31From George Washington to Alexander Addison, 8 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 4th Instant came to my hands by the last Post. When I inform you that Mr Ross (who on my behalf, disposed of the Land I held on Millers run, to Mr Ritchie) is authorised to do all that is necessary on my part, towards carrying the bargain into complete effect; it almost supercedes the necessity of giving answers, in detail, to the queries you have propounded. I shall however,...
32From George Washington to Pierre-Auguste Adet, 1 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
Born, sir, in a land of liberty; having early learned its value; having engaged in a perilous conflict to defend it; having, in a word, devoted the best years of my life to secure its permanent establishment in my own country; my anxious recollections, my sympathetic feelings, and my best wishes are irresistably excited, whensoever in any country I see an oppressed nation unfurl the banners of...
33From George Washington to the Alexandria, Virginia, Inspectors of Tobacco, 21 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
In 1790 I had 13 Hhds of Tobo Inspected at the Warehouses in Alexandria—and in 1791, 12 more were also Inspected at the same place. Not meeting a price which I was disposed to take, they remain there still. My Nephew Majr Washington either before, or since your care of those Warehouses was allowed to stow them in a secure place, therein; but as it is now more than a year since this happened,...
34From George Washington to the Dey of Algiers, 21 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
Being desirous of establishing and cultivating Peace and Harmony between our Nation and the Dey, Regency, and People of Algiers, I have appointed David Humphreys, one of our distinguished Citizens, a Commissioner Plenipotentiary, giving him full Power to negotiate and conclude a Treaty of Amity and Commerce with you. And I pray you to give full credit to whatever shall be delivered to you on...
35From George Washington to Jaquelin Ambler, 13 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
Be pleased to pay to Messrs Johnson, Stuart & Carrol Commissioners of the Federal buildings on the Patowmac, or to their order, or by the order of any two of them, the second instalment of the monies granted by the state of Virginia towards the said buildings. LS , in Thomas Jefferson’s writing, Vi ; L (letterpress copy), DLC : Jefferson Papers; copy, DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB ,...
36Enclosure: George Washington to Jacquelin Ambler, 13 November 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Be pleased to pay to Messrs. Johnson, Stuart and Carrol Commissioners of the Federal buildings on the Patowmac, or to their order, or the order of any two of them, the second instalment of the monies granted by the state of Virginia towards the said buildings. RC ( Vi ); in TJ’s hand except for Washington’s signature; at foot of text: “The Treasurer of Virginia”; endorsed on verso in David...
37From George Washington to Alexander Anderson, 18 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with the receipt of your letter of the 14th of may last accompanying a parcel of seeds, which have been disposed of agreeably to the disposition suggested to you by Mr Benjamin Vaughan. I desire to express my sense of your obliging kindness and to assure you that I shall be happy to aid beneficent intentions on any other occasion. I am Sir very respectfully your most...
38From George Washington to James Anderson, 5 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 28 ulto has been received; but leaves the matter we have been treatg of, pretty much as it stood before I wrote to you, except that certain stipulations on your part are made while you refer me for a solution of the queries I propounded (important to me) to others for information, when the means of obtaing it is not within my reach. I can only say therefore, that it will not...
39From George Washington to James Anderson (of Scotland), 26 May 1794 (Washington Papers)
The letter with which you were pleased to favor me, dated the 15th of August last year, accompanying sevl pamphlets on interesting subjects, came safe; though long after its date, as you will perceive by the enclosed note from a Mr Callender; which serves as a wrapper of six guineas which I send for the vols. of the Bee (15 in number) which have come to my hands. As you have never authorised...
40From George Washington to James Anderson, 20 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 14th enclosing the weekly Reports, was received on Saturday last. The opinion you have formed of the Overseers, under your superintendance, is, I dare say, very correct; and if the Negros will not do their duty by fair means, they must be compelled to do it; so far therefore from taking the latter amiss, that I consider it as a part of your duty. It has always been my aim to...
41From George Washington to James Anderson, 29 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 25th instant with the Reports of the preceeding week came to hand by the mail of yesterday. In Six weeks or thereabouts, if nothing unforeseen happens, I expect to be a resident at Mount Vernon; but lest something may cast up requiring the payment of ready money, I enclose you an order upon the Bank for Two hundred dollars. The general account therewith may be settled after...
42From George Washington to James Anderson, 22 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 18th instant, with the Inventory & Reports of the preceeding week, came to my hands yesterday; and being satisfied from your observations, and indeed (on reflection) from what had occured to me before, of the necessity of water passing thro’ the Distillery, I cannot do otherwise than approve of the establishment at the Mill, for temporary purposes. The result of wch, must...
