1To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 22 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have waited here two weeks cheifly to try to finish my engagement with you—But all my endeavors are vain—I shall never recede from my exertions till I do accomplish the end, for no event of my life has given me more anguish. I would if you consider yr sale injurious rather relinquish the contract & give up the payments made, than to be the instrument of damage to you—The loss of money I am...
2To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 12 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I found yr letter by Mr Anderson last evening at my lodgings & took the earliest opportunity of conversing with Mr Page on its contents Mr Page says that on his first conversation with Mr Harrison he rated his property at five pounds pr acre, but that on a subsequent meeting he fell to 50/ pr acre, for which price he could have purchased the land. He offered 45/ & proposed renewing the...
3To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 27 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
On my way to North[umberlan]d election I recd yr favor of the ⟨ illegible ⟩ instant. In the course of the last ⟨month⟩ I rented out my distillery to a Mr ⟨ illegible ⟩ of Frederic, now residing in this county & sold to him all my corn. Had your application preceded the sale I would most chearfully have given you the preference. I will try to purchase 100 or 200 ⟨bls⟩ for you on the terms you...
4From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 18 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 28th of Feby came duly to hand. On the subject of which I shall say nothing until I have the pleasure of seeing you in May, as promised. The intention of this letter is to enquire—as you have frequently offered it—whether you have, at this time, any Corn for Sale. I want more than my Nephew of Westmoreland can furnish me with, and will allow for what you can spare the same...
5To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 28 February–3 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
Last monday evening Mr C. Washington presented me with yr favor covering a duplicate of yr let. of the 4th Novr & accompanying deeds for the land given for Magnolio. The deeds have been executed agreably to desire. The duplicate is the first letr I recd from you on the subject it concerns, which fact will of course apologize for my silence. I passed thro. alexa. early in Decr & should have...
6To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 29 January 1799 (Washington Papers)
In our late session the views of opposition to govt have been disclosed with more than usual frankness. That you may possess an accurate copy of the address on the part of the minority I beg leave to forward to you the enclosed. If the people will generally read the proceedings of the legislature I console myself with the hope that the disposition of Virga will change respecting congressional...
7From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 4 November 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letters from Fredericksburg and Stratford, have both been received; and their contents will be attended to when the list of applications come under consideration. Tomorrow (being requested thereto by the Secretary of War) I shall set off for Trenton. This, of course, will deprive me of the pleasure of seeing you, while you are on the promised visit to this County. It is necessary...
8From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 29 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of yesterday’s date from George Town is received. You know perfectly well what my inducements were to part with the property you purchased of me, but rather than have any difficulty, or unpleasant disputes respecting the payments, agreeable to contract, I would take productive property in the Federal City—in Alexandria—or almost anywhere—or any thing productive, or unproductive, at...
9To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 28 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have at length got to this place & will do myself the pleasure to call at Mt Vernon on my return home. In the mean time I shd be happy to hear whether you accede to my proposition when last with you of taking good property for the whole debt due to you. I have houses & lots in the fœderal city: well situated & which to close our business I would part with even at this present dull period,...
10To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 26 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
I had prepared to set out for mt vernon & alexa. last week but I am obliged to stay till after our district court which happens early next month. Then our citizens will fix on an opponent to our present representative—much as many of us approve of our govt, we find it very difficult to obtain the consent of a proper character for Congress. The present crisis imperiously commands our attention...
11To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 2 February 1798 (Washington Papers)
Mr Hopkins presented me with yr letter of the 25th ultimo. I learn with much surprize & chagrin that Mr Simmes has failed to pay his note—He used to be considerd as very punctual & therefore I recd his paper for a debt due to me. Nothing but the untoward & unexpected course of fiscal concerns in this country could have produced delay in my payment of yr debt. I am pained in a great degree to...
12From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 25 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
The period for payment of the second Instalment of your Bond is past, & the first Instalment is only partially complied with. Mr Simms’ note, endorsed by you for $1000, is protested at the Bank, where it was deposited for collection. It Cannot be more unpleasant for you to hear, than for me to remind you of these things, but it is necessary for me to do so, & to express a hope that some...
13From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 8 September 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 27th Ult. with its enclosures, came safe to hand. When the negociable note for $1000 is paid, and the 30 barrels of Corn are received, the amount of both will be carried to your credit. I am told that the present price of Wheat in Alexandria is 8/ but I can fix no price now for what may be delivered 2, 3, 4 or even 6 months hence, or, perhaps, not at all (if you depend upon...
