1To James Madison from James McHenry, 21 June 1789 (Madison Papers)
I was very happy to learn that you had dismissed the first reported bill for the collection of the revenue. In this State and perhaps in some of the others, the Laws were too much in favor of the officers at the expence of the revenue. Here, where the imports are so very considerable, instead of a naval officer and collector constituted to be checks upon each other, the whole power was lodged...
2To John Adams from James McHenry, 7 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to transmit you herewith, a list of Invalid Pension-Applicants, belonging to the State of New Jersey, who have been re-examined by Physicians agreably to a Resolve of Congress of the 18th of April 1796. I am with great respect / Sir / your obedient servant DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
3To George Washington from James McHenry, 9 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from James McHenry, 9 Aug. 1793. In his letter to McHenry of 28 Aug. , GW acknowledged receipt of “your letter of the 9th instant.”
4To John Adams from James McHenry, 17 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to transmit you herewith, a list of Invalid Pension-Applicants, who have been re-examined by Physicians, agreably to a Resolve of Congress of the 18th day of April 1796. I am with great respect / Sir / your obedient servant DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
5To John Adams from James McHenry, 27 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to submit to the Senate reports on the petitions of Mary Hibborn and Michael Van Hleeck. With the greatest Respect I have the honor to be / Sir / Your most obedt servant DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
6To George Washington from James McHenry, 31 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
If you see no objection to the inclosed letter in answer to Mr Hawkins received to-day it may be sent by to-morrows mail. I have the honour to be Sir with sincere regard Your ob. st ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The ALS is docketed 31 May 1796, which matches the date on the letter-book copy. Neither the enclosed letter to Benjamin Hawkins nor the one to which it responded has been identified.
7To John Adams from James McHenry, 22 March 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to transmit you herewith a statement of the claims four Invalid Pension Applicants, which were forwarded to this office by the Judge of the District Court for the District of Virginia. The evidences to support these claims have been taken after the expiration of the "Act to regulate the claims to Invalid Pensions." I submit them to Congress together with copies of two letters...
8To John Adams from James McHenry, 20 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour to transmit you herewith, a list of Invalid-Pension-Applicants—who have been re-examined by Physicians, agreably to a Resolve of Congress of the 18th of April 1796. I am with great respect / Sir / your obedient servant. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
9To George Washington from James McHenry, 10 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
I am extremely obliged to you for your letter of the 8th and received the exposition of your motives as a fresh mark of that confidence with which you have so often favored me. I should indeed, if I know myself, be the last person in the United States, who on a public account would wish you to feel any other; and as it respects your personal fame, I beleive the first to regret their being...
10To George Washington from James McHenry, 10 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
Packet, No. 1. which is enclosed contains the last dispatches from General Wayne. The private letter included therein, is a duplicate of one not yet come to hand, which it would seem contains the papers to which it refers. Packet, No. 2. The last letters from Tennessee. Packet, No. 3. The proceedings of a Court Martial on a soldier who attempted to desert. With the greatest respect I have the...
11To George Washington from James McHenry, 9 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to submit for your inspection a draught of a letter to Lord Dorchester, made out agreeably to the idea presented in the attorney generals letter, which corresponds with the second draught I had the pleasure of reading to you on saturday, and yesterday morning. I beleive it is the safest ground to move upon, and the most correctly constitutional. I have shewn it to Mr Lee & Mr...
12To George Washington from James McHenry, 21 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment received your favour of the 20th, and am truely sensible of the sincerity of your wishes that I should accept of the war office department. On my part I beg you to believe that nothing could give me more pleasure than to be near you for a few years independent of public motives or considerations. I must however pray you to allow me till monday to reflect on the offer and...
13To George Washington from James McHenry, 29 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
I beg you to sign the within authority to borrow for the use of the City of Washington and to have it returned to me with a power signed by the three commissioners. You may recollect that the one sent me for a duplicate contained only the names of two of them vz. Mr Scotts & Mr Thorntons. The Willinks may consider that power as imperfect as the law and your authority have reference to three....
14To George Washington from James McHenry, 15 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since closing my letter of yesterday I have received the annexed from Majr Cushing whom I had previously directed to join the army. If he has made a fair statement of his case, some indulgence may be proper. If on the contrary, he has misrepresented it, he is unworthy of any and unfit for a soldier. At any rate, I presume that he has motives and reasons which he has not expressed. Should you...
