271To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President the instructions for Mr Ellicott, altered to conform to the President’s idea. If approved, they will be delivered this evening to Mr Ellicott, as he wishes to start very early in the morning. The Secretary also submits a draught of instructions for General Pinckney—corrected & enlarged. ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB ,...
272To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 27 August 1791 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the honour to call at your house to-day, to speak with you: but you were engaged with Mr Jefferson. And the time not admitting another opportunity (as I wish to leave town on Monday morning) you will permit me to communicate what I had to say, in writing. As you thought it expedient, I went to New York, to converse with Mr Osgood on the business of the post-office. The contracts...
273To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 21 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
(private) Sir, Philadelphia Feby 21. 1799. I have been honoured with your letter of the 21st. My letter of the 8th contained nothing that need be concealed from your friends. except when I mark a letter confidential, you will be pleased to make such use of it as you think proper. The subject of the present one is not an exception, as to your discreet friends: for I am sure no officer about the...
274To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 27 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed interesting pamphlet is a faithful translation from the original French, transmitted to me by Mr King. As it details facts which demonstrate the perfidy and violence of the French Government, I had it translated, and recommended it to the printer in this place; hoping the dissemination of it in America might do good. I think the Government could expend money in no way more...
275To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the United States, the draught of a letter to lieutenant governor Wood of Virginia, concerning the ship Eliza, Captain Hussey, captured by the Thetis British frigate, and carried into Hampton-road. It was intended to send the letter by this day’s post: but the absence of the Clerk who had locked up the inclosed papers, prevented...
276To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 14 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
In a memorandum of your Excellency’s which I recd at Totowa is the following—“Ox teams to be provided & used the next campaign.” In a resolution of Congress of the 10th of November is the following paragraph. “That if it be deemed preferable by the commander in chief that a proportion of the public horses should be disposed of for draught oxen, to be provided for the ensuing campaign, he be...
277To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
I intended to have done myself the honour of waiting on you in person: but a letter may give you less trouble. General Knox informed me that it would be agreeable to you that I should undertake the superintendency of the northern Indians; I mean particularly the Six Nations. I answered, That by the new constitution of Pennsylvania, a Continental appointment was declared to be incompatible with...
278To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 19 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
(private) I was honored with your confidential letter of the 13th and showed it to the other two secretaries. Last Friday Mr Dawson called on the Secretary of War, and mentioned his being on a journey to the eastward, to contract for the manufacturing of five thousand stand of arms for the State of Virginia; and requested his information where he might apply without interfering with any...
279To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 4 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
Captain Cathcart’s vessel, laden with stores for Algiers, he expects will sail to-morrow. The Secretary of State therefore respectfully lays before the President this evening the draught of a letter to the Dey, and a letter for Mr Barlow. The letter from the Dey is inclosed; together with the letters from Mr Barlow to which the answer draughted by the Secretary of State refers. These are too...
280To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 12 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I believe I have heretofore mentioned to your Excellency my disappoinment in respect to the number of horses supposed to be wintered in Pensylvania. Last January, or early in February, I sent to that state & to every other where horses were wintered, for returns of them, for the purpose of ascertaining what numbers would be fit for service this campaign: but I obtained none until May & June....
281To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 3 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
Generally speaking, no task could be imposed on me so ungrateful as that of applying for a public office. In the present instance, however, I feel little reluctance in doing it; because I know the application will be duly noticed, and the ultimate decision, whether for or against me, be governed by a just regard to the interests of the United States. By some of my friends I am informed that Mr...
282To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you a hasty letter on the 13th—Upon further consideration, we have judged it most advisable that a letter should be written by Mr Wolcott alone; in order that the strong point of view in which the facts and arguments in the case may be placed, may be presented by Reason only, to which the mind yields more willingly than to formal advice, in the semblance of official authority. This is...
283To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 7 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
Among the great duties of your high station, the selection of proper characters for public offices is not the least difficult, nor the least important. The multiplicity of applications, the diversity, and sometimes the contrariety of opinions, must often produce painful embarrassments: while a constant aim to provide for the public service, will frequently oblige you to disregard private...
284To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 24 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
(Private) (& Confidential) Sir, Trenton [N.J.] Oct. 24. 1799 I am this evening honoured with your letter of the 20th. When I last wrote you, I had grounds to expect, on the President’s arrival; that the mission to France would be suspended, until the fate of its government should be known. This great question I supposed (& my colleagues had formed the same expectation) would be a subject of...
285To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have examined the cases mentioned in Mr Livingston’s speech, in which he affects to draw certain conclusions that the President has heretofore admitted, by the nature of his communications to the House of Representatives, that their interference is necessary to the due formation and binding force of treaties: but not one applies to the point. All the instances cited relate to communications...
286To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 19 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose for your information a copy of the letter I sent this day to the Minister of the French Republic, in answer to his enquiry relative to the prohibition of the sale of prizes brought by French armed vessels into the ports of the United States. I presume the answer will preclude any reply; the rather because similar ideas have been formally reported to the council of...
