1511From George Washington to Tobias Lear, 22 November 1790 (Washington Papers)
The day is come, and the hour at hand, or very nearly—when our journey will commence for Philadelphia. From the Stage driver’s Acct the Roads in places, especially between George Town and Baltimore, are almost impassible—This circumstance and the desire of not injuring my horses, will make my movements very slow. and they may be precari⟨ mutilated ⟩les is very unwell—and my bungling Smiths has...
1512From George Washington to Charles Lee, 14 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
This letter is for your eye only—It is written for the purpose of expressing my regret for your continued absence from the Seat of the Government. Rely upon it, it is productive of unpleasant remarks, in which I must be involved. It will, indeed is, considered as making a Sinecure of the Office. To suppose there is no particular occasion for the Law-Officer of the government at the Seat of it...
1513From 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),...
1514From George Washington to Charles Lee, 19 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Office of Attorney Genl of the U. States is not yet filled. The reason why it is not Genl Lee, at my request, will frankly relate to you. If you could make it convenient, and agreeable to yourself to accept it, I should derive pleasure therefrom, both from public & private considerations; being persuaded that the duties of the Office will be well executed, and because I should be much...
1515From George Washington to Charles Lee, 27 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to hear that your cold is obstinate, & your indisposition continues. If it will permit you to give a little attention to the Virginia Address, to day, that it may be dispatched by the Post of tomorrow, I would thank you. In the moment I received it, I sketched something by way of an answer, but whether I have therein said too much, or too little for the circumstances attending the...
1516From George Washington to Charles Lee, 27 June 1794 (Washington Papers)
If you will be so good as to let me know what I am indebted to you on acct of Colvills Estate—or any other—I will pay the money before I return, or leave the same for my manager to do. I am—Dr Sir Your obedt Servt ALS , DeHi . No reply has been found, but GW’s farm manager, William Pearce, recorded a payment of £28.09.9 to Lee on 3 July (Mount Vernon Accounts, 1794-1797).
1517From George Washington to Charles Lee, 1793 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Charles Lee, 1793. An ADfS of this letter was offered for sale on 5 Dec. 1889 as item 334 in Bangs & Co., Catalogue of a Valuable Collection of Autographs. The catalog entry reads: “Written at Mt. Vernon. This is the first draft of the letter and is interesting, showing how careful Washington was to make corrections before sending off the clean copy.”
1518From George Washington to Charles Lee, 6 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Having shewn you the answr of the French Minister, to the communication of the Secretary of State, relatively to the Capture of the Ship Mount Vernon, by the French Privateer Flying Fish. Having read you also, the contents of a Letter from —— respecting information from St Domingo, of the intended measures of the French government, to Harrass our commerce with Great Britain; and also my letter...
1519From George Washington to Henry Lee, 14 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
Unfortunate and melancholy as the event is, which has given rise to your communication of the instant, I sincerely thank you for it. Since the receipt of your letter official account of the defeat is come to hand, and is herewith enclosed. As the whole of it went to Congress, it was thought best to expunge no part of that which should be given to the public; otherwise the throwing away of...
1520Memorandum for Henry Lee, 18 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
Memorandum for Govr Lee. G. Washington is one of a Company who took up, in or about the year 1762, all the ungranted land lying in the Great dismal Swamp; in the vicinity of Norfolk, Portsmouth & Suffolk; and holds two twenty one parts of the Interest therein. Forty thousand Acres of the interior and richest part of this Swamp has been (as the Subscriber is informed) patented in the names of...
1521From George Washington to Henry Lee, 21 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
I should have thanked you at an earlier period for your obliging letter of the 14th ulto, had it not come to my hands a day or two only before I set out for Mount Vernon; and at a time when I was much hurried, and indeed very much perplexed with the disputes, Memorials and what not, with which the Government were pestered by one or other of the petulant representatives of the Powers at War....
1522From George Washington to Henry Lee, 11 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 26th Ulo has been received, & nothing from you since; which is embarrassing to me in the extreme; for not only the nomination of Ch——f J——but an As——te J——dge and Se——y of W—— are depending upon the answer I expected. And what renders the want of it more unfortunate, if any thing can add to my present perplexity on the occasion is, that the first Monday in next month which...