15To George Washington from James McHenry, 14 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to lay before you the proceedings and sentence of a court-martial on Lieut. Simon Geddis, and several papers and letters connected therewith. Lieut. Geddis having prayed for a new trial, I shall wave any remarks upon his case, and confine myself to the reasons which favour such an application. It is declared, in the articles of war, vz. Art. 1. for the administration of...
16To George Washington from James McHenry, 24 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
I resume the answer to your letter of the 20th which I acknowleged the moment after I received it. I cannot say that I have ever experienced so much hesitation between giving way to inclination, and attachment to you personally, and my own interest and ease, as has taken place during the two past days. It is now however all over, and it is right I should confess, that the soothing idea of...
17To George Washington from James McHenry, 20 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
Baltimore, 20 April 1791. Mr. Purviance has requested that his name be suggested for consideration for the vacancy occasioned by the death of the comptroller. “His chief reason for begging to be again brought to your mind is the small income of his present office, which last year produced only he tells me 801 dollars, and this year it is not expected to exceed 600. You who do not disdain to...
18To George Washington from James McHenry, 31 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
(private) Sir. Fayetteville [Md.] 31 March 1794. I have very often troubled you respecting others; will you excuse me for speaking a little concerning myself. My health which has suffered a considerable shock by an autumnal fever in 1792 & 1793, I am pretty well persuaded might be benefited by a change of climate for a short time. It has struck me that the new situation in which the United...
19To George Washington from James McHenry, 7 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
Fayetteville, Md., 7 Mar. 1793. Wrote that “Mr Wallace the gentleman who is to deliver this letter, has resided lately in Baltimore. . . . He has been a captain in the British army and served in this country till the reduction of York Town where he was made prisoner, and some time after by your indulgence permitted to return to his friends on parole. I have understood that previous to his...
20To George Washington from James McHenry, 10 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
This inclosed letter has been procured by Dr Williamson who knows the hand writing. It is written by a Msr Cole Montflorence, a french man who held a commission under the State of North Carolina early in the revolution war. The letter to Governor Blount by the same person I understand is gone to Tenessee. It would seem that Montflorence had his information at Paris. The reflexions which he...
21To George Washington from James McHenry, 8 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letters of the 1st and 3d instant. The inclosed packet No. 1. contains the opinion of the Attorney General on the power of the President to pardon military offences previous to the late act of Congress; and the form of a pardon for Lt Geddis for your signature. No. 2. contains the last dispatches from General Wayne, and copy of a letter which I have sent to General...
22To George Washington from James McHenry, 13 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secry of the Treasury has mentioned to me this morning the substance of a communication, which he said he had imparted to you some time since. It respects certain instructions given by Mr Adet to persons who are on their road to the Western Country which affect and may bring into danger the peace and safety of the U.S. I inclose you papers containing matter apparently connected with this...
23To George Washington from James McHenry, 11 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have received to-day the following information from a quarter that may be depended on which I think it my duty to communicate. The French minister has made a requisition upon the French merchant fleet in this harbour for 600 seamen to rendezvous at Philadelphia, and has ordered the consul here to furnish each volunteer with five dollars. So far is certain. The requisition has been complied...
24To George Washington from James McHenry, 31 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
I inclose you a draught of a letter to Colonel Stevenson which if approved of may be sent to him to-day. If you are not using the plans of the Forts Detroit and drawings of the lakes &c. in that quarter which Gen. Wayne left with you I will be much obliged to you for them to correct and complete a map which is in hand for the war office. With the greatest respect I have the honour to be Sir...
25To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 15 October 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The electors of the Senate of Maryland have chosen me one of the Senate of our State legislature, and many of my friends are urgent that I should accept. As yet I have given no answer. If you still entertain the project you mentioned to me when in Philadelphia it may somewhat influence my determination. Perhaps the complexion of several European powers, as it respects France, and the claims...
26To George Washington from James McHenry, 2 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
Mr Eiclberger of this place informs me that he has petitioned for surveyor or other appointment in the customs, and begs that I would mention him to your Excellency. I think he served about three years in the late army, since which he has carried on a retail trade with a very fair character. He is a Dutch man and not without influence among his countrymen which he has always used like a good...
