1To George Washington from William Gordon, 7 November 1785 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Gordon, 7 Nov. 1785. GW wrote Gordon on 6 Dec. : “I come now, my good Doctor, to acknowledge . . . the receipt of your obliging favor of the 7th ulto.”
2To George Washington from William Gordon, 10 May 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Gordon, 10 May 1777. GW wrote Gordon on 29 June : “I am rather asham’d to be so long in debt for your favor of the 10th Ulto.”
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 George Washington from William Gordon, 18 October 1784 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Gordon, 18 Oct. 1784. On 3 Nov. GW wrote to Gordon : “The last post brought me your favor of the 18th ulto.”
5To George Washington from William Gordon, 5 May 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Gordon, 5 May 1776. On 13 May GW wrote to Gordon : “I thank you for the Intelligence contain’d in your Letter of the 5th.”
6To 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...
7To 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...
8To Benjamin Franklin from William Gordon, 21 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I trouble you afresh with a packet designed for our friend Dr. Price. Be pleased to peruse the letter and papers ere you forward them to him. I wished to put both parties out of conceit with Mr. Hutchinson, which I think will be effected by what is in Edes’s papers, and will be confirmed in two or three subsequent ones. Such a man ought to have no...
9To George Washington from William Gordon, 4 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I cannot omit writing by the present safe conveyance, tho’ I have nothing in particular to communicate. Genl Lincoln will give your Excellency a fuller account of all matters of consequence in this quarter, than what I can do. I was over the other day at Col. Quincy’s. He is breaking fast; but the powers of his mind remain strong. I wish he may live to see & enjoy a happy peace; but I much...
10To 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...
11To 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...
12To George Washington from William Gordon, 2 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I just catch a few minutes before the post goes off to acquaint you that Lord Chatham is dead—that no troops whatsoever are coming either from G.B. or Ireland—that tho’ an English fleet of 1–90 guns 9–74 & 1–64 may be sailed from St Helens, a powerful provision has been made for counteracting them when they are upon the American coast; their opposers may possibly be at the Rendezvous before...
13To George Washington from William Gordon, 4 February 1786 (Washington Papers)
The last week I had the pleasure of seeing Genl Lincoln, from whom I learnt, that You had been so obliging as to send me trees by his vessel, put into a tub or tubs with earth, to preserve them, till the season admits of their being planted. Your Excellency will be pleased to receive my most hearty thanks for this fresh proof of friendship. Believe I shall make an offer of them to Genl...
14To George Washington from William Gordon, 12 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was a stranger to the subjects of the present letter when I wrote last week, or should have mentioned them considering their importance. Mr Hancock reports that your Excellency designs quitting the command of the army. I hope he has no good foundation for what he says. I should dread your doing it, did I believe it probable, for I apprehend the cause would suffer amazingly by it, & that the...
15To Alexander Hamilton from William Gordon, 23 September 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Tho from the expressions & innuendos in yours of the 5th instant which I received from Col Henly the last tuesday, I cannot apprehend myself treated with due respect, yet I shall not be thereby drove either to reply with asperity, or to quit my own plan of conduct. Said one of the greatest soldiers of the age in which he lived, “The business of a general is not to fight but to overcome.” When...
16To George Washington from William Gordon, 23 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
It’s with great pleasure I congratulate you upon our late success, on a double account—the advantage it is of to the Continent—& the honour it reflects upon your Excellency. I hope this happy beginning will, thro’ the blessing of heaven, be productive of so glorious a campaign as to admit your changing the toils & hazards of the field for the repose & safety of domestic happiness. I shall...
17To 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...
18To George Washington from William Gordon, 22 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I take this method of introducing to your Excellency Lt Coll Weld (generally pronounced Wells) one of my parishioners, a gentleman, on whose prudence activity courage & zeal for the public good, I apprehend, you may rely without danger of disappointment. On the 5th of March 1776 at night he was honoured with a particular service at the lines next to Boston neck, & had the thanks of Genls Ward...
19To George Washington from William Gordon, 10 September 1785 (Washington Papers)
Till now I have had nothing of late worth communicating, but the following extract from a Letter dated London June 30. 1785 I think will be pleasing, & have therefore sent it your Excellency. Mr Temple accompanied Mr Adams to the kings levee; after the levee was over, Mr Adams, according to etiquette, was introduced to the kings closet, where (as is usual for foreign ministers) he made a...
20To 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,...
21To 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...
22To George Washington from William Gordon, 19 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
I find in my minutes the following story to have been reported, the truth or error of which I wish to have ascertained, & therefore make my application to You as the proper person to establish or contradict it, viz., “When Genl Washington was at Morris Town in 1777 with the fewest men, a British officer was taken in a skirmish, who was permitted to go about upon his parole; within a few days...
23To Alexander Hamilton from William Gordon, 15 November 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
In my last of Sepr. 23. I mentioned my having sent to my informer; have received an answer from him wherein he writes “As to the subject of your letter (for which I have now an opportunity to return my thanks) what was said was very confidential, & influenced by nothing but an anxious regard & attachment to our public cause. To affect the character of any one from a malignant principle is...
24To 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...
25To 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...
26To 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...
27To George Washington from William Gordon, 19 September 1785 (Washington Papers)
Have ⟨just reed⟩ your letter with the Contents written by Mr Mc⟨Henry⟩, & shall attend to your obliging hints, will be more full in my next. Was alarmed at the black seal, & find no particular mention of the occasion. Wish your Lady better health, in which Mrs Gordon would join me & in best respects to yourself, did she know of my writing. Your sincere friend & humble servant ALS , DLC:GW ....
28To 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...
29To 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...
30To 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...