43From George Washington to James Anderson, 18 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
In Passing through Alexandria yesterday, on my way to Philadelphia, I saw Colo. Fitzgerald, who informed me of a letter he had received from you in consequence of one which Doctr Stuart had written to his relation, Mr Fitzhugh of Stafford. It might have promoted both our views, if you had come immediately to my house upon the receipt of that letter, as more satisfaction would have resulted...
44From George Washington to James Anderson, 8 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 3d instant, & Mr Pearce’s of the same date, with the weekly reports—were received by me yesterday and I shall take notice of such parts of both as may require an expression of my sentiments thereon. I consent to your commencing a distillery, and approve of your purchasing the Still, & entering of it. And I shall not object to your converting part of the Coopers shop at the...
45Memorandum for James Anderson and William Pearce, 5 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
I shall communicate such directions as have occurred to me since I left Mount Vernon, and are necessary to be followed, in this way; that such of them as may not be executed, or executed in part only, by Mr Pearce, may be consigned over & compleated, or attempted to be completed by his Successor, Mr Anderson. The Plan for the Crops of next year (as handed to me by Mr Pearce) may be adopted: or...
46From George Washington to James Anderson (of Scotland), 24 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
If I was more deserving of so interesting & valuable a correspondence as yours, your letter of the 6th of Decr last year would not have remained until this time unacknowledged. The truth is, so little time is at my disposal for private gratifications, that it is but rarely I put pen to paper for purposes of my own. This is offered as an apology for what might otherwise have the appearance of...
47From George Washington to James Anderson, 15 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 11th and Reports of the preceeding week, came to hand yesterday. It is a thing I had resolved to do, so soon as I should be fixed at Mount Vernon, to seperate the old & bad horses, cattle and Sheep from the young, thrifty & good; and to dispose of them in some way or another, as soon as they could be got in order for it; by a Summer’s run, or other means not too expensive...
48From George Washington to James Anderson, 27 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 22d with the weekly reports, was received on the 25th. As its contents, is chiefly matter of information, it requires but little to be said in reply: and as the public business presses upon me at this juncture, and I shall (I hope) be at Mount Vernon ’ere long, I will suspend giving any opinion, or directions relative to the business entrusted to you, in this letter;...
49From George Washington to James Anderson (of Scotland), 20 June 1792 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure a few days ago to receive your letter of the 28t[h] of September, enclosing a letter from the Earl of Buchan, and accompanied with some seeds of the Sweedish Turnip, or Ruta Baga . At the same time I received from Mr Campbell, a bookseller in New York, six volumes of the Bee, which he informed me were transmitted by your directions. In your letter you mentioned having sent...
50From George Washington to James Anderson, 25 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
It was not until the 18th instant that I had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 3d of November, enclosing one from Lord Buchan, and accompanied by the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th & 11th Volumes of the Bee—and a copy of the pamphlet on Wool. While I beg your acceptance of my best thanks for the polite attention you have shewn in forwarding the several Volumes of the Bee—and express my sincere...
51From George Washington to James Anderson, 5 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 1st instant, with the weekly reports, are received. If all that part of the new road from the Causey to the white gates is completed and fit for use, it has gone on better than I expected; and makes me wish more, that the other part was done; that the whole might be fit for use against my return; but I do not desire it to be attempted to the injury of more important work....
52From George Washington to James Anderson (of Scotland), 15 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you in December, I have been favored with your letter of the 15th of September, on the subject of Iron Bridges. The invention is ingenious, and if it answers as well in practice as it appears in theory it will be a valuable and useful discovery. I see no reason why it should not, as the construction is upon mathematical principles. I should fear, however, if you have not been...
53From George Washington to Mary Dabney Anderson, 20 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
Not before the 8th instant had I the honor to receive your favor of the 17th of May, accompanied with a piece of Silk of your own manufacture. Contrary as it is to an established maxim of mine—not to accept a Present from any one—yet, considering this as a mark of your peculiar attention to me and as an evidence of what our climate, aided by industry, is capable of yielding, I receive, and...
54Enclosure: To Annapolis, Maryland, Citizens, 16 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
Conscious of having had in view the Interest & Happiness of the people of the United States, in the discharge of my public duties; and fully persuaded that remaining in a state of neutrality during the present contest between the powers of Europe, if not absolutely necessary to these objects, would tend in a very considerable degree to promote them, I receive with infinite satisfaction,...
