1To George Washington from Charles Lee, 11 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
On the 9th I had the honor to receive your letter of the 4th instant, since which Col. Pickering has found the opinion which was the subject of my former letter; which will enable me to attain a copy without giving you any further trouble. If Col. Pickering has written to you as he intended he probably has informed you that the prospect of peace between France and Great Britain continues to...
2To George Washington from Charles Lee, 24 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
Mr Monroe has lately demanded in a letter to the secretary of state an explanation of the letter of recall which was sent to him in France. That an inconvenient unwise and pernicious precedent might not be set his request has been denied and consequently that affair stands on the original grounds. I did not retain a copy of the opinion which I had the honor to give on this measure and...
3To George Washington from Charles Lee, 14 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have examined the journals of the House of Representatives and also of the Senate respecting your message to Congress of the 18th of February 1793 accompanied with a report and plot of the territory of the United States on Patowmack. In each House an order was made that the message lie on the table. On the next day the Clerk of the House of Representatives delivered to the Senate a message...
4To George Washington from Charles Lee, 7 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
After bestowing the best consideration upon the several matters mentioned in your letter of the 6th I had formed an opinion that our minister plenipotentiary at Paris, ought not to be permitted to continue there, any longer than until the arrival of his Successor; and that it was not only expedient but absolutely necessary that he should be immediately recalled and another minister appointed....
5To George Washington from Charles Lee, 4 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Attorney General having taken into mature consideration “the act for the relief and protection of American Seamen” which grew out of the bill “for the relief and protection of American Seamen” passed in the house of representatives of the United States on the 28th march 1796 and afterwards amended in the Senate, the opinions of William Lewis and William Rawle thereupon, the letter from the...
6To George Washington from Charles Lee, 20 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Attorney General having considered the information contained in Mr Wolcott’s note of the 19th instant most respectfully reports. That it affords reasonable ground to believe that the Republic of France has serious expectations to obtain from the King of Spain all or a part of his territories on the continent of North America, and contemplating a separation in government of the Western from...
7To George Washington from Charles Lee, 8 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have been reflecting on the train of measures to be pursued respecting the western posts which yesterday seemed to meet your approbation. The subject was new to me then, and therefore I hope you will excuse me for presenting to your better judgment the result of mine on the letter proposed to be written to Lord Dorchester. That part of it which is to express an acquiescence on your part in...
8To George Washington from Charles Lee, 22 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
There is reason to believe unless the Congress during their present Session shall make some addition to the fees or emoluments now allowed to the Attornies of the United States in the several Districts, that some of the most useful of those Officers will resign and their vacancies I fear it will be found impossible to fill with fit persons. None but eminent Counsel ought to be called to those...
9To George Washington from Charles Lee, 18 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have conversed with Mr Rawle on the petition of Daniel Hamilton for a pardon of his offence and on the petition of Daniel Leet and others for a general pardon of all those concerned in the late western insurrection to whom the clemency of government has not yet been extended. We concur in opinion that so long as any offender keeps himself out of the power of that court to which he is...
10To George Washington from Charles Lee, 29 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have examined with care the journals of the house of representatives and I have not met with any act of your administration which contradicts your present opinion relative to the right of that house to participate in making treaties, or any other part of your intended message. Col. Pickering was desired to express this as my opinion, and least he should omit it I have thought it necessary to...
11To George Washington from Charles Lee, 26 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
It is my opinion that the house of representatives have not a right by the constitution to demand and obtain the papers described in their resolution of the 24th instant without the consent of the President. I am not acquainted with those papers, but supposing they contain nothing which may not be disclosed to the public I think it will be expedient under the circumstances of this particular...
12To George Washington from Charles Lee, 20 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have very little doubt, that Mr John Marshall would not act as a commissioner under the treaty with Great Britain for deciding on the claims of creditors. I have been long acquainted with his private affairs and I think it almost impossible for him to undertake that office. If he would, I know not any objection that subsists against him—1st He is not a debtor, 2d He cannot be benefitted or...
13To George Washington from Charles Lee, 18 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
Upon the Petition of Robert Randall the Attorney General reports most respectfully to the President of the United States That to attempt to corrupt the intergrity of a member of the legislature in his legislative functions, by offering to him a bribe in money, land or other valuable commodity is an offence indictable at common law and most properly cognisable in a court of justice. It is a...
14To George Washington from Charles Lee, 30 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your letter of the 19th to which I take the earliest opportunity of answering. In expressing my willingness to accept the office of Attorney General of the United States, I do it with the utmost diffidence of my competency and can only assure you I will endeavour to discharge its important duties with diligence and fidelity. I had been arranging for a retired life, but...
15To George Washington from Charles Lee, 18 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
Some time ago I received from mr Gill your letter with the papers accompanying it for the purpose of preparing an instrument according to your instructions, which I regret could not have been done before now on account of my absence with my family from town on account of the Small pox. Only last teusday we returned and I mention this to excuse mr Gill as well as myself for the delay which has...
