1To Thomas Jefferson from William Gordon, 17 February 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform You that the Bill in Your behalf was to-day ordered to be engrossed by a large majority. It is calculated by Your friends that it will pass to morrow , by a decided majority— The objects of the application were not at first understood by many members, voting, against the leave to bring in the Bill, and I fear the Federalists were active in perverting them— I...
2To Thomas Jefferson from William Gordon, 10 December 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I am reluctant to intrude on your retirement, and certainly not disposed to involve you in the Strife of Politics: Yet a Crisis in our public affairs, which seems to threaten all the the principles of the Federal Constitution, emboldens me to address you—You see by Gov r Pleasants communication to the legislature, that he recommends an Instruction to our senators, on the subject of the Tariff...
3To Thomas Jefferson from William Gordon, 12 August 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of presenting to you M r William S Archer of Amelia. He represents that District in Congress, is a gentlemen of Liberal Education, of great private worth, and an undeviating republican in his politics. He visits Albemarle among other things to see the University of Virginia and with sentiments of high Consideration, towards yourself— MHi .
4To James Madison from William Gordon, 7 January 1814 (Madison Papers)
To excuse this letter which has for its object to introduce me to your acquaintance. The views of the Cabinet: the well organized Plans which are in operation through out the United States. The manœuvres of the U.S. Army on land, the expeditions of the U.S. Navy at Sea. And in fine the “Grand Object” which these public measures are calculated to accomplish is well known to me. With regard to...
5To George Washington from William Gordon, 25 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your friendly letter of 15th Ocr last was highly acceptable, but before I enter upon a particular answer I mean to transcribe one of our friend Monsr La Fayette’s dated two days before. Upon hearing He was safe in the neighbourhood of Hamburgh I wrote to him on the 9th of Novr to which he answered from Lehmkhul near Ploin, as follows “My dear Sir With heart-felt satisfaction I have received...
6To George Washington from William Gordon, 31 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have enjoyed peculiar pleasure in looking over Fenno’s Gazettes from last Sepr to June 14th 1797: for I have noticed how respectfully & cordially the several States, in their legislative bodies, cities, towns, societies, & united citizens of different denominations, have acknowledged the benefit of your presidency, during the eight years you was at the head of the American Government: & have...
7To George Washington from William Gordon, 29 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
The most cordial congratulations attend your Excellency on your firm & successful conduct during the last Session. The United States are as much indebted to you for the same, as for procuring them a treaty with Great Britain; truly & greatly advantageous, though it may not equal the sanguine wishes of many; still infinitely preferable to a rupture, which would have ruined multitudes, benefited...
8To George Washington from William Gordon, 16 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
This will be presented to You, as I hope, by the nephew of Mrs Gordon, Mr Oliver Field; who from right principles emigrates from Great Britain, that he may become a citizen of the United States, & secure to himself, & family & posterity, those sacred & civil rights, that he cannot enjoy in his native country. He prefers the American Constitution to all others: & from conviction of its being...
9To George Washington from William Gordon, 29 April 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your ardent, persevering, & disinterested patriotism, from the commencement of the American difficulties; & through the various changes that have occurred, from your being chosen Augt 5. 1774 one of the Virginia delegates down to the present day; assure me, that you will approve of my good intentions to promote & perpetuate the welfare of the United States, though you should think me mistaken...
10To George Washington from William Gordon, 12 September 1794 (Washington Papers)
Judging there is an advantage from knowing the particular tempers of those, with whom we have to transcrit business of the first consequence, I have taken up my pen to acquaint your Excellency with the following matters. I had an intimate friend, who was settled, as a minister, with an English Presbyterian church in Rotterdam; & who was acquainted with a teaching tutor of a prince of Wales,...
11To George Washington from William Gordon, 25 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
The goodness of my intention will apologize for the present letter. The purport of which, I conceive, may not be known to any American. You may possibly be under the disagreeable necessity of appointing military officers for active service in dangerous warlike undertakings. I have a great regard for Genl Otho Williams, & am under peculiar obligations to him; but if what our deceased friend...
12To George Washington from William Gordon, 7 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your benevolence is so well established, that no apology is needful for my introducing to your notice, my friend the Revd Mr Hickman, who prefers living in a land of real liberty to remaining in his native country, where there is little of it, though great boastings about it. Being at Cambridge the beginning of the week, a gentleman of my acquaintance, Mr Flower, who has published upon the...
13To George Washington from William Gordon, 17 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
The renewed choice of your Excellency to the Presidentship was what I expected; & I was much pleased, when looking over the Gazette of the United States, it appeared that the vote of every elector was in your favor. When the war commenced between G. Britain & France, I was repeatedly asked, What part will the Americans take? I always answered—I apprehend they will observe a strict neutrality;...
14To George Washington from William Gordon, 30 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
When I wrote on the 8th of Feby last, I had no thought of addressing You so soon after. But the subject matter of my writing is of such importance, in my apprehension, that I could not decline doing it—& of that nature, that I choose not to submit it to the inspection of any but yourself, in whom I can confide for secrecy, in regard both to the writer & letter. I have lately learnt that some...
15To George Washington from William Gordon, 8 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
I write, to testify the continuance of my affection; & to express my hopes, that before the receipt of this You will happily have entered into the 62d year of your age. I doubt not your having been re-elected to the Presidentship, & I most sincerely wish you may fill it the next four years with equal reputation, ease, & success: & if you are assisted with the joint abilities of the same...