55From George Washington to John Armstrong, 6 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
Acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 29th of December, and offering you my best thanks for the interest it expresses in my behalf, I beg you to be persuaded that neither my late silence nor my present brevity are in any degree the consequence of diminished regard. Your friendship receives from me the same grateful & affectionate return which I have ever made to it—but the multiplied...
56From George Washington to John Armstrong, 23 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Believing that there may be times and occasions, on which my opinions of the anonymous letters and their author, as delivered to the army in 1783, may be turned to some personal and malignant purpose, I do hereby declare, that I did not, at the time of writing my address, regard you as the author of the said letters; and farther, that I have since had sufficient reason for believing, that the...
57From George Washington to John Armstrong, 11 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir, Philad. March 11th 1792 I am persuaded that no one will be more ready than yourself to make the proper allowances for my not having sooner acknowledged the receipt of your friendly letter of the 23d of December, as you there express a conviction that the pressure of my public duties will allow me but very little time to attend to my private correspondences. This is...
58From George Washington to Samuel Ashe, 25 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have received your very friendly letter of the 30th of last month, covering the address of the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina. The Sentiments expressed by the General Assembly, and their testimony of the usefulness of my public services, while honorable and grateful to me personally, I value still more as a citizen of the country to whose freedom and prosperity those...
59From George Washington to Mary Atlee, 14 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President wishes Mrs Atlee to be assured that, his disposition to prevent tears of distress from flowing, is far beyond his means to accomplish; and that he should be extremely happy if the latter were adequate to the numerous calls that are made upon the former. Mrs Atlees case being entirely unknown to the President—Her application of course, is not well understood by him. ADf , DLC:GW ;...
60From George Washington to Abraham Baldwin, 7 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 30th of April, containing the resignation of your seat at the general Board of Commissioners for finally adjusting all accounts between the United States and the individual States; and shall cause it to be filed in the proper office as soon as the necessary arrangemt of departments shall have been made. I am, with great esteem, Sir, Your most Obedt Servt...
61From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 16 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
At length your clover-seed, and chocolate Nut shells, are on Ship board for Alexandria; consigned to the care of Colo. Gilpin. The Vessel was to have sailed this day, but whether she is gone, or not, I am unable to say—she has been going every day for ten days, but I would not put your things nor my own Seeds on board until the last moment, lest they should get heated in the hold. yesterday...
62From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 18 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you, from Mount Vernon, I have seen & conversed with Mr Morris on the subject of a person to Manage a Tilt-hammer for you. He says it is difficult to get one who understands the business, & in other respects is worthy of confidence. The Person he had, he was obliged to discharge, on account of his inebrity, & knows not where to supply his place but by importation; which is...
63From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 3 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
In due course of the Post I have received your letters of the 17th of December & 21st of the last month; and congratulate you on the birth of a Son—and the passage of your family through the Small Pox. As you had acknowledged the receipt of the needful for purchasing the Buck Wht, and had assured me that no disappointment should follow, I have not given you the trouble of a letter until now,...
64From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 21 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have in due course of post, been favoured with your letter of the 11th instant. I thank you for the prompt compliance with my request—as I do Mr Fitzhugh also for the ready belief he yielded that I would do nothing unfriendly, or ungenteel in the case you were desired to mention to him. Before the receipt of your letter, I had dispatched Howell Lewis (who was first to go to Fredericksburg...
65From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 24 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
I am glad to find by your letter of the 13th instant that the bracelets were received, & pleased. The chocolate shells which you request shall be procured and sent when the Clover Seed goes, which I hope will now soon happen, as the navigation is once more just opened; and because it is high time that both you and my Manager had received the latter; that is the clover Seed. No Vessel is yet up...
66From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 19 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 7th instt came duly to hand, but the multiplicity of matters that pressed upon me at the time, prevented an earlier acknowledgment. I write to you now respecting an exchange of Lands because you wished to hear from me soon, on that subject—not because I think there is the least probability of such an exchange taking effect; I judge so from the ideas I have formed (from the...
67From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 27 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
Eight or ten days ago I wrote to you concerning a Manager for the Tilt hammer which you contemplated the erection of; since which I have received your letter of the 15th instant; in which, doubts of going on with it are expressed. As I am equally ignorant of the expence of erecting, & the profit when erected, I can say nothing encouraging or discouraging of the measure: but if from an...
