1511To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 26 August 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of War respectfully lays before the President a letter to Mr Adet, in answer to his of the 19th inst. Mr Wolcott approves of it. The Secretary of War will wait on the President at nine o’clock, to receive his orders on the subject. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters. The docket states that Pickering wrote the letter “doing the dutyes of the Secrety of State” (see GW to...
1512To George Washington from Henry Knox, 16 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
General Irwin has received a letter from Mr Brown of Kentuckey, via Richmond which renders General Wilkinsons success and return indisputable. The following is the extract “Danville 22d Augt 1791. An express from Genl Wilkinson has this moment reached this place informing of his success. He has destroyed a large indian Town, situated on the forks of the Wabash, also a kickapoo Town containing...
1513From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 8 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
I do not recollect whether any notice has ever been taken in your letter to the Commrs of Mr Johnsons suggestion of bringing the Canal navigation to the City—The ascertainment of the practicability ought by all means to be encouraged. Yours ALS , DLC : Jefferson Papers. Jefferson apparently was mistaken when he endorsed this letter as having been received on 7 Mar., as GW dated it “Thursday...
1514From George Washington to Tobias Lear, 25 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your several letters relative to the state of the applications to the Assemblies of Maryland and Virginia, on the business of the Potomack Company, and the result thereof, have been duly received. The last, dated the 21st, I directed Mr Dandridge to shew to Mr Myers, (knowing the suspence in which he was held) and to add that, if upon the strength of the information therein, he inclined to...
1515To George Washington from Henry Lee, 28 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
I return my dear General the papers you gave me having laid the foundation of a future sale if agreable then to you. The previous requisites are the possession of the other shares of the company and a law authorizing foreigners to hold real property in Virginia—Both these can be effected in the course of the year. I would have called & taken leave of you & Mrs Washington, but did not like to...
1516To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 4 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President the draught of a letter to mister Pinckney. also the paper sent to him for the signatures now put to it. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. Later on this date GW approved Jefferson’s letter to Thomas Pinckney of 4 June, whose topics included the...
1517To George Washington from Burgess Ball, 1 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
A neighbour of mine having lately made an Excursion over the Mountains, was at the House of Mr Fairfax who formerly lived with you, and from whom the enclos’d Letters came to my Hands, requesting I wou’d forward them to you. We are now in Harvest, and hope to finish tomorrow, our wheat at least; never was there better Weather for the purpose of saving Grain, but the rains some time ago were so...
1518From George Washington to the United States Senate, 3 May 1792 (Washington Papers)
I nominate Edward Church of Georgia, heretofore appointed but not received as Consul for the United States at Bilboa, to be Consul for the United States at the Port of Lisbon in the Kingdom of Portugal, and for such other parts within the allegiance of her most Faithful Majesty as shall be nearer to the said port, than to the residence of any other Consul, or Vice-Consul of the United States...
1519To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 10 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
The bill, drawn by Edward Church on the Secretary of State and accepted by me, amounts to one hundred and fifty pounds sterling. The Secretary of the Treasury is disinclined to pay it out of the monies in his hands. I must therefore request you to give an order for the payment, out of the contingent fund at your disposal. The form of the Order may be somewhat in this shape. “The President of...
1520From George Washington to Beverley Randolph, 9 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
In compliance with the request signified in your Excellency’s letter of the 23d ultimo, I now inclose copies of all the papers in my possession relative to the dispute between Messrs Beauregard and Bourgeois of New Orleans and Oliver Pollock Esquire agent for the State of Virginia; and have the honor to be, with very great esteem, Your Excellency’s most Obedt Servt LS , PHi : Dreer Collection;...
1521To George Washington from the Board of Treasury, 9 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
We are honored with your letter of yesterday expressing your desire of being furnished with such an account of this Department, as will enable you to form a full, precise and distinct Idea of the various transactions arising under it. It will require some days to make out the necessary Documents, to which such an account must necessarily refer; these are now preparing, and shall, from time to...
1522From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 12 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor of inclosing to the President the opinion on the two cases of vessels referred to the heads of the department, and the letter he has prepared in consequence to the Attorney of the district. Genl. Knox will wait on him with his letter to the Governor .— Symmes’s case is to be considered of tomorrow, as it required some enquiry. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); addressed:...
