31To John Adams from James McHenry, 20 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour to receive your letter of the 14th on the 21st instant. After what has passed with, and the conceptions of General Washington, respecting the relative grades of Generals Hamilton, Pinckney & Knox; the order observed by the President in presenting their names to the Senate, and by the Senate, in advising to the appointments, I cannot help apprehending some disagreeable...
32To John Adams from James McHenry, 22 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a patriotic address from the Brigadier general, and field officers of the third Brigade of Maryland Militia with a letter which accompanied the same from Brigadier General J. Swann, to the Secretary of War. The characters of most of the Gentlemen who have signed this address are known to me to be valuable and influential. I am, Sir, with the / Sincerest attachment...
33To John Adams from James McHenry, 29 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of the 18th instant. The communication respecting the cession of Castle Island was, I believe, made by the governor of Massachusetts to the Secretary of State. You referrd it to me, and I returned it previous to my visit to New York, with an opinion, that it would be proper to accept of the cession, but that it would be right the convicts should be...
34To John Adams from James McHenry, 4 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour to receive your dispatches of the 15, 20. 21 & 23d of Augt. ultimo, with their respective inclosures. The 28th of Augt. ulto. I transmitted by Mr. Hall, to Geo. Walton Esqr. & Lt. Col. Ths. Butler additional instructions, of which the inclosed is a copy, with a commission to the latter gentleman, and on the 30th a duplicate of the instructions by post. No. 1 is a letter from...
35To John Adams from James McHenry, 6 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to enclose you a copy of a letter, and table therein referred to addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury and dated the 3rd instant. The object of this communication is, to apprise him of the sums of money which will be wanted in this department for the execution of the Laws; and, of the periods at which, in my opinion, they ought to be furnished. I shall make you...
36To John Adams from James McHenry, 6 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour to recieve by this mornings mail your letter dated Quincy Augt. 29 Ulto. In making out the commissions for General Knox Pinckney & Hamilton, I shall follow the order you prescribe, and date Gen. Knox’s on the first day, General Pinckney’s on the second, and General Hamiltons on the third. You observe to me “There has been too much intrigue in this business, both with General...
37To John Adams from James McHenry, 10 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to enclose a copy of a letter from the Quarter Master General dated the 21st ulto, and a copy of a letter from Brigadier General Wilkinson dated the 25th of July ulto. I have the honour to be with due respect Sir / your ob & hbe St. MHi : Adams Papers.
38To John Adams from James McHenry, 15 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have had the honour to receive your letters of the 3d 4th and 5th of this month. It is somewhat difficult, I imagine to please the governor of Georgia. I thought I had been attentive both to himself and the State. There has been ordered to Georgia, on the 3d. of May 2 brass 6 pounders; 2 brass 3 pounders with carriages and impliments & 4 Iron 24 pounders with a sufficient quantity of...
39To John Adams from James McHenry, 18 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I inclose commissions for the Major Generals and Inspector of the army of the United States dated agreeably to your orders. At the instance of Mr. Wolcott, I have ventured to delay forwarding the Commissions, for a short time, to give him the opportunity of drawing up and presenting to you a respectful representation on the subject of the generals of the army. I have the honour to be, with the...
40To John Adams from James McHenry, 21 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 13th instant, for which I sincerely thank you. It has not only relieved me from some painful impressions, but afforded me ground to expect, I shall be able, when I have the pleasure of again seeing you, to satisfy you more fully that I exceeded, in no particular whatever, the line pointed out to me by your Instructions. Having acted, both...
41To John Adams from James McHenry, 15 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour to receive your letter of the 30th of Septr. ulto. inclosing commissions for the three Major Generals of the army of the United States, signed and dated on the same day. In contemplating the communications which may be expected from this department, at the time of presenting his commission to each of the Generals, I found myself embarrassed respecting the course you meant I...
42To John Adams from James McHenry, 18 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have had the honour to receive your several letters under date of the 13th 14th 17th and 21st of September and also of the 4th. 5th. 10th & 12th of Octbr. instant. I shall give the earliest consideration to the objects suggested in your letter of the 10th (which came to hand yesterday) and write you thereon as soon as possible. With respect to this sickness at Philadelphia, that may as well...
43To John Adams from James McHenry, 27 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour to receive on the 26th inst. your letter dated Quincy the 17th, inclosing me a letter from his Excellency Governor Jay, and a copy of an act of the Legislature of N. York, with a copy of your answer to the Governor, and of your letter to General Hamilton, and requiring me to submit these papers to the consideration of the heads of departments and according to their judgements...
44To John Adams from James McHenry, 30 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour to receive your letter dated the 22d inst. this morning. Inclosed are copies of letters from me of this date, to generals Washington & Pinckney, also copies of letters to me from Generals Hamilton & Knox the one dated the 19th inst. and the other the 23d. It is with sincere sorrow I received the information respecting Mrs. Adams’s low state of health, and your own distressing...
45To John Adams from James McHenry, 1 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
I recieved a letter yesterday from Major General Pinckney, in answer to mine of the 30th a copy of which is inclosed. I have the honour to be Sir with the greatest respect and attachment / Your most obt. st. MHi : Adams Papers.
