1To John Adams from John Warren and Others, 4 December 1775 (Adams Papers)
As Surgeons of the continental Hospital we take the Freedom to address you upon an Occasion which though it does not immediately Concern our Department, yet as it relates to the Hospital with which we are so nearly connected, we thought called for our Attention, as being a Subject, upon which, we might be able to give some Information, which might perhaps be of some little service in assisting...
2To George Washington from James McHenry, 31 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of the inclosed application to Gen: Howe the sick privates and those who remained of the well were ordered off on parole under my care as Doctor, and the conduct of a bristish officer &c. But As the officer leaves them here, he gets no receipt. Six have died since our leaving New-York; But I flatter myself, should the weather moderate a little that most of the remainder will...
3To George Washington from James McHenry, 21 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
Observing it asserted in Gen. Howes letter to your Excy of the 21st April Ulto that “one half of the sick prisoners were recd into the British Hospitals—that the remainder were attended in their different places of confinement by their own Surgeons—and lastly that these Surgeons, without restriction were supplied with medicines for this purpose until it was discovered that they disposed of...
4To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, [21 September 1778] (Hamilton Papers)
In order to get rid of your present accumulations you will be pleased to take the pills agreeable to the directions; and to prevent future accumulations observe the following table of diet. This will have a tendency also to correct your wit. I would advise for your breakfast two cups of tea sweetened, with brown sugar, and coloured with about a teaspoonful of milk. I prefer brown sugar to loaf...
5To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 6 December 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Paramus, New Jersey, December 6, 1778 . “… desire Colo. Harrison to write to Genl. Greene on the subject of his Letter respecting a change of ground for hutting. He may tell Genl. Greene, that the situation marked out in the first instance seems to His Excellency the most eligible; but that Genl. Greene must be a more competent judge, to which place the preference should be given.… We are...
6To George Washington from James McHenry, 23 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to communicate to your Excellency (in addition to my information through Mr Tilghman of the 21st Instant) by Major General Lord Stirlings particular directions, that on the 17th a detachment of the enemy (of about two hundred men) from New York effected a landing on the Middletown shore (near one Thomas Browers)—But re-imbarked in the night, without penetrating the country, or...
7To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, [18 March 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
His Excellency commands me to acknowlege and thank you for the News-papers and your letter of—. The general has the letter, but I believe it wants both date and locality. Meade writes you all that is interesting, and conducts the most weighty matters with a great deal of cunning sagacity. He thrust himself up the chimney this morning, while we were dressing round the fire, in order to be more...
8To George Washington from James McHenry, 18 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I would beg leave to mention to your Excellency, a matter, in which I feel too much to be longer without laying it before you. The approaching campaign opening an interesting field, makes me desirous to appear, in a more military character, than that I now hold. I have also had before me for some time past, a prospect of visiting Europe; and especially those places where our interest is most...
9Poem by Major James McHenry, [14–15 December 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
Steiner, James McHenry Bernard C. Steiner, The Life and Correspondence of James McHenry (Cleveland, 1907). , 29–30. Steiner states: “… McHenry went to Albany for the wedding and wrote the following verses to his friend on the morning after the ceremony” ( ibid. , 29).
10To George Washington from James McHenry, 14 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
As the within to Col. Tilghman is on business of a public nature, I have taken the liberty to inclose it under cover to your Excellency. I had a letter yesterday from Governor Lee containing the substance of an official dispatch from Governor Jefferson (the date not mentioned) by which it appears that Phillips was still on board his vessels at Portsmouth, but making a large collection of...
11To George Washington from James McHenry, 30 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
Having been elected one of the Senate for the State of Maryland I beg leave to resign the rank of Major which I hold in the army of the United States. With the greatest respect I have the honor to be Sir Your Excellency’s most ob. St DNA : RG 93—Manuscript File.
12To George Washington from James McHenry, 3 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have placed my resignation in the hands of one of the electors but he omitted forwarding it to Congress at the usual time. I now take the liberty to send it to your Excellency as the lateness of the resignation makes it rather improper on my own account for it to go to Congress from myself. I make no doubt but your Excellency when here suggested such measures as you saw necessary to be...
13To George Washington from James McHenry, 20 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
I would have thanked your Excellency for your very interesting letter, if I had not waited to render my acknowledgements more valuable by the hand who should present them. It is at least one of the fairest in the world. I need not add that it is Mrs Lloyds. We are just about closing our session. The only novelty which it has given birth to, is a man called an Intendant, whom we have vested...
14To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 31 January 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
I reckon, my dear sir, among the contrasted events which have diversified my life, to have been made the confidant of the author of Publius, and as a Senator of Maryland to have been present at Mr Chase’s defence in our house of delegates against charges contained in your pieces. I send you the proceedings which have been published and letters which have been passed between Major Giles and...
15To George Washington from James McHenry, 5 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
Doctor Craik gives me but a moment to acknowlege your Excellency’s letter of the 12 of last month. I think precisely with your Excellency in your observations on the war. Its prosecution is certainly intended, and it is our business to bring as early as possible a respectable force into the field. Shall I tell you, that we inlist but slowly, and that I am very apprehensive our Assembly will be...