27To George Washington from James McHenry, 19 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
It having been intimated to me that two of the commissioners for the federal City intended soon to resign, and that Major Davidson of the Council of this State was desirous to devote his time to the duties of that trust if appointed, I beg leave at the request of the gentleman who gave me this information to state, that Mr Davidson has been a member of the council for several years, and...
28To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 14 April 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Though exceedingly mortified and hurt at Mr. Perry’s being refused that inspectorship I did not once think of blaming you. I ascribed it to the peculiarity of your situation and the enmity of those who were near you, originating in the part that gentleman had taken against them. The Tilghmans I believe influenced Coxe. Coxe made the thing an object and you had those of greater magnitude to...
29To George Washington from James McHenry, 26 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
Mr Liston has this moment favoured me with the inclosed letter. If you have time to look over the draught of the letter to Capn De Butts, and can return it to-day I shall endeavour to get him dispached to-morrow. I have the honour to be Sir with the highest respect Your most ob. st ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The docket reads “May 27th 1796” on the ALS , and the letter-book copy shows the...
30Enclosure: James McHenry to Anthony Wayne, 27 August 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I here transmit the arrangement of the legion and Cavalry which you will please to have promulged and carried into execution. You will perceive by adverting to the table of Regiments and Rank that the President has been guided by the rule of Seniority and that the Officers with a few exceptions remain attached to the Men which they have been accustomed to command. For example the First Sub...
31To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 3 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
You may think I have neglected you from my long silence, but I can assure you I have never forgot you. Having withdrawn myself from every thing of a public nature, this has led me to endeavour to reduce my pleasures as much as possible to a small compass, and this to neglect many correspondents for whom I entertain the liveliest affection. That I love and esteem you, I know you will believe...
32To George Washington from James McHenry, 25 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
Mr McHenry begs the President will do him the honor to accept a small parcel of asparagus sent by the stage. It is carefully packed up in dry earth, and if delivered according to directions Mr McHenry hopes it will be found to have lost but little of its vegetable properties ALS , DLC:GW . Tobias Lear replied to McHenry on 31 Jan. 1791: “The President of the United States has received Mr...
33To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 18 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
We have scattered in air the long string of amendments that had been proposed to be incorporated into our constitutution by those who were no friends to the U.S.’s constitution, so we remain a free people and a tolerably virtuous people. There are three or four bills before the house and to come before the house in which I feel an interest and which will detain me here perhaps two weeks. I...
34To George Washington from James McHenry, 18 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
The annexed packets contain the most essential letters received since my last. No. 1. Gen. Wilkinsons letters of the 11th, 16, 17th ulto. I have not thought it necessary to send the continuation of his charges which came by the same mail. No. 2. Is copy of a letter to Major Gen. Wayne resulting from Gen. Wilkinsons information relative to Fort Miamis. No. 3. A dispatch from Mr Seagrove and...
35To George Washington from James McHenry, 27 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to inclose you Adjutant General Beckwiths answer to my dispach to Lord Dorchester of the 10th of last month. I inclose, likewise, copy of the orders for the evacuation of the posts of Fort Miamis—Detroit and Michilimackinac the originals of which will leave this to-morrow morning at 5 o’clock by express. Capn Lewis delivered the orders requiring the evacuation of Oswego &...
36To George Washington from James McHenry, 17 July 1792 (Washington Papers)
The letter you did me the honor to write which I had not received when I had the honor to see you was handed me the day after. It has the Philadelphia post mark of the 11th and was they tell me overlooked by the post-master here or rather his assistant when my letters were called for. I thought it proper to mention this particular to you that the cause of its detention might not be...
37To Thomas Jefferson from James McHenry, 14 December 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
If I may intreat you to take the trouble to read the inclosed memorial you will see how greatly I have been injured by the French marine minister’s non-compliance with an engagement with the late house of John McHenry & Co. It gives me sensible pain to be obliged to make use of this mode of solicitation for attaining so clear a piece of justice, but I do it because I know of no other likely to...
38To George Washington from James McHenry, 4 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
About two years ago Mr Copeley an English manufacturer did himself the honor to pay his respects to you at Mount Vernon: Being about to return to his own country he wishes to renew his homage and respects, and has intreated me to recal him to your remembrance by another introduction. I pray you to excuse this liberty, and am with the greatest and most sincere respect Sir your most devoted and...
