41To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 5 June 1791 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of writing to you on the 29 of last month, the two Platteaux, which Mr G. Morris sent from France, have arrived. One of them has received a slight fracture in the corner; but it has injured it very little. In my letter of the 22d of may I mentioned that Hercules was to go on to Mount Vernon a few days after that. When he was about to go, somebody, I presume, insinuated to...
42To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 12 June 1791 (Washington Papers)
I flatter myself that this letter will either find you at Mount Vernon, or meet you there in a very few days. In either case, I hope I may be so happy as to congratulat you upon a safe return from your southern excursion. The day before yesterday a Drayman brought 14 Cases of wine here marked G.W. which he said were from on board a vessel which had arrived from Charleston S.C.—There was no...
43To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 19–20 June 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your letters of the 12th & 15th of this month. The former of which I should have acknowleged by the last post had I not been absent on a journey to New York when it arrived in this City. The cause of my Journey to New York was to attend my mother to this place where she proposes to spend a week or two on a visit to Mrs Lear & myself. She had a favorable...
44To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 23 June 1791 (Washington Papers)
After acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 19th Inst. with which I have been this moment honored, I have to communicate to you the melancholly account of the death of the good and amiable Doctor Jones. He died this morning! He had for two or three days past been so much indisposed as to be confined to his bed; but his friends had no idea of his being in immediate danger. I saw him...
45To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 18–19 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
The Instructions, and other papers relating thereto, I returned to General Knox on Thursday forenoon. And immediately on my return home, after accompanying you out of town, I secured your room in a manner agreeable to your wishes, and took the key into my possession; so that before I had the pleasure of receiving Mr Dandridge’s letter from Chester, the directions contained in it had been...
46To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 21 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writing to you on the 18th; since which nothing has transpired among us worth relating. The arrival of a Vessel from Liverpool brings European Accounts down to the 28th of July. I have not learnt that she has brought any other intelligence than what is contained in the enclosed papers. An insurrection of the Negroes in Hispaniola seems to have put the inhabitants and...
47To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 21 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of writing to you this morning, I have been making inquiries respecting Blankets, and find that Messrs Sitgreaves have the largest quanty—the best assortment—and the lowest prices that are to be found. I enclose a list of their prices & qualities in order that you may, if you think proper, point out the kind most suitable for your purpose—and likewise have the prices...
48To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 25 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
Mr Dandridge’s letter of the 21st gave us the pleasing information of your safe arrival at Mount Vernon on Tuesday last. Mr Page assures me his carriage shall be at George town on the evening of the 17th, or early in the day of the 18th of next month. Mr Fisher called on me on thursday evening, and informed me, that it was determined your rent should be considered as commencing on the first...
49To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 27 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
By the Post of this day I have been honored with your letter of the 23d instant; and agreeably to the directions therein contained, I shall transmit the papers, and write by every Wednesday’s and friday’s post, as well as monday’s. In my last I mentioned Mr Page’s promise to have his carriage in George Town either on the evening of the 17th, or early in the day of the 18th of October. I have...
50To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 30 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor yesterday to receive your letter of the 26th instant. It appeared to me that Mr Powel made his late formal enquiries, with a hope to convict Mr Gallitin of fabrication, or at any rate of misreprentation; for the manner in which he put the interrogatories seemed to carry with it the expectation of a very different answer from that which he received. When I assured him that I had...
51To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 2 October 1791 (Washington Papers)
The Attorney General of the United States having received from the Attorney of the District of New York, the necessary documents relative to Samuel Dodge’s case, he called upon me yesterday with the draft of a pardon for said Dodge, which I inserted on the paper which you left in my hands for that purpose; and after having the seal of the United States affixed thereto, I delivered the same...
52To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 6 October 1791 (Washington Papers)
I was this day honored with your letter of the 2nd Instant with its enclosures. In future I shall write only by the post of Wednesday & friday; unless something special should occur in which case I shall request the Post Master at Alexandria to forward it to Mount Vernon. I enclose the two french letters with their translations. Finding that the letter from Mess[r]s Triol Roux & Co. was...
