1511From George Washington to the United States Senate, 31 May 1790 (Washington Papers)
United States [New York] Gentlemen of the Senate, May 31st 1790 M. de Poiery served in the American Army for several of the last years of the late war, as Secretary to Major General the Marquis de la Fayette, and might probably at that time have obtained the Commission of Captain from Congress upon application to that Body. At present he is an officer in the French National Guards, and...
1512To George Washington from Gideon Wanton, 31 May 1790 (Washington Papers)
Newport [R.I.] May it please your Excellency. May 31th 1790 For two years past I have been elected by the General Assembly of this State, Naval Officer for this port and District of Newport, and at present hold that Office, but as that appointment ceases by the adoption of the new Constitution, I humbly supplicate your Excellency’s interposition for my continuance in the same, being altogether...
1513To George Washington from Catharine Sawbridge Macaulay Graham, June 1790 (Washington Papers)
The sentiments yr Excellency expressed in yr Letter of the 9th of January are worthy of yr exalted character; and must be pleasing to all those who are friends to the happiness of man kind, For when by the success of yr arms, you afforded America the option of a free government; yr task was not so difficult, or more important, than yr present station; as her first Chief Majestrate. The present...
1514To George Washington from Thomas Green, June 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Thomas Green, June 1790. On 8 July 1790 Lear wrote Green that: “The President has received your letter of June.” In his letter to Green, Lear added: “As it has been contrary to his [GW’s] practice to suffer any accounts against him to remain unsatisfied for so long a time he thinks it possible there may be some error in your account that may be rectified by a recurrence...
1515To George Washington from Joseph Mandrillon, 1 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
Rue des ⟨J⟩euners no. 26. My General, Paris June 1. 1790. The letter with which your Excellency has honored me of the 29. of august last, and which accompanied a copy of that excellent work, the history of the insurrection in Massachusetts, is a new favor, which I appreciate in all its extent. Happy, if with the aid of your indulgence, I may be able to justify the good opinion which you have...
1516To George Washington from Stephen Moore, 1 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Memorial and Petition of Stephen Moore of the State of North Carolina Humbly Sheweth That, at a season when it is the wish of every friend to America not to break in upon your tranquility, your Memorialist finds himself under the painful necessity of intruding a few moments on your time. That having devoted his constant efforts and a large proportion of his property in aiding & furnishing...
1517To George Washington from Edward Thurston, 1 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
Having been appointed by the General Assembly of this State at the two last Elections to the Office of Surveyor for the Port of Newport, and as such having discharged my duty to the Public to their intire Satisfaction, I do therefore humbly solicit your Excellency that I may be continued in that Office, and do assure You Sir that if it shall please You to continue me therein, my most earnest...
1518From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 1 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
Having received official information of the accession of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations to the Constitution of the United States, I take the earliest opportunity of communicating the same to you, with my Congratulations on this happy event, which unites under the general Government all the States which were originally confederated; and have directed my Secretary to lay...
1519To George Washington from Wakelin Welch & Son, 1 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
We had the honor of receiving your Excellencys favors of 13th Octr & 1st March by the hands of Mr Morris. Mr Morris has given his orders for the ornaments suitable for your dining Table, & for which, we have promised to pay, he observed that by sending some Goods, for you while he was in France⟨,⟩ he had advanced near £100, which if the Balance due to you in our hands would admit he should be...
1520To George Washington from John Canon, 2 June 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Canon, 2 June 1790. In a letter to John Canon of 25 June 1790 , GW refers to a letter of “the 2. instant.”
1521To George Washington from James Manning, 2 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to congratulate your Excellency on the joyful Event, the adoption of the Constitution of the United States by the State of Rhode Island on Saturday last; and to recommend to your Notice Capt. Samuel Snow (Son of the Revd & venerable Joseph Snow of this Town) as a Candidate for the office of Surveyor of the Customs in the Port of Providence. He was esteemed a good officer in the...
1522To George Washington from David Stuart, 2 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
The accounts of your recent illness having just reached this place on my return, I delayed writing, ’till I could again congratulate you on the reestablishment, of your health; which I now do most sincerely, both on your account, and on that of your Country—I fear much, that the great change which has been unavoidably made, in your accustomed mode of living, by your office; has been the cause...
1523From George Washington to the United States Senate, 2 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
United States [New York] Gentleman of the Senate, June 2nd 1790. The Troops at present in service consisting of one regiment of Infantry and one Battalion of artillery were apportioned by the acts of the former Congress on the States of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania; and as the Officers of said troops are in actual service, I nominate them, as in the list...
