1Alexander Hamilton, Henry Knox, Tobias Lear, Alexander Macomb, Dominick Lynch, John Watts, and Samuel Bard to Patrick … (Hamilton Papers)
As the removal of the residence of Congress from this city will necessarily dissolve our association for the education of our children under your care, and as those of us who remain, do not see a probability of immediately filling up our former number, we take this method of unitedly expressing the entire confidence we have in your talents, and our approbation of your method of tuition. We...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Tobias Lear, with Jefferson’s Note, 28 February 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The President requests the Secretary of State to call upon him this morning as he goes to the War Office so as to give him about 10 or 15 minutes conversation. [ Note by TJ: ] This was to consult about the premature nomination of Judge Patterson. RC ( DLC ); addressed: “The Secretary of State”; with note by TJ at foot of text; endorsed by TJ as received 28 Feb. 1793. On 16 Jan. 1793 Thomas...
3To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 4–5 November 1790 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to the directions given in your letter of the 27th of October, I have endeavoured to get the rent of the house in which you are to reside fixed with the Committee; but my endeavours have been ineffectual. The footing upon which they have placed the matter with Mr Morris puts it out of their power to ascertain the rent at present. I am informed by Mr Mires Fisher, one of the most...
4To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 21 January 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] January 21, 1793 . “By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of the Treasury, three contracts made by the Collector of Washington in North Carolina for the stakeage of the shoals, sounds &c. in that State; which contracts are ratified by the President.” LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. See Tench Coxe to H, January 2, 1793 ,...
5To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 19 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have just returned to this place from Mount Vernon, where I found and left poor Whiting in a situation that his life could not be counted upon from one hour to another. He was unable to move without assistance, and could only speak a few words at a time. He could give me but little information of the state of the matters under his care; but observed, generally, that he trusted they could be...
6Tobias Lear to Alexander Hamilton, 13 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to inform the Secretary of the Treasury that the President has appointed William Lewis to be keeper of the Light-house on Cape Henry, with a salary of four hundred Dollars per annum. The President does not conceive that the circumstance of mister Cormicks being employed to oversee the building of the Lighthouse, tho’ in his favor, as...
7To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 20 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor to write to you on the 17th Inst. I have received a letter from Mr Morris, in which he thinks it best that the furniture should not be removed sooner than the first of next month. This is about the time I had fixed upon for our departure from this place; and everything will then be in perfect readiness for shipping. It is a work of more time than I had any idea of, to...
8To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 12 August 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to inform The Secretary of the Treasury, that as Mr. Short’s mission to Madrid will probably cause much delay in negotiating the intended additional loan, if instructions on this subject should be sent to him to transact the business—the President thinks, with you, that it would be best to address the instructions for this business immediately...
9Tobias Lear to Alexander Hamilton, 18 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by the President of the United States to send you the enclosed letter from General Hazen dated Decr 16th—and likewise a memorial from the same person of the 12th inst: together with the Copy of a letter written by the Presidents command in answer to the enclosed Memorial. I have the honor to be with perfect consideration Sir Your most Obedt Servt LB , DLC:GW . None of these...
10To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 26–27 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writing to you on the 20th instant, and therein acknowledged the receipt of your respected favor of the 17th instant. Since which I have applied for your account with the Commissioners, and informed that I would settle it when presented. It has not yet been handed in; but as soon as there is a little leisure from the present press of business at their office I presume it...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Tobias Lear, 8 November 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Accept my grateful acknowledgements and best thanks for your kind letter of the 5th. instant; which, together with the minutes of a Route and the letters enclosed, came to my hands Yesterday. As a sincere friend, and truly wishing your personal happiness, I cannot but be pleased with your determination to retire from your public station; because I know that a mind like your’s can find more...
12To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 9 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
A thousand times after my letter to you, enclosing Observations on the Potomack &c. had gone, did I wish to recall it: for the more I reflected on your situation at this moment, in point of business, the more did I see the impropriety, as well as the unfriendliness of my adding to that burthen, which I could not but know was at least as great as it ought to be, and more especially as mine was...