16To George Washington from James McHenry, 14 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
This packet will be delivered you by Mr Lindsay manager of the Baltimore Theatre, who waits upon your Excellency to solicit a change in the parole of the band of musick at Frederick to this place. If this favor can be granted it will be adding essentially to the obligations which this Town is under to your Excellency, by increasing its pleasures. I would suppose the Band can have no objection...
17To George Washington from John Lynch, 20 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
I beg the Favour of your Excellencys excusing my taking up your time by interfereing with That multiplicity of Business of a higher nature and purpose. A Mr Kennedy left this town and joined the British at the beginning of those times from whom he received the Commission of Captn—he is nearly relatied to my wife on account of Which he Sent me out in the year 1777 a Deed of Gift wherein he...
18To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 11 August 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
If you are not in the humor to read a long letter do, prithee, give this to the child to play with and go on with your amusement of rocking the cradle. To be serious, my dear Hamilton, I have been thinking of late upon my own situation, and this had led me as often to think of yours. Some men, I observe, are so born and tempered that it is not till after long bustling and battling it in the...
19To George Washington from James McHenry, 30 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am now able to reply to your letter of the 12th instant. I thought to have done it sooner, but I ventured to Annapolis upon a little piece of business before I had quite subdued the remains of a fever, where I had a relapse which confined me once more to my bed. I am at present likely to enjoy better health. You suppose the prospects of peace the order a little further back. I fear this to...
20To George Washington from James McHenry, 10 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you upon a variety of matters by Major Lynch, and as some of them were interesting I hope the latter has met with no disasterous accident. I am once again a man of health after five fevers; each of which was violent and obstinate enough to have condemned a constitution much stronger than mine; and yet mine does not give any marks of what it has so recently suffered. I am now going to...
21To George Washington from James McHenry, 2 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
One of the best old ladies in the world who has one of the cleverest young ladies for a daughter has requested my endeavours for the recovery of a negroe man of hers in your army. I inclose you a note of hers on the subject, and have to intreat your Excellency that you will order an enquiry and have the negroe restored. I recollect to have been told by Major Reed in Virginia something of this...
22To George Washington from James McHenry, 15 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
Because I have no reason to believe myself forgotten, notwithstanding you have not written to me for a long time. I would not leave Philadelphia without congratulating with you upon an event the most fortunate for America, and the most glorious for my general. You have carried us through a long war; you have not sunk under the severest tryals; and you live to see a country enjoy the blessings...
23To George Washington from James McHenry, 31 July 1783 (Washington Papers)
You will forgive me for not writing to you sooner and attribute it to its real cause, not want of the sincerest inclination, but of Censure. Perhaps before this reaches you the president will have transmitted our resolve for bringing you here and relieving you from that disagreable situation of which you have so justly complained in your letter to Congress. I was chairman of the committee on...
24To George Washington from James McHenry, 11 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am just now honored with your letter of the 6th. You have indeed gone over a great deal of ground in a very short time. The first motive for bringing you here was to get you out of a disagreeable situation, to one less disagreeable. The second was to get your assistance and advice in the arrangements for peace. It may be necessary besides to consult you respecting promotions, and on a...
25To George Washington from James McHenry, 18 August 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am going to receive your thanks for putting it in your power to do good. A Miss Howard, a citizen of Annapolis, of an amiable character and reputable connections married a Capn Le Vacher de Vanbruen, a French gentleman. The Capn served with reputation in our army from the year 1776 til the capture of Lord Cornwallis when he obtained a furlough to visit France. He embarked in the Favorite...
26To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 22[–23] October 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
I obey you. The homilies you delivered in Congress are still recollected with pleasure. The impressions they made are in favor of your integrity and no one but believes you a man of honor and republican principles. Were you ten years older and twenty thousand pounds richer, there is no doubt but that you might obtain the suffrages of Congress for the highest office in their gift. You are...
27To Benjamin Franklin from James McHenry, 24 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As it may be a satisfaction to the friends of the Marquiss de la Fayette, to learn that his visit to this country has been extremely flattering to its citizens, and that his reception has been marked by every circumstance expressive of gratitude and respect, I thought it would give pleasure to you (of whom I have often heard him express the liveliest...
28To George Washington from James McHenry, 1 August 1785 (Washington Papers)
Whilst the Marquiss de la Fayette was on his late visit to this country he suggested to me that if I could recollect the train of his military proceedings and commit them to paper, that you would send them to Doctor Gordon who is engaged in writing a history of the revolution; at least so I understood him on this occasion, for the subject being delicate I did not seek explanation. My desire...
29To Thomas Jefferson from James McHenry, 12 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Bentelow who will have the honor to deliver you this letter is a native of France where he goes to forward some merchantile concerns. He has served with honor in our army as Captain, and is a respectable citizen of this place. It being natural for him to wish to pay his respects to the first minister of his adopted country, I have presumed to gratify so laudable a wish by presenting him to...
30To George Washington from James McHenry, 5 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have just received from L’orient by the Iris, a present from the Marquiss de la Fayette for your Excellency, of a Jack ass two mules some pheasants and partridges, which I shall after some days rest forward to your Excellency. The reason for giving you so early information is to request you send two careful servants to assist in conducting them to your seat. I imagine I must send the birds...