1From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 13 November 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
You no doubt have seen my pamphlet respecting the conduct and character of President Adams. The press teems with replies, and I may finally think it expedient to publish a second time. In this case I shall reinforce my charges by new anecdotes. My friends will no doubt be disposed to aid me. You probably possess some which are unknown to me. Pray let me have them without delay. You will...
2From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 19 June 1800 (Jay Papers)
I have just had the pleasure of recieving from M r . Williams your Letter of the 17 Instant. Had the weather been fair, I should now have been on the Road to Albany, and I shall set out the Moment it changes. M r . Williams tells me that he and M r Putnam purpose to go there by Water— they will probably arrive before me, as I shall travel leisurely, & pass a few Days at my Farm in WestChester....
3From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, [14 May 1800] (Hamilton Papers)
I perceive that you as well as McHenry are quitting the Administration. I am not informed how all this has been, though I conjecture. Allow me to suggest, that you ought to take with you copies and extracts of all such documents as will enable you to explain both Jefferson & Adams . You are aware of a very curious journal of the latter when he was in Europe, a tissue of weakness and vanity....
4From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 12 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
Diverse Causes and considerations essential to the Administration of the Government, in my Judgment requiring a Change in the Department of State you are hereby discharged from any further Service as Secretary of State. MHi : Timothy Pickering Papers.
5From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 10 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
As I perceive a necessity of introducing a change in the Administration of the office of State, I think it proper to make this communication of it to the present Secretary of State that he may have an opportunity of resigning, if he chooses. I should wish the day on which his resignation is to take place to be named by himself. I wish for an Answer to this Letter on or before Monday Morning...
6From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 28 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States requests the attention of the Secretary of State and all the heads of Department to the report of the Secretary of the Navy on ship yards & dock yards & their opinions & advice concerning it, as it is necessary a decision should be soon made MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
7From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, [24–25 April 1800] (Hamilton Papers)
I send you the paragraph of a News Paper just published. I hope it is an Electioneering lie—but as it is likely to do mischief I will thank you by return of Post to inform me whether you have any thing to confirm or refute & particularly whether you have heared of the list with which Commodore Truxton’s name is connected. Yrs. truly ALS , Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston. The enclosure...
8From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 23 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States proposes to the Consideration of the heads of Departments a Subject which although at first view it may appear of inconsiderable Moment, will upon more mature reflection be found to be of some difficulty but of great importance to the honor Dignity and Consistency of the Government. In every Government of Europe I believe there is a Gazette in the Service of...
9From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 21 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have considered Mr. Harrisons letter to you of the 10th. & in consequence of his opinion & the intimation of the judges, you may prepare a pardon for William Durelle, for all the sentence, except what relates to the security for future good behavior. I wish however that I had more information of the nature of the libell. You will please to write Mr. Harrison & inform him, that I leave...
10From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 15 March 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President desires the Secretary of State to send him as soon as possible a number of sea letters and Mediteranean passes for signature, sufficient for the years consumption that this cumbrous business may be out of the way. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
11From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 15 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
The bearer of this, Mr. DuPont, formerly Consul at Charles Town, is personally known to you. He comes with the rest of his family to establish themselves in the United States. They are desirous of being favourably viewed by our Government and my intervention for this purpose has been requested. Inclosed is a letter from General Pinckney which speaks for itself. All that has come to my...
12From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 31 January 1800 (Adams Papers)
In answer to your letter of yesterday I take this———early opportunity to inform you, that the determination of the President, is not at present to remove Mr. Pintard from his consulship at Madeira. I return you to be filed in your office, the respectable recommendations of Mr. Lamer & have the honor to be Sir / your most obedient MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
13From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 7 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Attorney General has left with me and I now Send to you a Project of an explanatory Article or Treaty and a Project of a Letter to Mr King, defining an Ultimatum. There is no Business before the Government at this time of more importance than this and I pray you to turn, your Attention to it, and prepare a Draught of a Letter to Mr King, to be considered if possible on Monday Evening at...
