1From Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 18 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Nov. 29. 1788. came to hand the last month. How it happened that mine of Aug. 1787. was fourteen months on it’s way is inconceivable. I do not recollect by what conveyance I sent it. I had concluded however either that it had miscarried or that you had become indolent as most of our countrymen are in matters of correspondence. The change in this country, since you left it, is...
2Remarks, 1787–1788 (Washington Papers)
It was rather the wish of my eldest brother (on whom the general concerns of the family devolved) that this shd take place & the matter was contemplated by him—My father died when I was only 10 years old. He was not appointed Adjutant General of the Militia of Virginia untill after his return from the expedition to Carthagena. Nor did he Command the Colonial troops on that occasion. these were...
3From George Washington to David Humphreys, 10 October 1787 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 28th Ult. came duly to hand, as did the other of June. With great pleasure I received the intimation of your spending the Winter under this roof. The invitation was not less sincere than the reception will be cordial. The convention shall be, that in all things you shall do as you please—I will do the same—No ceremony shall be observed—nor any restraint be imposed on any one....
4From Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 14 August 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I remember when you left us, it was with a promise to supply all the defects of correspondence in our friends, of which we complained, and which you had felt in common with us. Yet I have received but one letter from you which was dated June 5. 1786. and I answered it Aug. 14. 1786. Dropping that however and beginning a new account, I will observe to you that wonderful improvements are making...
5From George Washington to David Humphreys, 8 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Wadsworth, as I informed you in my last, presented me your obliging favor of the 30th of January and the Post since has handed me the subsequent one of the 11th Ulto. My sentiments, respecting the inexpediency of my attending the proposed Convention of the States in Philadelphia remain the same as when I wrote you last, tho’ Congress I am informed are about to remove one of the...
6From George Washington to David Humphreys, 18 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Wadsworth has handed me your obliging and much esteemed favor of the 20th ulto for which I offer you my sincere thanks. The tranquil state, in which the people of this commonwealth are affords me nothing to offer you in return for the interesting communications in your letter of the above date the House of Delegates, in maryland, have adjourned in high dudgeon. As you are neare the...
7From George Washington to David Humphreys, 23 January 1787 (Washington Papers)
Since I have heard of the robbery of the Mail at New Ark, on the 4th instt, I have been under great apprehension that a long & confidential letter which I wrote to you on the 26th Ulto was in it—My only hope is, a strange one you will say, that the inattention to, and practice of bringing back, instead of exchanging Mails, which frequently happens, and did actually happen about that time may...
8From George Washington to David Humphreys, 26 December 1786 (Washington Papers)
I am much indebted to you for your several favors of the 1st 9th & 16th of November. The last came first. Mr Morse keeping in Mind the old proverb, was determined not to make more haste than good speed in prosecuting his journey to Georgia—so I got the two first but lately. For your publication respecting the confinement of Captn Asgill, I am exceedingly obliged to you. The manner of making it...
9From George Washington to David Humphreys, 22 October 1786 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 24th ulto came to my hands about the middle of this month. For the enclosures it containd I pray you to receive my warmest acknowledgements and thanks. The poem, tho’ I profess not to be a connoisseur in these kind of writings, appears pretty in my eye, and has sentiment and elegance which must, I think, render it pleasing to others. With respect to the circular letter, I see...
10From George Washington to David Humphreys, 1 September 1786 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed are all the documents Mr Lear could find respecting the confinement, & treatment under it, of Captain Asgill. For want of recurrence to them before I wrote to Mr Tilghman, I perceive that a bad memory had run me into an error in my narrative of the latter, in one particular. For it should seem by that, as if the loose and unguarded manner in which Captn Asgill was held, was sanctioned...
11From Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 14 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 7th. of May, being immediately on my return from England; and have lately received your favor of June 5. and thank you for the intelligence it contains. Every circumstance we hear induces us to beleive that it is the want of will, rather than of ability, to furnish contributions which keeps the public treasury so poor. The Algerines will probably do us the favour to produce...
12From George Washington to David Humphreys, 20 June 1786 (Washington Papers)
Your letter from New York (as did the preceeding one from London) came duly to hand, & claim my particular acknowledgments. On your return to America I sincerely congratulate you. I shall rejoice to see you at this place, & expecting it soon, shall add little at this time. The only design of this letter is to assure you, that you will have no occasion for Horses, for mine will always be at...
13From Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 7 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
My stay in London having been considerably longer than I had expected, I did not arrive in this place till the last day of April. I found here your kind letter of the 4th. of that month acknoleging much more than they deserved, my little attentions to you. Their only merit was their being faithful testimonies of a sincere regard for you. The obligations have in fact been on my side, and I...
14C. W. F. Dumas to Humphreys and Short, 6 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Je suppose que pendant l’absence de son Excellence Mr. Jefferson mes Lettres sont toujours ouvertes par Mr. Humphrys comme Secretaire de la Légation, et les Incluses pour N. York, après avoir été lues et extraites si on le juge à propos, fermées et acheminées par la voie directe de France, sans passer par le Royaume voisin, où je suis expressément requis par ceux d’ici de ne point faire passer...
