101From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 17 June 1791 (Washington Papers)
By the last post from the southward I received your letters of the 17th and 24th of April, with their enclosures. In a letter of the 7th of May, which I wrote to the Secretary of the Treasury from Charleston, I expressed my approbation of what he informed me had been determined by the Vice-President and Heads of Departments, relative to Mr Short’s negociation at Amsterdam, and the further...
102From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 3 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
I lay before you a copy of an exemplified Copy of an Act passed by the Legislature of the State of New Jersey, for vesting in the United States of America the jurisdiction of a Lot of Land at Sandy Hook in the County of Monmouth; and a Copy of the letter which accompanied said Act, from the Governor of the State of New Jersey to the President of the United States. LB , DLC:GW . The beacon on...
103[Diary entry: 12 July 1790] (Washington Papers)
Monday 12th. Exercised on Horse back between 5 & 6 in the Morning. Sat for Mr. Trumbull from 9 until half after ten. And about Noon had two Bills presented to me by the joint Committee of Congress—The one “An Act for Establishing the Temporary & permanent Seat of the Government of the United States”—The other “An Act further to provide for the payment of the Invalid Pensioners of the United...
104From George Washington to William Pearce, 9 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
since writing you a few lines on the 3d instant, I have received your letter of the 28th of last month, and that of the third of the present. If you are satisfied with Mr Butlers conduct and exertions, I shall be so. He has always appeared to me as a well disposed man, obliging and sober one who has seen better days: and must have had a good deal of practical knowledge in husbandry. If you can...
105From George Washington to Henry Knox, 8 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have taken into consideration your letter of the 15th of last month, and I approve of the proposals therein suggested, of endeavoring to avoid a War with the Creek nation of Indians. I approve particularly of your requesting Mr Hawkins to send the letter to Alexander McGillivray a copy of which you have enclosed—and I authorize you to employ a suitable person to conduct the business, and to...
106From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 12 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
In due course of Post I have received your Letters of the 5th and 8th instant. & thank you for the information contained in them. Tomorrow I leave this for Philadelphia. the advices which I may receive this Evening by the Post, will fix my route by Baltimore (as usual)—or by the one I intended to have come—that is, by Reading, the Canals between the Rivers, Harrisburgh, Carlisle &a—In either...
107From George Washington to Louis XVI, 2 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have received the letter wherein you inform me that you have thought proper to give a new Mission to the Sieur de Moustier, and thereby to put an end to his Functions as Minister plenipotentiary here. His conduct during the Time of his residence in this Country, has been such as to meet my entire approbation and esteem, and it is with great pleasure I render him the Justice of this...
108[Diary entry: 15 May 1795] (Washington Papers)
15. Thunder, lightning & rain—cool.
109To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 18 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter dated the 3d. inst. inclosing a Copy of the instructions you have forwarded to Mr. Short, came to my hands by the mail of Wednesday. The appointment of that gentleman to negotiate the Loans in Holland, and the Instructions you have given for his government, meet my approbation. The first as no inconvenience it is conceived will result from his absence from Paris, is a measure of...
110From George Washington to unknown recipient, 27 September 1792 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to unknown recipient, 27 Sept. 1792. Sold by Leavitt, Strebeigh & Co., New York, item 501, 15–17 Mar. 1869. Listed as “A.L.S, ‘G. W——n,’ 1 p. 4to, Mount Vernon.”
111From George Washington to Benjamin Franklin, 23 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
The affectionate congratulations on the recovery of my health—and the warm expressions of personal friendship which were contained in your favor of the 16th instt, claim my gratitude. And the consideration that it was written when you were afflicted with a painful malady, greatly increases my obligation for it. Would to God, my dear Sir, that I could congratulate you upon the removal of that...
112From George Washington to John Brown Cutting, 23 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 25th of July enclosing sundry papers respecting the state of public affairs in France, for which mark of attention I request you to accept my best acknowledgements. I am, Sir, Your most Obedt Servt. Df , in the writing of Tobias Lear, DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DLC:GW . On this day GW also wrote similar brief letters of acknowledgment to John...
