1501To George Washington from George Bush, 5 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
In answer to the questions you were pleased to put to me this day, I take the liberty to trouble you with the following detail. I was born in the Delaware State, my Father still lives there, & I have resided there ever since the dissolution of the Army. I served an Apprenticeship of four Years to a Merchant in Philadelphia, at the expiration of which in 1776 I was appointed a Liut. in the...
1502To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 5 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of introducing to the knowledge and notice of your Excellency, my son, who will have the honor of presenting this. He wishes to be so happy as to obtain the approbation & nomination of your Excellency to the appointment of Collector of imposts or duties for New Jersey. Motives of delicacy prevented my mentioning this matter either by letter or in person in the course of your...
1503To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 5 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
In conformity to the intimation you were pleased to honor me with on evening last I have reflected on the etiquette proper to be observed by the President and now submit the ideas which have occurred to me on the subject. The public good requires as a primary object that the dignity of the office should be supported. Whatever is essential to this ought to be pursued though at the risk of...
1504From 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...
1505To George Washington from the United States House of Representatives, 5 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Representatives of the people of the United States present their congratulations on the event by which your fellow citizens have attested the pre-eminence of your merit. You have long held the first place in their esteem: you have often received tokens of their affection. You now possess the only proof that remained of their gratitude for your services, of their reverence for your wisdom,...
1506From George Washington to James Madison, 5 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding the conviction I am under of the labour which is imposed upon you by Public Individuals as well as public bodies—yet, as you have begun, so I could wish you to finish, the good work in a short reply to the Address of the House of Representatives (which I now enclose) that there may be an accordance in this business. Thursday 12 Oclock, I have appointed to receive the Address....
1507From George Washington to Edward Rutledge, 5 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I cannot fail of being much pleased with the friendly part you take in every thing which concerns me; and particularly with the just scale on which you estimate this last great sacrafice which I consider myself ⟨as having⟩ made for the good of my Country. ⟨When I ha⟩d judged⟨, u⟩pon the best appreciation I was ab⟨le to form⟩ of the circumstances which related ⟨to my-⟩self, ⟨that⟩ it was my...
1508To George Washington from Lydia Watkins, 5 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
permit me among the multitude who rejoice at your appointment, to Congratulate you as president of the United States of America, and to assure your Excellency that I enjoy an heartfelt Satisfaction at any event tending to promote your happiness or exaltation. May I hope you have some recollection of one who had the honor of being known to you some years back at Paramus New Jersey? I have...
1509To George Washington from Peter Baynton, 6 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Petition of Peter Baynton most respectfully sheweth That your Petitioner was appointed in the Year 1776, Comptroller of the General Post Office by Richard Bache Esquire Post Master General, in whom was vested the Appointment of all the Offices of that Department & your Petitioner continued to execute the Duties of his Office with the Approbation of his Patron and to the Satisfaction of the...
1510To George Washington from Christian Febiger, 6 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Fully sensible of the very delicate & troublesome Situation, in which you are placd, the disagreeable Sensations you are every moment subjected to by numerous Applications from every Quarter. I had determind (as my Bussiness in New York is entirely of a private Nature) not to trouble your Excellency at present; Butt my Friends have advisd me to the contrary. Permitt me therefore to intrude for...
1511To George Washington from Louis de Pontière, 6 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ I am very uncertain whether this letter will reach you or not, I have nevertheless, taken the liberty to write to you, exposing my situation which becomes more & more deplorable—while I had friends & Relations I asked of them whatever was necessary for me during the American war, & since my return to France while the hope the interest of my Captaincy would be paid I have been received...
1512To George Washington from William Powell, 6 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your Memorialist convinced of the necessity of Appointing Officers of Honesty, Industry, and Abilities, under the present Constitution for the Collection of the Revenues in all the United States—Begs leave to Offer his Services, as Weighmaster & Gauger or Surveyor, for the District of said New Haven not doubting but his character & abilities will be found adequate to the appointment The...
1513From George Washington to Abraham Baldwin, 7 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 30th of April, containing the resignation of your seat at the general Board of Commissioners for finally adjusting all accounts between the United States and the individual States; and shall cause it to be filed in the proper office as soon as the necessary arrangemt of departments shall have been made. I am, with great esteem, Sir, Your most Obedt Servt...
