51[Diary entry: 15 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
15. Cloudy forenoon with flakes of Snow—clear afterwards. Wind Westerly. Mercury 34. Large Compy.
52From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 15 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Several of your letters have been received within these few days; and notwithstanding the accumulation of business, consequent of the near epoch for my quitting the chair of government, the receipt of them should not have remained so long unacknowledged had I not placed such as related to the Power of Attorney, and to some disputed points, into the hands of the Law Officer of the United States...
53From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 15 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives I lay before You an Official Statement of the Expenditure to the end of the Year 1796, from the Sums heretofore granted to defray the Contingent Charges of the Government. LS , DNA : RG 46, entry 47; LB , DLC:GW . The “Act making further appropriations for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six,” 1 June 1796, had appropriated...
54[Diary entry: 14 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
14. Fine Rain—Wind in the same quarter. Mercury 38.
55From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 14 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have given the draughts of the letters to Messrs Pinckney—Humphreys—and Adams an attentive perusal, and approve of their contents. It might however be better, to soften some of the strong expressions in the letter which is addressed to the first of those characters; or to convey them in Cypher, lest they should (which is not improbable) fall into hands they are not intended for. and might it...
56[Diary entry: 13 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
13. Cloudy morning, and fine rain all day afterwards. Wind Easterly—Mery. 38.
57[Diary entry: 12 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
12. Clear & pleasant. Wind Westerly—Mercury at 35.
58[Diary entry: 11 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
11. Clear after the morning & Wind Westerly Mer: 35.
59[Diary entry: 10 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
10. Morning Rainy & stormy afterwards—Wind at So. Wt. Mercury at 50 in the Morn.
60[Diary entry: 9 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
9. Cloudy all day. Wind Southerly. Mercury 34.
61[Diary entry: 8 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
8. Clear & pleasant but Cool. Wind westerly. Mercury at 26.
62[Diary entry: 7 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
7. Clear & cool. Wind at No. Wt. Mercury 34 in the Morn.
63[Diary entry: 6 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
6. Fine Rain most part of the day. Wind So. Wt. Mer: 48. Went to the Play of Columbus in the evening. Columbus; or a World Discovered , a historical play, was presented at the New Theatre at six o’clock this evening “ by particular desire .” Also on the bill was a farce called Barnaby Brittle; or a Wife at Her Wit’s End. The production of Columbus was an unusually ambitious one. The theater...
64From George Washington to Elizabeth Willing Powel, 6 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I accept your offer for my Coach horses; to be delivered after the third of March in good order. I bred them myself, and therefore cannot be mistaken in their ages; ten and eleven is the extent. No horses of true spirit can be more gentle; and never having received a fright are affraid of nothing. One of them was a little unwell about a month ago, but is now perfectly recovered, and is used...
65[Diary entry: 5 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
5. Clear & pleasant with the Wind Westerly. Mery. 28. Morn.
66From George Washington to James Anderson, 5 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 1st instant, with the weekly reports, are received. If all that part of the new road from the Causey to the white gates is completed and fit for use, it has gone on better than I expected; and makes me wish more, that the other part was done; that the whole might be fit for use against my return; but I do not desire it to be attempted to the injury of more important work....
67[Diary entry: 4 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
4. Wind at So. West—weather pleasant. Mercury at 32 in the morning.
68[Diary entry: 3 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
3. Much such a day as yesterday but rather cooler. Wind same place. Mer. 30.
69[Diary entry: 2 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
2. A good deal of rain fell last [night]. Cloudy Morning but clear & very pleasant afterwards. Wind westerly. Mercury 42.
70[Diary entry: 1 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
1. Wind No. Easterly in the Morning—So. Westerly afterwards and raining more or less all day. Mercury at 34 in the morning.
71From George Washington to William Blount and William Cocke, 1 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Some days ago I recd a letter from you with enclosures, recommending John Rhea Esqr. for District Judge, of the District of Tennessee. The Act for establishing that Office, having now obtained all the requi[sit]e forms, the nomination of a character to fill it has become necessary: but before I proceed to it, I wish to know what specific objections, if any, there are to Mr D[avi]d Campbell,...
72From George Washington to Alexander Spotswood, 1 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 24th Ulto was received by yesterday’s Post, and for the information it contains I pray you to accept my thanks; As I do also for the kind offer you have made me of enquiring into the quality & value of the land I hold on rough creek in the State of Kentucky which I readily accept. I have heard through other channels, that the above mentioned Land is possessed of valuable...
73January [1797] (Washington Papers)
1. Clear—Wind Westerly. Went to church. [23] The information in brackets (indicating morning temperatures for the days in January) appears as marginal notes on one diary page and one almanac page. 2. Cloudy forenoon—wind westerly. Much company to complement the Season. [18] New Year’s Day having fallen on Sunday this year, the New Year’s celebration was postponed until today. 3. Snowing from...
74[Diary entry: 31 January 1797] (Washington Papers)
31. Snowing in the Morning & raining the remainder of the day or rather misting. Wind at No. Et. [22]
75[Diary entry: 30 January 1797] (Washington Papers)
30. Clear, & somewhat cooler than yesterday &ca. [28]
76[Diary entry: 29 January 1797] (Washington Papers)
29. But little wind, dull and variable weather; misting. [34]
77From George Washington to James Anderson, 29 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 25th instant with the Reports of the preceeding week came to hand by the mail of yesterday. In Six weeks or thereabouts, if nothing unforeseen happens, I expect to be a resident at Mount Vernon; but lest something may cast up requiring the payment of ready money, I enclose you an order upon the Bank for Two hundred dollars. The general account therewith may be settled after...
78From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 29 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Having received a letter from Mr George Walker, of which a copy is enclosed, with my answer; a sense of duty to the public, and of propriety as it relates to yourselves; requires the transmission of both, to you; for the purpose which is expressed in the latter. After the severe weather we have had, I think it probable there will be an early Spring: In which event, I persuade myself that great...
79[Diary entry: 28 January 1797] (Washington Papers)
28. Do. Do. Do. Rain last Night [42]
80From George Washington to John Henry, 28 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
The President of the U. States presents his compliments to Mr. Henry, and with them, returns Mr. Smith’s letter to him. In that letter, Mr. Smith supposes the Plank contained in the President’s memo. may be delivered at Mount Vernon for 10/ a 11/3, (I presume Maryld currency, i.e. dollars at 7/6) but as this mem. comprehended plank of three thicknesses—viz.—Inch, 1¼ & 1½, he is unable (perhaps...