1To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Hawkins, 26 November 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The legislature of North Carolina will soon be in Session, and I think it of considerable importance, that they should be informed of the Reasons Why you have refused to that State, the right , claimed by their executive, to subscribe their certificates or notes, issued prior to the first of January 1790, and received into the treasury. I therefore request the favour of you to give me such...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 3 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you herewith the notes I informed you I had taken of the recent debate in the Senate. When you have read them I request that they may be returned; yet, if you judge proper, you may previously show them to the President. I have paid on my part that attention to the subject in question that its importance deserves, without being able to form an opinion perfectly satisfactory to myself....
3To George Washington from Benjamin Hawkins, 10 June 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to enclose to your Excellency some acts passed the last Session of our Legislature—by which you will see in some measure the disposition of this State to comply with the views of Congress; as well as, to grant such further powers as may render the Confederation more competent to the purposes of the Union. The Act for levying our proportion of one million five hundred thousand...
4To James Madison from Benjamin Hawkins, 9 August 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Cover missing. Addressed to “The Hon’ble Mr. Maddison.” Long after JM received the letter, probably he or someone at his bidding placed a bracket at the close of the fourth paragraph. If JM meant that the first four paragraphs should be included in the earliest published collection of his papers, his wish was disregarded by Henry D. Gilpin, perhaps because the...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 9 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
By the june Packet I have the happiness of complying in a great measure with my promise of the eighth of march. Finding that I had lost most of my plants through the inattention or ignorance of the Captain who had the care of them from North Carolina although I made repeated trials and the last with giving particular directions on the proper method of treating them. And fearing that similar...
6To George Washington from Benjamin Hawkins, 20 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
There being a proba[bi]lity that an accommodation of our differences with the Northwestern Indians is to be effected by treaty in the course of the expected negotiations with them: Or their enmity placed in so strong a point of view, as to endure a general acquiescence in the measures, which must of necessity be persued, by the government, to compell them to embrace such equitable terms, as...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 23 January 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
My nephew Mr. William Hawkins will have the pleasure to deliver this to you. He has been an assistant in the Indian department for some time past, possesses accurate information of our affairs in this quarter and will communicate freely to you all that he knows. Invited him to spend some months with me in this climate for the restoration of his health; and fortunately for him with success. He...
8To James Madison from Benjamin Hawkins, ca. 6 December 1787 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. ca. 6 December 1787, Tarborough. Mentioned in Hawkins to JM, 14 Feb. 1788 . Reports the time set for the election and meeting of the North Carolina ratifying convention.
9To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 1 February 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you your share of the white bent grass, so much valued by Mr. Bassett. I have sent the half of the remainder to the President. Mr. B. being a farmer, we may count with certainty on its being a valuable acquisition from the experience he has had. If you have formd any thing interesting from the name I sent you, you can communicate it to the President with a translation of the botanical...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 8 March 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had within a few days the pleasure to receive your favor of the 13th august. It was received at the office of Foreign affairs in Novr. and has been traveling since southwardly and Northwardly to meet with me. I have been attentive to your other request, and expect I shall be able to send you a few plants of the Dionaea muscipula some time this Spring. Mr. de la Forest who returns to...
11To George Washington from Benjamin Hawkins, 28 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
Judging from my long acquaintance with and attachment to you, I have decided that a letter from me would not be unacceptable. Since ⟨my⟩ return from Philadelphia, I have been at Halifax during the session⟨s⟩ of one of our sup⟨erior⟩ circuit courts; and at two or three other places of public resort; and I am happy to be able to inform you, that much of that impurity which manifests itself...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 22 December 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
A committee of the Senate are in want of an act of the general assembly of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations passed in Jany. 1790 intituled “An act to incorporate certain persons by the name of the river machine company, in the town of Providence and for other purposes therein mentioned”;—An act of the general assembly of the State of Maryland, at their session in april...
13To James Madison from Benjamin Hawkins, 13 January 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
13 January 1803, Fort Wilkinson. Introduces the bearer, William Hill, who has lived with Hawkins as an assistant in the Creek agency “for nearly five years, is a very honest man and worthy of your friendly attention.” Unable to have the pleasure of seeing JM himself, Hawkins has directed Hill to call “and detail to you the occurrencies in this quarter, that you may form some idea of the Arab...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 3 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasure to receive the letter you did me the honor to write to me of the 1st. of april enclosing some of the scarlet blosom beans; And the acts of the last Session of Congress under an envelope franked by you, for which I request you to accept my thanks. I wish you and Mrs. Trist may have been as fortunate with your beans as I am with mine, the largest and middle sized are up and...