53To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 9 October 1791 (Washington Papers)
The French Minister informs me, that he shall set out this day to pay his respects to you at Mount Vernon, where he expects to arrive on the evening of the 14th instant. He further observed, that it was his intention to stay at Mount Vernon ’till the 16th or 17th, when he should accompany you or Mrs Washington to George Town, and after the sale of the lots in the Federal City, he should return...
54To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 11 October 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have been this day honored with your letter of the 7th instant. Upon examining the blankets in this place again, and comparing them with the prices & descriptions contained in the memorandum & your letter, I am of opinion it would be best to get them here; for the quality of these in this place is said, by several persons whom I have requested to examine them as Judges, to be good for the...
55To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 14 October 1791 (Washington Papers)
By the Post of yesterday I had the honor to receive your favor of the 10th instant, in which was enclosed a letter for Major Jackson, to whom I delivered it. The enclosed papers will give the accounts which have been received by the late arrivals from Europe. Peace seems to be the predominant feature in these accts. And there do not appear any strong marks of a disposition to invade France,...
56To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 16 October 1791 (Washington Papers)
Considering the little time you would have after your arrival in this place before the meeting of Congress, I thought it could not be amiss to prepare this letter to meet you at Baltimore, enclosing the information which you directed me to obtain upon the points recommended in yours Speeches at the opening of the three last Sessions of Congress. I went carefully through the three speeches, and...
57V: Tobias Lear’s Notes on the Opinions of the Cabinet, c.4 April 1792 (Washington Papers)
The opinion of the Secretary of State declares the bill unconstitutional—for it does not apportion the Representatives among the states strictly according to their numbers. It provides for fractions—which the Constitution never intended. It leaves the dertermination of apportioning the Representatives without any fixed principle—which may hereafter be productive of great evil, and admits of...
58To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 5 April 1792 (Washington Papers)
It is my duty to releive you from suspence on the subject which you had the goodness to communicate to me yesterday, when I have no longer any hesitation in determining on it myself. Permit me, therefore, while my heart overflows with gratitude for this new instance of your kind attention to my welfare, to decline the acceptance of the appointment which you had the goodness to offer me. And...
59To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 15 July 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that we arrivd here last evening after a pleasant journey from Phila. and shall sail for Providence in about an hour. I have thought it best, & upon the whole most œconomical to take a water carriage to Providence. The principal object in troubling you with a letter at this time is to mention that while I was on board the Packet this morning engaging a passage I...
60To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 21 July 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that we arrived here yesterday, and had the pleasure to find all our friends in good health. Our passage from New York to Providence was a very pleasant one, and performed in about 36 hours. We met with no accident during the journey, and were highly favored in the weather. Agreeably to your directions I called upon Mr Morris before I left Philadelphia, and...
61To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 5 August 1792 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of writing to you on the 21 ultimo nothing of a public nature has occurred in this quarter of sufficient importance to trouble you with an account of it. And being desireous of gaining all the knowledge of the sentiments of the people hereabouts respecting our public affairs, that I could obtain either personally or from the best information, I have delayed writing ’till...
62To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 23 September 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that I am thus far on my return from New Hampshire to Philadelphia. I have been detained at Portsmouth a fortnight longer than I expected to have been, in order to settle some matters that were interesting to me. I shall leave this place tomorrow and proceed to Philadelphia at the rate of about 30 or 35 miles per day. I have neglected no opportunity of obtaining...
63To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 7 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
I arrived in this place this morning when I was honored with your kind letters of the 21st of September and 1st of October, which were put into my hands by Mr Fraunces. I was detained in Portsmouth ten days longer than I expected to have been when I had the hononor of writing to you last from that place, in order to settle some affairs for my mother which I happily accomplished in a...
64To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 29 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a paper containing some seeds and a note from Mr Powel, which were sent here the evening after your departure. I called upon General Knox yesterday in order to communicate to him your observations and wishes respecting several matters mentioned in Genl Wilkinson’s letters. I found the General much better than he had been for some days past; but he said he was not...
65To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 1 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
I know of nothing relative to public affairs that has transpired since your departure. In our domestic concerns we go on as usual. General Knox is mending; but he has not yet been out of his room. I saw him yesterday, when he told me he had just received a letter from General Lincoln, and that he might be expected here about the middle of the present week. As General Knox observed that he was...
