111Abigail Adams to John Adams, 19 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
It was not till last Evening that I received Your Letters of Febry 2 d 4 & 7 th . the post did not get in which was Due on twesday till Saturday. I do not know how to pass a week without hearing from You. I received newspapers to the Tenth. in those I have an account of the Declaration. it was a Solemn Scene to You, and an affecting one. You will find by my Letter of the 8 th that I was with...
112[Diary entry: 19 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
19. Clear, Wind Westerly in the Morning but cloudy afterwards. Mer: 30. Went to church.
113From George Washington to John Jay, 19 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 8th instant from Albany, was duly received; but not before arrangements for many nominations (amongst which that for the Naval Office in New York was one) had been made. From the character of Mr Remson, I have a very good opinion of his abilities and worth; but as his name was not among those which had been handed to me for this office, and as there seemed to be a concurrent...
114To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 19 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the U. States the draught of an answer to the Grand Master of Malta. If approved & signed, the Secretary proposes to commit the same to the care of M. Maisonneuve who desires to be Consul at Malta, who forwarded the letter from the Grand Master, and to whom Mr La Colomb (who is settled in Philadelphia) will send the packet by a...
115From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 19 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
I recd. your weekly letter by the last Mail. This will shew you that I am equally punctual. Fanny puts one in my hand for my Mother. I acquainted my brother William that I had shipped 5 Bushls. of Clover Seed by a Vessel lately sailed for Fredg. The seed is addressed to the care of Mr. Blair. I hope you will attend as well as he to the getting it up & having it sown on my farms with as little...
116From James Madison to Joseph Jones, ca. 19 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 19 February 1797. Mentioned in Jones to JM, 23 Feb. 1797 . Informs Jones about the publication of the essays “An Examination of a Late Letter from Mr. Pickering to Mr. Pinckney.”
117From John Adams to Thomas Welsh, 18 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have recd your favour of 30. Ult.—Thank you for your good Wishes. I know not the reason why the Chroniclers should wish that Mr Jefferson would not accept the office of V.P. The Reason is obvious why the “highest Partisans” on the other Side shd. wish so.—But neither the Jacobins nor Antijacobins, knew the Temper and Character of Mr Jefferson So well as I do. I have known these Seven Years...
118[Diary entry: 18 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
18. Heavy morning & variable all day—Wind West. Mercury at 30. One third of the Pennsylvania Ho. of Representatives dined here. Jacob Hiltzheimer, one of the members of the Pennsylvania legislature, listed in his diary Speaker George Latimer and 20 other members as present. “Our Speaker sat between the President and his lady, and I on the left of the President” ( HILTZHEIMER Jacob Cox Parsons,...
119From George Washington to Matthias Slough, 18 February 1797 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to Matthias Slough, 18 Feb. 1797 . Slough wrote GW on 22 Feb. : “Your Highly & most Esteemed favour of the 18th Currant Duely reached me” ( Papers, Retirement Series W. W. Abbot et al., eds. The Papers of George Washington, Retirement Series . 4 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1998–99. 1:4 –5).
120To James Madison from Stephen R. Bradley, 18 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
Previous to Colo. Monroe’s departure for Europe he transmitted to me papers and documents accompanying a Claim to five thousand acres of Land in the Township of Middlesex in this State in right of his wife, this Township was held under a Patent from The late province of New York and was one (among many) of those patents which were extinguished in the late treaty or Settlement between New York...
121Louisa Catherine Johnson to John Quincy Adams, 17 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved your letters of Jan ry. 28. and 31. which have afforded me more real satisfaction, than I have latterly been accustomed to experience— I think, I have at length discovered the meaning, of those very disagreeable expressions suspicion , and distrust , and can assure my best friend, if he alludes to what I said, respecting the circumstance that happened in our family, from the...
122From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, [17 February 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I groan My Dr. Sir at the disgraceful course of our affairs. I pity all those who are officially in their vortex. The behaviour of Congress in the present crisis is a new political phœnomenon. They must be severally arraigned before the Bar of the Public. How unfortunate that our friends suffer themselves by their passiveness to be confounded in the guilt. Yrs. truly ALS , Connecticut...
123[Diary entry: 17 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
17. Wind still westerly. Cloudy forenoon & rainy afternoon & Night. Mercury at 38. A very crouded drawing Room. a very crouded drawing room : That the drawing room, or levee, was particularly crowded on this day was undoubtedly the result of a rumor that this was to be Mrs. Washington’s last levee before the Washingtons retired to Mount Vernon. John Adams was to be inaugurated as the new...
124From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 17 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
In looking over the press copy of the letter I wrote you by the Post of Wednesday last, which was penned in great haste, to be in time for the Mail; I perceive some ambiguity in the expression of my sentiment respecting the building designated for the President of the U. States; and therefore these lines are given in explanation. It was not, nor is it my intention, that the work on that house...
125To George Washington from William Hambly, 17 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Some time since I did myself the pleasure to wait on you through the Medium of my Friends Messrs Thompson & Veitch, with the present of an old Cheshire Cheese. The gracious manner in which you was pleased to receive it—and the growing respect I feel for your Character—influences me to supplicate your Condescension, to receive another at my hands—which I hope you will be pleased to do. At this...