13To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 24 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment been honored with your respected favor of the 21st instant—and shall, as soon as possible, obtain information on the several points therein mentioned, which shall be immediately communicated to you. The law for extending the time for opening the navigation of the Potomac has been passed in this State as well as Virginia. I take the liberty to enclose a packet for Mr...
14Tobias Lear to Samuel Hanson, [21 April 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
I am directed by the President [of the U. S.] to acknowlege the receipt of your letter of the 10th of March and to give you the following answer. The law appears to contemplate the surveyor where there is one at a Port, as the person who is ordinarily to perform the service of measuring Vessels, and it may be inferred that the exercise of the power given to the Collector to appoint persons for...
15To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 8 March 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] March 8, 1791 . Transmits “a commission for Stephen Keyes, Collector of Allburgh in Vermont.” LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Vermont was admitted to the Union on March 4, 1791. On the same day Keyes, a Burlington, Vermont, merchant, was appointed collector of Alburg.
16To James Madison from Tobias Lear, 7 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
In obedience to the command of the President of the United States, I have the honor to enclose you a letter from Peyton Short Esquire resigning his Commission of Collector of the Port of Louisville in Kentuckey, and to request that you will be so good as to consult with Mr. Brown, and any other Gentlemen from Virginia who are acquainted with characters in that part of the Country, upon a...
17To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 15 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
By the Presidents command T. Lear has the honor to transmit to the Secretary of the Treasury a letter from Mr. Governr. Morris to the president respecting the Debt of the United States in France; which the President requests the Secretary to take into consideration, and to draft such an answer as will be proper for the President to give to Mr. Morris on this subject. LC , George Washington...
18Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson, 14 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to transmit to the Secretary of State the enclosed letters & papers from the Judge of the District of Rhode Island relating to the Ship Catharine. After the Secretary shall have considerd the enclosed documents the President wishes his opinion of the measures which should be taken on the subject. AL , DLC : Jefferson Papers. Jefferson’s docket...
19Tobias Lear to Alexander Hamilton, 13 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
The sum of two thousand five Dollars is necessary to be advanced to take up notes which were given for money advanced for the household of the President of the United States previous to the organization of the Treasury Department. This sum added to two thousand Dollars which you have already advanced for the purpose of taking up Notes, will compleat the payment of all Monies advanced for the...
20To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 20 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
I received your kind & respected favor of the 16th inst. with much pleasure. No apology, my dear Sir, can be necessary for your not having recollected my having put the Certificate for one hundred Bank Shares into your hands. I only wonder, that, under the multiplicity of important, and often anxious, cares which lay on your mind, you can recollect one half you do. I am rejoiced, however, that...
21Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 11 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of War the Speeches to the Chiefs of the Six Nations and to the hostile Indians which have been submitted to the President, and to inform the Secretary that their contents embrace the President’s ideas on that subject. The President observes that the Secretary will write to General Wayne respecting Corn Planter, and to...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Tobias Lear, 17 February 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The President of the United States requests that the Secretary of State will write to the Governor of New York, by the post of tomorrow, for authenticated Copies, under Seal, of the several treaties between the Six nations and the Governors of New York from the Year 1683; and especially those with Colo. Dongan. They were preserved under the old Government of New York, in the Office of the...
23To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 21 July 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that we arrived here yesterday, and had the pleasure to find all our friends in good health. Our passage from New York to Providence was a very pleasant one, and performed in about 36 hours. We met with no accident during the journey, and were highly favored in the weather. Agreeably to your directions I called upon Mr Morris before I left Philadelphia, and...
24To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 10 October 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I shall sail from this place for London early in November, and if before that time you can find it convenient to give me the letters which you had the goodness to promise I shall esteem it a mark of peculiar favor. I shall go from London to Amsterdam and letters to our Bankers or other respectable Characters in the latter place might greatly facilitate my business, by shewing them that I am...
25To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 23 January 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
By the President’s direction T. Lear has the honor to transmit to the Secretary of the Treasury a Copy of the Resolution of the House of representatives relative to the Loans made in Holland; with which the President requests the Secretary to comply as soon as he conveniently can. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. The enclosed resolution, passed by the House of...