66To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 3 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your letter of the 30th ultimo, from Baltimore—and was happy to learn that you had proceeded that far on your journey without any material accident. I have seen Mr De Barth, who informs me that he is not able to discharge his bond—and that it is impossible for him to say, with any precision, when he shall be able to do it. The reasons which he offers for his want of...
67To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 8 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
I was very happy to learn that you had arrived safe and in good health at Mount Vernon. Your kind remembrance of myself and little family was received by us with gratitude and thankfulness. On saturday a letter was brought here for you from Mr Seagrove: soon afterwards I saw General Knox, and learning from him that he had received no letters from that quarter, I carried your letter to him, and...
68To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 10 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to the wish expressed in your letter of the 5th instant, with which I have been honored, I have made enquiries respecting the price of flour &c. and find that superfine flour is now selling for forty three & six pence & forty four shillings per barrel, for the Cash—and at forty five & forty six shillings, for notes payable in sixty days. Common flour is from 3/ to 3/6 less. For a...
69To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 17 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that I arrived here about an hour since; but am very sorry to add, that Dr Craik, whom I met here, informs me that he conceives Mr Whiting to be at the point of death. The Doctor says he has written to you on the subject by this post, and has, at Mr Whiting’s request, pressed you to send Mr Dandridge, or some other person in whom you can confide, down to Mount...
70To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 19 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have just returned to this place from Mount Vernon, where I found and left poor Whiting in a situation that his life could not be counted upon from one hour to another. He was unable to move without assistance, and could only speak a few words at a time. He could give me but little information of the state of the matters under his care; but observed, generally, that he trusted they could be...
71To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 24 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Upon my reaching this place from Mount Vernon a few minutes ago, I had the honor to receive your letter of the 21st instant, and am much gratified to find that my having gone to Mount Vernon was an acceptable act. If you should leave Philadelphia on monday, as you propose, you will not receive the account of poor Whitting’s death (which was sent by the Post of Saturday) before that time. He...
72To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 13 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
The desire which Mrs Washington had the goodness to express to know how my little boy got through his journey, has given her the trouble of the inclosed letter, which You will be so kind as to do me the favor to give to her. I arrived here this morning with my young companion in good health, we met with no accident of any kind on the road. Of rain we had only a sprinkling one day, and such...
73To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 10 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
On my reaching this place yesterday Mr Greenleaf put into my hands your very good & respected favor of the 25 of September, enclosing one hundred & twenty dollars for the purchase of a Watch &c. and a Ticket for my dear little boy, in the Hotel Lottery, which you have had the goodness to give him as a token of your affection. I feel, my dear Sir, more than I can express for the many proofs of...
74To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 3 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
Presuming that you are now in German Town, agreeably to the arrangement which you informed me you had made for that purpose, when I had the honor of seeing you at Mount Vernon, I shall address this letter to you at that place; and have taken the liberty to enclose two copies of some observations respecting the River Potomack, the Country about it and the City of Washington, which I have noted...
75Enclosure: Observations on the Potomac River, 3 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
The River Potomack forms a junction with the Bay of Chesapeak 150 miles from the Sea. From thence to the head of tide-Water is about 160 miles. “This River is 7½ miles wide at its mouth; 4½ at Nomony Bay; 3 at Aquia; 1½ at Hollowing-Point; 1¼ at Alexandria—and the same from thence to the City of Washington, which is within 3 miles of the head of tide Water. It’s soundings are 7 fathoms at the...
76To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 9 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
A thousand times after my letter to you, enclosing Observations on the Potomack &c. had gone, did I wish to recall it: for the more I reflected on your situation at this moment, in point of business, the more did I see the impropriety, as well as the unfriendliness of my adding to that burthen, which I could not but know was at least as great as it ought to be, and more especially as mine was...
77To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 25 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have the vanity to think you will not be displeased to hear of my safe arrival at this place. We had a passage of 28 days from New York, and in the course of it experienced much stormy weather. I have been here a fortnight, during which time I have been busily engaged in viewing the several large manufactories in the City and its neighbourhood, in some of which they exceed any other part of...