113[Diary entry: 15 September 1795] (Washington Papers)
15. Do. Do. Do. Do.
114From George Washington to James Ross, 11 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
I should not have given you the trouble of receiving a letter from me at this time, but for the purpose of explaining a mistake which in a degree implicates you. Two or three days ago a person (whose name I did not ask) called upon me to pay me, at the request he said of Colo. Shreve, £100 on account of the Land he had purchased of me. I told him I would not receive money from that Gentleman...
115From George Washington to James Madison, 13 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for forwarding Mr Campbells letter; & whenever I shall have the pleasure of seeing you (for I would not put you to the trouble of calling for that purpose only) I will converse with you upon the subject of it. I confess, in the meantime, that I do not see upon what ground the application is made, to me. I can hardly suppose, Congress will disband the Troops now in Service, and...
116From George Washington to Henry Knox, 22 August 1792 (Washington Papers)
In my letter of the 15th I acknowledged the receipt of yours of the 11th; since which your dispatches of the 16th are come to hand, and convey but a gloomy prospect of peace with the Indians, in either hemisphere; but shew the necessity of preparing more vigorously if possible for the dernier resort. That the Western Indians are stimulated to acts of hostility on one side, and every mean which...
117From George Washington to Richard Potts, 20 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
A person has just called upon me (by direction he says) for an answer to your letter of the 17th Instt. I can do no more than acknowledge the receipt of it. It conveys the first information of the death of the late Collector of the Port of Baltimore; & I never decide in the first moments of such information, on a Successor; being desirous (& having so determind from the beginning of my...
118From George Washington to James Madison, 13 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
At as early an hour this evening as you can make it convenient, I should be glad to see you. yrs sincerely & affecly Sparks transcript , MH . The only year of GW’s presidency in which 13 Dec. fell on a Tuesday was 1791.
119[Diary entry: 26 January 1797] (Washington Papers)
26. Wind Northerly—then So. Westerly. Clear. Large Compa. dined. [24]
120From George Washington to George Augustine Washington, 21 February 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to George Augustine Washington, 21 Feb. 1790. On 5 Mar. George Augustine Washington wrote GW referring to “your letter of the 21st Ulto.”
121To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 14 July 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your favor of yesterday, this moment, when I am on the eve of a journey to Virginia. The opinion which you have given as to its being necessary to submit the new article to the Senate being in direct opposition to that of the Secretaries and the Attorney general, has occasioned some embarrassments with me. For I always understood it to be the sense of the majority of the Senate,...
122From George Washington to the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 29 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I return to you individually, and (through you) to your Society collectively in the United States my thanks for the demonstrations of affections, and the expressions of joy, offered in their behalf, on my late appointment. It shall still be my endeavor to manifest, by overt acts, the purity of my inclinations for promoting the happiness of mankind, as well as the sincerity of my desires to...
123From George Washington to David Stuart, 8 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 18th Ulto with its enclosures, came to hand in the usual course of the Post; but the pressure of public business has prevented my giving it an acknowledgment until now. The first thing I shall do after I am settled at Mount Vernon, will be to adjust all my accounts of a private nature; the doing of which, as they ought, has been prevented by public avocations. What effect Mr...
124From George Washington to Edmund Pendleton, 14 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
The letter with which you were pleased to favor me—dated the 9th instt—overtook me at Littlepages bridge the 11th. The hurry into which I was thrown by a variety of occurrances at Richmond, prevented my acknowledging the receipt of it before I left that City. I now do it, with assurances that it gave me sincere pleasure to find by it that you were well. The general arrangement of the Surveys...
125[Diary entry: 8 October 1789] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 8th. Mr. Gardoqui took leave, proposing to embark to morrow for Spain. The following Company dined with Me to day. viz. The Vice-President his Lady & Son and her Niece with their Son in Law Colo. Smith & his Lady. Governor Clinton & his two eldest daughters—Mr. Dalton and his Lady their Son in law Mr. Dubois and his lady and their other three daughters. In the Evening the Count de...
