1To George Washington from James McHenry, 24 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
It may give you some pleasure to know from one who cannot be supposed to have any interest in concealing disagreeable circumstances from you, that all your late public acts, and the arrangements which respect your household meet with universal approbation. Men of different political sentiments have united in your praise. The unfriendly to the constitution have only ventured to observe “that...
2To 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...
3To George Washington from James McHenry, 28 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your late indisposition which has alarmed me not a little makes me more desirous than ever that you should have some person near you who is well acquainted with your constitution and who has been accustomed to your confidence. This leads me to take the liberty to remind you of old Doctor Craik whom I well know, unless he is greatly changed cannot be very happy at a distance from you. I think...
4To 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...
5To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 27 October 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Being obliged to attend our Legislature the first of next month it will be out of my power to collect examine and prepare the necessary facts relative to your queries, at least till after the end of the session; and as a majority of the house of delegates is said to be antifederal I can form no judgement of its duration. Be assured I was not only made exceedingly happy by your appointment but...
6To 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...
7To George Washington from James McHenry, 30 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
I am much to blame. I have neither congratulated you on your recovery from a dangerous illness, nor yet sympathized with you in those many and perplexed labors in which you have been involved during the late important session of Congress. I will tell you the truth. Every sorrow and consideration whatever has been swallowed up or diminished in the depth of affliction I felt on the loss of my...
8To 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...
9To 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...
10To 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...
11To 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...
12To 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...
13To 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...
14To 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...
15To 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...
16To 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...
17To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 16 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I mentioned Mr. Carroll as proper to be brought forward to oppose a man whom I expect the antifederal interest will unite in supporting in case of an opportunity. I calculate that Mr. Carrol will not succeed; but it may produce more votes in this State for some man who ought. I mean also that it should operate to detach Mr. C.l. from Mr. Jeff. whose politics have in some instances infected...
18To George Washington from James McHenry, 16 August 1792 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to recieve your letter of the 13th yesterday. The business of the maritime court as you remark requires that the district attorney should be a resident of Baltimore. With respect to Mr Tilghman and Hammond both stand extremely fair in politics, and would either settle here would be acceptable. The former will sooner yield to transient circumstances than the latter who as far as...
19To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 20 [September] 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been confined by a fever to my bed ⟨for⟩ 17 days. Yesterday and to-day I have sat up a little. I have just recd your letter of the 10th Ulto. which arrived du⟨ri⟩ng the hight of my illness after having gone to Fayettville in N. Carolina and back to Philada. I expect a visit from Bishop Carroll on his return to Balt. which may be next week. I have thought if I shewed him a paragraph in...
20To George Washington from James McHenry, 25 September 1792 (Washington Papers)
My not writing has been owing to two causes. I was confined to my bed by a fever (remittent) the 5th instant, which left me there till the 20th. I had little hopes of a recovery but it has pleased god that I should get the better of it. I am now convalescent and may soon be as well as heretofore. The other reason is that I have only had Mr Hammonds answer which is against a removal. Mr...
21To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 30 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your letter of the 23 in the order of the mail, and yesterday yours of the 27th. With respect to the former I have made no use of the quoted paragraph and hesitate between shewing it to the Bishop or the principal himself. Altho I think I may trust the Bishop, and am certain that it would be communicated yet if I shew it to the latter it may be in less danger of getting abroad and...
22To George Washington from James McHenry, 4 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to inclose you Mr Tilghmans determination which I received only to-day. I had informed him that you had intimated to me a desire to appoint him to the vacant office of District Attorney if it could be ascertained that he would remove to Baltimore which the nature of the business made necessary. After visiting this Town to examine and investigate prospects in the way of...
23To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, [19–23 October 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
Knowing that I was apt to lose letters out of my pocket, and recollecting that you are a little subject to lose them by not putting them into yours, I thought it best that we should burn them. I can therefore answer to your inquiry (reced. last night) only from memory. I think I, as mere intelligence, mentioned to you the names of some of our candidates for Congress and subjoined some sketch...
24To 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...
25To 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...
26To 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...
27To 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.”
28To 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...
29To Thomas Jefferson from James McHenry, 1 September 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I shall communicate to the merchants of Baltimore your official letter addressed to them which I have reason to believe will be very welcome agreeable and satisfactory. I shall also recommend to them to appoint a committee of their own body to extend its contents to those whom it concerns and to carry the object it contemplates into effect. The french fugitive from St. Domingo whose...
30To George Washington from James McHenry, 18 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have been requested by Dr Allison to mention to you Mr Robt McRea who removed some time ago from Alexandria to Wilks’s County State of Georgia as a very worthy person and well qualified to discharge the office of Marshal which he understood was vacant by the death of Major Forsyth. It appears also by information I have received from other persons that Mr McRea is a good man who has...