46To John Adams from James McHenry, 19 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
There is a very great desire among a number of citizens & gentlemen composing the volunteer companies & City militia, to know as near as may be the day and hour at which you may be expected to arrive here. As I think it would not be right to disappoint their laudable zeal—I pray you to be so obliging as to drop me a line from New York to enable me to satisfy their inquiries, and afford them an...
47To John Adams from James McHenry, 25 November 1798 (Adams Papers)
It must be, well know to you, that the pressure of business, upon me, at Trenton, which could not be neglected; the derangements consequent upon the removal of the office, to Philadelphia; the necessity, of making some arrangements, for my family, in the first moments of their return; and the almost constant attention, I have been obliged to give, to the objects, refered to the general...
48To John Adams from James McHenry, 7 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
The extra allowance to officers detached on service, so as to be obliged, to incur expences on the road, and at places where there are no military posts, occasions frequent references to the Secretary of War, which interfere much, and will still more, in the event of augmenting the army of the United States, with the most important business of the Department. The officers claiming such...
49To John Adams from James McHenry, 18 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I inclose the warrants, for holding two military courts, one, a General Court Martial on Captain Thomas Lewis, the other, a court of Inquiry, on the conduct of Captain Edward Miller, together with the proceedings, sentence, and opinion of the Court. At a period, when the army is to be greatly augmented, it is desireable to establish, the best principles for its police; I was therefore induced,...
50To John Adams from James McHenry, 24 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to submit, to your consideration and disposal, a Report relative to certain alterations, in the military establishment, which to me appear, to be necessary, and proper. I am Sir / with the greatest Respect / your most obedient / and very humble servant MHi : Adams Papers.
51To John Adams from James McHenry, 29 December 1798 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of War respectfully reports, to the President of the United States, the enclosed List of Names, in part, for Officers to the regiments directed to be raised, by an Act passed the 16th. day of July last— The names on this List, were selected by Lieutenant General Washington, and Major Generals Hamilton and Pinckney, in pursuance of authority derived from the President. The...
52To John Adams from James McHenry, 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Yellow fever has again, not only appeared, but made so alarming a progress in this City—that in my opinion it will be necessary immediately to move the Public offices—It is ted to remove them to Trenton; I write the last paragraph the 7h. of August—haveing waited for some of the intended inclosures, which are not yet copied, but will be forwarded as soon as possible. I am Sir / with the...
53To John Adams from James McHenry, 1799 (Adams Papers)
Answer to Questions proposed by the President of the U States— To the first. It is difficult to fix the precise point at which indignity or affront from one state to another ceases to be negotiable without absolute humiliation and disgrace. It is for the most part a relative question—relative to the comparative strength of the parties—the motives for peace or war—the antecedent relations—the...
54To John Adams from James McHenry, 14 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
The General Officers, having in their List of Gentlemen, recommended for nomination, to Senate, for appointments in the Army of the United States, misnamed two from New York, Viz. Nathaniel Paulding, recommended for a Lieutenancy, and Joseph C Cooper for an Ensigncy, by calling the former Matthew, and the latter John, and the Senate having, in consequence of the misnosmer, suspended the...
55To John Adams from James McHenry, 27 January 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Wolfs–friend, if not the head, one of the most considerable Chiefs of the Chickasaw Nation is now in the City, at the instance and request of Brigadier General Wilkinson, who has intimated to me the expediency of securing his future good will and friendship to the United States by promising him an annual stipend. It may be proper to observe on this occasion: 1st That there are in the...
56To John Adams from James McHenry, 1 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter intended for General Wilkinson, and draught of a reply to the Chickasaw Chiefs. I did myself the honour to wait upon you with them, but not finding you at home, I beg Gen Wilkinsons letter may be returned if approved, in time to put it into the mail which closes at sun down. With the greatest respect / I have the honour to be Sir / your most ob. st. MHi : Adams Papers.
57To John Adams from James McHenry, 7 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to submit 1 a speech to the Bloody fellow 2 a speech to the Wolf friend. 3 a speech to George Colbert with the papers to which they relate. I shall take the liberty to call upon you in the morning for them and your commands respecting them With the greatest respect I have the honour to be Sir / Your ob & hble St DLC : James McHenry Papers.
58To John Adams from James McHenry, 13 February 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to submit a letter proposed to be sent to Lt Col. Gartlen by to-morrows post, with the letter mentioned therein from Governor Jackson of Georgia and that from Lt. McCall to the said Governor—It is desirable to have the letters returned to-day if approved of. I have the honour to be with the greatest respect Sir / your most obt. & hbe st MHi : Adams Papers.
59To John Adams from James McHenry, 16 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have this moment received the inclosed letter and list of persons proposed for military appointments from Major General Pinckney, and take the liberty to request, if the names should be approved of that it may be returned as soon as convenient, with authority to announce to the persons therein named their appointments and to make alterations therein should any intervening information or...
60To John Adams from James McHenry, 5 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour to inform you in my letter of the 16th of March ulto. that I had issued orders, to draw five companies of the regular army to the, scene of insurrection, and for the volunteer companies of Pennsylvania, to be in readiness to march at the shortest notice. I flattered myself, at the time of issuing this order, that the two volunteer companies of horse, of Philadelphia (if...