1524To George Washington from Robert Crooke, 3 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of being appointed by this State, to the office of Collector of Impost for the county of Newport, in the year 1783, and continued in said office with general approbation until the year 1787, and gave full satisfaction to the public; but was removed therefrom by a change in administration, for the sole cause of my disapproving of their opposition, to the new constitution, and...
1525From George Washington to Lafayette, 3 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
Your kind letter of the 12th of January is, as your letters always are, extremely acceptable to me. By some chance its arrival had been retarded to this time. Conscious of your friendly dispositions for me and realising the enormous burden of public business with which you was oppressed, I felt no solicitude but that you should progress directly forward and happily effect your great...
1526From George Washington to David Ramsay, 3 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
A copy of your history of the american Revolution has been presented to me by Mr Allen of this city, in compliance as he informs me with your orders. I therefore beg, Sir, that you will accept my acknowledgments and best thanks for this mark of polite attention, from which I expect to derive much pleasure and satisfaction in the perusal, with very great esteem, I am Sir, your most obedient...
1527II. The Opinion of Thomas Jefferson, 3 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The accounts of the souldiers of Virginia and North Carolina having been examined by the proper officer of government, the balances due to each individual ascertained, and a list of these balances made out, this list became known to certain persons before the souldiers themselves had information of it, and those persons, by unfair means, as is said, and for very inadequate considerations...
1528From George Washington to Arthur Fenner, 4 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
In acknowledging the Rect of your Excellency’s letter of the 20th of May, I cannot forbear to congratulate you and the people of your State upon the happy event which has since taken place by the adoption and ratification of the Constitution of the United States by the Convention of Rhode Island. Having now attained the desireable object of uniting under one general Government all those States...
1529To George Washington from John Steele, 4 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
A sincere desire that the office of district Judge for No. Carolina, may be bestowed upon a worthy character induces me to offer you my opinion at present. I have been told that Colo. Davie’s name has been mentioned to you already, he is unquestionably better calculated for the office, than any other man in the State; but acquainted as I am, with his practice as an attorney, his plans, and his...
1530From George Washington to the United States Senate, 4 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
United States [New York] Gentlemen of the Senate, June 4th 1790. I nominate the following persons to be Consuls and Vice-Consuls of the United States of America for the Ports which are affixed to their names. viz. Cadiz Richard Harrison of Virginia to be Consul of the United States of America for the Port of Cadiz in the Kingdom of Spain, and for such parts of the said Kingdom as shall be...
1531To George Washington from John B. Ashe, 5 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
Having been this evening informd you wish to have the opinion of the No. Carolina Representatives, of Persons, proper to fill the offices of the Government South of the Ohio, also those of the Federal Judiciary in No. Carolina, I beg leave to give mine Sir, and will do so, with candor and disinterest’dness, Colo. William Blount, who I may presume, you are acquainted with, has long and on...
1532To George Washington from Thomas Bird, 5 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
Permit a stranger to inform your Excellency, that about twelve months since, I was apprehended & committed to Goal, in the Town of Portland, within the District of Maine, charged with the murder of Capt. John Conner, of the Sloop Mary, upon the Coast of Africa. That yesterday I was tried & found guilty of the Crime, & that the District Judge, a few hours since pronounced the fatal sentence,...
1533To George Washington from Timothy Bloodworth, 5 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
with the utmost defidence I proceed to exercize a priviledge founded in youre indulgence. that of Mentioning Carrecters to fill offices, created by the Adoption of the Constitution, & Ceedure of the Western Country, By North Carolina thiss subject are more irksom, as I consider it out of the line of my Duty, and only warrentable by youre permission. through thiss Chanel I venture to mention...
1534To George Washington from Moses Brown, 6 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
Providence [R.I.] Esteemed Friend 6th of 6th Mo. 1790 Having for some years been retired out of Trade, I have had to Contemplate and particularly of late, the consequences of an impartial and faithfull Collection of the Revenue, as on which the prosperity and indeed the happiness of the United States and this in particular much Depends. I therefore as a Citizen desireous of the welfare of the...
1535To George Washington from Henry Hollingsworth, 6 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
Encouraged by that well established Maxim that your Excellency does not forget or neglect to reward the Honest Labours of the Virtuous and Industrious, be their Situation and circumstances ever so remote. Strongly Impressed with these Ideas, and encouraged by that condescension which your Excellency has shewn on every occasion that has thrown me in your way, I am Imboldened to offer myself...
1536To George Washington from Zachariah Rhodes, 6 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
When the revenue system was established in this state by the Legislature in September Last, I was appointed surveyor for the Port of Pawtuxet in the district of Providence, and was reappointed at the Late Election—I should be glad to continue to serve the public to the best of my abilities in the same office under the new Constitution. The Port of Pawtuxet is about five miles south of...
