3851To George Washington from Triol, Roux, & Company, 15 June 1791 (Washington Papers)
Translation Sir, Marseilles [France] 15th June 1791 It is to the Preserver of the liberty of a great Nation, it is to the defender of the rights of Man, as much as to the President of Congress, that we submit the communication of the Memorial addressed by us to the legislature of France, to establish the legality of our debt with the United States of America, and to solicit, by their means, of...
3852To George Washington from Edward Carrington, 20 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Express returned yesterday from Mr Henry—He was at a plantation more distant from hence than his place of residence, which occasioned the delay. I do myself the Honor to enclose herewith his answer to your letter. the agency you had been pleased to give me in your communication with that Gentleman, however unlimitted, would not have led me to take the liberty of opening his letter, had not...
3853To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 2 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
E. Randolph has the honor of enclosing to the President a letter from Jacob Wray, of Hampton in Virginia, which is intelligible in no part of it, but what relates to a case belonging to the President. L , DLC:GW . The enclosure was Wray’s letter, presumably to Randolph, of 19 June ( DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters). Wray repeated information sent earlier by his brother Keith Wray of London...
3854From George Washington to Charles Lee, 20 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 12th. About Six hundred dollars may supply my wants between this and my arrival in Philadelphia. At present I have no immediate call. Mrs Washington and myself, during our stay at this place, will at all times be glad to see Mrs Lee & yourself, and other friends & acquaintances without ceremony. I am Dear Sir Your Most Obedt Hble Servt ALS (facsimile),...
3855From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 24 August 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Office of Secretary of State is vacant—occasioned by the resignation of Mr Randolph. Will you accept it? You know my wishes of old, to bring you into the Administration —Where then is the necessity of repeating them? No time more than the present, ever required the aid of your abilities—nor of the old and proved patriots of this Country. To have yours would be pleasing to me, and I verily...
3856To George Washington from Andrew G. Fraunces, 7 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
It has not been with a little hesitation that I have presumed to address you and to make a request which I fear may be considered an improper one; however I am encouraged to proceed from the knowlege I possess of the extreme goodness of your heart: On this ground I venture, buoyed with the hope that you will grant me the favor I ask, if I have been, or may be found to merit it. Having since...
3857To George Washington from the Vicomte de Rochambeau, 23 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure of announcing to you my arrival at this place. Not being able myself to deliver the letter you did me the honor to confide to me, to Citizen Montesquieu, I have lodged the same in the mail for Bordeaux and recommended it to the care of the Representatives of the people in that City. Knowing the interest you take in the welfare of my father, I inform you with satisfaction...
3858To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 27 August 1794 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to the President incloses a recommendation of persons for officers of the Revenue Cutter in South Carolina. Capt. Cochran who is now here expresses an opinion that as the person recommended for third Mate is very young, it will be adviseable to defer his appointment ’till some further trial of him. LB , DLC:GW . The enclosed recommendation...
3859To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 2 February 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
After so long an experience of your public services, I am naturally led, at this moment of your departure from office —which it has always been my wish to prevent—to review them. In every relation, which you have borne to me, I have found that my confidence in your talents, exertions and integrity, has been well placed. I the more freely render this testimony of my approbation, because I speak...
3860To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 3 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
The failure of the late enterprize against the United Netherlands may be expected to have made a favourable alteration, in regard to the prospects of obtaining Loans there for the United States. Such an expectation is also countenanced by a late letter from our bankers at Amsterdam, which however as yet gives no certainty, that can be a basis of operation. The existing instructions from this...
3861To George Washington from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 28 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to acknowledge your Letter of the 24th Instant. the Commissions for the offices in the Revenue Department & the Marshal will be made out as directed. No inconvenience will attend a short delay in filling the vacancy in the office of District Attorney, as Mr Otis will attend to whatever is urgent. On this last point I shall consult the Secretary of State. A novel & very...
3862To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 30 April 1792 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to communicate to the President authenticated copies of the Contracts for the three last loans made in Europe; that for 6000000 of Florins at Amsterdam bearing date 14. of December 1791 at a rate of 5 ⅌ Cent Interest that for 3000000 of Florins at Antwerp, at a rate of 4½ ⅌ Cent Interest bearing date the 30th day of November 1791 and the...