16To George Washington from Charles Lee, 4 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
The objects which I have in veiw at this time will not permit me conveniently to continue in the Office of Collector at Alexandria which you were pleased to entrust to me. About the 12th of this month I shall have occasion to leave town and previously it is my wish to deliver up all my official books documents & papers to my successor and I am therefore to request that you will be pleased to...
17To George Washington from Charles Lee, 12 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
Alexandria [Va.], 12 Sept. 1790. Informs GW of his readiness to comply with the secretary of the treasury’s orders to provide the president with any required funds in his hands. ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters. Alexander Hamilton wrote to the collector of customs at Alexandria on 26 Aug. 1790 that “I had this morning the honor of a Message from the President of the United States...
18To George Washington from Charles Lee, 3 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
Having long served as the custom house officer of South Patowmack and I trust with the approbation of my country, I have been induced to express my wishes to be reappointed in the same department least my silence should be misunderstood. I pray leave at this time to mention Mr Richard Marshall Scott as a person from long experience in this line of business capable and deserving of any office...
19To George Washington from Charles Lee, 29 October 1788 (Washington Papers)
For a few days past the Assembly has been engaged upon the subject of the federal constitution: The house of delegates in committee has come to several resolutions with respect to putting it into operation. One of them distributes the commonwealth into ten districts each of which is to choose a representative in Congress, and another appoints that there shall be twelve districts each of which...
20To George Washington from Charles Lee, 14 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter covering one to Mr John Hopkins to whom I have delivered it. The warrants in my hands not being receivable in discharge of the claims of the James River Company have been deposited in Mr Hopkin’s hands as you directed. He informs me (and he is right in my opinion) that the securities you enclosed to him will not answer in the payment of your taxes for 1785 & 1786...
21To George Washington from Charles Lee, 17 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
Since writing my last I have exchanged your warrant for £69 payable in the aggregate fund for warrants payable in the present taxes as well as the arrears and this being done upon equal terms is an advantage to you. If you choose to apply these to the payment of your taxes for the year 1787, in case there remain any such taxes to be paid by you, I will retain them till an opportunity shall...
22To George Washington from Charles Lee, 11 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to receive by post your letter inclosing a certificate for sixty nine pounds a moity of what was due for a slave executed in 1781 and I have endeavoured to negotiate it but I find the terms so disadvantageous to you that I have retained it for your further directions. The value of all the state certificates depends upon the laws of taxation & revenue and as tobacco is...
23To George Washington from Charles Lee, 23 February 1788 (Washington Papers)
A bill drawn on you by the Treasurer of the James River Company for sixty five pounds balance of the requisitions accompanied with the account has been transmitted to me which I have the honour to enclose. Please to inform me when and to whom application is to be made for payment. With every consideration of respect and esteem I remain your most obed. sert ALS , DLC:GW . In August 1785 GW...
24To George Washington from Charles Lee, 13 September 1786 (Washington Papers)
This is accompanied with instruments of writing which I hope you will find agreeable to your intentions. Mr Lund Washington is said not to have qualified as exr of Manley in which case he need not be a party to the deed but I conceive it necessary that he should in open court renounce the execution thereof and that his renunciation should be recorded if already this has not been done—After...
25To George Washington from Charles Lee, 24 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Colonel Butler (whose letter Your Excellency had the kindness to transmit to me) is one of the oldest and dearest Friends I have in the world—my duty to so staunch a Friend, my inclinations and my interests concur to make me ardently desirous of having an interview with him before He embarks for England—I believe this Gentleman has an intention to purchase and settle in America—with your leave...
26To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 15 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
As I understand the Army is soon to move and it certainly will be very awkward for a Man in my circumstances to be oblig’d to attend it, I shall think my self very much oblig’d to your Excellency for permission to go to Philadelphia, I shou’d not be so desirous of this indulgence, if I had not been made to believe that it yet may be a considerable time, before my affair is brought to a final...
27To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 30 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
From the knowledge I have of your Excys character—I must conclude that nothing but the misinformation of some very stupid, or misrepresentation of some very wicked person coud have occasioned your making use of so very singular expressions as you did on my coming up to the ground where you had taken post —They implyed that I was guilty either of disobedience of orders, of want of conduct, or...
28To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 30 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I beg your Excellency’s pardon for the inaccuracy in misdating my letter —you cannot afford me greater pleasure than in giving me the opportunity of shewing to America the sufficiency of her respective servants—I trust that temporary power of office and the tinsel dignity attending it will not be able by all the mists they can raise to affuscate the bright rays of truth, in the mean time your...
29To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 30 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing my letter by Col. Fitzgerald to your Excellency I have reflected on both your situation and mine, and beg leave to observe that it will be for our mutual convenience that a Court of inquiry should be immediately ordered—but I could wish it might be a court martial—for if the affair is drawn into length it may be difficult to collect the necessary evidences,...
30To George Washington from Major General Charles Lee, 27 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I did not receive your order to halt until the head of the Detachment was within a mile of English Town Creek —I immediately halted on the receipt—indeed it was not my intention to proceed further than the first brook or Water—I have taken a tolerable strong Post in the wood where I shall wait for further orders—unless the expediency of making some movement is so forcible as to oblige me—I the...