23451From George Washington to Pierre L’Enfant, 2 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have received with sincere concern the information from yourself as well as others, that you have proceeded to demolish the house of Mr Carroll of Duddington, against his consent, and without authority from the Commissioners or any other person. In this you have laid yourself open to the Laws, and in a Country where they will have their course. To their animadversion will belong the present...
23452From George Washington to James Ross, 6 August 1794 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed was written agreeably to its date, & would have been sent by the Mail to Pittsburgh (under cover to Colo. Presley Nevill) but finding that this conveyance had become unsafe, I did not incline to embrace it. It will, I hope & expect, be put into your hands by Mr Bradford the Attorney General, who will communicate to you the purport of his visit into the part of the Country wherein...
23453From George Washington to the United States House of Representatives, 30 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
I now transmit you a report by the Secretary of State, of such laws, decrees and ordinances, or their substance respecting commerce in the countries, with which the United States have commercial intercourse, as he has received, and had not stated in his report of the sixteenth instant. Copy, DNA : RG 233, Third Congress, 1793–95, House Records of Legislative Proceedings, Journals; LB , DLC:GW...
23454From George Washington to James McHenry, 4 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
Return the enclosed as soon as Mr Ross (under strong injunctions) have read it—Never put papers, improper to be seen, under a cover sealed with a Wafer—At any time, but especially when wet, the contents m⟨ay⟩ be seen and the cover closed ⟨mutilated ⟩ without suspicion, or appearan⟨ce⟩ of being opened. ALS (photocopy), DLC : James McHenry Papers. McHenry wrote a note dated 4 June 1796 at the...
23455From George Washington to Otho Holland Williams, 7 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have received a letter from General Moultrie of south Carolina, dated December 29th, informing that he had sent to me, by the Baltimore Packet (which was to sail the next day) the following plants—to wit—2 boxes with sweet shrubs—2 boxes with Italian Myrtle—one box with two opopynaxes—one box with two olianders—and two boxes with the Palmitto Royal. Now, my dear Sir, as I have received no...
23456From George Washington to Samuel Phillips, 28 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed letter, from my Nephew to me, accompanying one from him to you (which have been to Philadelphia and back) must be my apology for giving you the trouble of reading this Address. I shall only add, that if there are arrearages yet due to you, and you will let me know the amount, it shall be remitted from Philadelphia; at which place I expect to be by the first of November. I am Sir...
23457To Thomas Jefferson from George Washington, 4 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
If you see any objections to the propositions contained in the enclosed pray furnish me with them as soon as convenient as I want to return an answer with out delay. Yours &ca RC ( DLC ); endorsed by TJ as received 4 June 1793. Recorded in SJPL .
23458From George Washington to La Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, 8 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Letter which you did me the honor of writing to me the 25th of last month, came duly to hand; & the enclosure for Mr George Fayette was immediately presented to him. The name & character of the duke de Liancourt were not unknown to me, before his arrival in this Country; and the respect which I entertained for the Latter (although political considerations have deprived me of the honor of a...
23459From George Washington to the Earl of Buchan, 26 May 1794 (Washington Papers)
It is no uncommon thing to attempt, by excuses, to atone for acts of omission; and frequently too, at the expence of as much time as (seasonably employed) would have superceded the occasion of their presentment. Sensible as I am of this—and ashamed as I am of resorting to an apology so common yet I feel, so forcibly, the necessity of making one for suffering your Lordships very polite and...
23460To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 10 August 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
The principal design of this letter, is to inform you, that your favor of the 30th. Ulto, with its enclosure, got safe to my hands by the last Post, and that the latter shall have the most attentive consideration I am able to give it. A cursory reading it has had, and the Sentiments therein contained are extremely just, & such as ought to be inculcated. The doubt that occurs at first view, is...
23461[Diary entry: 5 January 1797] (Washington Papers)
5. Clear—Wind still So. Westerly and more moderate tho’ cold. A large Compy. of Gentn. dined. [12]
23462XI. The President to the Senate and the House of Representatives, 18 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received from the Secretary of State a Report on the Proceedings of the Governor of the Northwestern Territory at Kaskaskia, Kahokia, and Prairie, under the Resolution of Congress of August 29th. 1788, which containing Matter proper for your Consideration, I lay the same before you. RC ( DNA : RG 46, Senate Records, 1st. Cong., 3rd. sess.); in clerk’s hand, signed by Washington;...