15From Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 14 March 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured with your letter in which you mention to me your intention of returning to America in the April packet. It is with sincere concern that I meet this event, as it deprives me not only of your aid in the office in which we have been joined, but also of your society which has been to me a source of the most real satisfaction. I think myself bound to return you my thanks for...
16From John Adams to David Humphreys, 8 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
I received with Pleasure, your kind Letter of Yesterday, and although I cannot absolutely disapprove of your proposed Return to America in the Spring for the Reasons you Suggested in Conversation, yet I feel a sensible Reluctance at the Thought of loosing your Assistance, and Still wish you may find it convenient to Stay at least till the Expiration of your Commission. I believe, and I hope,...
17From Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 5 January 178[6] (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter on the subject of the medals came duly to hand, but the workman has not applied to me since as I expected, and, if I ever had his address, I have mislaid it, so that I cannot send to him. However I am not afraid that any thing is going wrong, as I had desired him to leave the part in question for the last. I inclose you two letters which have lately come to hand for you. Our town...
18From Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 4 December 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter from Gatteaux observing that there will be an anachronism, if, in making a medal to commemorate the victory of Saratoga, he puts on General Gates the insignia of the Cincinnati which did not exist at that date. I wrote him in answer that I thought so too: but that you had the direction of that business, that you were now in London, that I would write to you and probably...
19From George Washington to David Humphreys, 30 October 1785 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of the 1st of September I have received your favor of the 17th of July, which was brought to this Country by Mr Houdon; to whom, tho I had no Agency in the matter, I feel great obligation for quitting France, & the pressing calls of the Great Ones to make a Bust of me, from the life. I am not less indebted to the favourable opinion of those who you say are anxious to perpetuate...
20From George Washington to David Humphreys, 1 September 1785 (Washington Papers)
In the latter part of July I wrote to you very fully, since which I have received your favor of May. As nothing has occurred since that period worthy of observation, except that the Indians, supposed to be instigated thereto by the B—— are getting more & more our of humour, this letter will be shorter than I usually write to you. I find by your last that your time has been more occupied by...
21From George Washington to David Humphreys, 25 July 1785 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you I have received your letters of the 15th of Jany and (I believe) that of the 15th of Novr; & thank you for them both —It always gives me pleasure to hear from you; and I should think, if amusements would spare you, business could not so much absorb your time as to prevent your writing to me more frequently; especially as there is a regular & safe conveyance once a month,...
22From George Washington to David Humphreys, 7 February 1785 (Washington Papers)
Editorial Note A letter written by George Washington on 7 Feb. 1785, and printed in John C. Fitzpatrick’s standard edition of Washington’s writings, was overlooked by the editor of the second volume in the Confederation Series of this edition of Washington’s Papers. It is printed here, at the end of 1785. In my last, by the Marquis de la Fayette, I gave you reason to believe that when I was...
23From George Washington to David Humphreys, 25 November 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive two letters from you since your arrival in France, and cannot let the Marquis de la Fayette depart without an acknowledgement of them, altho’ his doing it is Sudden, & I at the same time am surrounded with Company. When I have a little more leizure (if that ever should be) I will give you all the occurrences of this quarter that have come under my view &...
24From Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 4 July [1784] (Jefferson Papers)
A letter which I wrote you by express to bring you on here will have informed you of the circumstances which have occasioned me to sail from hence. A tissu of unfortunate events has deprived me of the pleasure of your company. We have waited till this moment in expectation of your joining us, but the return of the express now informs us you had left New-haven and therefore we sail in the...
25From Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 27 June 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I mentioned in my letter to you that there was one circumstance which might induce me to take my passage from hence in a ship of Mr. Tracy’s. This was the obtaining a tolerable probability of being set ashore on the coast of France. Since my return from Portsmouth (which was the night before last) I have seen Mr. Tracy, and I think the probability of being landed at Brest, tho’ his ship goes...
26From Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 21 June 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I find on my arrival here that there is no vessel going for France from any Eastern port. There is a new brig of Mr. Tracy’s which sails for London in about ten days; but besides the objection to the place of her destination, another arises to that crowd of passengers to which we should be exposed in merchant ships without corresponding accomodations. I here learn that the French packet sails...
27From George Washington to David Humphreys, 2 June 1784 (Washington Papers)
I very sincerely congratulate you on your late appointment—It is honorable, & I dare say must be agreeable. I did not hear of it until I arrived at Annapolis, where I remained but one day, & that occasioned by the detention of my Carrige & horses on the Eastern shore. Genl Knox not reaching that place before I left it—your letter of the 18th, only got to my hands on Sunday last, by the Post. I...
28From George Washington to David Humphreys, 14 January 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your letter of the 6th—Be assured that there are few things which would give me more pleasure than opportunities of evincing to you the sincerity of my friendship, & disposition to render you services at any time when it may be in my power. Although all recommendations from me to Congress must now be considered as coming from a private character, yet I enter very...