51Enclosure: Charles Lee to James McHenry, 10 February 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Relative to the claim of Lt Smith, who was appointed Judge Advocate to the Army by the Commanding Officer Genl Wilkinson in general orders, and who for sometime as it is stated to me rendered services in that capacity to the United States it is my opinion he is equitably entitled to compensation for those services. Though Genl Wilkinson does not in my opinion possess the power of appointing...
52To John Adams from Charles Lee, 26 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to transmit to Congress a report in pursuance of their resolution of the 3d of March, 1795, respecting the title to the land situate in the south western parts of the United States, claimed by certain companies in that resolution described under a law of the state of Georgia, passed the 7th day of January in the year 1794. It is accompanied with all the charters, treaties, and...
53To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Lee, 6 December 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Alexandria, Virginia, December 6, 1789. On December 18, 1789, Hamilton wrote to Lee : “I have received your Letter of the 6th instant.” Letter not found. ]
54To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 11 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
We have three thoushand Men here at present but They are so ill shod that We have been oblig’d to halt these two days for want of shoes—seven Regiments of Gates’s Corps are on their march but where They actually are is not certain —General Lee has sent two Officers this day—one to inform him where the Delawaer can be cross’d above Trenton—the other to examine the road towards Burlington as...
55To John Adams from Charles Lee, 2 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning received letters from Virginia which contain very pleasing information concerning the elections in Virginia. that state Gen. Marshall Gen Lee Col Powell, Mr. Robert Page, Mr. Parker are certainly elected into Congress. Of Mr. Evans, Mr. Hancock and Mr. Goode no doubt is entertained, but complete accounts of the votes had not been received—These gentlemen are all...
56To George Washington from Charles Lee, 24 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Colonel Butler (whose letter Your Excellency had the kindness to transmit to me) is one of the oldest and dearest Friends I have in the world—my duty to so staunch a Friend, my inclinations and my interests concur to make me ardently desirous of having an interview with him before He embarks for England—I believe this Gentleman has an intention to purchase and settle in America—with your leave...
57To George Washington from Charles Lee, 11 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
On the 9th I had the honor to receive your letter of the 4th instant, since which Col. Pickering has found the opinion which was the subject of my former letter; which will enable me to attain a copy without giving you any further trouble. If Col. Pickering has written to you as he intended he probably has informed you that the prospect of peace between France and Great Britain continues to...
58To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 19 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The recommendation of General Green which you transmited to me threw the Officers to whom I communicated it into so great a flame of discontent that I ventur’d notwithstanding your orders to hesitate—They accus’d him of partiallity to his connexions and Townsmen to the prejudice of men of manifestly superior merit[.] indeed it appears from the concurrent testimony of unbias’d Persons that some...
59To John Adams from Charles Lee, 31 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose you my sentiments upon two of the topicks mentioned in your letter of the 28th. They being the most important I have lost no time in bestowing my attention on them. I shall endeavour to obtain some information relative to the insurrection in a part of Pennsylvania and the St. Domingo business, and I shall as soon as possible express to you my ideas on those and...
60To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 28 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
You may better imagine than I can express the happiness which your letter gave me, tho at the time I receiv’d it, which was the night before last, there was some little drawback on my happiness—viz. a small attack of the gout, with indications of it’s being a severe fit, but by three doses of what Lord Chatham calls the great American Panacea, I find myself so much better and the indications...
61To George Washington from Charles Lee, 29 October 1788 (Washington Papers)
For a few days past the Assembly has been engaged upon the subject of the federal constitution: The house of delegates in committee has come to several resolutions with respect to putting it into operation. One of them distributes the commonwealth into ten districts each of which is to choose a representative in Congress, and another appoints that there shall be twelve districts each of which...
62To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 30 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing my letter by Col. Fitzgerald to your Excellency I have reflected on both your situation and mine, and beg leave to observe that it will be for our mutual convenience that a Court of inquiry should be immediately ordered—but I could wish it might be a court martial—for if the affair is drawn into length it may be difficult to collect the necessary evidences,...
63To John Adams from Charles Lee, 15 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to submit to your consideration a copy of a resolution intended to be proposed to the Board of Commissioners for carrying into effect the sixth article of the Treaty of Amity Commerce and Navigation between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America which there is reason to suppose may be adopted by a majority if a question shall be taken upon it. The principle...
