1To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 19 November 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I have recd. a letter of the 6th ult. from Mr. Anspach, stating the necessity of his being furnished with two or three thousand dollars, to pay some arrears due to himself, Mr. Wolfe, Mr. Dill, & a few others who were employed in the late department of the Quarter Master General—that the payment of those arrears, particularly his, Mr. Wolfe’s & Mr. Dill’s will enable them to complete the...
2From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 19 November 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
In the Estimate laid before Congress at their last Sessions, I included as an Anticipation of the late Superintendant of Finance the Amount of a draft issued by him in your favor on the late Receiver of Taxes for the State of New York for Fifty thousand Dollars no part of which appears to have been paid. The circumstances attending this Anticipation not being sufficiently known by the...
3To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 25 November 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I have this day recd. your letter of the 19th. instant. It is in some sort anticipated by mine of last week. But the inclosed letter to Mr. Peter Anspach is to request him with Mr. Wolfe’s assistance to present you with a statement of the debts intended to have been provided for by the anticipation you mention, & which yet remain unsatisfied. The documents are in his hand. I remarked in my...
4To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 6 April 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Last evening a gentleman called on me to inform me of Mr. Duer’s resignation; and to urge me to apply for the vacant office. Having since reflected on a variety of circumstances which would render the office eligible, I have concluded to make known to you my willingness to take it, if you, who know me perfectly well, think I can give you the aid you would wish for and expect in an assistant....
5From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, [13 May 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The offer of your service as successor to Mr. Duer reached me in due time. I can with truth assure you, that you were one of a very small number who held a competition in my judgment and that had personal considerations alone influenced me, I could with difficulty have preferred another. Reasons of a peculiar nature, however, have determined my choice towards Mr. Tench Coxe, who to great...
6To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 20 July 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Conveyances to and from this place rarely offer, which, I suppose, prevented my receiving your favor of May 13th until a few days past. In appointments to public employments, when I had such to make, I am not conscious that personal considerations ever influenced my choice. The same principle determines me to be satisfied, and, if you will allow the expression, to approve of your appointment...
7To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 28 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
The inclosed letter, I sent at its date from Wyoming by a private hand, in a packet addressed to Mr. Hodgdon to be forwarded to you: but to-day it came to hand, thro’ the post office. I find that Congress have been pleased to grant 40,000 dollars to discharge certain arrears due from my late department. Mr. Anspach has written to me on the subject. He states that the mode of paying the...
8To 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...
9From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 4 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
In the public letter which accompanies this you will receive such instructions for your conduct in your mission to the Seneca Tribe of Indians, as may without impropriety be communicated to them—Some others shall here be added more peculiarly proper for your own ear. It is particularly desireable that they be made to understand that all business between them and any part of the United States...
10To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
The messenger to the Seneca nation set off this afternoon, with a letter addressed by me to their Sachems Chiefs & Warriors, informing them of my appointment from you to meet them under the authority of the United States; inviting the relations of the deceased Indians to come to Tioga on the 25th of October next; and expressing your desire that the chiefs of the Turtle tribe, & other Great Men...
11Enclosure: Estimate of the expense of necessaries for the meeting of the Seneca Indians at Tioga Octr 25. 1790., 25 … (Washington Papers)
4 barrels of Country rum 120 gall. @ at 3/. £ 18. 0.0 Provisions for 200 Indians 12 days, including the supplies they must receive when going home, viz. 3200 lbs. of beef @ 3 d. 40. 0.0 32 Cwts flour @ 15/. 24. . A silver gorget & other trinkets 10. . 1 Cwt of tobacco & pipes 2.10. 94.10.0 Provisions & necessaries for T. Pickering, & Colo. Wilson, agent for Pennsylvania, & for the...
12To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 4 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to your orders I held a Conference with the Chiefs &c. of the Seneca nation of Indians at Tioga in this state. About 220 of all ages attended. The day of meeting proposed was the 25th of October: but they did not arrive until the 15th of November. Such delays, I am informed, are common with them; but in the present instance I believe are greatly to be attributed to the...
13To 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,...
14From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 31 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to enclose for you the Report of the Secretary at War upon the papers which were referred to him, relative your transactions with the Seneka Indians in November last. To this satisfactory Report I am happy to add my entire Approbation of your conduct in this business—and am, With very great esteem & regard, Sir, Your most Obedt Servt LS , MHi : Timothy Pickering Papers;...
