 1799. I am happy to inform you, that altho’ the evil of the original nomination of a minister to treat with France cannot be wholly cured, it has since been palliated, by the nomination of Chief Justice Elsworth, Patrick Henry, and Mr Murray, “to be Envoys Extraordinary & ministers plenipotentiary to the French Republic, with full powers to discuss and...
130To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 25 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
This morning I have recd. your favour of the 21st. We have all been shocked and grieved at the nomination of a minister to negociate with France. There is but one sentiment on the subject among the friends of their country and the real supporters of the President’s administration. Pains have been taken to ameliorate the measure by throwing it into a Commission: but the President is fixed: the...
131To Thomas Jefferson from Timothy Pickering, 25 February 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I had the honor of seeing you, I have conversed with the Secretary of the Treasury, from whom I learn that the suit against Mr. Randolph is still pending—that he claims a credit for the nine thousand dollars which Mr. Short desired him to lay out in the purchase of public Stock, saying it was a private transaction; and that as the issue depends on the judgement of the court, it will be...
132To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 21 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
(private) Sir, Philadelphia Feby 21. 1799. I have been honoured with your letter of the 21st. My letter of the 8th contained nothing that need be concealed from your friends. except when I mark a letter confidential, you will be pleased to make such use of it as you think proper. The subject of the present one is not an exception, as to your discreet friends: for I am sure no officer about the...
133To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 20 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose the opinions of the Heads of Departments and Attorney General, on the question of permitting a present supply of some very necessary articles of cloathing and provisions to be sent to St. Domingo. The value of the whole supply has been contemplated to rise to about fifty thousand dollars. I have the honor to be / with great respect / sir your most obt. servt. MHi :...
134To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 20 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
Having been more than the other gentlemen in the way of receiving information of the real Situation of Genl. Touissaint, and this appearing to be a distressed one, from the want of pay , cloathing and provisions for his troops, who thence began to be uneasy; and as this uneasiness unassuaged by any relief might endanger his authority and the peace of the Island of St. Domingo; I felt...
135To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 20 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Since I wrote you on the 9th (which you acknowledge in a short letter, promising further communications) Dr. Stevens has been appointed Consul General of St. Domingo, and will probably embark before the close of next week. If you have written further to me in answer to my letter of the 9th the letter has miscarried, for I have recd. nothing. I must frame Dr. Stevens’s instructions in a few...
136To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 9 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
The law prohibiting intercourse with the French Dominions is renewed, and extended to the 3d of March 1800. The material variation from the former law consists in the authority given to the President to open the intercourse with any part of those dominions when the safety and interest of the U. States will admit of it. This authority is comprised in the 4th section, a copy of which I inclose....
137To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 8 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
It will give you additional pleasure to learn that such is the increased and increasing respectability of the U. States among the European powers—that from being viewed with indifference & even contempt, our friendship and commerce are courted. The Russian minister at London has suggested to Mr King that a Commercial treaty with the U. States would be agreeable to the Emperor Paul; and added,...
138To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your last letters to be forwarded to Europe I expect will proceed next week. The three for England I shall put under cover to Mr King and send them by the British packet which is to sail next Wednesday or Thursday. I have the honor to inclose copies of the Presidents communications to Congress on the 18th & 21st of January, concerning French affairs. In my report, I had noticed (in as gentle...
139To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 25 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor to inclose a letter received yesterday from Mr. King, our minister in London, dated the 16th of November. Thinking the President might deem it proper to communicate to Congress the decree therein referred to, the Secretary has prepared, and herewith presents, copies of the decree, and extracts respecting it from Mr. King’s letter. MHi : Adams Papers.
140To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 24 January 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have been so much occupied since the receipt of your letter desiring a copy of one you wrote last year, that I have not had time to search for the original: as soon as I can I will do it, & if found, forward a copy. Your letter of the 15th covering one for Mr Murray & one for Lafayette I will take care of, and forward those two to their destination in a few days, when I shall write to Mr...
141To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 18 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
On examining the alterations you have directed in the report on Mr. Gerry’s communications, one appears to me to leave unfounded and unconnected many of my observations, and on a very important point. Mr. Gerry in his letter of Oct. 1 has expressed an opinion of a most mischievous tendency. He says “Before the arrival of the dispatches of the Envoys, the Minister appeared to me sincere, and...
142To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 11 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
Colo. Pickering presents his respects to the President of the United States, and incloses Mr. Gerry’s letter of Octr: 20.—Since Colo. P. searched for it in vain, it has been returned to him, with other papers relative to French affairs, by the Attorney General. Colo. Pickering embraces this opportunity to submit to the President’s perusal General Marshall’s journal of occurrences in Paris....
143To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 27 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
In obedience to the Presidents direction, The Secretary of State respectfully submits the following ideas on the matters to be communicated to Congress, in the President’s speech, at the opening of the approaching session. I. The subject most pressing on the attention of the United States is their situation in relation to the French Republic. The measures taken to effect an amicable adjustment...
144To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 5 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
I intended some time since to have returned an answer to the letter you did me the honor to send me of the date of Oct. 10. relative to the communications to be made to Congress at the opening of the approaching session; but delayed it, expecting leisure to mature my ideas on the subjects to be brought into view: but that leisure has not yet occurred; and therefore now beg leave to submit the...
145To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 5 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have been honoured with your letter of the 26th ult. inclosing Mr. Gerry’s of the 20th.—I am sorry that I cannot comply with your proposition “to have it inserted in a public print:” for I must then subjoin such remarks as will expose his quibbles and further wound his feelings: I shall go further, and display, not his pusilanimity, weakness and meanness alone,—but his duplicity and...
146To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 27 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a list of officers for the ship George Washington, fitting for sea at Providence. If the persons named and recommended meet your approbation, it will be desirable that the commissions & warrants signed by you should be returned immediately, as Captain Talbot has made such dispatch in improving and equipping the ship that he expects to have her ready for sea by the...
147To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 27 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
The original French of Chauvets letter to Galatin, exhibiting the perfidy and violence of France in subverting the Swiss Republic, I recd. from Mr. King. It appeared to me so important a detail of facts at the present moment, I put it into the hands of a son of Mr. Abraham Hunt, whom I found at leisure, to translate. It has been faithfully done. I encouraged the printer here to give it to the...
148To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 27 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed interesting pamphlet is a faithful translation from the original French, transmitted to me by Mr King. As it details facts which demonstrate the perfidy and violence of the French Government, I had it translated, and recommended it to the printer in this place; hoping the dissemination of it in America might do good. I think the Government could expend money in no way more...
149To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 22 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is the name to which the decyphered letters which I returned to you last week had reference. MHi : Adams Papers.
150To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 22 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I take pleasure in transmitting to you the inclosed address from Glynn County in Georgia, forwarded by General Gunn, whose letter of the 1st instant I also inclose. I also inclose a letter from Gideon Hill Wells relative to a pipe of Wine imported for you by his uncle the late H. J. Hill. And have the honor to be / with great respect, / sir, your most obt. servt. P.S. Inclosed is one letter...