1From John Adams to James McHenry, 14 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States, requests the Secretary at War to take into his consideration the following Questions and make report of his opinion in Writing. 1. Whether the Refusal to receive Mr. Pinckney and the rude orders to quit Paris, and the Territory of the Republick, with such Circumstances of Indignity, Insult and Hostility as We have been inform’d of, are bar’s to all further...
2From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [April 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
Situated as I am at this moment I am obliged to confine myself to very general hints respecting the paper of the 15 of April. As to the first head—I think it will be adviseable that the Speech should be confined to the foreign Affairs of the Country giving the primary & prominent place to those with France. This will make the main business the more striking. Domestic matters may follow in...
3From George Washington to James McHenry, 3 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
Private Dear Sir, Mount Vernon 3d April 1797 Your letter of the 24th Ulto has been duly received, and I thank you for the information given in it: Let me pray you to have the goodness to communicate to me occasionally, such matters as are interesting, and not contrary to the rules of your official duty to disclose. We get so many details in the Gazettes, and of such different complexions, that...
4From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 29 April 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
I now send you a cursory answer to certain questions. They are imperfect & probably will come too late. But court avocations and distress in the family have prevented any thing better. General Schuyler has been critically ill though now as I hope out of danger. My Brother in law Mr. Rensselaer has just lost a favourite Daughter one & the Eldest of two Children without a prospect of more. The...
5Enclosure: Answer to Questions Proposed by the President of the U States, [29 April 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
To The first. It is difficult to fix the precise point at which indignity or affront from one state to another ceases to be negotiable without absolute humiliation and disgrace. It is for the most part a relative question—relative to the comparitive strength of the parties—the motives for peace or war—the antecedent relations—the circumstances of the moment as well with regard to other...
6From George Washington to James McHenry, 29 May 1797 (Washington Papers)
I am indebted to you for several unacknowledged letters, but ne’er mind that; go on, as if you had them. You are at the source of information & can find many things to relate, while I have nothing to say that could either inform, or amuse a Secretary of War in Philadelphia. To tell him that I begin my diurnal course with the Sun; that if my hirelings are not in their places at that time I send...
7From George Washington to James McHenry, 7 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
By the last Post I was favoured with your letter of the 3d instant and thank you for its enclosure, although, on the same day, I had, myself, transmitd a copy thereof to the Secretary of State. I had doubted a while, whether to forward it to your Office or that of State, but finally resolved to send it to the latter, as it seemed more properly I thought, to belong to that Department. If the...
8From George Washington to James McHenry, 14 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
It is a little out of time, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th ulto; but “better late than never.” and one object in doing it, is to pray you to thank Mr Bordly in my name, for the work he had the goodness to send me, through the channel of your conveyance. I presume the affair of Mr Blount will lye dormant until the Committee of Congress make a Report at the ensuing Session....
9From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [17 August 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed are some papers, which were sent me shortly after my return to this City from Philadelphia but which from Mrs. Hamilton’s situation hurry of business &c have been forgotten. If there is any thing to be said to my correspondent you will enable me as speedily as possible to say it. I send you the 100 Dollars you sent me and a further sum to reimburse some money paid for me by Lewis ....
10From John Adams to James McHenry, 1 September 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have received your two letters of Aug 25th. & have read their inclosures with attention. Your letters to Gen Wilkinson of July. 21st. 25th. Aug 11. & 25th appear to me all weighed & prudently and judiciously written. I have considered them with much satisfaction & they have my entire approbation. I return all the inclosures with this letter. I think you are in the right to remove your Family...
11From John Adams to James McHenry, 15 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I arrived, with my Family at this Place four days ago and propose to remain here and at New york, till the Meeting of Congress. Letters addressed to me, to the Care of Charles Adams Esqr. Counsellor at Law in New york, will Soon find me. I pray you to commit to Writing such Things are you judge necessary to be communicated or recommended to Congress at the opening of the session, and convey...
12From George Washington to James McHenry, 16 October 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 2d instt came duly to hand. For the perusal of the enclosure I thank you—It is returned. We heard with much concern, but long after the thing had happened, of the accident which befel your son. We hope he is perfectly recovered from the fall, and you from your billious attack. Having no news to entertain you with, and could only fill a letter with the perplexities I...
13From John Adams to James McHenry, 17 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received two days ago your Letter of the 24th of Sept: with Inclosures— I am Very Sorry to learn your health has been interrupted, and heartily hope it is fully restored— I return with this all the papers I have received from you to this time—I have read them, but find nothing which requires any particular observations from me—My Sentiments are in concord with yours, and I pray you to...
14From John Adams to James McHenry, 27 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
I last night received your favour of the 22d and thank you for your Sentiments, with which in general I very well agree. At the Same time I recd your other Letter of the Same Date with its Inclosures all of which I return to you with this.—I thank you Sir for your indefatigable Attention to all these Subjects. The Letters and Instructions to the Officers especially to General Wilkinson appear...
15From George Washington to James McHenry, 2 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
This letter will be presented to you by Mr Elliot, the son of a meritorious Officer in the Revolutionary War. He has equitable (if not legal) claim to Land. I have advised him to shew you the nature of it. If it is within your power to serve him, I am sure you will. If not, you can advise him as to the course best to be taken. Always, & sincerely, I am Your Affectionate Humble Servant ALS...