23463To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 18 March 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Pay to the Director of the Mint the within sum of sixteen hundred dollars and also the further sum of one thousand dollars for the purposes of that establishment. LC , George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. At the bottom of this document is the following note by David Rittenhouse, director of the Mint: Including all the arrears due to Albion Cox, Assayer, Dolls. cts. since he was first...
23464Undelivered First Inaugural Address: Fragments, 30 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
In the fragments of the discarded inaugural address, page numbers without brackets appear on the fragment; those page numbers enclosed in brackets are conjectural. [1] We are this day assembled on a solemn and important occasion—[owned (1974) by Mr. Nathaniel E. Stein, New York] [1–3] not as a ceremony without meaning, but with a single reference to our dependence [recto, privately owned...
23465From George Washington to William Pearce, 5 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since my last I have received your letters of the 22d & 29th of last Month—The first came to hand on Tuesday, the other on Saturday, as usual. On Wednesday last Congress closed their Session; but there is yet a good deal for me to do, before I can leave the Seat of the Government. My present expectation however is, that I shall be able to do this on tomorrow week: but as this is not certain,...
23466To Thomas Jefferson from George Washington, [1 April 1792] (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed are sent for Mr. Jeffersons perusal. The letter from Mr. Knox the P—— thinks was (the original) sent to Mr. Jefferson before. RC ( DLC ); addressed: “Mr. Jefferson.” Entry in SJPL reads: “G. W. to Th: J. with a letter of Dec. 27. from Gouvr. Morris.” TJ marked an asterisk before enclosed and indicated the following: “From Gouver. Morris. Paris. Dec. 27. 91.” Morris’ letter...
23467From George Washington to William Pearce, 26 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 22d and the Reports, came duly to hand by yesterdays Post. You will perceive by my rotation plan (with which you have been furnished —or rather by the notes annexed thereto) that if the fields allotted for Corn at the several farms were deemed inadequate to the consumption of this article, that such parts of the fields as were designed for Buck Wheat, as a Crop, might be...
23468From George Washington to Cyrus Griffin, 13 February 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Cyrus Griffin, 13 Feb. 1790. In his letter to GW of 16 Mar. 1790 Griffin mentions GW’s letter of “February the 13th.” See also GW to U.S. Senate, 9 Feb. 1790 (second letter), n.3 .
23469From George Washington to William Tilghman, 10 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 1st instt with its enclosures, I have duly received. I shall, by this days Post, write to the representative of Colo. Carlyle (agreeably to the suggestion in Mr Chalmers’ letter) to know if he (Mr Herbert) can throw any light upon the payment of £100 which Mr Chalmers conceives he must have made, on acct of Mr Sidney George’s Bond. When I receive the answer it shall be...
23470From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 14 July 1791 (Washington Papers)
Without preface, or apology for propounding the following question to you—at this time—permit me to ask you with frankness, and in the fullness of friendship, whether you will accept of an appointment in the Supreme Judiciary of the United States? Mr Rutledge’s resignation has occasioned a vacancy therein which I should be glad to see filled by you. Your answer to this question by the Post...
23471From George Washington to William Pearce, 13 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
By your letter of the 9th instt (which with the weekly reports) have been duly received, I find you wish to open a communication between the lower rooms, in what is called the Servants Hall, and to make a closet therein: against the latter I have no objection at all—nor against the first provided the doing it does not cut away a brace, and thereby weaken the house. If the chimneys project into...
23472From George Washington to Frances Bassett Washington, 7 March 1793 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Frances Bassett Washington, 7 Mar. 1793. Frances Bassett Washington wrote GW on 28 Mar. , “I have had the happiness to receive your favors of the 7th & 11th instants.”
23473From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 13 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of this morning, and in consideration of the reasons urged in that, & a former letter I consent to your returning to Virginia; but hope that your absence from the Seat of Government will not exceed the time mentioned in your letter to me of the 5th inst. With very great esteem, I am Sir, Your most Obedt Servt. Df , in Tobias Lear’s writing, DNA : RG 59,...
23474From George Washington to William Deakins, 17 July 1791 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to William Deakins, Jr., 17 July 1791. On 22 July Deakins referred to GW’s “much Esteem’d favor of the 17th Current.” See GW to Thomas Johnson, 14 July, n.1 .