14To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 27 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have not time to pay my respects as I intended, in as much as I cannot leave town this evening & my long absence from home forbids my loosing another day. My demands on Philadelphia unless the yellow fever interrupts the Philadelphians will be settled in Septr. I then shall have some of Wilsons money, on which fund I counted when I bought yr land. I now enclose a negotiable note for 1000 Ds....
15To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 26 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
In reply to your letr by your servt this evening, I can only say, that my recollection of the lands sold to you, authorizes me to consider every fair attempt to wrest your title to them as the result of error—In Kentucky, I am told, too often are efforts of another sort made to deprive real owners of their property. I know that all the money due on the purchase of the lands you hold thro me...
16To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 15 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
On reaching this place I called on Mr Lingan to whom R. & F. referred me. The inclosed paper shews the determination to transfer 41 shares—letters are daily expected from R. & F. which will lead to the transfer of the ballance. As my election comes on next monday I fear my hurry will be such as to compel me to ⟨pass⟩ you & therefore I do now that by letr which I meant to have done personally....
17From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 2 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
If this letter should happen to find you in Philadelphia, the intention of it is to bring you acquainted with the situation of Messrs Reed & Ford’s engagement to transfer (after the 28th of March) seventy shares in the Bank of Columbia on your account for my benefit. On my way home, I placed their obligation in the hands of a Gentleman within the District of Columbia, for the purpose of having...
18From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 22 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir, Mount Vernon Septr 22d 1788 Your letter of the 13th instant was of so friendly & confidential a complexion, as to merit my early attention and cordial acknowledgments. I am glad Congress have at last decided upon an Ordinance for carrying the New government into execution. In My Mind, the place for the meeting of the new Congress was not an object of such very important...
19To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 13 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
at length the new govt has received the last act necessary to its existence. This day Congress passed the requisite previous arrangements. The first Wednesday in January the ratifying states are to appoint electors, on the first Wednesday in february the president is to be chosen, & the first Wednesday in March is the time, & this city the place for commencing proceedings. Some delay has...
20To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 24 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
The misery of my situation in consequence of the continued ill health of Mrs Lee, has prevented me the gratification of congratulatin you on the auspicious prospect which the adoption of the new constitution presents to our country. Indeed I am now so inadequate from my temper of mind to execute a task so agreable, & on which I wish to say much, that I should have posponed the satisfaction,...
21To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 20 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
It is with reluctance that I trouble you on any matter of a private nature, but the peculiar hardship of Mr Heards case I hope will fully apologize for this interruption. Mr Heard was an officer in my regiment—in the year 1780 I received an order from the Quartermaster General to impress a Number of horses in Monmouth county in obedience to an order from you on the subject, it being probable...
22From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 4 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for asking my commands to Fredericksburg. It is not my wish to be your competitor in the purchase of any of Mr Hunters tradesmen: especially as I am in a great degree principled against increasing my number of Slaves by purchase and suppose moreover that Negros sold on creadit will go high. yet if you are not disposed to buy the Bricklayer which is advertized for Sale, for your own...
23To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 11 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have your letter of the 31st octr besides the pleasure we all feel in knowing the health of Mount Vernon I am delighted and edified by your sentiments—This moment Genl Knox & Mr King left me having perused the part of your letr which respects the Insurgents—They expressed the highest satisfaction in finding that your retirement had not abated your affectionate zeal for the prosperity of...
24From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 31 October 1786 (Washington Papers)
I am indebted to you for your several favors of the 1st 11th & 17th instt, and shall reply to them in the order of their dates:But first let me thank you for the interesting communications imparted in them. The picture which you have drawn, & the accts which are published, of the commotions & temper of numerous bodies in the Eastern States, are equally to be lamented and deprecated. They...
25To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 17 October 1786 (Washington Papers)
In my last letter I detailed the eastern commotions and communicated my apprehensions of their objects & issue. G. Knox has just returned from thence and his report grounded on his own knowledge is replete with melancholy information—a majority of the people of Massachusetts are in opposition to the government, some of their leaders avow the subversion of it to be their object together with...
