51To 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...
52To 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.”
53To 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...
54To 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...
55To George Washington from William Gordon, 2 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
I was in hopes, after reading Genl Carleton’s letter & other publications, that I should have had the opportunity of congratulating you, upon the certain prospects of a speedy & honorable peace; but at present they are uncertain. However I cannot but think, that if G. Britain gets no considerable naval advantage over our friends & allies, before winter sets in, they will seriously apply...
56To 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...
57To 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...
58To 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...
59To 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...
60To George Washington from William Gordon, 15 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
When you have perused the enclosed, pray you to put it under cover & forward it to Genl Gates. Should not Genl Burgoyne have practised bribery & corruption, he might propose the question from what he had seen heard & observed while at Cambridge: but the question reminded me of what was wrote you the 12th of Jany. Some things I have heard since have tended to corroborate my suspicion. I have...