39To George Washington from James McHenry, 6 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
In conformity with your Commands of the 1st instant, I have transmitted to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury, letters of which the inclosed is a Copy. In the mean while I shall turn my attention to the subjects on which you have desired my report, which I shall make as soon as the unavoidable duties of the Office will permit. With the greatest respect I am Sir Your most...
40To George Washington from James McHenry, 2 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
In compliance with the Presidents commands the Secretary of War lays before the President the points that have been submitted for consideration, in the Secretarys letters, bearing date the 8th & 10th of Octtober ulto. Will the President think proper, that detachments be made from West Point to complete the garrisons at Governors Island, Mud Island, Baltimore, Norfolk and Charlestown, to one...
41To George Washington from James McHenry, 3 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
I ought to have mentioned in the letter which I took the liberty to write to you a few days since what I had then chiefly in my mind abstracted from the personal consideration of health. I thought that perhaps it might come within your view at this juncture to send a commissioned person to Vienna to solicit the release of Mr la Fayette with powers to proceed to France on a like errand in favor...
42To George Washington from James McHenry, 5 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to request your Excellency attention to the inclosed draught of a letter to the Governor of Georgia. If it can be returned today it may go by to-morrows mail. With the greatest respect I have the honour to be Sir Your most obt st ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Jared Irwin (1750–1818), formerly a state senator from Washington County, had been elected governor by the Georgia...
43To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 3 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I did not receive your letter of the 26th till the morning of the 2d. I immediately after saw Gen. Williams and made such communication of your wishes as I thought most likely to be attended with success. You know his ambitious cast, and that he thinks he could be more serviceable at the head of a great department than collector of a district. I mentioned the death of the comptroller, and the...
44To George Washington from James McHenry, 8 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
As the cases of illegal captures under the British treaty ought to be determined by the laws of nations it has occurred to me that you might think mercantile less necessary than law knowlege in the persons to be appointed commissioners. If one of the judges of the supreme court of the U.S. could be spared and no objection interferes against such an appointment I suppose there would be no...
45To George Washington from James McHenry, 31 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
I received your favour of the 28th last night and had its contents immediately communicated to Mr Chase. He is extremely pleased with his appointment and I have strong hopes that its good effects as it respects the public will extend beyond the judicial department, but on this point it is unnecessary to be particular till I have the happiness to see you. He would have set out to-day at noon...
46To Thomas Jefferson from James McHenry, 23 October 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Fayetteville, Md., 23 Oct. 1791 . The recurrence of an indisposition that might be cured by a sea voyage has interested him in the possibility of a foreign appointment.—The prospect of war between France and other European powers, “and the claims for succours she may bring forward under the 11th article of the treaty of Alliance, in case of being attacked,” makes it necessary for the U.S. to...
47To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 19 November 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Since taking my seat in the Senate, which I have done more in conformity with your opinion than my own, I have used the opportunity it affords of conversing with Mr. Wm. Perry the gentleman I mentioned to you when in Philada. as a person well qualified for Auditor, and have discovered that had he been appointed he would not have refused. I have two reasons for telling you this now. That you...
48To George Washington from James McHenry, 14 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have just I believe got finished in time for the mail. I recd the enclosed last night and here they are. Should I write three lines more you would not read the contents till next mail. Yurs most respectfully & affectionately ALS , MHi : Adams Papers. The enclosures have not been identified. GW replied to McHenry from Mount Vernon in a letter of 19 Oct. marked “Private”: “Your letter of the...
49To George Washington from James McHenry, 3 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 29th ulto with the treaty and papers relative to the Creeks. On looking over the treaty I find that it leaves to the President to mark the boundary line at such time and in such manner as he may direct. It is however mentioned by the commissioners, that since signing the treaty “several of the chiefs have urged that the President should cause the line to be...
50To George Washington from James McHenry, 25 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
I thought it best to wait till I could ascertain the full expression of the public sentiment, before I should comply with your request, to tell you all, and conceal nothing from you. Your address on the first day of its publication, drew from the friends of government, through every part of the City, the strongest expressions of sensibility. I am well assured, that many tears were shed on the...