14From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 5 December 1799 (Adams Papers)
The President requests the Secretary of State to send him a copy of Mr. Patric Henry’s letter in which he declines his appointment, to be laid before congress with the other papers relative to the mission to France. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
15From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 24 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 5th instant came to hand in due course; and the manner in which you proposed to dispose of my letter to Mr Murray, was perfectly agreeable to me. Knowing nothing of the writer of the enclosed letter, and unwilling to be hasty in encouraging proposals of this sort, without some information of the characters who are engaged in the Work; I take the liberty of enquiring, through...
16From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 12 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
I think it will be expedient to lay before congress, on the second day of the session, all the papers which relate to the embassy to France, that they may be printed together, & the public enabled to judge from correct and authentic documents. To this end I request you to order copies to be made of your letter to Mr. Murray & his answer, of his letter to Talleyrand & his answer which should be...
17From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 7 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have just now, recd. your favour of the 6th. I am glad Mr. Winchester has accepted his Commission. I return your Sons Extract from Liancourts Travels. Who could have put into his head, falsehoods so absurd and so gross? It could not be Simcoe. Absurd as he often was he could not have been guilty of this folly which is almost too palpable for our own Jacobinical Prints. Why have We no Copy of...
18From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 5 November 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am this moment favored with yours of this date, & thank you for the information it contains. It was proper to publish the news in Mr. Humphry’s letter. I return you Mr. Kings, as well as his. The assurances you propose to convey through Mr. King to the court of Denmark, that their consul will be cordially received are very agreeable to me.—I hope to meet you in Philadelphia on the course of...
19From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 3 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your private & confidential letter of the 24th Ulto came duly, and safely to hand. Its contents, I confess, surprised me. But as men will view the same things in different lights, I would now , fain hope that the P——has caught the true one; and, that good will come from the Mission, which is about to depart. These are my wishes, and no one is more ardent in them; but I see nothing in the...
20From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 20 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private Dear Sir, Mount Vernon Octr 20th 1799 Your letters of the 29th Ult. and 9th instant, have been duly received; and for the information given in them, I feel myself obliged. In a note which I have just recd from Mr Stoddert, to whom I had occasion to write on business, is added in the close thereof “The President has decided that the Mission to France shall proceed without delay. The...
21From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 18 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
As the Session of Congress draws nigh, I pray you to favour me with your sentiments concerning the Communication necessary to be made to Congress of the State of the Nation, and particularly a concise narration of the Proceedings with St Domingo and the Isle of France. It may be doubtful however whether any thing need be said at present, on the last. A very succinct Account of the Invitation...
22From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 16 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I request you to order fair copies of the instructions, as corrected last evening, to be prepared and delivered to Judge Elsworth & Govenor Davie, with another for Mr. Murray without loss of time, & to write a letter to those gentlemen, as Envoys Extraordinary to the French republic, expressing with the affectionate respects of the President, his desire that they would take their passage for...
23From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 23 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return you Mr. Murrays letters of May 28. June 13 & 22d, July 13 & 15 & the parts of newspapers inclosed with them. The private letter you sent me from Mr Murray, sometime ago, contained much such a review of the pamphlet of Boulay de la Meurthe. I have been anxious to see it, but it is not yet arrived. A parrallel between the English republic & the French must be a curious thing. I have...
24From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 21 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Sometime between the 10th & fifteenth of October, I shall join you at Trenton & will suspend, till that time, the ultimate determination concerning the instructions. I pray you to write to the Attorney General to meet us. We must be all together to determine all the principles of our negotiations with France & England. I have been obliged to sail for Europe in the middle of winter once, & on...
