11From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 2 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
I nominate Joel Barlow of the State of Connecticut, to be Consul-General of the United States of America, for the City & Kingdom of Algiers. John Gavino to be Consul of the United States of America for the port of Gibraltar, in the room of James Simpson appointed Consul for Morocco. Frederick Folger of Maryland, to be Consul of the United States of America for the port & district of Aux-Cayes,...
12From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 2 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
United States, 2 March 1797. GW makes appointments and promotions in the U.S. army and nominates a total of eight men, including two lieutenants in the light dragoons. One of those officers, James Vincent Ball, is appointed to replace John Posey who resigned as lieutenant in the light dragoons on 19 Oct 1795. GW also appoints a surgeon’s mate in the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers because...
13[Diary entry: 1 March 1797] (Washington Papers)
1. Mercury at 24. Wind Westerly and cold all day.
14Circular to United States Senators, 1 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States to [ ] Senator for the State of [ ]. It appearing to me proper that the Senate of the United States should be convened on Saturday the fourth day of March instant; You are desired to attend in the Chamber of the Senate on that day at eleven OClock in the forenoon to receive any communications which the President of the United States may then have to lay...
15February [1797] (Washington Papers)
1. Wind No. Easterly in the Morning—So. Westerly afterwards and raining more or less all day. Mercury at 34 in the morning. 2. A good deal of rain fell last [night]. Cloudy Morning but clear & very pleasant afterwards. Wind westerly. Mercury 42. 3. Much such a day as yesterday but rather cooler. Wind same place. Mer. 30. 4. Wind at So. West—weather pleasant. Mercury at 32 in the morning. 5....
16[Diary entry: 28 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
28. Wind variable and grt. appearances all day of Snow. Mer. 35. Went to Mrs. Grattons concer[t] in the Evening. “M rs. G rattan Respectfully informs the Ladies and Gentlemen of the City, that the 5th ladies’ concert will be on tuesday , the 28th day of February, at the Assembly-Room.” The concert was to begin at 6:30, and “at half past eight, the music will attend for the ball.” The program,...
17From George Washington to George Clinton, 28 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 14th instt with a Postscript of the 24th came to my hands yesterday: and I hereby acknowledge the receipt of Mr Wilkes’s draught on the Cashier of the Bank of Pennsylvania for the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars on account of our joint concern in the lotts in Coxburgh—and which, as appears by the items of an account enclosed overpays my dividend of the receipts...
18From George Washington to James McHenry, 28 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Let me entreat you to attend early this morning to a fit character as a Comsr to attend the proposed Treaty with the Indians, by Mr Morris; and on this head, and on the message proper to accompany the nomination, I wish you would advise with Colo. Pickering; who has had more to do in Indian Affairs than any other Officer now in the Government, and perhaps may more readily think of a proper...
19From George Washington to the U.S. House of Representatives, 28 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Having maturely considered the bill, to alter and amend an Act intitled an Act to ascertain and fix the military establishment of the United States, which was presented to me on the 22d day of this month I now return it to the house of Representatives, in which it originated, with my objections. First. If the bill passes into a law, the two companies of light dragoons will be from that moment...
20[Diary entry: 27 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
27. Wind at So. Et. & lowering but no fall, Mer: 36. Went to the theatre in the Evening. Playing at the New Theatre were a comedy, The Way to Get Married; a farce, Animal Magnetism; and “a new Pantomime Ballet Dance ... called Dermot & Kathleen,” composed by Mrs. Byrne, a member of the theater company ( Gaz. of the U.S. [Philadelphia], 27 Feb. 1797; SCHARF [1] J. Thomas Scharf and Thompson...
21From 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;...
22From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 27 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
As the curtain is about to close on the political scenes of my life; and consequently to terminate the agency I have had in the affairs of the Federal City; I will, as far as a very hurried situation will permit, take notice of such parts of your several letters as remain undecided on. Having already informed you, that a Bill is pending in Congress for incorporating the Commissioners of the...
23From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 27 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 22d inst., as also one of the first, have been duly received. The affectionate sentiments contained in them, are highly pleasing to me. But that which affords a still higher gratification, is to hear that you are not only attentive to your studies, but pleased with them also. Hence, I draw the most agreeable presages, that you will reward my cares & anxieties to see you a...