3863To George Washington from John Hills, 26 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
Having had the honor of being occasionally employed within the last five years by the late Secretary of War General Knox in surveying levelling and exploring from Connecticut River to Boston, and in behalf of the United States to examine the Potowmac River for a proper Scite whereon to erect a national arsenal—as well as in making divers plans &c. for the use of the War Department—and also by...
3864From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 29 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson has the honor to submit to the President draughts of letters to Mr. Short and the Marquis de la Luzerne. As to the former he asks his attention to the paragraph respecting the devices for the Medal.—He hopes he will change and accomodate the letter to M. de la Luzerne to his own ideas of the part that gentleman acted, and of the length proper to go in expressing our sense of it....
3865To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 5 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
I return the draft corrected agreeably to your intimations. You will observe a short paragraph added respecting Education. As to the establishment of a University, it is a point which in connection with military schools, & some other things, I meant, agreeably to your desire to suggest to you, as parts of your Speech at the opening of the session. There will several things come there much...
3866From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 21 March 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
A law having passed to enable the President to cause a loan to be made in aid of the current receipts from the public revenues, it is urgent that measures should be taken without delay for carrying it into effect. The enclosed statement shews the probable situation of the Treasury to the end of the ensuing quarter as far as materials are now possessed and manifests the necessity of an...
3867To George Washington from Henry Knox, 22 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to submit to your consideration the proposed draft of an introductory letter to the Governors of the respective States relative to the intended fortifications. If you should approve thereof, Copies shall be prepared for the distant States by the Mondays posts. I have the honor to be with perfect respect Your obedt Servant LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Knox wrote the enclosed...
3868From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 29 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
On friday last I received your several dispatches with different signatures; and should have answered them by monday’s post; but Doctr Thornton promising to assign his reasons for the dissent he had given to the proposed regulations respecting wharves & water lots, I postponed giving any opinion thereon until I should receive these —which I did yesterday morning. Since which I have been so...
3869From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 24 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
It appears to me that my instructions on the 8 of August 1793 have fixed the appropriation of the money to the sinking fund; and I have considerable difficulty in being convinced of my power to change it at this time. However, as I wish to see the whole subject together it may be well for you to state to me what the embarrassments are which you suppose will arise from confining the money...
3870From George Washington to James Seagrove, 14 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
Three letters of yours—two bearing the 16th and the other the 25. of August are just come to hand—Your former letters in July have also been received. The Secretary of war will write to you on the subject of Indian affairs—and the Secretary of State will do the same on the business which respects the Negroes, when he returns from the visit he is now making to his family in Virginia. It falls...
3871From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 18 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
I nominate John McIntosh to be Collector and Inspector of the Revenue for the Port of Brunswick, in the State of Georgia, in the room of Christopher Hillary deceased: and Stephen Skinner to be Surveyor and Inspector of the Revenue for the Port of Hartford in the State of North Carolina, in the room of Josiah Murdaugh resigned. LS , DNA : RG 46, entry 52; LB , DLC:GW . The Senate ordered that...
3872To George Washington from Joseph Phillips, Sr., 7 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to offer my services as an Engineer, tolerably well versed in that business; and would go in that character [(]if wanted) to the Westward the ensuing Campaign. I would not at this time have attempted to divert the attention of the illustrious President of the United States, from contemplation on the more important interests of the Union; to such a very small object as myself; had I...
3873From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 4 February 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
The circumstances of having offered my late report to Congress to the two houses which rendered two copies necessary & the extreme press of business in the office in preparing for my resignation, prevented my sending you a manuscript copy of that Report. I have now corrected a printed copy for you which I have the honor to send herewith. With true respect & attacht. I have the honor to be...
3874From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 5 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I beg you to accept my unfeigned thanks for your friendly communications of this date—and that you will permit me to entreat a continuation of them as occasions may arise. The manner chosen for doing it, is most agreeable to me. It is my wish to act right; if I err, the head & not the heart, shall, with justice, be chargeable. With sentiments of sincere esteem & regard I am Dear Sir Your Obedt...
3875From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 29 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Did Mr Liston furnish the letter you asked of him, in favor of Cap: Talbots agency, to the West Indies? Has any representation been made to him, independent of that application, consequent of the evidence you have recd of the Impressment of our Seamen? When I left Philadelphia, it was expected, & from Mr & Mrs Liston themselves, that they were to follow us in ten days; and allowing a...