15To George Washington from Benjamin Hawkins, 25 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
I came here from North Carolina the 31st of March under the expectation of the pleasure of meeting you. It being necessary that I should attend to some business interesting to an Orphan of a friend and it being probable that the season is too far advanced for your journey I shall this day return. I found on my arrival in North Carolina the people pretty generally disposed to think favourably...
16To James Madison from Benjamin Hawkins, 27 November 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have several times since your appointment to the office you now hold determined to write to you, not to congratulate you on being Secretary of State, that would be folly, as I deemed it a necessary consequence of the change of principle manifested by the public will; but to put you in mind of an old acquaintance your friend who has had an erratic Arab life for five years among the Indians...
17To James Madison from Benjamin Hawkins, 1 June 1789 (Madison Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive your favour of the 5th of may, with the report of the committee, and the newspapers, and I can assure you I concur in every thing and from the bottom of my heart. The Character of the president, will give dignity and energy to our government, and will together with the favourable appearances stated by you tend to reconcile all parties to it. I, having know[n]...
18To James Madison from Benjamin Hawkins, 27 August 1789 (Madison Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive yr. favour of the 24th June. Our Elections ended on saturday last, and appearances as far as I can learn, are decidedly federal, in the County where I live, they were violent in the opposition, and now have changed, I was elected by a large majority, Colo. Davie who attends our court, is in for Halifax, they are all from the town and County federal, Mr....
19To James Madison from Benjamin Hawkins, 3 [July] 1789 (Madison Papers)
I arrived a few days past from Wilmington, and had an opportunity of hearing the sentiments of a number of people in five counties through which I traveled who were originally opposed to the new government. They have, most of them, changed their opinions, and are now friendly to it. I am anxious to know the fate of your attempt to mend the constitution, and whether anything can, with...
20To George Washington from Benjamin Hawkins, 27 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
I this day drew the attention of the Senate to the evident impropriety in publishing their Executive proceedings. I stated in as strong a point of view as I was capable of, the injustice and impolicy of suffering ourselves to become dupes to the foreign public characters resident at the seat of Government; by detailing in conversation any part of our proceedings. Our Secretary was imprudently,...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 12 July 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive your favour of the 14 of march, to which I could have replied a few days sooner; but I have been in the expectation of seeing some chiefs of the neighbouring nations, from whom I could obtain the words, to compleat your vocabulary: that expectation will not soon be realized; and I now send you what I have obtained, with assurances that when I am able I will...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 28 December 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Hops are planted in checks of six feet square; a foot square at the check spaded a foot deep and manured, seven cuttings are planted in each check. The following is a minute of the expence and produce of hops at stowmarket in Suffolk . Stock £25 for poles, the interest of which £1. 5.0 Rent £2. Tythe £1. rates 14/ 3.14.0 Three load of poles at 22/ annually 3. 6.0 manure four loads a year 16.0...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 26 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I have sent the messenger of the Senate to you for 1st. vol. Of Ramsays history of S. Carolina. I shall return it to-morrow. I had a conversation with Genl. Dickinson , on the subject I mentioned to you yesterday. He expects this evening to be in company with Hammond and Bond and he will speak very freely to them, as from himself, and let me know the result to-morrow. On his present standing...
24I: Benjamin Hawkins’s Notes on the Debate in the United States Senate, c.3 Jan. 1792 (Washington Papers)
S——te, on the agency it ought to have in judging of the expediency of sendg M——rs abroad. Resolution—“That in the opinion of the S——te it will not be for the interest of the U.S. to appoint M——rs Ple——y to reside permanently at Foreign Courts.” Mr. Haw[kins]—Doubts the P—— right to decide on the measure without the previous advice of the Se——te. Sees embarrassments in negativeing the character...
25Benjamin Hawkins to Tobias Lear, 26 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
No. 37 N. Carolina 26 novr 1792 On the same day you applied to me, I had a conference wth Mr Johnston and the representatives from N. Carolina the result of which this day is that Thomas Overton of More County or Henry Waters of [New] Hanover is equal to the appointment contemplated by the President. Overton was I believe of the rank of Major in the line of the late Army, and of the State of...