16To George Washington from William Gordon, 12 April 1792 (Washington Papers)
Though I rejoice whenever I receive a letter from You, & think myself highly honored by it; yet I would by no means call off your attention from the important business of the United States. Your excellency’s safe return from the southern tour was matter of thankfulness, especially considering the danger you was once in upon the water. Not considering the distance & other circumstances, I...
17To John Adams from William Gordon, 15 September 1791 (Adams Papers)
I had not abandoned the idea of renewing our correspondence; but should probably have delayed executing it, had not my indignation been roused, at the implied insult offered to the good sense of the federal government in the newspaper (& as supposed ministerial) paragraph—“Mr Hammond the new Consul General to the United States of America & late secretary to the embassy at Madrid, will set off...
18To George Washington from William Gordon, 31 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
A sincere desire of promoting the good of the United States, & not merely my own concerns, will, I trust, prove a sufficient apology for the interruption I am now giving your Excellency. Your country I apprehend has the advantage of Europe, for the erection of particular towns, by reason of the several great falls to be met with in the American rivers. The papers have announced the...
19To George Washington from William Gordon, 20 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
Though I anticipated the pleasure of hearing you would be chosen President; yet it was confirmed & increased by the actual news of an event, which expressed the gratitude & wisdom of the United States, in conferring their executive power & confidence on the person, who had never deceived nor abused it—no; not when he was tempted to it. The knowledge of this remains to be known by them in some...
20To George Washington from William Gordon, 16 February 1789 (Washington Papers)
Ringwood in Hampshire (97 miles from London) My Dear Sir Feby 16. 1789 I have at length finished that arduous undertaking, in which I have been engaged for many past years. I shall have peculiar pleasure in learning that it meets with your Excellency’s approbation; & that you are not disappointed in that reliance you exercised on my honor & prudence, when you admitted me to a free inspection...
21To Thomas Jefferson from William Gordon, 9 December 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Your obliging favor of Sepr. 2 was duly received. The books not being in sufficient forwardness to send before your leaving Paris, and the prospects of the success your Excellency wished me being so small, I declined sending a copy as soon as finished. One Mr. De Maisoncelles has written to me about translating the work into French. I apprehend he means I should employ him: by line this day I...
22To George Washington from William Gordon, 28 October–1 November 1788 (Washington Papers)
The leisure I have enjoyed for a few weeks past, has enabled me to look over my letters, from which I have learned that your remittance was for forty two sets. They will be sent accordingly to your Excellency the first opportunity that offers. The plates I expect will be finished this week: have sent a specimen of the maps & plans already wrought off. If you should observe any material errors,...
23To George Washington from William Gordon, 24 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
I send under cover to Mr Hazard, that so it should not be known at the Coffee house, that I correspond with your Excellency; & pray you not only to have any direction to me written in some other hand than your own, but the letter sealed with the seal of another. When you write again, introduce the Key in some sentence when it may appear natural, with a stroke underneath it. The reason of the...
24To Thomas Jefferson from William Gordon, 15 August 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
From William Gordon From the generous encouragement you gave me in your answer to my first letter , I informed your Excellency about April, that I should be greatly obliged to you, could you assist me in a similar way to that by which Dr. Ramsay was benefited. I left it with your judgment to settle the terms, and proposed sending over the printed volumes that the translation might be entered...
25To Thomas Jefferson from William Gordon, 8 July 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I trouble you afresh from an apprehension that either your Excellency did not receive my letter of February , or that your answer has miscarried. I mentioned in my letter my having delayed to write, till I had gotten forward in printing; and informed you that I had finished the two first volumes, and should be obliged to you for your friendly assistance in the way you had proposed, by...
26To Thomas Jefferson from William Gordon, 24 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
In a late letter to the Marquis de La Fayette I mentioned my design of writing soon to your Excellency. The reason of my having been so long silent was, that I might be able to acquaint you, that the second volume of the History was printed, which I can at length do. You was pleased generously to offer me your friendly assistance for the procuring a similar consideration for an early copy of...
27To George Washington from William Gordon, 3 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
I had proposed writing by the present opportunity, before I received your letter of Jany the 1st on tuesday last. Return you my most sincere thanks for your good wishes. The second volume will be printed off I expect by the end of the week after next. The first begins with the settlement of the several colonies, & comes down to & takes in the Lexington engagement. The second finishes with the...
28To George Washington from William Gordon, 6 September 1787 (Washington Papers)
I rejoice to find that your Lady has of late been troubled less than formerly with the bilious cholick. May She be wholly freed from it, & all prescriptions become unnecessary! Thank you for your kind wishes, they are still needful. No settlement has yet offered. I am going on with my History, & toward the latter end of next month shall begin printing. Health & strength permitting, shall...
29To Thomas Jefferson from William Gordon, 6 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
When last in town for a few days, I received your very obliging letter ; and, notwithstanding my numerous engagements, should have given an immediate answer, had I not attended to some circumstances which rendered it unnecessary, upon observing that during the summer the readers are in the country, and being in no such forwardness as to admit of my going directly to the press, saw that I might...
30To Thomas Jefferson from William Gordon, 20 February 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I promised myself the honour of being introduced to your Excellency by a letter which my friend general Gates gave me, before I had the pleasure of hearing You was appointed ambassador to the court of Versailles. Ere I could reach home in the neighbourhood of Boston You had sailed for France. I have therefore applied to his Excellency John Adams for a few introductory lines, recommending at...