1Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 17 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
United States September 17th 1789. “The enclosed Letter was just now received by the President of the United States from the Governor of New York; and I am directed by the President of the United States to transmit the same to you, requesting that you will, after considering the subject, give him your opinion upon the expediency of his making an official or other communication of the...
2Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 18 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by the President of the United States to transmit to you the enclosed letters which have been received by him, and which come properly under the cognizance of the Secretary of War. The letters enclosed are as follows, viz. one from Samuel McDowell, as chairman of a committee of a Convention in Kentuckey, upon Indian Affairs in Kentuckey, and containing a list of sundry tribes of...
3Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 21 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to enclose you three letters from the supreme Executive of the State of Virginia upon the subject of Indian Affairs. These letters are addressed to the President of the United States, and have been duly acknowledged by him. As the President of the United States has directed me to transmit to you all letters & papers which have been received by him upon the subject of Indian...
4Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 25 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States has directed me to return the draft of the letter which you are about to send to the Governor of Georgia and to inform you that it meets his approbations. The President of the United States wishes you to send him the copy of the Instructions given to the Commissioners — which he will return to you in a few days. I have the Honor to be with perfect respect...
5“John A. Dingwell” to Henry Knox or Tobias Lear, 17 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
In The incloased I Send you a letter I did myself the honour to write to the President yesterday in answer to one he honoured me with[.] in mine to him I have incloased a peaper that it or one to the Same purport must be Signed before I make the least discovery as in the peapers I Can lay before him there is that that might indanger the lives of Gentlemen I wou’d Sooner die then hurt who is...
6Alexander Hamilton, Henry Knox, Tobias Lear, Alexander Macomb, Dominick Lynch, John Watts, and Samuel Bard to Patrick … (Hamilton Papers)
As the removal of the residence of Congress from this city will necessarily dissolve our association for the education of our children under your care, and as those of us who remain, do not see a probability of immediately filling up our former number, we take this method of unitedly expressing the entire confidence we have in your talents, and our approbation of your method of tuition. We...
7Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 24 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
I send by the bearer for the use of the President of the United States, a set of the Atlantic Neptune in three volumes folio, and a volume of the West India Atlas, which I imported from the England for public service—I have only to request that your would please to sign the duplicate receipts herein enclosed. I am Dear sir Your humble servant LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . This letter accompanied...
8Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 25 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
I omitted to day to ask the President’s approbation of Colo. Pickering, as quarter master of the proposed expedition. Will you mention it to him, and let me know the result! Because, if he should approve the idea, it will be necessary to dispatch an express to Colo. Pickering with the Offer. I am Dear Sir, Your humble Servt LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Knox apparently met with GW on 25 Feb. to...
9Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 1 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command, T. Lear has the honor to transmit to the Secretary of War the enclosed letter, which has just come to the President’s hands; signed by a number of the Inhabitants of Washington County in the State of Pennsylvania, expressing their apprehensions of the depredations of the Indians in that quarter. The President requests that the secretary will give the subject that...
10Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 11 July 1791 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, 11 July [1791]. Requests that “some information just received by express” be submitted to the president; “After he shall have perused them I will wait upon him to receive his orders.” LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . A docket on the original receiver’s copy and a note at the bottom of the letter-book copy identify the enclosures as dispatches from Maj. Gen. Richard Butler at Fort...
11Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 1 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to transmit to the Secy of war a letter from Mr Andw Ellicott, to the President, proposing that Mr Joseph Ellicott should proceed immediately to Georgia to explore the head of the Oconee River preparatory to Mr Andw Ellicott’s executing his business of running the line between the territory of the Creeks & the U.S. Should the Secretary of war...
12Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 19 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
You mention in yours of last evening, the blanks for the commissioners to run the Cherokee line will be filled by the names agreed upon this day. The following characters were mentioned by me to Mr Hawkins yesterday, who seemed to think them entirely suitable for the purpose, to wit, Judge Campbell. Daniel Smith—the Secretary of the territory. and, Colonel Landon Carter. Will you be so good as...
13Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 30 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
I transmit, enclosed, a letter intended for General St Clair, which is submitted for the approbation of the President of the United States; and I will call upon the President, to morrow, after he has returned from riding, about half after twelve, to receive his commands thereon, and upon another subject. I am, Dear Sir, Yours sincerely LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The enclosed draft has not...
14Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 13 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, 13 Dec. 1791. “Mr Kirkland seems desirous that the President . . . should peruse his plan relatively to the Oneida indians, and I therefore send it accordingly.” LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The enclosed plan of the Rev. Samuel Kirkland, missionary to the Oneida Indians since 1766, probably was his “Plan of Education for the Indians, Particularly of the Five Nations,” which he...
15Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 28 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, 28 Dec. 1791. By the president’s command, returns the reports that the secretary of war sent to GW last evening, with a letter from Colonel Pickering received at the same time, in order that any alterations necessitated by the latter might be made before the former are submitted. LB , DLC:GW . The enclosed reports apparently were those on Arthur St. Clair’s campaign and the new...
16Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 21 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, Saturday Evening, 21 Jan. 1792. Please submit the enclosed to the president; “I suspect the letter signed by the Cornplanter to have been written by the Mr Baldwin therein named.” ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The enclosed letter from Cornplanter has not been identified. It might have been a reply to the letter Henry Knox sent Cornplanter on 7 Jan. 1792 by Lt. John Jeffers...
17Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 31 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
War Department, Philadelphia, 31 Jan. 1792. Please submit to the president the enclosed papers, received this day from General St. Clair. “If it should be the judgemt of the President, the letter of Genl St Clair may be published.” ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Tobias Lear replied to Henry Knox on this date, enclosing the monthly returns, noting that the president wished to have an accurate...
18Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 3 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, Tuesday Evening, 3 Feb. 1792. Submits to the president the bill that has passed the House for his remarks as well as a letter from Mr. Kirkland of 17 Jan. and reports “All quiet at Fort Pitt on the 27th ultimo.” ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . On 1 Feb. 1792 the U.S. House of Representatives passed by a vote of 29 to 19 a bill “for making farther and more effectual provision for the...
19Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 16 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
I will wait upon the President after Breakfast, and at half past eight tomorrow Morning being desirous of finishing all things relative to the cherokees this evening—They will depart on Saturday, will it be Convenient for the President to bid them farewell at 12 oClock tomorrow? I am Yours sincerely ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . For the background to this letter, see Henry Knox to GW, 17 Jan....
20Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 17 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, 17 Feb. 1792. Submits a draft of a letter to Alexander McGillivray for the president’s approval or correction; “please to return it as it is necessary to be given to Mr Shaw.” ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Leonard Shaw was about to leave for the Southwest with the departing Cherokee delegation (see Knox to Lear, 16 Feb. 1792, source note ). Tobias Lear returned to the secretary of...
21Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 16 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
United States [Philadelphia] 16 Mar. 1792. Transmits by GW’s command a representation to the president from the county lieutenants and field officers of the District of Kentucky. ALS (letterpress copy), DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The enclosure has not been found, but it was probably similar in nature to the request of a council of militia officers in Harrison County, Va., for authorization to...
22Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 19 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
Will you be so good as to inform the President of the United States, that French Peter, who was in France with the Marquis, died last night, and that he will be buried to morrow —This event will prevent, according to their customs, their waiting on the President until thursday 12 o’clock. I am Dear Sir, Yours LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The Pennsylvania Gazette (Philadelphia) reported on 28...
23Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 27 April 1792 (Washington Papers)
[Philadelphia] 27 April 1792. “I am unwilling to trouble the President with so many papers, but it seems necessary he should be acquainted with those what are now enclosed from Mr Seagrove, and from Govr Blount.” ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Knox had sent Lear on 26 April some unidentified papers to be submitted to the president ( DLC:GW ). The enclosures to this letter have not been...
24Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 4 May 1792 (Washington Papers)
United States [Philadelphia] 4 May 1792 . Returns by GW’s command “the Instructions to Major Genl Wayne & a letter to Mr Seagrove, both of which meet the President[’s] approbation.” ALS (retained copy), DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . War Department clerk Benjamin Bankson had transmitted Knox’s proposed letter to James Seagrove to Lear on the previous day and had asked that it be submitted to the...
25Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 7 May 1792 (Washington Papers)
[Philadelphia] 7 May 1792. Asks Lear “to send me the Map of the tract to be reserved about fort Washington.” ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . On 12 April 1792 GW had approved “An Act for ascertaining the bounds of a tract of land purchased by John Cleves Symmes,” which provided “That the President reserve to the United States such lands at and near Fort Washington as he may think necessary for the...
26Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 3 June 1792 (Washington Papers)
[Philadelphia] 3 June 1792. Asks Lear “to inform the President of the United States that I propose to avail myself of his permission to go to New York by the early stage tomorrow Morning, and to return on thursday or at furthest on friday evening next.” ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Knox’s journey north apparently was a business trip. On Thursday, 7 June, Knox wrote his wife, Lucy Flucker Knox,...
27Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 16 June 1792 (Washington Papers)
[Philadelphia, 16 June 1792]. Asks Lear “to submit the enclosed letter from Genl Chapin, to the President of the United States. Capt. Brant will be here by tuesday, at furthest, in the judgement of the express who has just arrived.” ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . For the reasons for Joseph Brant’s delay in visiting Philadelphia, see GW to Knox, 25 Feb., source note and note 1 , Timothy Pickering...
28Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 28 June 1792 (Washington Papers)
[Philadelphia] 28 June 1792. Asks Lear to submit to GW “the enclosed letters from Governor Blount, Mr Allison and Judge McNairn, and others, by which the train of affairs with the Cherokees will be discovered.” LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . On 16 May, Southwest Territory governor William Blount wrote Knox that he agreed with the secretary of war that a post should not be established at the mouth...
29Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 5 July 1792 (Washington Papers)
[Philadelphia] 5 July 1792. Asks Lear to submit “the enclosed important papers from Mr Seagrovet” to GW. ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . These enclosures have not been identified.
30Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 10 July 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of War the enclosed letters from Governors Lee & Telfair which have been submitted to the President, and to inform the Secretary that the President requests that any answer to these letters which may require his inspection, may be submitted to him by twelve o’clock tomorrow, as he intends setting out for Virginia in...
31Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 27 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
The statement relatively to the Cherokees shall be made tomorrow, or next day at furthest —The intelligence received, this afternoon from Governor Blount renders alterations necessary. I submit this intelligence to the President in Governor Blounts Letter of the 7th instant, received at 3 oClock P.M. , together with certain Letters which I have written in consequence, to the Governors of South...
32Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 14 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of War the dispatches from Mr Seagrove, which were submitted to the president yesterday. The President thinks there are some parts of these communications which should be laid before Congress, and requests that the Secretary will select such as may be proper & have them communicated accordingly. ALS (letterpress copy),...
33Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 21 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of War the enclosed letter from the Governor of Virginia, which has been submitted to the President; and to transmit a letter which the President has received from the Representatives of the frontier Counties in the Gene[r]al Assembly of Virginia. The President requests that the Secretary will take the subject of the...
34Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 23 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
Please to submit the enclosed letters from M. Genl Wayne to the President of the United States. When he shall have perused them, I pray they may be returned, with any remarks he may think proper, as I must answer them this day. Yours sincerely, ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . “Your letters of the 14 and 16 instant,” Knox wrote Wayne on 24 Nov., “have been received and submitted to the president”...
35Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 23 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of War the two letters from Major General Wayne, with their enclosures, which have been submitted to the President, whose remarks thereon are herewith enclosed. ALS (letterpress copy), DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Lear wrote over his original date of 22 Nov. on the letterpress copy to change it to 23 November. Lear’s docket reads “23d Nov. 1792,” and...
36Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 24 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of War the letter to Govrnor Lee—to Thomas Wilson Esq. & others —and the Copy of a letter to Genl Wayne, which have been submitted to the President & to inform the Secretary that their contents meet the ideas of the President. ADfS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . For Knox’s letters to Henry Lee and to Thomas Wilson, see Lear...
37Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 25 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s Command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of War General Sevier’s letter, which the President has refused, and to inform the Secretary that the President observes, that the Secretary will in his answer to Genl Sevier let him know that by accounts from the Superintendent of Indian Affairs to the Southward, the disposition of the Creek nation is very different...
38Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 1 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
Be pleased to submit the enclosed letter to the President of the United States from Colonel Willet which I have just received. Yours sincerely ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The enclosed letter from Marinus Willett has not been identified.
39Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 1 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
Be pleased to submit to the President of the United states, the enclosed from Genl Wayne. Yours sincerely ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . In his letter to Anthony Wayne of 1 Dec., Knox acknowledged receiving on the previous day “your letter of the 23d November with the enclosures of a letter from Capt. Hughes and your correspondence with the Contractors” ( Knopf, Wayne, Richard C. Knopf, ed....
40Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 6 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
Please to submit to the President of the United States, the enclosed letters, from Brigadier General Wilkinson and John Belli deputy quarter master—dated Oct: 4th and 8th 1792; which I have just received. Yours sincerely, LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The enclosed letters from James Wilkinson and John Belli have not been identified.
41Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 8 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
General Knox presents his compliments to Mr Lear, and begs the favor that he will submit to the President of the United States, the enclosed letters just received from the Governor of Georgia and Major Gaither. L , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The enclosed letter from Georgia governor Edward Telfair was one that he wrote to Knox from Augusta on 20 Nov. 1792. “With respect to some late outrages...
42Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 11 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of War the Speeches to the Chiefs of the Six Nations and to the hostile Indians which have been submitted to the President, and to inform the Secretary that their contents embrace the President’s ideas on that subject. The President observes that the Secretary will write to General Wayne respecting Corn Planter, and to...
43Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 18 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s commd T.L. has the honor to return to the Secy of War the letters from Genl Wilkinson wh. have been submitted to the Presidt—and to say that if there be any thing in these letters wh. in the Secy’s opinion should be communicated to Congress the President wishes it might be done. ADfS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Knox presented the Senate on 19 Dec. an extract of a letter that he...
44Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 25 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
½ after ten oClock Xmas Evg My dear Sir [Philadelphia, 25 December 1792 ] Be pleased to submit some letters, or rather copies of Letters received this Evg from Genl Wilkinson. I beleive these are his highly confidential dispatches mentioned to Genl Wayne. In addition there are some returns of stores which I do not send. The Wabash Indians will Arrive tomorrow. Yours sincerely ALS , DLC:GW ; LB...
45Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 29 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secy of War the Speechs of Hendricks wh. have been submittd —likewise a letter from Mr Hoge to the Secy of War & the Secy’s answer, wh. expresses in its conclusion the President’s idea on the subject. ADfS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Knox, in his letter to Lear of 28 Dec., enclosed “speeches from Hendricks, to which I confess I...
46Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 4 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
Please to submit the enclosed letter of General Wayne —Two month’s pay will go as soon as the Bank can prepare the notes. The further pay must depend upon the settlement of accounts, or the payments will get into great disorder—As general Wayne has again sent for the cornplanter, the question is shall Col. Procter go upon that business? Please to return the papers after the President shall...
47Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 11 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
Will you please to submit to the President of the United States the enclosed letters from major general Wayne, and to inform him that as the paymaster has arrived at head quarters, pay, to complete the army for the last year, will be prepared, and forwarded instantly. I am, dear Sir, Yours sincerely— LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . An entry in GW’s executive journal for 11 Jan. 1793 indicates GW’s...
48Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 18 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s Command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of War the letter & enclosures from Majr Genl Wayne, which have been submitted to the President, and the letter from Mr Greenup, upon which the President observes that if the request therein containd can be complied with, it ought to be done as he thinks it would be attended with good affects. ALS (letterpress copy),...
49Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 21 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to transmit to the Secretary of War a letter which he has just received from the Gentlemen in Congress representing the State of Georgia. The President requests that the Secretary will take the contents of this Letter into consideration and report to him thereon as soon as he conveniently can. ALS (letterpress copy), DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The...
50Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 29 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
Please to submit to the President of the United States the enclosed draft of a speech for the Wabash indians. Yours sincerely— LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Neither the enclosed draft nor the final version of GW’s address to the Wabash and Illinois Indians of 1 Feb. has been found. These Indians sent a delegation to Philadelphia following a council with Gen. Rufus Putnam in September 1792. After...