25From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 20 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Joseph Covachich at Barcelona requesting to be consul at Marseilles which you will please to file among other applications to be considered in due time I am Sir &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
26From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 19 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
On the 17th at night, I had the pleasure of receiving your favor of the 11th, & have given it that attention, which the great importance of its contents deserves. On the subject of rôle d’equipage, I feel a strong reluctance to any relaxation of the peremptory demand, we agreed on before I left Philadelphia, & Gen. Marshall’s observations are very just, yet it may be wiser to leave it to the...
27From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 13 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are letters from Major McFarland, a meritorious old officer & as I have always understood an amiable, irreproachable character, though unfortunate & in distress. I pray you to attend to this thing, as soon as possible & if any thing is wanting to procure him a patent, to inform him or me of it, as soon as possible, for he has no time to loose MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
28From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 9 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Commissioners Scott & White. Whether the address in question, is one I sent you sometime ago or another, which may be comeing, I know not. In all things relative to the federal city, I rely much on your advice, aided by Messrs McHenry Stoddert & Lee. With much respect &c. Inclosed also is a letter from Mr Daniel Pettibone which ought to have been addressed to you. MHi...
29From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 8 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 22d Ulto came duly to hand. The subject being of importance to the New City; and at no time more necessary than at the commencement of the water improvements thereat—I sent it to the Commissioners of the Federal City; who were contemplating on regulations to avoid the evils which are but too common, and of late sorely felt; in almost the whole of our Seaport Towns of...
30From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 2 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a petition of George Schaffer Daniel Swarts, Henry Stahler, Christian Rhodes & Henry Shafford for a pardon of their crimes to which is subjoined a petition in their favor signed by many. I pray you to consider this with a number of others I sent you sometime ago & say whether I ought to give any answer. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
31From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 30 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a petition from American seamen on board the Carnatic Capt. Loring in Jamaica. I pray you to write pressingly to Mr. Savage, to demand Habeas corpuses for them if no other means will do. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
32From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 29 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received last night, your favor of the 23d. I am very glad to be informed, that the instructions for the envoys will be prepared in a few days, & that you have written to Mr Davie What think you of our envoys landing at Lisbon, & the frigate that carries them, takeing Mr. Smith to Constantinople, or cruising on the Spanish coast or in the Mediteranean? I am not for delaying the negotiation...
33From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 24 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 16th & read the letter of Mr B. H. Phillips, our consul at Curacao of 20th July, & the papers inclosed with it, which I now return. It is right to communicate these documents to Mr. Van Polaner & to Mr Murray, and to remonstrate in clear language to the government, of the Batavian government against the partiality of the govenor & councils & the scandalous...
34From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 22 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 16th and have sent the inclosed letters from you, one to Mr. Goodhue & the other to Capt Giles by the post under my frank as well as yours. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
35From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 16 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 10th. Mr. Shaw discovered his omission of numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 and the paper of extracts & sent them on the next day. I hope you received them in course.—I have read the address to the independent electors of Pennsylvania, & am very curious to know, where all this will end. The trial will bring out some whimsical things. At present I will say nothing. I...
36From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 14 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are four petitions for mercy. One from Conrad Marks, Fredk. Heyney Anthony Staler, John Getman, Valentine Kuder, Jacob Kline, David Shaffer & Philip Lesh. Another from George Schaffer, Daniel Swarts, Henry Stahler, Christian Rhodes & Henry Shaffert. A third from Jacob Eyerman & John Everhast & a fourth from John Fries, all supported by numerous petitioners on their behalf. I wish Dr....
37From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 13 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
And now, sir, what shall I say to you on the subject of Libells and Satyrs, lawless Things indeed? I have recd your private Letter of the 1st of this month and considered the subjects of it, as fully, as the pressure of other Business of more importance would allow me time to do. Of Priestley and Coper, I will say no more at present, than to relate to you, two facts. Anecdote the 1st. Dr....
38From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 11 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
A day or two after my last letter to you was sent to the Post Office, I received your obliging favor of the 2d instant. The embarrassments occasioned by the late appointment of Envoys, begin now to shew themselves; and must place the Government—whether it advances towards or retreats from the object, for which they were appointed, in a delicate situation. Of the two evils, the least, no doubt...