1514To George Washington from John Churchman, 7 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The memorial of John Churchman Respectfully represents That in the Beginning of the Year 1787, he has published & sent to different parts of America and Europe, a Scheme for determining the Longitude from a combined observation of the latitude & variation of the magnetic needle, that the principles on which it is founded have been approved by some of the most learned mathematicians of the age,...
1515To George Washington from Ebenezer Hazard, 7 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
It is really with Reluctance that I add my name to the List of those who are Candidates for Offices, and by their Importunity encrease the weight of your Burthens: nor did I intend to do it: for, enjoying already the Office of Postmaster General, and conscious of no Cause of Removal, I thought it unnecessary; but having been lately informed that I have a Competitor, and fearing lest your...
1516From George Washington to William Shippen, 7 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The new and busy scenes in which I have been occupied since I received your favor of the 6th of last month, containing an extract of a letter from your son, will plead my excuse for not having acknowledged the receipt of it at an earlier day. I have now to express my satisfaction for this mark of your attention, and to thank you for the interest you take in the honor which has lately been done...
1517To George Washington from Richard Harrison, 8 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I some time ago through the Medium of my friend Coll Harrison, with diffidence took the liberty of offering my self for Employment under the Goverment to the administration of which your Excellency has been unanimously called. However disagreeable to speak of oneself I would now beg permission briefly to state the grounds on which I thus presumed. Although I was never honored with a direct or...
1518From George Washington to the United States House of Representatives, 8 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your very affectionate Address produces emotions which I know not how to express. I feel that my past endeavours in the Service of Country are far overpaid by its goodness: and I fear much that my future ones may not fulfil your kind anticipation. All that I can promise is, that they will be invariably directed by an honest and an ardent zeal. Of this resource my heart assures me. For all...
1519To George Washington from Hugh Williamson, 8 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
It does not appear from any Information in my Hands that Col: Jos: Martin has at this Time any public Commission under which he may be authorised to treat with the Indians. On the 20th of June last he was appointed by Congress Agent for the Cherokees having been previously nominated by Mr Brown of Virginia. That appointment was for six months from the Time he took on himself the Duties of the...
1520To George Washington from Mary Wooster, 8 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Permit me to address your Excellency on a subject which perhaps may be thought improper for a Woman, but I rely on my particular unfortunate situation and the candor of your Excellency for my justification⟨.⟩ My Son having been excedingly unfortunate during the course of the last War by the loss of his pay⟨,⟩ receiving his debts in Continental Money, by being plunder’d to a very considerable...
1521From George Washington to James Bowdoin, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Since my arrival in this place I have been honored with your letters of the 18th of Feby and 24th of April. To meet the congratulations and assurances of support from those Characters whose opinions I revere, will be of no small service in enabling me to overcome the diffidence which I have in my own abilities, to execute properly the important and untried task which my Country has assigned...
1522From George Washington to Nathaniel Gorham, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 10th of march, and must beg you to be assured that your good wishes and kind gratulations were very pleasing to me, and have my warmest acknowledgments. I shall feel a degree of confidence in the execution of my office in proportion to the assurances of support which I receive from respectable and worthy Characters in every part of the Union. I beleive I need...
1523From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am taking the earliest occasion of acknowledging the receipt of the letter, which you did me the favor to address to me by Mr Allen; and to thank you for your kind congratulations on my appointment to the Presidency of the United States. Mrs Washington is not here, but is expected in the course of this month; on her arrival I shall not fail of executing the friendly Commission of Mrs Hancock...
1524From George Washington to William Heath, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The numerous congratulations which I have received from Public Bodies & respectable individuals since my appointment to my present station, are truly grateful, as they hold forth the strongest assurances of support to the Government as well as a warm attachment to myself. It is from the good dispositions of the people at large—from the influence of respectable characters—and from the patriotic...
1525From George Washington to Henry Knox, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed papers relative to a treaty with the Cherokee Indians were put into my hands: and as I understand that matters of this kind have hitherto been considered as belonging to the department of the Secretary of War to examine and report thereon, and knowing that you have others of a similar nature now in your hands, I would wish you to make a summary report on the whole as soon as may...