16Enclosure: John Adams to James McHenry, Timothy Pickering, Oliver Wolcott, Junior, and Charles Lee, 24 January 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
The President of the U S. requests the Secy of State, the Secy of the treasury, the Secy of War and the Atty. general to take into consideration the state of the nation and its foreign relations especially with France. These indeed may be so connected with these, with England Spain Holland and others that perhaps the former cannot be well weighed without the other. If our Envoys extraordinary...
17From George Washington to James McHenry, 28 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Knowing that the War Office has an Agency in the Western Lands, I take the liberty of putting the enclosed letters to General Putnam and Colo. Sargent under cover to you, open. By doing so, it supercedes the necessity of a repetition of what is therein mentioned. Another reason for giving you this trouble, is, that if Mr Massey is a Surveyor in the Northwestern Territory, it is highly probable...
18From George Washington to James McHenry, 7 February 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your two letters, both dated the 1st instant, came to hand yesterday only. I thank you for giving me the perusal of their enclosures; and as I am upon the point of setting out to a meeting of the Stockholders of the Potomack Navigation, and may be from home two or three days, I return them without delay. I had, it is true, entirely forgot my old Coach until reminded thereof by Mr Small; upon...
19Enclosure: Charles Lee to James McHenry, 10 February 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Relative to the claim of Lt Smith, who was appointed Judge Advocate to the Army by the Commanding Officer Genl Wilkinson in general orders, and who for sometime as it is stated to me rendered services in that capacity to the United States it is my opinion he is equitably entitled to compensation for those services. Though Genl Wilkinson does not in my opinion possess the power of appointing...
20From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [27 January–11 February] 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
It may serve to prepare the way for a direct answer to the questions stated by the President to make some preliminary observations. 1 It is an undoubted fact that there is a very general and strong aversion to War in the minds of the people of this Country—and a considerable part of the community (though even this part has been greatly alienated from France by her late violent conduct...
21From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [13 February 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Yours of yesterday with its inclosure are come to hand & will be attended to as speedily as possible. I take the liberty to trouble you with the inclosed to receive the amount (which though the accumulated interest on all my Stock from the beginning of the funding system will be short of 200 Dollars). When received, pay yourself one hundred, our friend Lewis seven, & deliver the rest to...
22From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [20 February 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
I regret that my occupations have not permitted me to give your report more than a cursory reading, before my being obliged to leave the city for Albany. I have put it under a cover addressed to you. If it cannot conveniently wait my return, which will be in a fortnight, it will be sent you upon a line directed to Mr. “James Inglis at Col Hamilton’s No. 26 Broad Way N York.” desiring him to...
23From George Washington to James McHenry, 4 March 1798 (Washington Papers)
Knowing nothing of Mr John Parker (whose letter I enclose you); of his fitness for the work he contemplates; or the utility of it when done; except bringing all these matters into a connected view; which indeed might be useful. But knowing as I well do, that many men when they want money, and do not readily know how else to come at it, are too apt to set projects of this kind on foot, to...
24From George Washington to James McHenry, 27 March 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of——came safe, and in due time; for the information contained in it I thank you; your request was immediately complied with, as every one of a similar nature shall be. A Report is circulated in Alexandria and its vicinity, transmitted (it is said) in private letters from Philadelphia, that a correspondence has been discovered, or more properly, letters have been intercepted from...
25From George Washington to James McHenry, 6 May 1798 (Washington Papers)
Amongst the variety of matters which have come before Congress for the purpose of preparation, in the dernier resort; in short as a salutary measure at all times, & under all circumstances; Arsenals and Cannon Founderies, have occupied its attention. This leads me to ask what steps have been taken relative to the Site for one at the Mouth of Shanondoah? I will pledge myself that there is not a...
26From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [17 May 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the instant. Not having seen the law which provides the Naval Armament , I cannot tell whether it gives any new power to the President that is any power whatever with regard to the employment of the Ships. If not, and he is left on the foot of the Constitution, as I understand to be the case, I am not ready to say that he has any other power than merely to employ...
27From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, [1 June 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Our citizens are extremely anxious that some further measures for their defence should take place. Do me the favour to inform me confidentially what means are actually in the disposition of your department for this purpose when & how they will be applied. Yrs truly A Capt Hacker formerly of our Navy is desirous of being employed. One or two good men have recommended him to me. It seems however...
28Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and Ebenezer Stevens to James McHenry, [14 June 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
We have carefully attended to the subjects presented to our consideration, by your note of yesterday and now offer to you the result of our reflections. The idea of a succession of batteries from the Hook, to the City, very naturally occurs in contemplating the defence of this port, and doubtless has advantages. It would present dangers in the approach which may be expected to have...
29From George Washington to James McHenry, 22 June 1798 (Washington Papers)
I am not disposed to withdraw your attention from more important matters; or to be troublesome in any degree; or to press my correspondence upon you. But not having even heard whether my letter, of which the enclosed is taken from a Press copy ever reached your hands, I am induced to make the enquiry. I wish also to know what has been done with a letter of mine, put under cover to you (early...
30From George Washington to James McHenry, 4 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 26th Ulto propounds a very serious, interesting & important question to me: a question that might have been answered with less delay if I had been as much in the habit since, as before I became a private citizen, of sending regularly to the Post Office on Post days for letters. The sentiments which I mean to express to you in this letter, on the subject of yours, shall be...