1523From George Washington to James McHenry, 7 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
Private The principles of the Enclosed Instructions I approve; and since they are drawn, I shall not object to the Phraseology; tho’ considering that it is Addressed to our agent, for his government part of them, I think is too much in the stile of a talk to the Indians. And I think too, as he is intended for the general Superintendent his attentions seems to be too much confined to the Creek...
1524To George Washington from John Lathrop, Jr., 29 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
Will the illustrious Washington pardon the ambition of a young citizen, who ventures to lay the enclosed performance at his feet? Much as I have to expect from his candor and his goodness, yet much I have to fear from my own imperfection and presumtion. To intrude one tedious moment into the scanty portion of leisure which the Father of his country enjoys, would be most unpardonably criminal;...
1525To George Washington from Benjamin Hawkins, 28 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
Judging from my long acquaintance with and attachment to you, I have decided that a letter from me would not be unacceptable. Since ⟨my⟩ return from Philadelphia, I have been at Halifax during the session⟨s⟩ of one of our sup⟨erior⟩ circuit courts; and at two or three other places of public resort; and I am happy to be able to inform you, that much of that impurity which manifests itself...
1526To George Washington from David Humphreys, 3 May 1791 (Washington Papers)
Private. My dear Sir, Mafra [Portugal] May 3d 1791. I write this short letter for the sole purpose of thanking you for nominating & appointing me Minister Resident at this Court. The language of affection & gratitude is brief. It is with a sensibility not expressed in words, that all the instances of your friendship & particularly the kind expressions in the close of your letter of March 16th,...
1527To George Washington from Providence, R.I., Citizens, 10 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
From the change of Sentiment which has gradually taken place in the minds of the Good people of this State, and the Happy Effects of the General Government, which begins to Operate so favorably in the Union, under the Auspices of your Excellency’s administration—in Consequence of which the Convention of this State at their late Session were Induced to Adopt the Enlighten’d Policy of confirming...
1528From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 4 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Having been in conversation to-day with Monsr. Payan, one of the St. Domingo deputies, I took occasion to enquire of him the footing on which our commerce there stands at present, and particularly whether the colonial arret of 1789 permitting a free importation of our flour till 1793. was still in force. He answered that that arret was revoked in France on the clamours of the merchants there:...
1529From George Washington to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 29 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
I am obliged to you for the acct given, in your letter of the 27th of the meeting which was had in the State house yard, the saturday before; and such information as you may receive, & can rely upon, respecting the sentiments of the People of that city, and other places, relative to the treaty between this country & G. Britain I shall receive with satisfaction. It is an interesting subject;...
1530To George Washington from Rodolph Vall-travers, 28 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
Rotterdam, Haring’s-Vliet, 28 Feb. 1793. Recommends “Le chevalier de Limoges, Garde du Corps de feunt Louis XVI . . . il á pris le sage Parti, de chercher, dans l’autre Hemisphére, une nouvelle Patrie, légalement libre; et jouissante, sous la Présidence paternelle de Votre Excellence, de toutes les Benedictions du Ciel, répandües, á pleines Mains, sur l’Industrie de vos Concitoÿens, imitans...
1531To 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...
1532To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 7 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President and sends him his report on the subject of commerce with Spain, & the form of a message to the Senate. a second copy is now making out for the President’s own use, so that he may send in the one now inclosed to-day, assured of receiving the other the moment it is finished. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, George...
1533To George Washington from the United States Senate, 10 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
The Senate agreed that the President of the United States direct the word “Junior” to be annexed to the name of Jonathan Palmer, appointed Surveyor of Stonington in the State of Connecticut August 3d 1790. Attest LB , DLC:GW . See GW to the U.S. Senate, 3 Aug. 1789 .
1534To George Washington from Henry Knox, 18 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
I submit to your consideration, the draft of the instructions to the commissioners—After you shall have perused them, and directed any alterations, or additions, it may be proper to deliver them to the commissioners, who may probably suggest some inquiries, or explanations relatively thereto. I have the honor to be Sir, with the highest respect Your most obedt Servt I have also the honor to...
1535From George Washington to the United States Senate, 4 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
The Act for the admission of the State of Vermont into this Union having fixed on this, as the day of its admission, it was thought that this would also be the first day on which any Officer of the Union might legally perform any act of authority relating to that State. I therefore required your attendance to receive nominations of the several Officers necessary to put the federal Government...