1526To George Washington from Henry Knox, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt [of] Sundry papers relative to the cherokees indians —These shall be examined, together with those relative to the North western Indians and reported on to you as soon as may be. I have the honor to be with the highest respect Sir, your Obedient and Humble Servant LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . See GW’s letter of this date to Knox .
1527To George Washington from Warner Lewis, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
As it does not appear to me to be certain that you have received a letter which I wrote you by the stage on the 11’th of March last, I now take the liberty of inclosing you a copy of it: and, that I may not again be troublesome to you on the same subject, I will request a line from you, by post, informing me of your being made acquainted with my having attended to your directions. With very...
1528To George Washington from William Mumford, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Memorial of William Mumford, most Humbly and Respectfully Sheweth, That he officiated as Deputy Secretary of the State of Rhode Island & Providence Planatations, from the commencement to the close of the late War, which gave Independence to America; and a considerable part of that Time as Clerk to the Council of War and Deputy Intendant of Trade for the Port of Providence, that the two...
1529From George Washington to the Citizens of New York City, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The affectionate address presented by the Magistrates and the general joy testified by the Citizens of New York, on my arrival in this Metropolis, have filled my mind with the mingled emotions of gratitude and satisfaction. In accepting the momentuous trust which has been spontaneously committed to me by a free people; it was not enough to have felt a consciousness of having acted in...
1530From George Washington to Philip Schuyler, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday had the pleasure to receive your favor of the 2d instt—and must beg you to accept of my most grateful acknowledgments for your good wishes and kind gratulations upon my entrance on a new and arduous task. It is only from the assurances of support which I have received from the respectable & worthy characters in every part of the Union, that I am enabled to overcome the diffidence...
1531From George Washington to John Adams, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States wishes to avail himself of your sentiments on the following points. 1st Whether a line of conduct, equally distant from an association with all kinds of company on the one hand and from a total seclusion from Society on the other, ought to be adopted by him? and, in that case, how is it to be done? 2d What will be the least exceptionable method of bringing...
1532To George Washington from Isaac All, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
By the advice of my friends, I came to this place to Solicit an appointment in the Customs for the Port of Philadelphia, and was honoured with Letters to Several members of the Senate and house of representatives through whome it was thought my application might have been made. I have Since understood that would be improper which obliges me tho’ an entire stranger to the President to throw...
1533To George Washington from John Berrien, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of informing you that I have come forward from Georgia to this place to Offer myself as a Candidate for the Office of Collector of the Customs for the State of Georgia. Haveing formerly held the Office of Collector for the Port of Savannah, with reputation, I trust that on the score of experience, my pretensions to the appointment which I now Solicit from you Sir, will at...
1534To George Washington from Arthur Campbell, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Although I am not honored with a personal acquaintance; yet I can count myself among the number of your early and uniform admirers, and who can now rejoice in seeing the affairs of my Country administered successfully by your hand in preference to any other. I was among the first that embraced the principles of the American revolution, and was not merely an inactive wellwisher; what was then...
1535From George Washington to John Campbell, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
If a white horse, which your Servant was on the day I travelled with you from Bladensburg to Baltimore, has recovered of his lameness, and you have no particular predilection for him, I should be glad, as he is so good a match for the one I had of Mr Prescott, if you would sell him to, or swap him with me. Mrs Washington, with a nephew of mine (Mr Lewis) will, I expect be in Bladensburg on the...
1536To George Washington from Frederick Jay, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Several of my Friends have advised me to become a Candidate for the Office of Collector for this Port—I am persuaded that your Excellency is not unacquainted with the Part wch I took and the losses Sustained by me and the whole Family during the late War, which in Some measure (I do presume) recommends them to a Share of their Country’s favours—Should Your Exclcy think proper to Name me to...
1537To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am now to acknolege the honor of your two letters of Nov. 27 and Feb. 13 both of which have come to hand since my last to you of Dec. 4 and 5. the details you are so good as to give me on the subject of the navigation of the waters of the Patowmac and Ohio are very pleasing to me, as I consider the union of those two rivers as among the strongest links of connection between the eastern &...
1538To George Washington from Anthony Wayne, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the honor of addressing your Excellency in April, by Genl Jackson, & have since that period been extremely gratified by hearing of your happy arrival at the seat of Government, & acceptance of the supreme Executive Authority of the United States—an event, that I am confident affords the sincerest pleasure to every true friend of America. I also observe that the Impost Act was in...
