521From George Washington to James Hill, 12 January 1787 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 24th of September in answer to mine of the 20th of August was a long time in getting to my hands, & very unsatisfactory when it arrived. If you were ever directed by me to settle your accounts with, & pay the produce of my Estate under your management into the hands of Mr Posey, I should be glad to receive a copy of the order. My memory, nor any paper in my possession does...
522From George Washington to James Hill, 29 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have been in continual expectation ever since my return to private life (now near three years) of receiving a statement of the accots between us. This not having yet happened, and finding sums which I expected were due to me (especially in the case of Mr Newton of Norfolk from whom I thought a large balance was due to me) charged as having been paid to you, it makes it indispensably...
523From George Washington to Daniel Hinsdale, 8 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have received you[r] letter of the 23d Ulto accompanied with the Cloth whh the Directors of the Woollen Manufacture of the City of Hartford were so polite as to send me. I must beg you to accept of my best thanks for your agency in forwarding the Cloth to me—and likewise make my warmest acknowledgments acceptable to the Directors for this mark of their politness and attention. I am extremely...
524From George Washington to Samuel Hodgdon, 6 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
Mrs Washington, accompanied by Doctr Craik, are on their way to Virginia—Business of mine will require their stay in Philadelpa— perhaps a week—during this time they will rely upon you for the care & expence of keeping their Horses while they are in the City ; and I shall thank you for such other assistance as Mrs Washington may require & shall call upon you for. I am Sir Yr Most Obedt Servt...
525From George Washington to Samuel Hodgdon, 13 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
The Trunk, & two boxes or Cases which you brought from New York for me, with a few other Articles which I shall send to you tomorrow, I would have go on by Land as my Papers, & other valuable things are contained in them. The Boxes & other parcels which were sent from Rocky hill by Colo. Morgan, may go by Water to Alexandria, for which place a Vessel (Colo. Biddle informs me) is just on the...
526From George Washington to Levi Hollingsworth, 20 September 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 24th ult. did not get to my hands until the 17th inst., and then came by Post; for Mr. Jackson is an Inhabitant of Red Stone, 250 miles from me—I am obliged to him however for having taken notice of a wish of mine, which was accidentally expressed before him—More so to you for having facilitated it,—and in a particular manner to Mr. Donaldson, for obligingly offering to...
527From George Washington to Joshua Holmes, 2 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
The testimony of your satisfaction at the glorious termination of the late contest, and your indulgent opinion of my Agency in it, afford me singular pleasure & merit my warmest acknowledgments. If the Example of the Americans successfully contending in the Cause of Freedom, can be of any use to other Nations; we shall have an additional Motive for rejoycing at so prosperous an Event. It was...
528From George Washington to Robert Townsend Hooe, 21 February 1786 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 17th did not get to my hands ’till yesterday, or it should have received an earlier acknowledgment. Mr Hiebert either mistook me, or Messrs Valk, Berger & Schouter have misunderstood him: for acquainting the former that a company of which I am a member was desireous of employing a number of hands to drain the great Dismal Swamp near Norfolk, & that I had been requested by it...
529From George Washington to Robert Townsend Hooe, 18 July 1784 (Washington Papers)
Hearing that you have a Vessel bound to some port in Spain, I am induced to ask if it is safe & practicable to bring from thence a good Jack Ass, to breed from—The late Don Juan de Miralles, resident from the Court of Spain at Philadelphia, promised to procure one for me; but in his death I met a disappointment. Another Gentleman of his nation, not long since, has also given me a promise—but...
530From George Washington to Robert Townsend Hooe, 27 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
The plank I want is to floor a room 24 by 32 feet. It must be 24 feet long & 1½ inches thick—all of a colour, and entirely free from Knots & sap. More than the nett quantity is requisite, for allowances. If it were seasoned, so much the better; but this is hardly to be expected in plank of this particular kind. If Mr Swift can supply me, it will be better than to send to the Eastern shore; if...
531From George Washington to Robert Townsend Hooe, 29 March 1785 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Robert Townsend Hooe, 29 Mar. 1785. On the same day Hooe wrote to GW : “I had the honor of receiving Your Excellency’s favor of this date.”
532From George Washington to Robert Townsend Hooe, 3 April 1785 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Robert Townsend Hooe, 3 April 1785. On the same day Hooe wrote to GW : “Your favor of this Date I have just rec’d.”
533From George Washington to John Hopkins, 25 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
The last post brought me your favor of the 20th. At the same time that I pray you to accept my thanks for the advance you were so obliging as to make, on my Acct to Mr Buchanan (as treasurer for the James river Company) I cannot help expressing my surprise at the application to you. Sure I am that nothing ever dropped from me that could induce him to make it; & I now beg that if it should ever...
534From George Washington to John Hopkins, 27 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
I received the enclosed Tax bill by the last post in a letter from Mr Charles Lee who informed me that you had furnished him with it, and was so obliging as to offer to settle it with the Sheriff. I must beg you to accept of my best thanks for your kind offer, and shall take the liberty to trouble you upon the occasion. The specie Tax for the years 1785 & 6 amounts to £107.11.9 which I find,...
535From George Washington to Francis Hopkinson, 13 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your good humour of the 3rd, which made me laugh heartily, has fairly driven me out of the field, not, indeed, into the Potowmac, but into a resolution not to strain my wits in making one word of reply, except in sober earnest. This preliminary being settled—I will tell you all I have to say, in three words: though one might perhaps suffice, for you know they say “a word to the wise is...