68From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 25 September 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 10th instt from the Sulpher Springs has been recd. When General Knox (who for several days has been expected) returns, I will deliver your letter to him —and from him (in whose department the business lyes) you will receive an answer to your proposition. I hear with the greatest pleasure of the spirit which so generally pervades the Militia of every State that has been...
69From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 24 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 16th Instant, from Leesburgh. In answer to which, respecting the purchase of Buck Wheat, I send you a Bank note for two hundred dollars; being more disposed to give two & six pence pr Bushel in Loudoun than depend upon the purchase here, & the uncertainty of getting it round in time. What the Waggonage of it to my house from thence (as fast as it is...
70From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 2 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 19th of December and 9th Ulto came duly to hand in the usual course of the Posts. I was not unmindful of the contents, altho’ I did not acknowledge the receipt of them. Genl Knox, who was in Office when the first came to hand, said (as well as I recollect) that nothing could be done in the matter without an Act of the Legislature of Virginia, consenting to the purchase of...
71From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 4 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
Previously to the receipt of your letter of the 25th Ulto, some persons had been mentioned to me as well qualified for the superintendence of my business at Mount Vernon; and until something is decided with respect to them (letters having passed on the subject) I can say nothing further with respect to Mr Lawrence Lewis. So much am I engaged in public business, and so little haveg it in my...
72From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 18 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 26. of December came duly to hand, but occurences of various kinds have prevented an acknowledgement of it till this time. I am not at all uneasy at the delay, or impatient for the settlement of the estate accounts of my deceased Mother; I am persuaded they will be rendered in due time, and to the satisfaction of all concerned—To pay all she owed is my first wish—to render...
73From George Washington to Burgess Ball and Charles Carter, 18 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
Having set out on a tour through the Eastern States, it was at this place your letter of the 8th Instt overtook me. Not having my fathers Will to recur to when I wrote to my Sister, nor any recollection of the Devises in it, I supposed she was entitled to a Childs part of the Negros; but if they were otherwise disposed of by that Will (as I believe is the case) she is certainly excluded; and...
74From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 10 August 1794 (Washington Papers)
We removed to this place about twelve days ago to avoid the heat of Philadelphia, & probably may remain at it until the middle of next month. It was here I received your letter of the 5th instant, which came to my hands yesterday. The business of establishing Arsenals, and providing proper places for them is within the Department of War; the Secretary of which (General Knox) set out on Friday...
75From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 23 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
By a letter I have just received from my Manager, Mr Pearce, dated the 18th instt I find he had received no more at that time, than 131 bushls of the Buck Wheat you were to procure for me. I hope there will be no disappointment of the remainder. It would fall hard upon me, as I have not the quantity of Seed Oats necessary to carry my plan into affect this year; a failure of both would leave my...
76From George Washington to the Baltimore Merchants and Traders, 27 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
At this eventful period when caution must be united with firmness to preserve to the United States the blessings of peace, & at the same time to maintain our rights as an independent nation, it affords me no small degree of satisfaction to find that my endeavours to promote these objects, by declaring the neutrality of the U. States, has met your approbation. While the measures of this...
77Circular to Barbary Powers, 30 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
To (1.) Being desirous of establishing and cultivating peace and Harmony between our nation and (2.) I have appointed David Humphreys, one of our distinguished citizens, a Commissioner plenipotentiary, giving him full power to negotiate and conclude a Treaty of Amity and Commerce with you and I pray you to give full credit to whatever shall be delivered to you on the part of the United States,...
78From George Washington to Thomas Barclay, 11 June 1792 (Washington Papers)
Congress having furnished me with means for procuring peace, and ransoming our captive citizens from the government of Algiers, I have thought it best, while you are engaged at Marocco, to appoint Admiral Jones to proceed to Algiers, and therefore have sent him a commission for establishing peace, another for the ransom of our captives, and a third to act there as Consul for the U.S. and full...
79George Washington to Thomas Barclay, 11 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress having furnished me with means for procuring peace, and ransoming our captive citizens from the government of Algiers, I have thought it best, while you are engaged at Marocco, to appoint Admiral Jones to proceed to Algiers, and therefore have sent him a commission for establishing peace, another for the ransom of our captives, and a third to act there as Consul for the U.S. and full...
80From George Washington to Joseph Barrell, 30 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 25th of Novr last, and the Sea Otter skin with which you were pleased to present me by the hands of Colo. Sergant, were not (as he probably has informed you) received at this place until a few days ago; or I should, most assuredly, have thanked you ’ere this for your kind and polite attention to me. I now pray you to accept my acknowledgment of the favor—and the assurance of...