23475[Diary entry: 20 April 1791] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 20th. Left Allans before breakfast, & under a misapprehension went to a Colo. Allans, supposing it to be a public house; where we were very kindly & well entertained without knowing it was at his expence until it was too late to rectify the mistake. After breakfasting, & feeding our horses here, we proceeded on & crossing the River Nuse 11 miles further, arrived in Newbern to dinner....
23476From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 31 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Gentlemen, Philadelphia January 31st 1793 I have had under consideration Mr Hallet’s plans for the Capitol, which undoubtedly have a great deal of merit. Doctor Thornton has also given me a view of his. These last come forward under some very advantageous circumstances. The Grandeur, Simplicity and Beauty of the exterior—the propriety with which the apartments are distributed—and the...
23477From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Knox, 9 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
Expecting that my private Affairs will call me to Virginia on or before the 25th of this month, I have to request that you will lay before me, previous to that time, such matters within your department as may require my attention or agency before I set out; as well as those which might be necessary for me to know or act upon during my absence from the Seat of Government (which will be about...
23478From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 23 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 6th instant came Safe, but not until after it had lain many days in the Post Office in Frederick Town, by the mark thereon. Your consenting to remain longer in the Commission of the Federal District gave me much pleasure; for although I have no doubt with respect to the accomplishment of the law (establishing the permanent residence of Congress), nor of the execution of the...
23479[Diary entry: 4 May 1791] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 4th. Dined with the Members of the Cincinnati, and in the evening went to a very elegant dancing Assembly at the Exchange—At which were 256 elegantly dressed & handsome ladies. In the forenoon (indeed before breakfast to day) I visited and examined the lines of Attack & defence of the City and was satisfied that the defence was noble & honorable altho the measure was undertaken upon...
23480George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 22 March 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I send you a letter of the 26 Ulto from William Bingham Esquire to the Secretary of the Treasury together with the documents accompanying it. I desire your opinion on the following points arising upon these papers. I Whether the proceedings heretofore by the UStates in Congress assembled have transferred from Mr. Bingham to the public the consequences of the transaction in question so as to...
23481From George Washington to David Humphreys, 16 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
As this letter is wholly of a private nature I refer you to Mr Jefferson’s official communications for every thing relative to your appointment at the Court of Lisbon &ca—and shall confine myself to acknowledging your two letters—viz. one from London of October 31. and the other from Lisbon of November 30 1790—and to such general observations as may occur in the course of my writing. The...
23482From George Washington to William Pearce, 11 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you was dispatched, I have received your letters of the 30th of Novr and 4th inst. I am sorry to hear that your Wheat begins to heat. If it does this in a degree to do it much injury, it ought to be disposed of for the best price you can get; but otherwise, as I have waited so long to grind it, & shall have occasion for the Bran, I had rather Manufacture it myself. It is a...
23483From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 20 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Reasons which I have frequently assigned, have prevented me from acknowledging sooner, the receipt of your letter of the 3d instant; relatively to the memorial of Mr Davidson. Indeed I have so often expressed my unwillingness to depart from the engraved plan in every instance where it could be avoided, that I had hoped no repetition of this sort would have been made to you, by any of the...
23484From George Washington to the President and Fellows of Harvard University, 27 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
Requesting you to accept my sincere thanks for the address with which you have thought proper to honor me, I entreat you to be persuaded of the respectful and affectionate consideration with which I receive it. Elected by the suffrages of a too partial country to the eminent and arduous station, which I now hold, it is peculiarly flattering to find an approbation of my conduct in the judgment...
23485[Diary entry: 27 April 1796] (Washington Papers)
27. Wind at No. Et. About 8 Oclock in the morning it began a fine Rain and continued till Noon. Towds. Night there was a very fine rain for an hour or two.
23486From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 4 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
I feel myself very much obliged by what you sent me yesterday. The letter from Governor Johnston I return—much pleased to find so authentic an Acct of the adoption by No. Carolina of the Constitution. Yrs sincerely & affectly ALS , DLC : Alexander Hamilton Papers. GW mistakenly dated this letter 1789. Presumably GW is referring to Hamilton’s report on lighthouses, 3 Jan. 1790 . The letter from...