536From George Washington to Francis Hopkinson, 5 February 1789 (Washington Papers)
We are told of the amazing powers of musick in ancient times; but the stories of its effects are so surprising that we are not obliged to believe them, unless they had been founded upon better authority than Poetic assertion—for the Poets of old (whatever they may do in these days) were strangely addicted to the marvellous; and if I before doubted the truth of their relations with respect to...
537From George Washington to Francis Hopkinson, 16 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
In for a penny, in for a pound, is an old adage. I am so hackneyed to the touches of the Painters pencil, that I am now altogether at their beck, and sit like patience on a Monument whilst they are delineating the lines of my face. It is a proof among many others, of what habit & custom can effect. At first I was as impatient at the request, and as restive under the operation, as a Colt is of...
538From George Washington to Jean Antoine Houdon, 26 September 1785 (Washington Papers)
By a letter which I have lately had the honor to receive from Dr Franklin at Philada, I am informed of your arrival at that place; many letters from very respectable characters in France, as well as the Doctors, inform me of the occasion—for which, tho’ the cause is not of my seeking, I feel the most agreeable & grateful sensations. I wish the object of your mission had been more worthy of the...
539From George Washington to John Eager Howard, 2 February 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your polite favor of the 23d Ulto enclosing you[r] Excellency’s proclamation of the Representatives and Electors returning by the State of Maryland. The whole number of Representatives being federal and the large majority by which they were chosen, is the most decisive proof that could be given of the attachment of the people of your State to the general...
540From George Washington to Bezaleel Howe, 9 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
You will take charge of the Waggons which contain my baggage; and with the Escort proceed with them to Virginia, and deliver the baggage at my house—ten Miles below Alexandria. As you know they contain all my Papers which are of immense value to me, I am sure it is unnecessary to request your particular attention to them—but as you will have several ferries to pass and some of them wide...
541From George Washington to Robert Howe, 10 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
As there is but one Regiment at Philadelphia to March to West Point, and the Troops when they get there take their Orders from the Commanding Officer of the Garrison (agreeably to the Original disposition of them) till Congress shall have determined upon a Peace Establishment; there can be no necessity for your Marching with your present command, in its reduced state to that place. I mention...
542From George Washington to Robert Howe, 23 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
Congress by a Resolve of this date, have directed me to dispose of the Regiment which remains at Philadelphia in any manner I shall see fit. As the business which required the Presence of Troops at Philadelphia is accomplished & the proceedings approved and acted upon by Congress, I am to desire that all the Troops at that place who are able to March may commence it immediately for West point....
543From George Washington to Robert Howe, 26 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
I feel great pleasure in communicating to you the inclosed Resolves of Congress, approving your conduct in the execution of the service on which you have been employed: as well as that of the Troops who were under your Orders. As great part of these Troops have already Returned to West Point, I transmitted the Resolves of Congress to Major General Knox, in a letter of which the inclosed is...
544From George Washington to Robert Howe, 15 June 1785 (Washington Papers)
A few days ago Mr Sitgreaves gave me the pleasure of receiving your letter of the 4th of May. It is the only one I recollect to have had from you since my return to private life. It gives me pleasure to hear that Congress have dealt honorably by you, & mean to do more; it is devoutly to be wished that they could do the same by all the Officers whose meritorious services & sufferings have a...
545From George Washington to William Hull, 29 December 1786 (Washington Papers)
I informed you in my last, that my own knowledge of the Western Country was rather general than otherwise, but promised to lose no opportunity of collecting every information which I thought might facilitate your intended settlement. Since which time I have had occasion to send Mr Lear out as far as Pittsburg to transact some business for me in that quarter; I directed him to make such...
546From George Washington to David Humphreys, 1 September 1785 (Washington Papers)
In the latter part of July I wrote to you very fully, since which I have received your favor of May. As nothing has occurred since that period worthy of observation, except that the Indians, supposed to be instigated thereto by the B—— are getting more & more our of humour, this letter will be shorter than I usually write to you. I find by your last that your time has been more occupied by...
547Remarks, 1787–1788 (Washington Papers)
It was rather the wish of my eldest brother (on whom the general concerns of the family devolved) that this shd take place & the matter was contemplated by him—My father died when I was only 10 years old. He was not appointed Adjutant General of the Militia of Virginia untill after his return from the expedition to Carthagena. Nor did he Command the Colonial troops on that occasion. these were...
548From George Washington to David Humphreys, 25 November 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive two letters from you since your arrival in France, and cannot let the Marquis de la Fayette depart without an acknowledgement of them, altho’ his doing it is Sudden, & I at the same time am surrounded with Company. When I have a little more leizure (if that ever should be) I will give you all the occurrences of this quarter that have come under my view &...
549From George Washington to David Humphreys, 8 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Wadsworth, as I informed you in my last, presented me your obliging favor of the 30th of January and the Post since has handed me the subsequent one of the 11th Ulto. My sentiments, respecting the inexpediency of my attending the proposed Convention of the States in Philadelphia remain the same as when I wrote you last, tho’ Congress I am informed are about to remove one of the...
550From George Washington to David Humphreys, 23 January 1787 (Washington Papers)
Since I have heard of the robbery of the Mail at New Ark, on the 4th instt, I have been under great apprehension that a long & confidential letter which I wrote to you on the 26th Ulto was in it—My only hope is, a strange one you will say, that the inattention to, and practice of bringing back, instead of exchanging Mails, which frequently happens, and did actually happen about that time may...