1539To George Washington from Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, 11 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Mr and Mrs Andersons most respectfull Compliments to his Excy and makes bold to present him with a Portrait of the Twins born in the year 1775, which was intended to have been sent to your Excy last Spring but no favorable oppertunity offered, whereby we Could have sent them. They have the Honor of bearing the Names of your Excy & Lady, and are the Twins if it does not Slip your Excy memory,...
1540To George Washington from Nathaniel Barrett, 11 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Being soon to embark for France, in which Kingdom I shall reside for several years; I have been advised by many of my Friends to offer myself as a Candidate for the Place of Consul to that Kingdom, or if the general system of Consulates shall not be presently arranged, to serve in the mean Time as Commercial Agent for the united states. My residence in Paris with the Connections I have formed...
1541To George Washington from Edward Carrington, 11 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
At the same moment that I am assured your Excellencies own inclinations would have been infinitely more gratified in domestic than in public life, I must beg leave to offer my sincere congratulations upon the unanimity with which your Country men, divided as they have been in every other political act, have called you to the highest and most important Trust in the Republic, as it evidences the...
1542To George Washington from Edward Church, 11 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am one of that unfortunate number whom the late revolution has precipitated from a state of decent competence, and reduced to the necessity of joining the class of your most humble and needy petitioners; but it is not to be expected that the most fortunate revolutions can be favorable to the interest of every individual, I therefore presume not to complain, or to found any pretensions to...
1543From George Washington to John Jay, 11 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
A few days ago I was conversing with you on the points contained in the enclosed queries, when a Gentleman coming in put an end to the conversation. As it is my earnest wish to adopt such a line of conduct as shall be judged most likely to secure essentials without being exposed more than is unavoidable to the charge of too much reserve on the one hand, or too much familiarity on the other, I...
1544From George Washington to James Madison, 11 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed were communicated to me, as you will perceive, to make a confidential use of—upon receipt of the first letter, I expressed a desire to be informed (if there was nothing improper in it) through what channel the report came, and what reliance could be placed in the authenticity of it—This gave rise to the second letter —As you are upon business which requires every information of...
1545To George Washington from Henry Remsen, 11 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
On the return of peace I found my situation so embarrassed by the calamitous events of the War, as rendered me incapable to recommence mercantile pursuits. This embarrassment was occasioned principally by the receipt of large sums in Continental and State paper money during the first four and an half years of the War, at specie value, for debts owing to me prior to my removal from this City....
1546To George Washington from Richard Stevens, 11 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Having learned many persons are applying for Offices in the several States & being satisfied that it will be impossible for your Excellency to obtain an accurate knowledge of those who may be qualified to fill inferior departments unless they bring themselves under your notice, so as to enable you to make the requisite enquiries, I take the liberty to solicit the office of collector of the...
1547To George Washington from Joseph Vickers, 11 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Memorial of Joseph Vickers Humbly Sheweth, That your Memorialist has been honored by the Legislature of the State of New-Jersey with the appointment of Naval-Officer for the Eastern District of said State, and that he still holds the Office of Naval-Officer And therefore prays that your Excellency will be pleased in the arrangement of officers to continue him in the Office aforesaid. And...
1548To George Washington from Samuel Blachley Webb, 11 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Painfull as the task is I am under the necessity of soliciting the attention of the President of the United States. my long service in the Army dureing the late War, has deprived me of a property, which with common Industry would e’re this have placed me in a very Independant situation. Since the peace I have been employed in settling an Estate of which I am Administrator, constantly watching...
1549To George Washington from Joseph Woodward, 11 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The system of Revenue now under the consideration of Congress requiring certain Officers to carry it into execution, and their appointment being to be vested in your Excellency with advice of the honorable Senate, I beg permission humbly to solicit an appointment to one of the Offices in the Boston Department. Conscious that your Excellency will only nominate such as are fully competent to the...
1550To George Washington from William Young, 11 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Encouraged by the good Wishes and Persuasions of my fellow Citizens, I presume to address your Excellency, and to offer myself as a Candidate for the Collectorship of this State; my Conduct and Character as a Citizen is well known; and I trust will bear the most strict Investigation, for which, and with respect to the Abilities necessary for the Office, I humbly beg leave to refer your...