64To George Washington from Charles Lee, 14 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have examined the journals of the House of Representatives and also of the Senate respecting your message to Congress of the 18th of February 1793 accompanied with a report and plot of the territory of the United States on Patowmack. In each House an order was made that the message lie on the table. On the next day the Clerk of the House of Representatives delivered to the Senate a message...
65To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 15 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
Major French whom I have met with at Hartford, is extremely solicitous for permission to return home, as He is confident that his whole fortunes depend upon his being immediately on the spot with his Friends at this instant as He is, I believe, a Man of strict honour his Parole not to serve for a given time against the Freedom of America wou’d be sufficient security—and as He has a Family to...
66To George Washington from Charles Lee, 18 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
Upon the Petition of Robert Randall the Attorney General reports most respectfully to the President of the United States That to attempt to corrupt the intergrity of a member of the legislature in his legislative functions, by offering to him a bribe in money, land or other valuable commodity is an offence indictable at common law and most properly cognisable in a court of justice. It is a...
67To John Adams from Charles Lee, 14 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed from my friend Marshall on Wednesday last was received by me, and it is with no small pleasure I find his opinion correspondent with my own respecting the Appointment of Murray. You will perceive from the date that the subsequent modification of the embassy was not known to him when he wrote. His letter being entirely of a private nature I should not have sent to you, but that I...
68To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 23 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
A Gentleman whose name is Banister (as silly a Gentleman perhaps as lives) is accused by his Country men the People of Newport, of being a most violent Tory—I believe He is neither whig nor Tory, but an eater and drinker—it is in my opinion not worth troubling You with him—but I am oblig’d through complacency to the Corps herein, to refer him to your Excellency ⟨The⟩y will I suppose bring...
69To George Washington from Charles Lee, 20 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Attorney General having considered the information contained in Mr Wolcott’s note of the 19th instant most respectfully reports. That it affords reasonable ground to believe that the Republic of France has serious expectations to obtain from the King of Spain all or a part of his territories on the continent of North America, and contemplating a separation in government of the Western from...
70To John Adams from Charles Lee, 30 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Attorney General of the United States having maturely considered the questions submitted to him by the President of the United States, most respectfully reports his opinions as follows, Upon Question 1st. If a nation to whom a Minister Plenipotentiary is sent by another nation, refuse him residence, it is a just cause of displeasure, but if he be refused an audience and the refusal...
71To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Lee, 5 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Circular of the 25th. June last, has been received in which among other things is explained how the additional 10 per Cent on the duties upon Goods, imported in Vessels not of the United States is to be computed; I shall conform to your instruction though I own had I not received it, the computation would have been made on the total Duties without distinguishing the old from the new...
72To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 29 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am now so far recover’d tho far from well, that I shall set out in two days —the stripping Ticonderora so intirely of it’s heavy Cannon is a most unfortunate circumstance, as the transportation of ’em from this place is a busyness of monstrous difficulties expence and labour—The Congress have as yet not taken the least step for the security of this place—the instant I leave it, I conclude...
73To George Washington from Charles Lee, 30 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your letter of the 19th to which I take the earliest opportunity of answering. In expressing my willingness to accept the office of Attorney General of the United States, I do it with the utmost diffidence of my competency and can only assure you I will endeavour to discharge its important duties with diligence and fidelity. I had been arranging for a retired life, but...
74To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Lee, 31 December 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Alexandria, Virginia, December 31, 1789. On February 12, 1790, Hamilton wrote to Lee : “Your letter of the 31st. of December came duly to hand.” Letter not found. ]
75To John Adams from Charles Lee, 5 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
As you may possibly harbour some suspicions that a certain passage in your intercepted letters have made some disagreeable impressions on my mind I think it necessary to assure You that it is quite the reverse. Untill the bulk of Mankind is much alter’d I consider your the reputation of being whimsical and eccentric rather as a panegyric than sarcasm and my love of Dogs passes with me as a...