1536From George Washington to William Pearce, 31 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
I am quite surprized to find by your letter of the 24th instant (which with the Reports came duly to hand) that your crops had stood in need of Rain. There has been no three days together without it, at this place, since I arrived here; and some times for whole days and nights, with little or no intermission. The exhausted state of Provisions (bread) in Europe; the demand for flour there; and...
1537To George Washington from Wakelin Welch & Son, 6 May 1791 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed we trouble your Excellency with copy of our last of 5th March which we forwarded by the New York Packet since then nothing has transpired from Mr Morris from which we may suppose he is still in France. Mr Young about ten days ago sent us a case containing a Bag of Seeds, Books & some Yarn manufactured from your own Fleece of Wool which he sends ⟨ mutilated ⟩ a curiosity. This last...
1538From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 11 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have directed my Secretary to lay before you a copy of the ratification of the Amendments to the Constitution of the United States by the State of North Carolina; together with an extract from a letter, accompanying said ratification, from the Governor of the State of North Carolina to the President of the United States. LS , DNA : RG 46, First Congress, 1789–91, Records of Legislative...
1539From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 29 September 1792 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 1st instant from George Town came duly to hand. The delay in acknowledging the receipt of it, has proceeded from a belief that if the orders were transmitted before the sale of lots (appointed to be holden on the 8th of next month) they would get to your hands in time. Enclosed is an order from the President of the United States authorising the above Sale—and an another for...
1540To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 16 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
We forgot the other day to apply to you for your permission to make sales of the publick property in the City of Washington —We therefore transmit to you a Couple of Instruments for your signature similar to those given at former times —Considering it as a mere matter of form, we shall commence tomorrow, agreeable to advertizement, and expect you will favour us with the return of them by the...
1541To George Washington from Isaac Stephens, 23 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
You are not unacquanted of our Long Continueance in a State of Slavery for about four years and more although you Cannot feel for us to Redeem us But have So Much as to allow us a Comfortable Support Whilst we Due Live on the Earth the 13th of September 1789 arrived a Spanish Courier from Spain on the 14th Ditto I wated on the Spanish Consul to Know if any Letters had Com for us americans he...
1542To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 16 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to the President, and has the honor to enclose the statement respecting the French Debt. He hopes to be able to wait upon the President on Monday, when he will give a further explanation. LB , DLC:GW . Hamilton submitted this statement in response to a request from the French minister to the United States, Jean-Baptiste Ternant, for an...
1543To George Washington from David Stuart, 10 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have just time to inform you, that the business of the rents between Mr Alexander & the estate of Mr Custis for the twelve years possession of it, was adjudged two days ago—I am sorry to inform you that it has exceeded every idea I had formed on the subject, and I believe that of every reasonable man—The two men nominated by me were Mr Pollard & Mr Moss those nominated by Alexander Mr Thomas...
1544To George Washington from John Rutherford, 12 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
The very high esteem I have ever had for your excellency, as a Personage of the greatest abilities and integrity, encourages me to present you with this. It becomes me, as a stranger, to ask pardon for this my freedom, but I am fully persuaded that such are your views of Humanity, and of the Duties which we owe to each other as fellow citizens of the great theatre of the Universe that I shall...
1545To George Washington from David Sewall, 24 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
the letter and Commission from the President of the United States, with sundry Statutes relating to the Judicial department did not find me, until some time after their date. This was not oweing to any failure in the conveyance by Post, but to my absence from hence on a remote Circuit of the Supreme Judicial Court: this circumstance, it is presumed, will be an apology, for not earlier noticing...
1546From George Washington to Henry Knox, 30 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
The considerations which you have often suggested to me, and are repeated in your letter of the 28th instant; as requiring your departure from your present office, are such, as to preclude the possibility of my urging your continuance in it. This being the case, I can only wish that it was otherwise. I cannot suffer you, however, to close your public service without uniting with the...
1547To George Washington from Beverley Randolph, 15 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honour to inclose you a copy of an Act of the General Assembly of Virginia concerning an Advance of Money to the Government of the United States for public Buildings, and am with the highest Respect Your most obedt Servant ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters. Randolph enclosed a copy of “An Act concerning an Advance of Money to the Government of the United States for...