1537Memorandum of Thomas Jefferson, 7 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
North Carolina. District judge. Colo. Davie is recommended by Steele. Hawkins sais he is their first law character. Brown sais the same. Samuel Spencer. Steele sais he is a good man, one of the present judges, not remarkeable for his abilities, but deserves well of his country. Bloodworth sais Spencer desires the appointment. but sais nothing of him. John Stokes. Steele names him at his own...
1538To George Washington from Henry Marchant, 7 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
whether from a false Delicacy or not, I am unable to say; I have found it a Labour to reconcile to my own Feelings, an Application for an Appointment. My Friends however have told me it was customary: And to Their Judgment and Perswasions I have submitted—I must confess my greatest Reluctance hath arisen from the Apprehension of adding to that Burthen, which a Torrent of Applications must have...
1539From George Washington to the United States Senate, 7 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
In pursuance of the law lately passed for giving effect to an Act entitled “An Act to establish the Judicial Courts of the United States,” within the State of North Carolina—I nominate the following persons to fill the Judicial Offices in that district. viz. William R. Davie to be Judge— John Sitgreaves to be Attorney—and John Skinner to be Marshall of the district of North Carolina. I...
1540Recommendations for Federal Offices in North Carolina and the Southwestern Government, [before 7 June 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
District Judge District attorney. South-Western government Governor. Secretary. Judges. Attorney. MS ( DLC : Applications for Office under Washington); entirely in TJ’s hand; undated but docketed in Lear’s hand: “From the Secretary of State June 7th. 1790.” Dft ( DLC : TJ Papers, 59: 10192); also in TJ’s hand and undated, varying in phraseology but not in substance except in the instances...
1541To George Washington from William Channing, 8 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
With deference I beg leave to name my brother Walter Channing, for your consideration as an Officer in the Customs for this Port, and would beg leave most respectfully to refer you, in regard to his qualifications, to those who on this occasion may have kindly interested themselves in his behalf. Should it please you to honor him with an appointment, I shall consider myself as pledged for his...
1542To George Washington from Martin-Louis Du Périer, 8 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
at Marebaroux near the Cape. Island of St Domingo Sir, 8 June 1790. The Marechal de Castries, then minister of marine, and Monsr de Vergennes minister of foreign affairs, have vainly solicited in 1786, from Congress, the payment of a sum of more than three hundred thousand livres due to me, in capital, since 1779 with interest on that sum to this day—for sugars coming from my habitation in St...
1543To George Washington from Robert Aitken, 9 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
after very Sincere Congratulations upon Your Excellency’s Election to the distinguished Office of Chief Magistrate of the United States, I beg leave to Solicit your Excellency’s friendship in a Case deeply interesting indeed to me; but in which I conceive, if not mistaken, the Honor and Justice of the Union are also concerned. Your Excellency, I presume, is uninformed of the large Sums of...
1544To George Washington from Benjamin Contee, 9 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
Being informed you are about to fill up your nominations of Consuls for the United States, I beg leave to mention Alexander Contee; who has requested my application in his behalf, for the consulship at the port of London. Delicacy forbids my saying much of a Brother, and might restrain me likewise from doing him Justice; But I persuade myself that if your appointment for the above po⟨r⟩t is...
1545To George Washington from Arthur Fenner et al., 9 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
The exalted Station which your Excellency holds in the Government of the United States, is necessarily attended with the Inconvenience of various Applications for Appointments to Offices in the different Districts in the Union. In consiquence of the Ratification and Adoption of the New National Constitution by the Convention of the People of this State⟨,⟩ on the 29th Ulto, Officers, whose...
1546To George Washington from David Olyphant, 9 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
Being now a Citizen of Newport in the State of Rhode Island, & connected by marriage with a family there, who have suffer’d as well as myself for being firm friends to the late Revolution; I beg leave to Address your Excellency, & offer myself a Candidate for the Office of Collector in the Revenue of that State. If you, Sir, think this application worthy your Attention, permit me to refer to...
1547To George Washington from the Rhode Island Ratifying Convention, 9 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
I had on the 29th Ulto the Satisfaction of addressing you after the Ratification of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Convention of this State. I have now the Honor of Inclosing the Ratification as then agreed upon by the Convention of the People of this State; the Legislature is now in Session in this Town, an appointment of Senators will undoubtedly take place in the...
1548To George Washington from Michael Jenifer Stone, 9 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have taken the Liberty to enclose a Letter from Major Swan recommending Colonel Barton —I had not the pleasure of being known to that Gentleman untill the present. But I am intimately acquainted with Major Swan and have the fullest confidence in his recommendation of Col. Barton. I have the Honor to be sir your most respectfull and obedient ALS , DLC:GW . The enclosed letter was written by...