23487From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 23 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
Having received from the Governor of Virginia a letter, enclosing a Resolution of the General Assembly of that State, and a Report of a Committee of the House of Delegates, respecting certain lands located by the Officers and Soldiers, of the Virginia line under the laws of that State, and since ceded to the Chickasaw Indians, I lay copies of the same before you; together with a Report of the...
23488From George Washington to Daniel Carroll, 17 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed letter was written to go by the post of yesterday, but was omitted to be sent to the Office in season. I have thought best, upon every consideration, to fix on monday next for the day of my departure from this city. In which case, I expect to be four days in travelling to Baltimore; and as I shall be under the necessity of going by the way of Annapolis, I must calculate upon three...
23489From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 23 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
If you should have leizure between this and my return, to furnish me with your thoughts on Mr Arthur Youngs queries—(Transmitted to you sometime ago—) It would enable me to solve his questions soon afterwards. Yours always and sincerely ALS , NNPM . Jefferson docketed this letter as “recd June. 24. 93.” For British agriculturist Arthur Young’s queries, see his letter to GW of 17 Jan. 1793 . GW...
23490[July 1791] (Washington Papers)
Friday July 1st. Received an Address from the Inhabitants of Frederick town and about 7 Oclock left it. Dined at one Cookerlys 13 Miles off & lodged at Tawny town only 12 Miles farther—being detained at the first stage by rain and to answer the address wch. had been presented to me in the Morning. Tawny town is but a small place with only the Street through wch. the road passes, built on. The...
23491From George Washington to John Sinclair, 20 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 18th of May, enclosing the Pamphlet & papers which you had the goodness to send me. While I beg your acceptance of my acknowledgments for the polite mark of attention in transmitting these things to me, I flatter myself you will be assured that I consider the subject therein recommended as highly important to Society, whose best interests I hope will be...
23492[Diary entry: 17 May 1796] (Washington Papers)
17. Cloudy more or less all day with light drippings now & then of Rain. Wind at S. Et.
23493[Diary entry: 14 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 14th. At the hours appointed, the Senate & House of representatives presented their respective Addresses—The Members of both coming in Carriages and the latter with the Mace preceeding the Speaker. The Address of the Senate was presented by the Vice-President and that of the House by the Speaker thereof. The following Gentlemen dined here to day. viz. Messrs. Henry & Maclay of the...
23494From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 27 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
Mr John Cogdell having resigned his appointment as Collector of the port of George town in south Carolina, I have to request that you will make enquiry respecting a proper person to succeed him. Mr Corbin Braxton having also resigned his appointment as Surveyor of the ports of Richmond and Manchester—Colonel Heth informs me that he has nominated Mr Z. Rowland to do the duties of the Office...
23495[Diary entry: 7 June 1796] (Washington Papers)
7. Wind Easterly—very heavy morning and raining more or less all day with the Wind at East.
23496[Diary entry: 4 February 1790] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 4th. Received from a Committee of both Houses of Congress, an Act, entitled “an Act for giving effect to the sevl. acts therein mentioned in respect to the State of North Carolina and other purposes.” The following company dined here, viz,—The Vice-President, the Chief Justice of the United States, Judges Cushing, Wilson, & Blair of the Supreme Court & Judge Duane of the District...
23497From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 1 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 27th ulto is received. I am sorry Mr De Witt, from the competency of his abilities to discharge the duties of the Office of Surveyor General, declines accepting it. Colo. Tinsley’s recommendations, go more to the respectability of his character, than to his scientific knowledge. The first is essential, but not sufficient without the other. I will obtain the best information...
23498From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 10 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed is approved, and if there is any Authentic ground to go upon, it ought to be extended to the case of Captn Jessup by strong & solemn expostulation or remonstrance. This conduct of G. Britain cannot, must not be suffered with impunity. ALS , ViMtvL . See Pickering to GW, this date . After receiving GW’s reply, Pickering wrote a second letter to Rufus King, U.S. minister to Great...
23499[Diary entry: 21 May 1796] (Washington Papers)
21. Clear with little or no Wind—until the afternn.
23500From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 20 May 1794 (Washington Papers)
Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives. In the communications, which I have made to Congress during the present session, relative to foreign nations, I have omitted no opportunity of testifying my anxiety to preserve the United States in peace. It is peculiarly therefore my duty at this time, to lay before you the present state of certain hostile threats against the...