26Memorandum of Conversation between Philemon Dickinson and George Hammond, 26 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
D[ickinson] arrived late laste evening but immediately on his entering the room H[ammond] accosted him, and began in the strain of the festive night? D. What progress have you made with J[efferson]? H. Not much D. I will tell you what, H, it is conjectured here that there is some defect in your powers, and that in consequence the result of your visit here will not be productive of any good. H....
27To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 11 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasure to receive your favour by Mr. Hill at a time when my mind was greatly agitated with the state of affairs in my agency. The opposition with us joined by the Simanolie seemed determined to usurp the direction of affairs, to place a chief of their own choice over the nation, and to disturb the peace of the agency. In their progress, meeting but little opposition publicly, they...
28To George Washington from Benjamin Hawkins, 4 November 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have been informed within a few days of the death of Mr Stokes judge of this district: another of course must be appointed. When I had the honour of conversing with you on the subject of appointments upon the extension of the Laws of the Union to this State, I informed you that the gentleman you then nominated to this trust was incontestably the most respectable and respected law character,...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 18 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very desirous of obtaining your opinion on the Constitutionality of the Treaties formed with the Indians at Hopewell on the Keowée. If I recollect right, you informed me you had yours in writing some time last summer.—If the request be not an improper one, and you have reserved a copy, you will oblidge me by a gratification of my desire. I do not mean to ask the liberty of using your name...
30To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 13 September 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I was duly honoured with your favour of the 11th July, and having communicated to the postmaster General, the letters of Mr. Bloomfield the asst. for the post office in this neighbourhood, I deemed it unnecessary to report to you, what I had written to him, and therefore delayed writing, until I could give you correct information, after the meeting of the national council, which took place on...
31To George Washington from Benjamin Hawkins, 16 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
As I make it a rule to give my assent to all military nominations without enquiry, and shall continue to do so, so long as a military Judge shall be President of the United States; I hope it will not be deemed indelicate in me to offer the opinion of an individual, which has resulted from reflections on the conversation I had last evening with you. Colo. Lee as a military man certainly...
32To George Washington from Benjamin Hawkins, 21 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
The gentleman who wrote the inclosed I have long known his character is unexceptionable, he is a brother of the late Colo. Richd Henderson, who purchased Kentuckey, one of the Royal Judges of North Carolina: He resides in the interior part of the State and is a native of it. I have no other intimation of the intention of Mr Thomas than this from Mr Henderson. With the most respectful...
33To James Madison from Benjamin Hawkins, 11 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive your favour by Mr. Hill, and am glad that you have had the opportunity of hearing from so honest a man a plain detail of occurrences in this quarter. You must have seen the issue of some interesting occurrences in this agency during the winter and spring in my communications to the war office. I was a good deal agitated during this period ’till after I had,...
34To James Madison from Benjamin Hawkins, 13 October 1811 (Madison Papers)
I have had the pleasure my Dear friend to receive your favour of the 18th July. To a man of my standing with you there was no need of the frank declaration you have made to ensure a continuance of my confidence in your political conduct and to convince me that you are invulnerable in that part where you have been so violently assailed. I had known but little of the character of Mr. Smith and...
35To James Madison from Benjamin Hawkins, 4 September 1784 (Madison Papers)
I returned from Congress to Carolina in February was elected one of the representatives for the County I live in, and served in the spring session. All the requisitions of Congress were fully complied with except the one for our proportion of one million five hundred thousand dollars in addition to the five Pcent: the act for this purpose establ[ished?] has the principle laid down by Congress...
36To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 11 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
We expect to commence our conference with the Choctaws tomorrow, they have met us today and informed us they would be then ready. From present appearances we shall obtain permission to open the road towards Nashville. As soon as our commission terminates here I shall go to Tookaubatche on the Creek agency about 500 miles, General Pickens will accompany me on his way home, and General Wilkinson...
37To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 28 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the honour to receive your favour of the 16th. of September covering a letter of my much esteemed and valuable friend Mrs. Trist; and availing myself of the permission heretofore given I take the liberty to enclose a letter for her to you. I find that her son has it in contemplation to move to the Mississippi territory to better his resources by the culture of cotton. The Agency...