287To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
To-day I was honoured with your letter of the 10th instant. A commission will be made out for Mr Bourne as districtjudge of Rhode Island. The letters concerning him which I transmitted to you yesterday will add to the satisfaction you have in conferring the commission on him. The gentleman who was recommended for district attorney for Kentuckey, was William Clarke. His commission was forwarded...
288To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I received the inclosed letter from Mr Boudinot. Not knowing Dr Isaac Smith, I thought it would be your wish to have some information of him beyond what is communicated in that letter. And there being a connection between Mr Boudinot’s and Dr Rush’s family, I judged that I might make some confidential enquiries of the Doctor, with propriety and safety. Doctor Rush knew Dr Smith—that...
289To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 23 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to your orders of the 4th of September last, I took the necessary steps for holding a conference with the Logstown Chiefs & warriors of the Seneca Nation of Indians; relative to the murders of two of their people at Pine Creek in Pennsylvania. I wrote to them by the express who at the same time carried a letter from the president of Pennsylvania. In my letter I informed them,...
290To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 4 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of War respectfully lays before the President of the United States the letters proposed to be sent to Governor Fenner, with the letter to Mr Moore & the revocation of his exequatur —to Mr Bond & Mr Adet? A letter to our minister at London, with copies of the papers exhibiting a complete view of this affair, is preparing. AL , DLC:GW . In a letter dated 5 Sept., Pickering informed...
291To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 20 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to receive your letter of the 12th covering one for Mr Williams, late American Consul at Hamburg. He is appointed to succeed Mr Johnson in the Consulate in London, and in connection therewith, on the pressing application of Mr King, and indirectly of Mr Gore, to whom Mr Williams is personally and intimately known, to the agency of Mr Bayard, who has resigned. I shall therefore...
292To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 22 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
Judge Livermore & Mr Langdon have just handed me the inclosed petition, which is signed by the most respectable merchants in Portsmouth, recommending (and those Senators from their own knowledge concur in the recommendation) Nicholas Rousselet, & praying that he may be appointed Consul of the United States for the Colony of Essequebo & Demarara. This Dutch Colony is now in possession of the...
293To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 8 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 1st and 4th instant. On the appointment of a superintendant of Indian Affairs in the room of Governor Blount—and on the running & marking the Cherokee boundary, I expect to be able to report to you on Monday next the opinion of the Heads of Departments. The Secretary of the treasury informs me that he directed the Comptroller...
294To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 21 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
On Saturday I was honoured with your letter of the 16th I am yet without any intelligence from General Wayne. But Colo. Sargeant who arrived on Friday, and called on me on Saturday, showed me a copy of the treaty, without the names subscribed to it, and expressed his surprize that the original had not been received. I was sorry to learn from him that finally there was but a small...
295To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 9 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Armstrong arrived here yesterday with some necessaries for the North Carolina troops, among them 2768 blankets: but the whole being stowed in four waggons, I was led to inquire of the size of the blankets, & find they are so narrow that two must be sewed together to make one. Genl McIntosh informed me that the North Carolina brigade was already nearly supplied with blankets. This induced...
296To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 11 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to the intimation in your letter respecting a surveyor general, I take the liberty to inclose the application of Israel Ludlow, with the certificates of recommendation which he has this morning delivered to me. He is about twenty nine years of age, of a good person and agreeable manners. I have thought it proper on this occasion to inclose the applications of Mr John Hall & Joseph...
297To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 16 August 1795 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letters from Governor Blount were brought to my house last evening. To gain time, I desired Colo. Hays, the conductor of the Chickasaws, to bring them this morning to the War-Office. We met: but major Colbert declined making any communications but to you in person. Hitherto he said his nation had depended on your officers—and had been disappointed: Now, nothing but an answer from...
298To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 31 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
I learn that Mr Hammond has received letters of recall; and that he expects to depart in three weeks. I am disposed to believe, from accidental intimations, that before his departure some useful and perhaps very important arrangements may be made to facilitate the compliance with the condition on which the advice of the Senate for ratifying the treaty was suspended; and possibly for expediting...
299To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
I seize the first conveyance to inform you that General Pinckney is out of France. He embarked with his family, about the middle of August, in the ship Hope, Capt. Hendrick Hendrickson, for New-York, where we may daily expect to hear of his arrival. The letter giving me this information is from a Monsieur Hory, dated at Bourdeaux the 27th of August; it came to hand last evening from Chester...
300To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 9 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to my intimation yesterday, I have the honor now to inclose the three addresses from Georgetown & Columbia in So. Carolina, & Warrenton in No. Carolina, being all that remain in my hands. Draughts for answers are inclosed in the addresses respectively, expressing ideas varied to correspond with the tenor of the addresses. I hope you will not be teazed with any more. With great &...