126From George Washington to the United States Senate, 31 May 1790 (Washington Papers)
United States [New York] Gentlemen of the Senate, May 31st 1790 M. de Poiery served in the American Army for several of the last years of the late war, as Secretary to Major General the Marquis de la Fayette, and might probably at that time have obtained the Commission of Captain from Congress upon application to that Body. At present he is an officer in the French National Guards, and...
127[Diary entry: 16 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
16. Clear & pleasant. Wind Westerly. Mercury at 28. Large company dined here.
128From George Washington to the Commissioners for the Federal District, 24 July 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have received from Mr Peter the inclosed letter proposing the erection of Warves at the New City, between Rock Creek and Hamburg. My answer to him is, that the proposition is worthy of consideration, and that the transaction of whatever may concern the public at that place in future being now turned over to you, I have inclosed the letter to you to do thereon whatever you may think best,...
129To Thomas Jefferson from George Washington, [ca. 28 February 1792] (Jefferson Papers)
Would it be advisable to let L’Enfont alter the Plan if he will do it in a certn. given time—and provided also we retain the means if any thing unfair is intended that we may not suff[er.] Ought any thing to be said in my letter to him respecting payment for his past Services.— Should Mr. Ellicot be again asked in strong and explicit terms if the Plan exhibited by him is conformable to the...
130Statement of Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 19 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
In the latter part of March last, a Gentleman in whose honour & veracity I have entire confidence called upon me at my Office and informed me; that Mr Collot & Mr Varin, with another Frenchman whose name he did not know, were shortly to proceed on a tour through the western parts of the United States; that they were to visit the western parts of Pensylvania, the north western territory,...
131[Diary entry: 30 January 1797] (Washington Papers)
30. Clear, & somewhat cooler than yesterday &ca. [28]
132[Diary entry: 12 October 1789] (Washington Papers)
Monday 12th. Received the Compliments of the Count de Pentheve, commanding his most Christian Majestys Squadron in the harbour of Boston—these were sent by the Marquis de Traversy in the Active Frigate; who with all his Officers, were presented by the French Minister about One clock. A squadron of the French navy consisting of two ships of 74 guns and four frigates, under the command of Henri...
133[Diary entry: 20 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
20. Cloudy with a little rain in the forenoon—variable afterwards. Wind So. West. Mercury 39. Another third of the Penna. Reps. dined here.
134From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 28 July 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have now before me your favors of the 22d of November—the 1st & 24th of December 1790—and of the 9th of March 1791. The Plateaux which you had the goodness to procure for me, arrived safe; and the account of them has been settled, as you desired, with Mr R: Morris. For this additional mark of attention to my wishes, I pray you to accept my thanks. The communications in your several letters,...
135From George Washington to the Society of Quakers, 13 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
I receive with pleasure your affectionate address, and thank you for the friendly Sentiments & good wishes which you express for the Success of my administration, and for my personal Happiness. We have Reason to rejoice in the prospect that the present National Government, which by the favor of Divine Providence, was formed by the common Counsels, and peaceably established with the common...
136[Diary entry: 2 November 1789] (Washington Papers)
Monday 2d. Having made previous preparations for it—About 8 Oclock attended by the President, Mr. Langden & some other Gentlemen, I went in a boat to view the harbour of Portsmouth; which is well secured against all Winds; and from its narrow entrance from the Sea, and passage up to the Town, may be perfectly guarded against any approach by water. The anchorage is also good & the Shipping may...
137From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 20 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 12th & 13th instant, with their enclosures, were received by Mondays Mail, the 18th. The duplicate Commission for John Trumbull; the blank Commissions for the Revenue Officers; and the Patents passed by the Attorney General; are all signed & returned under cover with this letter. The want of funds to carry on Commerce with the Indian Tribes (agreeably to a late Act of...
138From George Washington to Tobias Lear, 14 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
The day following the one on which I wrote to you last, your letter of the 10th instt was received. It is to be regretted, exceedingly, that delegated powers are, oftentimes, so little regarded; and that trusts of an important nature, the neglect of wch may be attended with serious consequences, should be suffered to sleep in the hands of those who ought to carry them into activity. such, from...