1549To George Washington from William Allen, 10 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Convention of this State having Ratified the new Constitution by which happy event the Union of the whole is Compleated; and as it is more than Probable that the Laws of the Union will Speedily embrace this State in common with the rest, I beg Leave Sir, with the greatest deference to Present my Self to your Excellency as a Candidate for the Office of Surveyor of the Customs at this Port....
1550To George Washington from Arthur Fenner et al., 10 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Public Offices we hold in this State, and our wishes for the Welfare and Happiness of the People induce us to address your Excellency, on the appointment of a Judge for the District Court of this State and to recommend that the Honorable Daniel Owen Esq. late President of the Convention of this State may be appointed to that Office. He has himself long been employed in Public Trusts which...
1551To George Washington from Providence, R.I., Citizens, 10 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
From the change of Sentiment which has gradually taken place in the minds of the Good people of this State, and the Happy Effects of the General Government, which begins to Operate so favorably in the Union, under the Auspices of your Excellency’s administration—in Consequence of which the Convention of this State at their late Session were Induced to Adopt the Enlighten’d Policy of confirming...
1552To George Washington from James Warren, 10 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
The entire confidence I have in your friendship, & the great respect I have for your character, embolden me to hazard an address to you which I never before made to any man; a solicitation for Office. I have long served my country in stations of some distinction & importance; some of those services fell under your own observation during the period you commanded the army in this State; I have...
1553To George Washington from Joseph Anderson, 11 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
Although I formerly had the Honor, of being personally presented to your Excellency, when an officer of the army of the United States—I apprehend my Charecter was not Sufficiently distinguished; to entitle me to your recollection at this distant period—I must therefore rely on your Benevolence, to pardon the liberty I now take, in offering to introduce myself to your Excellencys notice and...
1554To George Washington from Samuel Powel, 11 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer hereof Mr Robert Parrish, an Inhabitant of this City, informs me that his Journey to New York is undertaken with a View to obtain Subscriptions to a Work of Mr William Bartram’s, containing an account of his Travels thro’ Florida &ca & also to obtain Permission to dedicate the Work to you. From Mr Bartram’s character as a Botanist and as a Man, I have no Doubt that his Work is an...
1555From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 11 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have directed my Secretary to lay before you a copy of the ratification of the Amendments to the Constitution of the United States by the State of North Carolina; together with an extract from a letter, accompanying said ratification, from the Governor of the State of North Carolina to the President of the United States. LS , DNA : RG 46, First Congress, 1789–91, Records of Legislative...
1556From George Washington to the United States Senate, 11 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
United States [New York] Gentlemen of the Senate, June 11th 1790. I nominate Thomas Bee to be Judge of the South-Carolina district, in the place of William Drayton deceased. LS , DNA : RG 46, First Congress, 1789–91, Records of Executive Proceedings, President’s Messages—Executive Nominations; LB , DLC:GW . William Drayton died on 18 May 1790. For Thomas Bee’s application for the office, see...
1557To George Washington from Henry Lee, 12 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
We have been all again made most miserable by the accounts received of the desperate state of your health—True it is that the general gloom has been succeeded by joy in as much as we have just heard that you was safe & likely to be restored to your usual vigor. But when I recollect that in the course of a few months you have been twice dangerously ill, & am informed by all who have seen you of...
1558To George Washington from Jabez Bowen, 13 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
It affoards me the greatest pleasure that I can Congratulate your Excellency on the accession of the State of Rhode-Island to the Federal Union, more especially as it compleats the great Fabrick, and that it has been effected without the sheading of Blood, an Event that must give the greatest pleasure to every Friend to Humanity. Our General Assembly have been in session for the purpose of...
1559From George Washington to John Jay, 13 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
Would there be prudence, justice or policy in extending mercy to the Convict mentioned in the enclosed Papers? Under this cover I send you for perusal two letters, just recd, from Mr Gouvr Morris. Yours sincerely and affectionately ALS , NNC : John Jay Collection. See Thomas Bird to GW, 5 June 1790 , and notes. In a letter to Gouverneur Morris of 7 July 1790, GW acknowledged receipt of...
1560To George Washington from John Jay, 13 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
There does not appear to be a single Circumstance in the Case of the murderer in question, to recommend a Pardon—His own Petition contains no averment of Innocence, no Palliative for Guilt, no complaint of Court Jury or witnesses, nor of the want of witnesses. The Silence of the british cabinet on the Subject of Mr Morris’s Letters marks their Indicision —it may arise from Doubts of what might...