26To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 15 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
By the President’s command T Lear has the honor to transmit to the Secretary of the treasury the proposals which have this day been submitted to the President, for rebuilding the lanthorn story & wooden work of the Light House in South Carolina which has lately been consumed by fire, and likewise proposals for plastering the same —All of which have been approved by the President of the United...
27To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 26 February 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Tobias Lear, 26 Feb. 1796 . On 2 March, Lear wrote to GW: “I had the honor to address you under date of the 26th ultimo”; in GW’s letter to Lear of 13 March , he acknowledged receipt of “letters of the 26th Ulto and 2d Instant.”
28To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 19 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
Could I beleive, for a moment, that you thought my Opinions were grounded on interested motives, or influenced by party views, I should blush to appear before you; but having long known the liberality of your mind, I have never hesitated to declare my sentiments to you, without reserve, on such points as occasionally occurred between us; and I am pleased to think that you do not esteem me less...
29Tobias Lear to Timothy Pickering, 3 May 1792 (Washington Papers)
I enclose the translation of the letter which was transmitted to the Secretary of War by the Governor of New York—The translation was made yesterday in great haste, and if it should not be sufficiently clear, referrence had better be had to the original, in the possession of the Secy of War. The President wishes, in your conversation with Colo. Louis, that you would learn the precise time of...
30To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 14 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
I am yet without information as to the result of the potomac business in the legislature of this State. Of course the board can come to no determination respecting Mr Myres. I have conversed with the Directors on the subject of that Gentleman’s services and it appears to be the universal wish to have him here, if he shall be disengaged when we feel able, from funds, to make engagemts. I have...
31To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 17 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
I should ere’ this have acknowledged the receipt of your respected favor of the 2d inst. but waited for a further communication, or for the arrival of Colo. Rochefontaine. The latter has just taken place. And I have informed Colo. Gilpin thereof, who told me a few days ago that he would be ready at a moments’ warning to accompany that Gentleman to the junction of the Potomac & Shanandoah; I,...
32To Thomas Jefferson from Tobias Lear, 31 May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of State, the draughts and Copies of letters which he sent to the President this day—And to inform the Secretary, that the President is so much indisposed that he does not think he shall be able to meet the Gentlemen at his House tomorrow (the President having had a high fever upon him for 2 or 3 days past, and it...
33To Thomas Jefferson from Tobias Lear, 11 January 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
T. Lear is ordered by the President of the U.S. to transmit to the Secretary of State a letter and its enclosures, together with a draft of the Survey of the federal District, which he has received from the Commissioners. The President requests that the Secretary will take this matter into consideration and report to the President his opinion whether it should be laid before Congress or not....
34To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 27 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor to write to you on the 24th Inst. I have been informed that the Indians on the frontier of New York have lately given indications of a hostile disposition—and that the legislature of that State were about to take some measures of a temporary nature for conciliating the Indians—or, if that should prove ineffectual, to defend their frontiers. These measures, however, it was...
35Tobias Lear to the Cabinet, 24 February 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The President of the United States requests the attendance of the Secretary of State, at nine O’clock tomorrow morning , at the President’s House, on the subject of the Note sent to the Secretary from the President, on the 17th Inst. and that the Secretary will bring with him such remarks as he may have committed to writing in pursuance of said Note. At the same time the President will lay...
36To Thomas Jefferson from Tobias Lear, 20 December 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
By the President’s command, T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of State the letter from the Treasurer of Virginia, which has been submitted to him—and to request that the Secretary would inform the President where he can obtain a copy of the new Impression of the Federal City . The President wishes to know if it would not be adviseable, in the Secretary’s Opinion, to have a...
37Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson, 13 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President sends to the Secretary of State the Counter part of An Agreement with the Bank of the U.S. for 800,000 dollars, to have the ratification prepared in the usual way for the President’s signature. AL , DLC : Jefferson Papers. Jefferson’s docket reads “Washington President June 13. 93. rec’d June 13.” The enclosure was an agreement of 31 May 1793 between Alexander Hamilton and the...
38Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 1 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to transmit to the Secy of war a letter from Mr Andw Ellicott, to the President, proposing that Mr Joseph Ellicott should proceed immediately to Georgia to explore the head of the Oconee River preparatory to Mr Andw Ellicott’s executing his business of running the line between the territory of the Creeks & the U.S. Should the Secretary of war...
39Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 2 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 30th ultimo came to hand last evening accompanied with the Padusoy for Mrs Washington, the bill of which was enclosed. The President will thank you to get from Mr Bartram a list of the plants & shrubs which he has for sale, with the price affixed to each, and also a note to each of the time proper for transplanting them, as he is desireous of having some sent to Mount Vernon...
40To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 1 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
I know of nothing relative to public affairs that has transpired since your departure. In our domestic concerns we go on as usual. General Knox is mending; but he has not yet been out of his room. I saw him yesterday, when he told me he had just received a letter from General Lincoln, and that he might be expected here about the middle of the present week. As General Knox observed that he was...
41Tobias Lear to Alexander Hamilton, 9 July 1791 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, 9 July 1791. “The President has received a letter from Mr Rue, who was appointed second Mate of the revenue Cutter on the Delaware station, declining his appointment & returning his commission.” LB , DLC:GW . The letter of resignation from Benjamin Rue to GW has not been found but must have been written between 28 June and this date. Tench Coxe wrote to Tobias Lear on 28 June...
42Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 22 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
New York, 22 July 1790. Encloses a draft on the Bank of North America for $200 to be credited to GW’s account. ALS , PHi : Washington-Biddle Correspondence; ADfS , ViMtvL ; LB , DLC:GW . Biddle acknowledged receipt of the bank check on 26 July 1790 ( PHi : Clement Biddle Letter Book).
43To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 4 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] August 4, 1790 . Encloses commissions for persons appointed to the customs service in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
44To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 5 January 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
By direction of the President of the United States, I have the honor herewith to transmit to you a letter from the Governor of Virginia, dated December 18th, 1789, enclosing an Act (which is likewise sent you) of the general Assembly of that Commonwealth, passed Novr. 13th. 1789, to convey to the United States in Congress assembled certain Land for the purpose of building a Light House on Cape...
45To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 19–20 June 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your letters of the 12th & 15th of this month. The former of which I should have acknowleged by the last post had I not been absent on a journey to New York when it arrived in this City. The cause of my Journey to New York was to attend my mother to this place where she proposes to spend a week or two on a visit to Mrs Lear & myself. She had a favorable...
46To Thomas Jefferson from Tobias Lear, 12 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
By the President’s Command T. Lear has the honor to transmit to the Secretary of State the Report of the Proceedings in the Executive Departmt. of Governmt. in the Territory of the U.S. North West of the Ohio, for six months, ending the 30th. of June last—which the President wishes the Secretary to examine at his leisure and report to him anything that may be found therein requiring the Agency...
47To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 11 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, January 11, 1791. “The President of the United States having duly considered the subject of building a Light House on Cape Henry in Virginia, as submitted to him on the 5th Instant by the Secretary of the Treasury … it appears to him that the proposal made by John McComb Junr. of New York is most advantageous to the United States, and he is therefore of opinion that the...
48To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 21 November 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I am directed by the President of the United States to enclose and send to you, a letter addressed to him from Thomas Newton Junr. Esquire of Norfolk, dated October 24th. 1789, containing an estimate made by Commissioners appointed by the States of Maryland and Virginia of the cost of building a lighthouse on Cape Henry in Virginia—an account of materials which were placed on the spot for that...
49To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 24 July 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] July 24, 1793 . “… The President, having considered the communication made to him respecting the Salary of the Keeper of the New Hampshire Light House, approves of its being fixed at one hundred & eighty dollars per Annum.…” ALS , RG 26, “Segregated” Lighthouse Records, National Archives. See H to George Washington, July 23, 1793 .
50To Alexander Hamilton from Tobias Lear, 14 December 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] December 14, 1790 . Encloses “a Provisional Contract between William Ellery and William Martin for keeping the Light House on the Island of Conannicut in the State of Rhode Island—which has received the President’s approbation.” ALS , RG 26, “Segregated” Lighthouse Records, National Archives; LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.