76To John Adams from Charles Lee, 25 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
At the Board of Commissioners appointed to carry into effect the sixth article of the treaty of Amity with Great Britain differences have proceeded to such a length that the American Commissioners have come to a determination to attend it no more until the nations shall have an opportunity of coming to an explanation. It is now upwards of three months since they sent to the Secretary of State...
77To George Washington from Charles Lee, 8 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have been reflecting on the train of measures to be pursued respecting the western posts which yesterday seemed to meet your approbation. The subject was new to me then, and therefore I hope you will excuse me for presenting to your better judgment the result of mine on the letter proposed to be written to Lord Dorchester. That part of it which is to express an acquiescence on your part in...
78To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Lee, 22 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Application has been made to me by Mr. William Lowry of this Town for the refund of the foreign Tonnage paid upon the Entry of the Brig Rachel on the 24th day of April last who alledges that this case is within the relief of the Act of the last Session of Congress entitled an act Imposing Duties on the Tonnage of Ships or Vessels. Before the late change of Government the Brig Rachel had an...
79To George Washington from Charles Lee, 24 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
Mr Monroe has lately demanded in a letter to the secretary of state an explanation of the letter of recall which was sent to him in France. That an inconvenient unwise and pernicious precedent might not be set his request has been denied and consequently that affair stands on the original grounds. I did not retain a copy of the opinion which I had the honor to give on this measure and...
80To George Washington from Charles Lee, 18 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have conversed with Mr Rawle on the petition of Daniel Hamilton for a pardon of his offence and on the petition of Daniel Leet and others for a general pardon of all those concerned in the late western insurrection to whom the clemency of government has not yet been extended. We concur in opinion that so long as any offender keeps himself out of the power of that court to which he is...
81To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Lee, 7 February 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
In answer to your letter of the 31st. of last month I am to inform you, that there were in the mail as I suppose at the time of the robbery on the 28th. of last month a paid Treasury Draft of 1000 dollars, cancelled and receipted in the usual manner, a more description of which is contained in the annexed copy of the receipt now in this office; also a weekly return from my Office, a duplicate...
82To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Lee, 30 October 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
A considerable sum in cut silver is now in my Office, which has been accumulating for some time past, as in no case except now and then it has been in my power to pay any part, in discharge of a Treasury Draft. An offer to pay this kind of money to a holder of a warrant upon this Office, gives dissatisfaction, and supposing this kind of money might be useful at the mint, I have thought it my...
83To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 5 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
It is a most unfortunate circumstance for myself and I think not less for the Publick that the Congress have not thought proper to comply with my request—it cou’d not possibly have been attended with any ill consequences, and might with good ones at least it was an indulgence which I thought my situation entitled me to—but I am unfortunate in all things and this stroke is the severest I have...
84To John Adams from Charles Lee, 6 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
Hoping it will not be deemed improper in me to give my opinion before it is asked relative to the suspension of the mission to France I will take the liberty of expressing it. I have reflected on the subject a good deal and I cannot perceive any sufficient reasons for the suspension. Such a measure would exceedingly disappoint the general expectation of America and exciting the jealousy &...
85To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 5–6 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
I arriv’d here yesterday but not without some difficulty—my disorder encreas’d rather than diminish’d, so that I was under the necessity of being carried in a litter a considerable part of the way. I consider it as a piece of the greatest good Fortune that the Congress have detach’d a Committee to this place—otherwise I shou’d have made a most ridiculous figure, besides bringing upon myself...
86To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 4 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am just return’d from Suffolk and the Posts below, and the Post is just going out; so that this must rather be consider’d as an apology for not writing than as a letter—in a few days I shall set out for Carolina, but before I set out shall send you a full description of our state and situation —We want arms Medcines and blankets most cruelly indeed We want some Battalions—I wish, Dr General...
87To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 16 January 1776 (Washington Papers)
We have been so baffled by the weather that We only arriv’d here last night—I believe We shall find no difficulties in procuring a sufficient body of Volunteers for the N. York expedition—the unhappy accounts from Canada seem to animate these People rather than depress—indeed We have now occasion for exertion and decision—I am apprehensive that the Congress must be inspir’d by You They have...
88To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 8 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Major Hoops has just deliver’d to me your Excellencys letter —I am extremely shock’d to hear that your force is so inadequate to the necessity of your situation—as I had been taught to think you had been considerably reenforc’d—your last letters proposing a plan of surprises and forc’d marches convincd me that there was no danger of your being oblig’d to pass the Delawar in consequence of...