3876From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 4 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
The P. begs to see Mr Jefferson before he proceeds further in the Proclamation. From a more attentive examination of some Papers, in his possession, he finds that it is in his power to ascertain the course & distance from the Court House in Alexandria to the upper & lower end of the Canal at the little Falls with as much accuracy as can be known from Common Surveying if not to mathematical...
3877To George Washington from Beverley Randolph, 18 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honour to inclose you an act of the General Assembly authorizing the Governor of this Commonwealth to convey certain land to the United States in Congress assembled for the purpose of building a light House. The State had some years ago placed upon the shore at Cape Henry nearly a sufficient quantity of materials to compleat such a light House as was at that time thought...
3878To George Washington from Harriot Washington, 9 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
I received my dear Uncle’s letter the 9 of this month with the bundle and return him a thousand thank’s for them beleive me my dear Uncle that I am very sensible of the many obligation’s I am under to you and Aunt Washington and shall ever remember them with gratitude. I shall endeavour to let my conduct henceforward be such as to deserve them, the thing’s that were sent are very pretty. I am...
3879From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 12 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 7th instant was brought to me by the last Post. War having actually commenced between France and Great Britain, it behoves the Government of this Country to use every means in it’s power to prevent the citizens thereof from embroiling us with either of those powers, by endeavouring to maintain a strict neutrality. I therefore require that you will give the subject mature...
3880From George Washington to Ebenezer Hazard, 8 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
As I have (without doing it officially) requested from the heads of the several Executive Departments such information as might be requisite to bring me acquainted with the business and duties of the Departments; I have thought fit to ask, in the same informal manner, for specific information, in writing, relative to the past and present state of the Post Office. I must, therefore, request you...
3881From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 30 April 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to communicate to the President authenticated copies of the Contracts for the three last loans made in Europe; that for 6000000 of Florins at Amsterdam bearing date the 14 of December 1791 at a rate of 5 ⅌ Cent Interest, that for 3000000 of Florins at Antwerp at a rate of 4½ ⅌ Cent Interest bearing date the 30th day of November 1791 and...
3882To George Washington from Benjamin Contee, 3 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
Major Benjamin Brookes has ⟨bound⟩ me to make application in his behalf for an Appointment under the “Act” for repealing the duties “on spiritieous liquors, & laying others in their stead &c.” commonly called the Excise Law. This Gent. resides in upper Marlbro’ in Prince Georges County, Mary land, I believe he has merited well of his country heretofore, & I doubt not but that he will be...
3883To George Washington from Betty Washington Lewis, 23 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 17th Came safe to hand the inclos’d letter will meet with a Convayance in a few dayes by my Son George as he will Call on Robert in his way to Kaintucky he sets of in a few daye on Busness, at the same time takes Negroes to settle a Place there, and I believe in a few years intends liveing there as Chief of the Property he Possessis is in that Part of the World, I am...
3884To 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...
3885From George Washington to William Augustine Washington, 31 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
By yesterdays Post, I recd the enclosed letter from Mr Cabot (one of the Senators from Massachusetts) covering another from Judge Phillips (one of the most respectable characters in Andover, where the Academy is). Mr Cabot—who is a sensible and judicious man—is the person I requested to make enquiry into the present state of things at Andover (having had two, or more sons educated at that...
3886From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 29 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
The contents of your letters of the 21 & 24th instt wch I recd by Monday’s Post —the importance of some of their enclosures; and the perturbed state of Mens minds, respecting the late treaty with G. Britain, togethr with the proceedings in some of the principal Towns to embarrass the business have determined me to repair to the Seat of government if I hear nothing from you between this &...
3887To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [9 July 1794] (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of yesterday was handed to me this day. As delay under present circumstances may attend the negotiation of a Loan in Holland by our Minister Resident there, for the purpose of the Algierine business, it appears to me expedient to send a power to our Commissioners at Amsterdam for that purpose. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. See Willink, Van Staphorst, and...
3888To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 20 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
In answer to your letter of the 10th. instt. relative to the establishment of the boats or Cutters for the protection of the revenue, I have to observe, That, if there appears to exist a necessity for equipping the whole number therein mentioned, the arrangement for building and stationing them, seems judicious, and is to me perfectly satisfactory. It is my wish that your Enquiries, respecting...