26To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 11 October 1786 (Washington Papers)
In the full confidence you receive my letters as testimonials of my unceasing respect, and from a solicitude to acquaint you with all material contingencys in the administration of our national affairs, that you may be able to form your judgement on authentic documents, and consequently that your opinions being bottomed on truth may not fail to produce the most beneficial effects to our...
27To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 1 October 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have not written to you for a long time having nothing important or agreable to communicate. Nor have I now any thing agreable, but alas the reverse. The commotions which have for some time past distracted the two eastern states, have risen in Massachusetts to an alarming height—In New Hampshire the firmness of their President the late General Sullivan has dissipated the troubles in that...
28To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 8 September 1786 (Washington Papers)
By Col. Humphrey I had the pleasure to receive your letter acknowledging the receipt of the china account paid here by me, and at the same time got one hundred and fifty dollars payment in full for the money advanced. Before this Mr Gardoquis box must have reached you; it was sent to the care of Mr C. Lee in Alexandria and I hope your China has also got to hand—It had left this for Norfolk...
29To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 12 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
Since writing my last I have an opportunity of sending the small box given to me by Mr Gardoqui for you under care of Mr Wilson of Petersburgh by the stage, to be delivered to Mr C. Lee. I prefer this conveyance to the one intended, & now enclose the letter which accompanyed the box. It is probable that the China will leave New York for Norfolk next week. I am most respectfully Yours ALS ,...
30To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 7 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of hearing from you last week, and have complied with your wishes respecting the china. No conveyance at present offers for Alexandria, but every day presents one to norfolk, from which place the correspondance up your river is frequent. I intend unless I should meet with a vessel for potomac, to send the box to Col. Parker naval officer at norfolk, and ask his special...
31From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 26 July 1786 (Washington Papers)
Your favors of the 3rd & 11th inst. are both at hand. The last came first—the first only two days ago. The Books by Mr Griffith are also received, & came in good order. My thanks for your kind intention of giving me the use of them ’till you return to Virginia are sincerely offered. Youngs tour thro’ Ireland, I had myself purchased when in New York; and I have just received advice of the...
32To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 11 July 1786 (Washington Papers)
Your friend and servant, the patriot and noble Greene is no more—on the 19th June after 3 days fever he left this world. Universal grief reigns here—how hard the fate of the U. States, to loose such a son in the middle of life—irreparable loss—But he is gone, I am incapable to say more—May health attend you my dear General Yours most affy ALS , DLC:GW . Nathanael Greene died on 19 June at...
33To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 3 July 1786 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of your letter four days past, and would have sooner replied but waited in the expectation of learning something about the package you enquire after. The letter from Mr Arthur Young came in the packet, but was not accompanied by any thing else. The british Consul here tells me it is not customary to send packages of any sort by the packets as they sail from Falmouth or...
34From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 18 June 1786 (Washington Papers)
Under cover of your favor of the 21st of April, which came duly to hand, was a letter from Arthur Young Esqr. (author of the tours thro’ G. Britain and Ireland, with observations on the husbandry of those Kingdoms) informing me that he had sent me a compleat sett of all his works. As these have never yet come to hand, nor any advice of them, you would do me a favor (if you can recollect of...
35To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 21 April 1786 (Washington Papers)
Your very polite reply to my two letters reached me a few days past. It is impossible for my mind so thoroughly impressed with testimonials of your friendship, when that friendship operated both to my honor and happiness to ascribe any act of yours in which I am interested to disregard or neglect. My cheif object in my correspondence with you, was to manifest the unabated respect which...
36From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 5 April 1786 (Washington Papers)
Ascribe my silence to any cause rather than the want of friendship, or to a disinclination to keep up a friendly intercourse with you by letter. Absences from home, hurry of business, company, &ca, however justly they might be offered, are too stale & commonplace, to be admitted. I therefore discard them. Throwing myself upon your lenity, and depending more upon your goodness than on any...
37To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 2 March 1786 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the honor to write to you some days past: since which an Arabian stud horse has arrived in this City & has been announced in the gazettes a present to you, from his Catholic Majesty. I consider it not improper to inform you that the printers have mistaken the matter, the horse being sent to Mr Jay. Our fœderal distresses gather fast to a point. New Jersey has refused the...
38To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 16 February 1786 (Washington Papers)
You desired to hear from me now and then, when I left Virginia. I obey your wishes with pleasure, & must assure you, that I continue to feel the same unabating zeal to administer to your happiness, which my public duty formerly commanded from me. I wish that my communications may be always agreable; I apprehend your solicitude for the honor & prosperity of a nation formed under your auspices...