139From George Washington to St. John’s College Faculty, 26 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
The satisfaction which I have derived from my visit to your infant Seminary is expressed with real pleasure, and my wishes for its progress to perfection are preferred with sincere regard. The very promising appearance of its infancy must flatter all its friends, (among whom I entreat you to class me,) with the hope of an early, and at the same time a mature manhood. You will do justice to the...
140[Diary entry: 25 May 1791] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 25th. Set out at 4 ’Oclock for Cambden (the foundered horse being led slowly on). Breakfasted at an indifferent house 22 miles from the town (the first we came to) and reached Cambden about two oclock, 14 miles further where an address was recd. & answered. Dined late with a number of Gentlemen & Ladies at a public dinner. The Road from Columbia to Cambden, excepting a mile or two at...
141From George Washington to Charles Morgan, 28 June 1795 (Washington Papers)
Business, and other circumstances, have prevented my acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 23d of April until now, that I do it by Mr Ross. I have seen Colo. Cannon, and in strong terms have represented to him the impropriety of his delay in furnishing you with a statement of the concerns between him (in my behalf) and the tenants in the Counties of Fayette & Washington, & in not...
142[Diary entry: 29 June 1791] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 29th. The Deeds which remained unexecuted yesterday were signed to day and the Dowers of their respective wives acknowledged according to Law. This being accomplished, I called the Several subscribers together and made known to them the Spots on which I meant to place the buildings for the P. & Executive departments of the Government and for the Legislature of Do. A Plan was also...
143From George Washington to the Citizens of Portsmouth, 2 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am sensibly impressed with your friendly welcome to the Metropolis of New Hampshire, and have a grateful heart for your kind and flattering congratulations on my election to the Presidency of these United States. I fear the fond partiality of my countrymen has too highly appreciated my past exertions, and formed too sanguine anticipations of my future services—If the former have been...
144[Diary entry: 6 January 1796] (Washington Papers)
6. Rain in the Night and violent Storm—variable wind & a little Snow.
145From George Washington to Laurent De Saxÿ & Laurent De Verneüil, 26 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your letters of the 6th & 10th of the present month, but not in due time. I wish my resources were equal to the relief of the distresses which you, and many others under like circumstances have described. But the truth is, my private purse is inadequate, & there is no public money at my disposal. Such as the first was competent to, I placed early in the hands of a...
146From George Washington to John Greenwood, 20 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your last letter, with its accompaniment, came safe to my hands on tuesday last. Enclosed you will receive Sixty dollars in Bank notes of the United States. In addition to which, I pray you to accept my thanks for the ready attention which you have at all times, paid to my requests; and that you will believe me to be, with esteem, Sir Your very Hble Servt ALS , DLC:GW , series 9; copy, DLC :...
147To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 28 November 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, November 28, 1795. Second letter of November 28 not found. ] In the “List of Letters from G—— Washington to General Hamilton,” Columbia University Libraries, two letters to H from Washington for November 28, 1795 , are listed.
148From George Washington to Thomas Newton, Jr., 12 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
A variety of avocations has prevented my giving an earlier acknowledgment to your letter of the 17th of July. I will now thank you, Sir, to furnish me with an Acct of the quantity & cost of the materials which have been placed on Cape Henry by the Commissioners appointed by the Assembly of Virginia, for the purpose of building a Light-house—as you have been so obliging as to offer to do it. I...
149From George Washington to James McHenry, 28 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Let me entreat you to attend early this morning to a fit character as a Comsr to attend the proposed Treaty with the Indians, by Mr Morris; and on this head, and on the message proper to accompany the nomination, I wish you would advise with Colo. Pickering; who has had more to do in Indian Affairs than any other Officer now in the Government, and perhaps may more readily think of a proper...
150Conversation with Ralph Izard, Pierce Butler, and Aaron Burr, 24 October 1791 (Washington Papers)
Mr Izard, Mr Butler and Mr Burr, three members of the Senate, waited upon the President at six o’clock in the evening of this day, in order to request his opinion upon the etiquette which might be proper to be established between the Senators of the United States and foreign Ministers in respect to visiting each other—viz.—whether it would be proper for the Senators to pay the first visit to...