3889From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [22 September 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
I have received a letter from the Minister of France, of which the inclosed is a copy. Having full authority from you in relation to payments to France, & there being funds out of which that which will constitute the succour requested may with propriety be made; and being fully persuaded that in so urgent & calamitous a case, you will be pleased with a ready acquiescence in what is desired, I...
3890From George Washington to James Madison, 23 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
My solicitude for drawing the first characters of the Union into the Judiciary, is such that, my cogitations on this subject last night (after I parted with you) have almost determined me (as well for the reason just mentioned, as to silence the clamours, or more properly, soften the disappointment of smaller characters[)]—to nominate Mr Blair and Colo. Pendleton as Associate & District...
3891To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 15 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor to communicate, for the perusal of the President, a copy of his second Letter to the H: of Representatives; which he will be obliged, if not inconvenient, to the President, to have returned on Monday morning, to be then sent to the Senate. LB , DLC:GW . Hamilton is referring to his “Report Relative to the Loans Negotiated under the Acts of the Fourth...
3892IV. Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 15 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson begs pardon of the President for being later in sending the inclosed than he had given him reason to expect. The sole cause has been that the act of copying took him longer than he had calculated. He will have the honor of waiting on the President to answer any thing which he may have omitted materially in these papers. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); addressed: “The President of [the...
3893To George Washington from John Claypoole, 4 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
I intreat your pardon for taking this method of presenting my petition, as I had not an opp’y, of sending it in the usual way. I make bold to inclose the opinion of some of my fellow cittizens with respect to my Qualifications as an officer in aid of the Customs. wishing not to intrude on your time, I have only to promise, that should you be pleas’d to appoint me, I shall exert my best...
3894From George Washington to Thomas Newton, Jr., 23 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 24th of October, containing an estimate of the cost of a Light-house which was to have been erected on Cape Henry—a draft of the same—and an account of materials placed upon the spot for the purpose of building, has been duly received; and I beg you to accept my thanks for your trouble in preparing & forwarding them—I am, Sir, Your most Obedt Servt Df , in the writing of...
3895From George Washington to William Pearce, 13 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 6th instt, enclosing the weekly reports, has been duly received. I am glad to find by it that the sickness among my people is abating. If Cyrus continues to give evidence of such qualities as would fit him for a waiting man, encourage him to persevere in them; and if they should appear to be sincere & permanent, I will receive him in that character when I retire from public...
3896To George Washington from John Marsden Pintard, 15 August 1794 (Washington Papers)
Presuming that your Supply of Madeira May want Replenishing (It being nine months Since the last was Shiped to you) I have taken the liberty to put on board My Brig The Edward Capt. Thomas Linnell two pipes of choice old wine which I have addressed to my Freinds Messr Pettit and Bayard to be delivered to your order. herewith you have an Invoice of their cost with the freight Included which you...
3897To George Washington from Henry Knox, 29 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to submit to you, the proceedings held with the Cherokees in the month of June last, together with the Articles arising out of the said conference; and also a draft of a message to the Senate upon this subject. The conference with the Chickasaws is copied; But as no treaty was formed requiring the advice and consent of the Senate, it is deemed unnecessary to transmit it to that...
3898To George Washington from the Maryland Executive Council, 18 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
Presuming that the defence of the frontiers will require an augmented force, and that Military promotions will of course take place, we beg leave to address you in favor of Mr Henry Carbery who served in the late expedition against the Indians as Senior Captain in the Battalion of levies from this State, and has returned with the reputation of having exhibited an exemplary Conduct as well in...
3899To George Washington from William Vans Murray, 1 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to the wish you did me the honour of intimating last session I have endeavoured to obtain information respecting Mr Magowan’s case —I have not been successful though I have written to several gentlemen at & near Annapolis. The inclosed from Mr Duval, the Member, is an answer to a letter I wrote to him, uninformed as I was of his being attorney for the administrator. It may from some...
3900From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [5 May 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, May 5, 1792. The calendar description of this letter reads: “Enclosing Application of Thomas Mendenhall for position of Assay Master of the Mint.” Letter not found. ] RG 104, Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Bureau of the Mint, National Archives. From September 9 to December 18, 1790, Mendenhall had been superintendent of a paper mill in Chester County, Pennsylvania,...