1523From George Washington to Henry Lee, 7 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
At the sametime that I address the letter which accompanies this to you, officially, permit me to offer my sincere congratulations on your Appointment to the Government of Virginia, and to add my best wishes for the prosperous Administration of the important Office which you now fill, as well as for your personal happiness. An anxiety to do well, which is inseperable from high Offices,...
1524From George Washington to Henry Lee, 3 July 1792 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 20th Ulto was presented to me yesterday by Mr Williams—who as a professional man—may, or may not be for ought I know, a luminary of the first magnitude. But to be frank, and I hope you will not be displeased with me for being so—I am so heartily tired of the attendance which from one cause or another has been given ⟨to⟩ these kind of people, that it is now more than two...
1525From George Washington to Henry Lee, 26 August 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 17th cam<e> duly to hand, and I thank you for its communications. As the Insurgents in the western counties of this State are resolved (as far as we have yet been able to learn from the Commissioners, who have been sent amongst them) to persevere in their rebellious conduct until what they call the Excise law is repealed; and Acts of oblivion & amnesty are passed; it gives me...
1526From George Washington to Henry Lee, 30 September 1792 (Washington Papers)
I was favored with your letter of the 26th instt enclosing one from Arthur Campbell Esqr—For the perusal of which I thank you. The information contained in it is extremely agreeable for it has brought the supposed dead to life, and a valuable man back to his Country again. I congratulate you on your return to Richmond in good health. In a few days I shall commence my journey for Philadelphia....
1527From George Washington to Henry Lee, 6 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir, Philadelphia May 6th 1793. On Saturday last your favor of the 29th ulto was handed to me. My visit to Mount Vernon (intended to be short when I set out) was curtailed by the Declaration of War by France against Great Britain and Holland; for I foresaw in the moment information of that event came to me at that place the necessity for announcing the disposition of this...
1528From George Washington to Henry Lee, 27 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favoured with the receipt of your obliging letter dated the 12th of June last—I am also indebted to you for a long letter written to me in the course of last year —and should have had the pleasure sooner to express my acknowledgments for the te⟨n⟩der interest you take on account of my health & administration, but such is the multiplicity of my avocations—and so great the...
1529From George Washington to Henry Lee, 20 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
Being about to retur⟨n⟩ to the seat of Government, I cannot t⟨ake⟩ my departure without conveying thro⟨ugh⟩ you to the Army under your command, t⟨he⟩ very high sense I entertain of the enlightened and patriotic zeal for the Constitution and the Laws, which has led them ⟨so⟩ chearfully to quit their families and home⟨s⟩ and the comforts of private life, to undertake, and thus far to perform, a...
1530From George Washington to Henry Lee, 20 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your letter of the 6th instant, congratulatory on my re-election to the Chair of Government. A mind must be insensible indeed, not to be gratefully impressed by so distinguished, & honorable a testimony of public approbation & confidence: and, as I suffered my name to be contemplated on this occasion, it is more than probable that I should, for a moment, have...
1531From George Washington to Henry Lee, 16 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir, Mount Vernon 16th Oct. 1793. Since my arrival at this place I have been favoured with your letters of the 17th ulto and 7th instt. For your kind attentions to me I pray you to receive my sincere acknowledgments. I have always (from the accounts given of it) entertained a high opinion of Colo. Taliaferro’s threshing Machine, but knew at the sametime I had no stream that...
1532From George Washington to Henry Lee, 7 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of Nov. 18. covering a resolution of the legislature of Virginia of Nov. 14. and a Memorial of sundry citizens of that commonwealth on the subject of their property carried away by the British, contrary, as they suppose, to the stipulations of the treaty of peace. a regular channel of communication with that government being now open, I shall not fail to pay due...
1533From George Washington to Henry Lee, 30 June 1792 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir, Philadelphia 30th June 1792. Your favor of the 15th came duly to hand, but at a time when I was much engaged with the Secretary of State in dispatching Mr Pinckney to the Court of London—and in considering other business of importance. I shall repeat in this letter what I have declared to you on a former occasion—vizt—that wishing to promote the public weal, & to make...
1534From George Washington to Ludwell Lee and Roger West, 24 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
The address of the Landholders & Inhabitants of Fairfax County, forwarded to me by you, has been received. It is a source of much pleasure to me to find my Fellow Citizens of Fairfax among those spirited republicans of the United States, who declare to the world their firm determination to support the Government they have chosen for themselves, & to oppose with manly resolution any attempts to...