24From George Washington to Allen McLane, 27 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you are Appointed with the Advice of the Senate of the United states Collector of the Customs for the District of Delaware. I have Selected you from a Convict[i]on that you will fill the Important Office with Honour to yourself and Advantage to your Country. And Sincerely wish you may find it your Intrest to Abandon your Other pursuites for the Support of your...
25From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 27 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I nominate William Vans Murray of Maryland to be Minister Resident of the United States of America to the United Netherlands. Allan McLean of Delaware, to be Collector for the District of Delaware and Inspector of the Revenue for the Port of Wilmington. John Gibbons of Georgia, to be Surveyor for the Port of Savannah and Inspector of the Revenue for the same. LS , DNA : RG 46, entry 52; LB ,...
26[Diary entry: 26 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
26. Clear & cold all day Wind at No. Wt. & Mercury 19. All the Military & Naval Officer[s] dined with me yesterd. Mercury at 19 degs.
27[Diary entry: 25 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
25. Wind pretty fresh from the No. W. and cool with lowering clouds towards evening—Mercury 32.
28From George Washington to Unknown, 25 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
The printed notification (enclosed) gives a general description of the lands held by the Subscriber on the Rivers Ohio & Kanhawa. For one more in detail, it is presumed the purchaser would choose to rely more on his own investigation, or on the report of an Agent, than on that of the Seller, and therefore it will not be attempted. The price has been rising, and at present is eight dollars pr...
29[Diary entry: 24 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
24. Rain fell last Night & a little this Morng. Cloudy until afternoon Wind Westerly. Mery. 50.
30[Diary entry: 23 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
23. Clear & pleasant forenoon. Wind brisk at So. Wt. lowerg. aftds. W. at So. Et. Mer. 36. The last third of the Pennsa. Assembly dined with me.
31From 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...
32[Diary entry: 22 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
22. Rain in the Night cloudy forenoon with the Wind at East—afterwards at S. W. clear & very fine. Went in the evening to an elegant entertainmt. given on my birth night. Mery. 38. The “elegant entertainment” took place at Ricketts’s Amphitheatre and was followed by dinner and a ball “which for Splendour, Taste and Elegance, was, perhaps, never excelled by any similar Entertainment in the...
33[Diary entry: 21 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
21. Wind westerly & remarkably pleasant in the forenoon—but lowering afterwards. Mery. at 30.
34To John Adams from George Washington, 20 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for giving me the perusal of the enclosed.—The sentiments do honor to the head & heart of the writer;—and if my wishes would be of any avail, they shd. go to you in a strong hope that you will not withhold merited promotion from Mr. Jno. Adams because he is your son.—For with out intending to compliment the father or the mother, or to censure any others: I give it as my decided...
35[Diary entry: 20 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
20. Cloudy with a little rain in the forenoon—variable afterwards. Wind So. West. Mercury 39. Another third of the Penna. Reps. dined here.
36From George Washington to John Adams, 20 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for giving me the perusal of the enclosed. The sentiments do honor to the head & heart of the writer; and if my wishes would be of any avail, they shd go to you in a strong hope , that you will not withhold merited promotion from Mr Jno. Adams because he is your son. For without intending to compliment the father or the mother, or to censure any others, I give it as my decided...
37From 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...
38From George Washington to Charles IV of Spain, 20 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have chosen David Humphreys, one of our distinguished citizens, to reside near your Majesty in quality of Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America. From a knowledge of his fidelity, probity and good conduct, I have entire confidence that he will render himself acceptable to your Majesty that he will study to preserve and strengthen the harmony and good understanding so...
39From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 20 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Reasons which I have frequently assigned, have prevented me from acknowledging sooner, the receipt of your letter of the 3d instant; relatively to the memorial of Mr Davidson. Indeed I have so often expressed my unwillingness to depart from the engraved plan in every instance where it could be avoided, that I had hoped no repetition of this sort would have been made to you, by any of the...
40[Diary entry: 19 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
19. Clear, Wind Westerly in the Morning but cloudy afterwards. Mer: 30. Went to church.