15To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 8 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
Having been accidentally detained here longer than I expected, and a little leisure now presenting, I have thought it would not be misapplied in suggesting the means of introducing the art of husbandry, and civilization, among our Indian neighbours. In the treaty with the Creek Indians, I observe provision is made for furnishing them with domestic animals and instruments of husbandry, with a...
16To 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...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Timothy Pickering, 18 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
As I shall leave town before the papers relative to an intended sale in France of Virginia lands, will be ready to be executed, I have committed the conduct of the business, so far as it respects myself, to my friend Mr. Samuel Hodgdon. He will wait on you with the papers, when completed, to receive such certificate as you shall think proper to give relative to him, Mr. Levi Hollingsworth, and...
18From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 20 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive your letters of the 8th and 15th of this month. I feel myself much obliged by the trouble you have taken, in the former, to detail your ideas with respect to introducing the art of husbandary and civilization among the Indians. I confess, that your plan, or something like it, strikes me as the most probable means of effecting this desirable end, and I am...
19To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 May 1791 (Washington Papers)
(Duplicate) Sir, Philadelphia May 2d 1791. Of the measures pursuing by general Knox, relative to Indian affairs, he doubtless makes to you the necessary communications. In those communications, he may, perhaps, have mentioned my being here, preparatory to my undertaking another mission to the Indians of the Six Nations, for the purpose of confirming the peace and friendship subsisting between...
20From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 12 August 1791 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Timothy Pickering, 12 Aug. 1791. Timothy Pickering wrote to his brother on 12 Aug.: “this day the President sent me a note, desiring to see me” ( Upham, Pickering, Octavius Pickering and Charles W. Upham. The Life of Timothy Pickering . 4 vols. Boston, 1867–73. 2:496).
21From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 23 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, August 23, 1791. On August 26, 1791, Pickering wrote to Hamilton : “I have received … your letter of the 23d instant.” Letter not found. ] Pickering had been appointed Postmaster General on August 12, 1791.
22To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 26 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received and considered your letter of the 23rd instant, proposing that a credit should be given to the Supervisors of the Revenue for the postage of Letters, until their collections should render it convenient to make payment. I shall as you request instruct the Deputy Postmasters, at the places by you enumerated, to open accounts with the respective Supervisors, and to accommodate the...
23To 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...
24To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 13 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
When I received your letter of the 13th of August, I did not consider it with the attention which would have been necessary if at that time I had attempted to answer the questions you propose. Now it appears to me impossible to do it, with any degree of precision. It then struck me that certain communications to the Society of Agriculture of this city would have furnished the principal...
25To 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...
26To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 9 March 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
After much enquiry, I have found a house which would accommodate my numerous family, and at the same time give me office-room. The greatly extended business of the department, I think may be accomplished with the same help which has been used since the time of Mr. Osgoods appointment, to wit, an assistant and clerk. For these, with their necessary writing desks, table, boxes, cases & shelves,...
27From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 12 March 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received the communication which you made to me with respect to a a part of the contingent expences of the general post office, and on comparing the sum you mention with the charges for similar objects, which have been necessarily sustained in this department, and in the public service in general I cannot perceive any thing in the arrangement you propose, but what appears consistent...
28Enclosure: Timothy Pickering to George Washington, 21 March 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The manner in which I have been employed to effect the present visit of the Chiefs of the Five Nations, renders me peculiarly interested that the negociations with them should conform with the direct object of the invitation. This object is indelibly impressed on my mind; it having been the main argument offered by me, to convince them of the real friendship of the United States. I feel...
29To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 21 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
The manner in which I have been employed to effect the present visit of the Chiefs of the Five Nations, renders me peculiarly interested that the negociations with them should conform with the direct object of the invitation. This object is indelibly impressed on my mind; it having been the main argument offered by me, to convince them of the real friendship of the United States. I feel...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Timothy Pickering, 28 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The President has desired me to confer with you on the proposition I made the other day of endeavoring to move the posts at the rate of 100 miles a day. It is believed to be practicable here because it is practised in every other country. The difference of expence alone appeared to produce doubts with you on the subject. If you have no engagement for dinner to day, and will do me the favor to...