1548From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [24 September 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to transmit you a letter of the 8th. of August from Governor St. Clair, together with sundry papers which accompanied it; the whole relating to the subject of the Settlements which have been made under purchases from Judge Symmes. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Letter not found. On November 9, 1791, Washington sent St. Clair’s letter to H to Thomas...
1549From George Washington to James Madison, 12 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed are the last dispatches I have rec’d from Mr Gouvr Morris. As they unfold, pretty evidently I think, the disposition of the British Ministry, I wish you to see them—Pray return them to me in the course of this day. Sincerely & Affectly, I am Yrs ALS , anonymous donor. The enclosures almost certainly included Gouverneur Morris’s letters of 18 and 21 Sept. 1790 reporting the failure of...
1550From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [11 July 1794] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to the President. The state of health of his little boy & the situation of Mrs Hamilton in consequence of it, oblige him to request the President to excuse him from attending the interview with the Indians today & also to ask the President’s permission to make an excursion into the country for a few days to try the effect of exercise & change...
1551To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 26 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
Since my last, written about five days ago, the committee of the whole house have been engaged in the amendments from congress. Mr Henry’s motion, introduced about three weeks past, for postponing the consideration of them, was negatived by a great majority. The first ten were easily agreed to. The eleventh and twelfth were rejected 64 against 58. I confess, that I see no propriety in adopting...
1552From 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...
1553From George Washington to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 13 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed you have Bank Bills to the amount of Five hundred Dollars. From this fund I pray you to furnish Mr Frederick Kitt, my Household Steward with weekly sums as his occasions require—say from th[i]rty to 40 dollars according to circumstances. It will enable you also to pay the duties on two Pipes of Wine wch I understand is in the Ganges for and on my Acct. As this Wine is in dble cases—I...
1554To George Washington from Betty Washington Lewis, 19 April 1792 (Washington Papers)
I receivd yr letter of the 8th of April and am under great obligations to you, for the kind proposials there in Contain’d—Howels absence from Town at this time prevents his acknowledging—your kindness with his own hand I shall send an express of immediately with yr letter to him, and you may expect an answer in less than a Fortnight. Howell my Dear Brother is a Boy of very Slender...
1555To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the United States, the letter of resignation of Mr Benjamin Joy, late consul of the United States at Calcutta; and the recommendations of Mr William James Miller late of Philadelphia, now established at Calcutta, as a fit person to succeed Mr Joy in the Consulate. In addition to the testimonies inclosed in favour of Mr Miller,...
1556To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 23 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
Treasury Department, Philadelphia, 23 Feb. 1792. Submits a contract made by the superintendent of the New Castle Island lighthouse in New Hampshire with Titus Salter for supplying, keeping, lighting, and superintending the occasional repairs of that building and humbly opines that it is not disadvantageous to the United States, as its terms are the same as those in the last agreement for the...
1557From George Washington to Henry Knox, 26 August 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your Letter of the 17th inst; with it’s enclosure from Genl Wayne. Whatever Genl Wayne may require towards the equipmt of his troops for the service for wch they are designed, provided a compliance therewith be authorised by Law, I think had better be granted. powder in particular, precisely such as he desires, I would furnish him with in order that there may be no room for...
1558From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 2 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
I transmit to you copies of a letter from the Governor of the State of Delaware, and of an Act inclosed, “declaring the assent of that State to an amendment therein mentioned to the Constitution of the United States.” LS , DNA : RG 46, entry 33; copy, DNA : RG 233, Records of the House of Representatives, Journals; copy, DLC:GW . A copy, certified as a “True Copy” by State Department clerk...
1559From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 22 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President the extracts he desired from his letter of May 4. 1787. He finds by a note, which he does not know however where he got, that the city of Mexico is about 200. miles from the sea. RC ( DNA : RG 59, MLR ); addressed: “The President of the United States”; endorsed by Washington: “22d. July. 1790 State of the Portuguese in So. America.” Not...
1560From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 7 July 1792 (Washington Papers)
Pray send me Mr Hammond’s communications to you on thursday & your letter to him in answer; and let me see you at Eight ’Oclock this Morng. Yrs ALS , DLC : Jefferson Papers. Jefferson’s docket indicates that this note was received on Saturday, 7 July 1792. For British minister George Hammond’s letter to Jefferson of Thursday, 5 July, see Jefferson to GW, 5 July, n.1 ; for Jefferson’s response...