39To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 25 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
The shallop I ordered your nuts and trees by, has arrived here and brought up one package—there will be another by another vessel. The apple is the Medley russitan, the pear is known among us by the Name of the Chantilly pear, and the cherry is coronation—all excellent in quality and merit good ground and proper exposure to the south. I hope Mrs Lee will be able to set out on thursday. We...
40To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 20 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
I had provided for you all the forest trees we possess except the cypress worthy of transplantation, & joined to them some chosen fruit trees. I directed a label or some designation to be affixed to the fruit trees to shew their kind. Two oppertunitys having offered to send them up to you. I thought it better to leave them, where they were, than to send them to popes creek —A Captain...
41To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 12 March 1785 (Washington Papers)
Apprehending the escape of the season before your vessel may arrive, I have got the favor of Mr Hall to permit his servant to call at Mount-Vernon. He has twelve horse chesnut, twelve box-cuttings & twelve dwarf box-cuttings—you may have any supply of either box, you please to order—I can supply you also with cypress & holly which can be ready at the shortest notice—Perhaps we may have some...
42From George Washington to Henry Lee, Jr., 24 November 1784 (Washington Papers)
Accompanied by the Marquis de la Fayette, Captn Grancheau & the Chevr Caraman, I am just arrived at this place. The Marquis joins me in wishes to see you—come then to Dinner tomorrow, or as soon as you can make it convenient. I have heard since I came home, indeed at Dumfries, of some dispatches which went down for me from the Commee; but none have yet got to hand. I should be glad to receive...
43To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 18 November 1784 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the pleasure of writing to you on the 15th Since which the meeting have concluded their business. they determined to send the petition to the representatives of this county, I beleive, & to trouble you with their bill for perusal, & then to place it in proper hands. However the express who will deliver this, is sent purposely by the meeting with our papers, & will bear a letr to...
44To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 21 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have just returned from Newark, where I completed the business your Excelly committed to me. The virtuous sergeant deserted last night, I saw the two in newark this day. This night they go to york. Desertion among us is pe[r]fect a stranger; my officers are very attentive, & some of them men of nice discernment, this leads me to apprehend thay will discover that the Sergeant is on some...
45From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 20 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
The plan proposed for taking A——d (the out lines of which are communicated in your letter whh was this moment put into my hands without a date—has every mark o⟨f⟩ a good one—I therefore agree to the promised rewards, and have such entire confidence in your management of the business as to give it my fullest approbation; and leave the whole to the guidance of your own judgment, with this...
46To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 16 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I waited on Col. Dey yesterday, but received no information favorable to the business you was pleased to charge me with. On my return last evening The Marquis mentioned to me the same matter as very eligible, & Col. Hamilton made some enquiry on the same subject. I communicate this to your Excellency, least a mention of it by those gentleman to you may alarm you, on the score of secrecy. Be...
47To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 13 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have made it my business to see the person who was Capt. Browns guide. From a minute examination of him I am confident that Gen. St Clair was named to deceive, that Capt. Brown did not see or hear from Gen. St Clair, & that Capt. Brown passed himself on his conductor as a person engaged in our service, altho’ his object was to communicate with some gentleman of consequence among us—I am apt...
48To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 5 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your Excellency’s letr of the 3d inst. transcribing a complaint exhibited by the Cheif Justice of this state against three officers of my corps. the following is the exact state of the matter. When orderd to Monmouth, I posted a party of horse in the vicinity of Brunswic for the speedy communication of intelligence. the inhabitants on whom they were quartered, being people...
49From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 3 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
Several days ago I received a Letter from the Honble Mr Brearly, Chief Justice of Jersey in which he mentions that “Complaint has been made to me by a Member of the Legislature of Somerset County, together with other respectable Inhabitants, that a Detachment of Major Lee’s light Dragoons have quartered themselves upon the Inhabitants of that County near Rockey Hill, without any order of Law,...
50From George Washington to Major Henry Lee, Jr., 2 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 31st Ulto was delivered to me yesterday—I never hear of the intended resignation of a good Officer without feeling pain—& shall be sorry for that of Captn McLean’s; but if he is resolved on the measure It is not in my power to prevt it. The same principle that actuates Captn McLean would occasion the resignation of half the Captains of the line, if it was to pervade the whole—for...