39From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 8 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return the Exequatur for Mr. Joham Ernest Christian Schultze to be Prussian consul at Baltimore, which was enclosed in your letter of the 1st of this month signed, & am Sir your most humble MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
40From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 8 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letters & documents from Samuel Cooper Esqr I transmit at the request of Mr. William Shaw, now of this town & my near neigbor. I pray you to convey them by the first opportunity to Mr. King, with a request to him, to obtain the discharge of this gentlemen as soon as possible. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
41From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 6 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received late last Evening your favour of the 31st. of July, inclosing a triplicate of Mr. Murrays Letter of the 17th. of May and a Copy certified by Mr. Murray on the 18th. of May, of a Letter of Ch. Man. Talleyrand dated Paris le 23 Floreal de l’an 7 de la Republique Francaise une et indivisible. Sovereign to Sovereign, and Minister to Minister is a Maxim in the Cabinets of Europe, and...
42From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 5 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank Mr. Bordley kindly for his Book and you for your care and trouble in Sending it. I have a great Opinion of Mr. Bordleys Experience, skill and Knowledge in Husbandry and should have great delight in trying his Experiments, if I was not obliged to recollect and apply to myself President Washingtons Words to me, a few days before he went out and I came in. “Sir, I have read nothing these...
43From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 5 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank Mr Bordley kindly for his book, & you for your care and trouble in sending it.—I have a great opinion of Mr. Bordleys experience, skill & knowledge in husbandry, & should have great delight in trying his experriments, if I were not obliged to recollect & apply to myself, president Washingtons words to me, a few days before he went out & I came in. Sir I have read nothing these eight...
44From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 5 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favor of 29th of July, incloseing Mr. Murrays of 7th of May & copy of Mr. Murrays instructions. The business is well enough done by Mr. Murray, & now let citizen directors chichane if they will, or be candid if they can. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
45From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 4 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed protest & certificates I received last night with the letter from Capt. Ebenezer Giles, late commander of the schooner Betsey. This gentleman made me a visit some weeks ago, to complain to me in person of the horrid treatment he received from the commander of the Ship Daphne, a British vessel of war. He has now sent me the papers & expects that government will espouse his cause. I...
46From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 4 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 18th Ulto came to hand in due course of the Mail, and I thank you for the information contained in it. Is it not time to learn, Officially, and unequivocally, the result of the Presidents message, and consequent (I presume) intimation to the French Government, respecting the appointment of Envoys to Treat with it? Having no Church nearer than Alexandria (nine miles distant)...
47From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 3 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received a long letter from Mr. Gerry of the 24th of July with papers inclosed numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 besides another paper of extracts of letters. I enclose extracts of his letter together with all the numbers & his paper of extracts. These numbers & last extracts I pray you to return to me, when you have made all the uses of them you wish.—These papers I think will convince you as...
48From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 2 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Mr Cunnington has been at Quincy & exhibited to me a model of the machinery represented by the inclosed draught. The splendor of the light was so great & the experriment succeeded in all respects so well that I really think the invention a great improvement in œconomy as well as general utility in other respects. I pray you to show the plan & papers to the Secretary of the Treasury & request...
49From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 1 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of the 24th of July, inclosing an Aurora of July 24th imbued with rather more impudence than is common to that Paper. Is there any Thing evil in the Regions of Actuality or Possibility, that the Aurora has not suggested of me? You may depend upon it, I disdain to Attempt a vindication of myself against any of the Lies of the Aurora as much as any man concerned in the...
50From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, 23 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I had last night your favor of 18th. The misapprehension of Dr Steephens is to me altogether unaccountable—but I presume Mr. Listons letter will correct the error of Gen. Maitland. Lest the copy you have sent to the collector should miscarry I have sent one of your declarations to Gen Lincoln. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.