38To George Washington from Benjamin Hawkins, 4 November 1798 (Washington Papers)
The bearer of this, Mr Silas Dinsmoor is agent of the Cherokees, and one of those chosen to carry into effect the benevolent plan devised by you, for bettering the condition of the Indians in the southern parts of the United States. He is going on a visit to the Secretary of War, and will pay his respects to you. It is with pleasure I recommend him to you, as a man who has faithfully and ably...
39To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 15 January 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer Mr. William Hill is an assistant in this agency as I have known him for five years and believe him to be a very honest and useful man I have thought him worthy of an introduction to you, that you may hear from such a man a detail of occurrences in this quarter. The object of his Visit to the seat of government is to carry the accounts and Vouchers in this department to the War...
40To John Jay from Benjamin Hawkins, 6 October 1789 (Jay Papers)
I have taken the liberty to enclose the letter for M r . Jefferson to you, it contains some seed of the Dionaea Muscipula, which I have procured for him. Our Convention are to meet on the 3 rd . monday of november, and it is expected that there will be a majority in favour of the Constitution. The opponants are secret but steady in their opposition Our change is owing more to the Character of...
41To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 1 February 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I do myself the pleasure to send you a specimen of my tours through this agency in my journal down the Tennassee with the map of the river. I have made it a rule to travel with a pocket compass and time piece and have in likemanner noted every journey through this country; several of which, are ploted and the whole will be sent to the War office as soon as I have paper and leisure to copy...
42To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Hawkins, 16 February 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just received an authentic copy of the Resolutions of the general assembly of North Carolina which I shewed to you in a news-paper some time past, containing among other Items the following instructions to the Senators from that State. “Resolved that they strenuosly oppose every excise and direct taxation law should any be attempted in Congress.” Being of Opinion that the Constitution...
43To George Washington from Benjamin Hawkins, 10 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
Prompted by the free and candid manner you expressed yourself on political affairs to me some days past, I shall without reserve, communicate to you the reasons which enduced me yesterday to vote for striking out the second section in the bill which I enclose to you. That I may be understood throughout I must take a retrospect on indian affairs for some years back. During the war we...
44To George Washington from Benjamin Hawkins, 11 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
I send you herewith the papers mentioned this morning. Mr [Robert] Morris acknowledging himself in the Senate, a party concerned, (and as such, would not vote) moved to postpone the consideration of the last memorial, assigning as the reason, “that the Indians in question, would soon be in this city, that the company meant to apply to them, on the subject, and had reason to believe, that they...
45To James Madison from Benjamin Hawkins, 11 March 1811 (Madison Papers)
General Mathews and the gentleman with him arrived here on the 9th. spent yesterday with me and set out this morning for Fort stoddert. They are in good health and well fixed for traveling. He revealed to me the object of his mission, and seems pretty confident of success. I told him to call on me, and all under my authority, to aid and assist him if necessary. He was sincerely impressed with...
46To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 14 February 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Strong Mr. Rutherford Mr. Hawkins The committee on the enclosed bill reported verbally in substance as follows. That the line to be run would be exparte, as the President of the United States was authorized to appoint the officers to be employed in running the line, although such line would have affected the jurisdiction of the States of Virginia and Kentuckey, and perhaps, would have...
47To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 6 October 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have never had it in my power, until now, to procure for you the seeds of the Dionaea Muscipula. The gentlemen who had promised to get some for me had been too late both years in their endeavours. This year on my return from Wilmington I discovered it was in bloom on the 6th of June, pointed it out to a farmer who knows it well and at my request he some days past sent the seed which I...
48To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 1 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I now send you My dear Sir, the seperate communication promised you; It would have been sent somewhat sooner, but I have moved from the Lower to the upper creeks, to be more in the center of the nation, and to have a more commanding influence among them; and of course to be in a situation where my exertions will have the best effect in carrying the benevolent views of our government into...
49To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 6 November 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you some time past and sent on the Creek and Chickasaw, I now add the Choctaw words required by you. The Cherokee is at best doubtful. The seperate communication requested by you will be made as soon as I can obtain a book or paper to transcribe it on. My residence has been lately changed and is two hundred miles from the frontiers of Georgia and that frontier a great distance from...
50To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Hawkins, 28 October 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
For the first time my dear sir, I have an opportunity direct for your house. Micajah Childs called on me this evening on his return to Charlottsville. I avail myself of it by his permission to send you some grape vines. No. 1 Burgundy, called Millers Burgundy, the berries oval and black, the leaves covered with a hoary down. 2 Auvorna second Burgundy or black Morillon esteemed the best of the...