89To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 12 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
This instant came express from Colonel Tupper (station’d opposite to Dob’s Ferry) one David Keech—the substance of his intelligence is as follows—that The Enemy began their march at 9 this morning down the River with their baggage Artillery &ca—that the Man of War and two Store Ships had just set sail and were making down—I mean those which came up last—that Three Ships still lye off Terrytown...
90To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Lee, 11 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Due pains were taken by me in causing to be published the several parts of the last Collection Law, which were necessary to be known to the Merchants, for regulating their conduct. The 9th. and 10th. Sections are not accurately observed in scarcely any one instance; for the Manifest thereby required is generally made after the vessels arrival to its port of destination. The account of the...
91To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Lee, 10 December 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I find that Gates has sent you a copy of my letter; I hope that is correct as I am desirous it shou’d be printed, on condition it meets with your approbation. The other too (Ld. Thanet) you may likewise publish, but I cou’d wish that his Lordship’s name shou’d be omitted and that the title shou’d be General Lee’s letter to a noble Lord. We are all here a...
92To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Lee, 21 November 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Upon the River Powtomack there are five Collectorships, two in Maryland and three in Virginia. I will forbear to give my opinion till more mature consideration, what alterations ought to be made, but, at present I can venture to say that they are not all necessary, either for mercantile convenience, or for the better collection of the revenue. The distance from Georgetown to Alexandria is...
93To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Lee, 30 December 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of instruction upon the subject of calculating the duties, accompanied with the opinions of counsel concerning the fees under the coasting law. As to the former the practice of my office has corresponded with your directions since the receipt of the form of making quarterly returns. As to the latter the opinion of the learned Counsel agree with my own and according...
94To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 3 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
My destination is alterd—instead of going to Canada I am appointed to Command to the Southward—there has been a great promotion of Brig’r Generals—Armstrong[,] Thompson, Lewis, Moore[,] Stirling and Howe are the six—four are to serve under my orders viz. Armstrong Lewis Moore and Howe —as I am the only General Officer on the Continent who can speak and think in French I confess I think it...
95To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 30 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
As I have the strongest reason to flatter myself that you interest yourself in whatever concerns my comfort and welfare I think it my duty to inform you that my condition is much better’d—it is now four or five days that I am on my parole, have the full liberty of the City and its limits, have horses at my command furnish’d by S’r Henry Clinton and General Robinson—am lodg’d with two of the...
96To Alexander Hamilton from Charles Lee, 25 June 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Alexandria, Virginia, June 25, 1790. On July 4, 1790, Hamilton wrote to Lee acknowledging receipt of Lee’s “letter of the 25th Ultimo.” Letter not found. ]
97To John Adams from Charles Lee, 13 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
In acknowledging the honor you have been pleased to confer on me by authorising me to perform the duties of Secretary of State until the present vacancy shall be filled, permit me to express the diffidence with which I undertake even for a short time so great a charge. My abilities and knowledge I am sensible are unequal to it but such as they are I shall diligently employ them in the business...
98To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 24 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Orders and shall endeavour to put ’em in execution, but question much whether I shall be able to carry wth me any considerable number, not so much from a want of zeal in the men, as from their wretched condition with respect to shoes, stockings, blankets, &c which the present bad weather renders more intolerable I sent Heath orders to transport two thousand men across the...
99To John Adams from Charles Lee, 29 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
In compliance with your direction I shall endeavor now to communicate my ideas of the matters proper to be laid before Congress at the ensuing session. Within the United States all has been tranquil & nothing very remarkable seems to have occurred since the adjournment of Congress. From one and to the other of the western Frontier the indians remain at peace and continue to shew to us pacific...
100To John Adams from Charles Lee, 26 February 1800 (Adams Papers)
In obedience to your direction to report my opinion upon the matters contained in the two Letters of his Britannic Majesty’s Minister to the Secretary of State, dated 2d and 4th instant, the following is respectfully submitted to your consideration. In the first mentioned Letter a claim is made by the express order of his Britannic Majesty, that three American Merchant Vessels, namely the...