1To 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...
2To 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...
3To 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...
4To 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...
5To 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...
6To 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,...
7To 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...
8To 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...
9To 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;...
10To 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...