1535From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 15 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your letter of the 8th of March from Chantily. It did not, however, (by the Office mark thereon) leave Westmoreland Court House until the 16th of that month. Previously to the receipt of it, the nomination of Mr Lawrence Muse to the Collectorship of Rappahannock had been made, consequent of strong testimonials in his favor. The manners of Mr Fauchet, and Mr Genet, the...
1536From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 24 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of yesterday the 23d was handed to me upon my return from my usual ride, & almost at the moment I was setting down (with company) to dinner, which prevented my acknowledging the receipt of it by your servant. I am sorry I shall not have the pleasure of seeing you & your Lady before I return to the Northward, and regret the cause. On sunday, if I can previously arrange some business...
1537From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 2 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
The extreme hurry in which I have been thrown for several days, to compare the merits and pretensions of the several applicants for appointments, under the Revenue Law (in order that the nominations might speedily follow the passage of the Collection Bill) has prevented my acknowledging the receipt of your favor of the 27th Ulto until this time. Mr Charles Lee will certainly be brot forward as...
1538From George Washington to Thomas Sim Lee, 13 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
The Letter with which your Excellency was pleased to favor me, dated the 7th inst. was received on the 10th—& might have been acknowledged the next day; but I waited the arrival of Friday’s mail in hopes that I should have had a report from the Secretary of War relatively to the Ship Roehampton. Disappointed in this, I am not able to give any opinion thereon, uninformed as I am of the specific...
1539From George Washington to Thomas Sim Lee, 25 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir, Philadelphia July 25th 1794. This letter will accompany an official one from the Secretary of State—written to you by my desire—It is unnecessary therefore for me to repeat what is contained in his letter; but I shall express with frankness, a wish that it may comport with your convenience to accept the proffered appointment—provided your health, inclination & habits, would...
1540From George Washington to Thomas Sim Lee, 16 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 11 instant. When the British Vice-Consul at Baltimore exhibits all his proofs respecting the capture of the Brigantine Coningham, a better judgment can be formed than at present, whether this act is an infraction of neutrality. In doing this he ought to make no delay; because there can be no decision before the evidence on both sides is heard....
1541From George Washington to Thomas Sim Lee, 9 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge the Receipt of your Excellency’s letter of the 1st Inst. recommending Mr Benj’n Harwood to be Loan Officer for the U.S. in Maryland, and to express the satisfaction which I always feel in finding respectable & dignified Characters united in testifying to the merits & ability of those Candidates for office where I have not had an opportunity of being personally acquainted...
1542From George Washington to Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, 4 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
Although I do not conceive that you will derive any material advantage from an examination of the enclosed papers, yet, as they have been drawn by different persons, and under different circumstances, they may be compared with your own ideas of a proper plan for the Federal City (under the prospect which now presents itself to us.)—For this purpose I commit them to your private inspection...
1543From George Washington to Pierre L’Enfant, 28 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 21st instant came duly to hand, as did one of the same date from Mr Carroll of Duddington on the same subject. A Copy of my answer to the latter is enclosed, by which you will perceive I have proposed an accomodation. As a similar case cannot happen again (Mr Carrolls house having been begun before the Federal District was fixed upon) no precedent will be established by...
1544From George Washington to Pierre L’Enfant, 2 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have received with sincere concern the information from yourself as well as others, that you have proceeded to demolish the house of Mr Carroll of Duddington, against his consent, and without authority from the Commissioners or any other person. In this you have laid yourself open to the Laws, and in a Country where they will have their course. To their animadversion will belong the present...
1545From George Washington to Pierre L’ Enfant, 13 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 7th instant, and can only once more, and now for all, inform you that every matter and thing which has relation to the Federal district, and the City within it, is committed to the Commissioners appointed agreeably to the “Act for establishing the temporary and permanent Seat of the Government of the United States” that it is from them you are to derive your...
1546Enclosure II: George Washington to Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 1 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved with sincere concern the information from yourself as well as others, that you have proceeded to demolish the house of Mr. Carrol of Duddington, against his consent, and without authority from the Commissioners, or any other person. In this you have laid yourself open to the laws, and in a country where they will have their course. To their animadversion will belong the present...