78To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 26–30 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
Presuming on the wish which you had the goodness to express when I left you last, that you might sometimes hear from me after my arrival in Europe, I have ventured to write you one letter from Glasgow, and now improve the opportunity offered by the Ship Delaware, Capt. Truxon, to write to you again. I was between 3 & 4 weeks in Scotland, during which time I improved every occasion (and many...
79To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 4 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writing a long letter to you on the 26th ultimo by the Ship Delaware, Captain Truxon, to whose particular care I committed the Watch & chain for Mrs Washington, also a profile of the Earl of Buchan, by Tassie, which Lady Buchan committed to my charge with a note for Mrs. Washington. Since which I have received a letter from the Earl with the enclosed packets for you which he...
80To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 12 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
Having had the honor of writing to you very fully by the Ship Delaware, Capt. Truxon (by whom I sent the watch for Mrs Washington) —and a few days ago by the Ship Peggy of George Town, I shall at present take up no more of your precious time than to inform you that I have put on board the latter ship 5000 white thorn plants for you—and a packet containing Reports made to the Board of...
81To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 22 August 1794 (Washington Papers)
It is with peculiar pleasure that I inform you of my having once more arrived in this comparatively happy Country. I sailed from Liverpool on the 11th of June and reached this place today. I have brought with me a valuable cargo of goods—and have made my arrangements of business to my Satisfaction in England, Scotland & Holland. I have returned home without visiting other Countries, because I...
82To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 1 September 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment been made happy by the receipt of your acceptable & good letters of the 28th ultimo, with their enclosures. The mail being on the point of closing will only allow me at this time to acknowledge the receipt of your favors, and express the grateful sense which I have of your continued kindness towards me. The offer which you have the goodness to make of appointing me one of...
83To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 5 September 1794 (Washington Papers)
I am afraid you will think I have too long delayed giving an Answer to one of the good letters with which you honored me under the date of the 28th of August. The reason of the delay has not been so much on account of the decision with respect to myself, as to enable me to gain such information of the light in which certain Characters were viewed as I conceived might be acceptable to you: And...
84To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 24 September 1794 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the Potomac Company yesterday, they did me the honor to elect me a director, by an unanimous vote, in place of Colo. Deakins who had resigned. As I have accepted this appointment, I thought it my duty to inform you thereof, lest, if you should first hear it from any other quarter, you might think my conduct inconsistent & unjustifiable in accepting this place when I had so...
85To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 5 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
A few weeks ago Mr William Bailey of this neighbourhood wished me to inform him, if I could, whether you had disposed of your lands on the Great & Little Kanawas & on the Ohio between these two Rivers, which he understood you were inclined to part with; and if you had not, he wished to know what you would be willing to take for them, as he and some others had it in contemplation to obtain...
86To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 5 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
In the enclosed letter to Mr Dandridge I have transmitted the Treasurers Rect for the second payment with Interest, on your lots in Square N. 667—Amounting to $405 25/100 which you had the goodness to put into my hands for that purpose. When I had the pleasure to see you in Philadelphia, I expressed a wish to have an inspection of some papers relative to the Potomac Company’s affairs, which I...
87To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 10 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
I am about to trouble you on a piece of business which is very unpleasant to myself, and sure I am that it can be no less so to you. At the meeting of the Potomac Company when they did me the honor of appointing me one of the Directors, it was determined that application should be made to the Legislatures of Virginia and Maryland for a prolongation of the time granted for opening the...
88To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 17 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
I am happy to inform you that my intended trip to Richmond is rendered unnecessary. An act to prolong the time, for two years, for opening the navigation of the Potomac having been passed in Virginia. I went to Alexandria on Monday Evening, and was on the point of departing from thence to Richmond when Mr Charles Lee arrived from the Assembly, and informed that the business was finished the...
89To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 24 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment been honored with your respected favor of the 21st instant—and shall, as soon as possible, obtain information on the several points therein mentioned, which shall be immediately communicated to you. The law for extending the time for opening the navigation of the Potomac has been passed in this State as well as Virginia. I take the liberty to enclose a packet for Mr...
90To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 1 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your respected favors of the 21st & 22d ultimo; the latter accompanying certain papers and plans relative to the navigation of the Potomac; for which I return you my best thanks. The assembly of this State has passed a Law similar to that of Virginia, granting a further Time of two Years for completing the Navigation of the River. At a meeting of the Directors of...