1547From George Washington to Pierre L’Enfant, 28 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
Your final resolution being taken, I shall delay no longer to give my ideas to the Commissioners for carrying into effect the plan for the federal City. The continuance of your services (as I have often assured you) would have been pleasing to me, could they have been retained on terms compatible with the law. Every mode has been tried to accommodate your wishes on this principle, except...
1548From George Washington to Betty Washington Lewis, 7 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
As Mrs Washington and myself expect to set out to morrow for Philadelpa and the Majr & Fanny the day after if the Vessel which is to carry him to Colo. Bassets arrives in time, I have taken the advantage of the good opportunity afforded by Mr Robt Lewis of sending Harriot to Fredericksburg. It is done at this time (notwithstanding your proposed visit to Albemarle) 1st because it would be...
1549From George Washington to Betty Washington Lewis, 14 January 1793 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Betty Washington Lewis, 14 Jan. 1793. On 29 Jan., Betty Lewis wrote GW : “Your letters of Januy the 6the and 14the of this Month came duly to hand.”
1550From George Washington to Betty Washington Lewis, 30 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Betty Washington Lewis, 30 March 1794. Betty Washington Lewis wrote GW on 13 April that “Your letter of the 30th of march came safe to hand.”
1551From George Washington to Betty Washington Lewis, 29 June 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to Betty Washington Lewis, 29 June 1796. Lewis wrote GW on 5 July : “I receiv’d your Letters of 26th and 29th of June.”
1552From George Washington to Betty Washington Lewis, 6 January 1793 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Betty Washington Lewis, 6 Jan. 1793. On 29 Jan., Betty Lewis wrote GW : “Your letters of Januy the 6the and 14the of this Month came duly to hand.”
1553From George Washington to Betty Washington Lewis, 13 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
Colonel Ball’s letter gave me the first account of my Mother’s death—since that I have received Mrs Carter’s letter written at your request —and previous to both I was prepared for the event by some advices of her illness communicated to your Son Robert. Awful, and affecting as the death of a Parent is, there is consolation in knowing that Heaven has spared ours to an age, beyond which few...
1554From George Washington to Betty Washington Lewis, 17 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Betty Washington Lewis, 17 March 1794. Betty Washington Lewis wrote GW on 23 March that “Your letter of the 17th Came safe to hand.”
1555From George Washington to Betty Washington Lewis, 26 June 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to Betty Washington Lewis, 26 June 1796. Lewis wrote GW on 5 July : “I receiv’d your Letters of 26th and 29th of June.”
1556From George Washington to Betty Washington Lewis, 12 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the first of this month came duly to hand.—I believe Bushrod is right with respect to the distribution of the negroes—When I gave my opinion that you were entitled to a child’s part it did not occur to me that my Mother held them under the will of my Father who had made a distribution of them after her death.—If this is the case, and I believe it is, you do not come in for any...
1557From George Washington to Betty Washington Lewis, 8 April 1792 (Washington Papers)
If your Son Howell is living with you, and not usefully employed in your own Affairs; and should incline to spend a few months with me, as a writer in my Office (if he is fit for it) I will allow him at the rate of Three hundred dollars a year, provided he is diligent in discharging the duties of it from breakfast until dinner—Sundays excepted. This sum will be punctually paid him and I am...
1558From George Washington to George Lewis, 8 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I send you the enclosed Advertisement, that you may perceive thereby, I have restrained myself from selling the Land I hold on Green River in Kentucky, until the first of September; that all who are disposed to purchase may have notice thereof. Between this and then, I would thank you to give me, from time to time, and by duplicates (to guard against miscarriages) such information as you may...
1559From George Washington to George Lewis, 7 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
Tuesday’s Post brought me a letter from a Mr Andrew Parks of Fredericksburgh, covering one from your mother; both on the subject of overtures of marriage made by the former to your cousin Harriot Washington: which, it seems, depend upon my consent for consummatn. My sister speaks of Mr Parks as a sober, discreet man; and one who is attentive to business. Mr Parks says of himself, that his...
1560From George Washington to George Lewis, 18 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
Herewith you will receive Plats, and descriptions of two tracts of land which I hold in Kentucky, on the Waters of rough Creek. If you have any knowledge of the land in the part of the country these are said to lye in: or if your brother John or any other, within your reach has, I shd be obliged to you for such information respecting them as can be obtained. I wish also to know in what part of...