126From George Washington to Maria I of Portugal, 17 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Desirous of continuing a friendly and useful intercourse between the subjects of your Majesty and the Citizens of these States, and the proofs of our good will and consideration towards your Majesty, I have named John Quincy Adams, one of our distinguished citizens, Minister Plenipotentiary for the United States of America near your Majesty. He knows the interests we take, and shall ever take,...
127To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, c.17 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
William Claiborne, of the State of Tenassee—to be district judge. Recommended by General Marshall—and strongly by Colo. Carrington. David Campbell, late a Judge of that Territory, is recommended for District Judge, by a Mr Roane the friend of James Ross Esqr. who relies on his discernment & probity in the recommendation. Elias Backman, a merchant of Gottenburg in Sweden, to be Consul for that...
128From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 17 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I nominate the following Persons to fill the Offices annexed to their respective names. Morgan Brown of the State of Tennessee, to be Collector for the District of Tennessee, and Inspector of the Revenue for the Port of Palmyra. John McNairy of the State of Tennessee to be Judge for the United States in the District of Tennessee. Thomas Gray of the State of Tennessee, to be Attorney for the...
129To John Adams from John Quincy Adams, 16 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
Since I wrote you last I have been in constant expectation of seeing General Pinckney here, and in hopes that from conversation with him, I might have some new circumstances of interesting information to communicate to you. My letters from Paris mention that he was to leave that place on the 2d: of this month.—Some accident must have delayed him as he has not yet reached this place. As soon as...
130To John Adams from George Washington, 16 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
Compliments to the Vice-President Enclosed is the curious and Insulting Letter mentioned yesterday Evening MHi : Adams Papers.
131[Diary entry: 16 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
16. Clear & pleasant. Wind Westerly. Mercury at 28. Large company dined here.
132From George Washington to John Adams, 16 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Compliments to the Vice-President. Enclosed is the curious and Insulting Letter mentioned yesterday Evening. AL , MHi : Adams Papers. The date is taken from the docket, which reads: “16 Feb. 1797”. GW enclosed a copy of Thomas Paine’s letter to him of 20 Sept. 1795 . In that letter, Paine denounced GW’s alleged indifference and inaction vis-à-vis his imprisonment in France, and accused GW of...
133To George Washington from Burgomasters and Senators of Bremen, 16 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Le Sr Fréderic Jacques Wichelhausen, venant de nous présenter les lettres patentes, qui font foi de sa nomination au poste de Consul des Etats Unis de l’Amerique pour le port de cette Ville, nous ne tardons pas, de marquer à Votre Excellence, combien il nous est agréable, que Son choix pour cet employ est tombé sur une personne, que les talens, que nous lui connoissons, Ses merites & Sa...
134To James Madison from Joseph Jones, [ca. 16 February] 1797 (Madison Papers)
Being longer detained in Albemarle than I expected I did not arrive here untill the last evening, when I received your letters of the 2d. & 5th. and of the 13th. I will attend to what you recommend respecting the republication of observations under the signature Citizen two Nos. have only appeared that have come to my knowledge and these in papers of the first week of the month. The lapse of...
135To James Madison from Timothy Pickering, 16 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
On the 11th instant I delivered to Samuel Bloodworth, son of the Senator, a letter to Mr. Jefferson covering the certificate of the President of the Senate of his being elected the vice-president of the U States, which Mr Bloodworth was specially charged to deliver in person to Mr. Jefferson. To-day the father returned me the letter, under a cover which contained one with your name upon it...
136To Thomas Jefferson from Timothy Pickering, 16 February 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 11th. instant I delivered the inclosed packet to Mr. Bloodworth, son of the Senator from North-Carolina, to deliver to you with his own hand. To-day it was returned to me by the father with the inclosed note. I also wrote you by the mail which left Philadelphia last monday, to communicate the copy of the certificate of your election to the office of vice-President of the United States,...
137From Alexander Hamilton to Rufus King, [15 February 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
Geave me leave to recall to your recollection and acquaintance Mr. De Talon the bearer of this, who, as he informs me, goes to Europe on private business. I need not observe that he is an interesting man, as you know all his titles to the attention, which your situation will permit you to afford. You must not think, I forget you, because I do no write (for this is only my third letter). I am...
138[Diary entry: 15 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
15. Cloudy forenoon with flakes of Snow—clear afterwards. Wind Westerly. Mercury 34. Large Compy.
139To George Washington from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 15 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
When we contemplate the near approach of your retirement from public to private Life, as announced to your Fellow Citizens, in your Address of the 17th of September last; we should be wanting in duty to our own feelings, and those of our Constituents, if we did not cordially embrace this last occasion, to join the grateful Voice of the American Nation, in the Acknowledgment of your long...
140From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 15 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Several of your letters have been received within these few days; and notwithstanding the accumulation of business, consequent of the near epoch for my quitting the chair of government, the receipt of them should not have remained so long unacknowledged had I not placed such as related to the Power of Attorney, and to some disputed points, into the hands of the Law Officer of the United States...
141To George Washington from Edward Newenham, 15 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
It gives me real & heartfelt concern to mention, that it is an Age Since I had the Honor & Happiness of a Line from you, whom I now & always have Esteemed as the first and most Virtuous Man of this Age. The Feild of European Politics has Undergone great Changes Since your last—that Change will Still Produce more, untill Every State, Monarchist or Republican is Convulsed; But I trust the United...
142From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 15 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives I lay before You an Official Statement of the Expenditure to the end of the Year 1796, from the Sums heretofore granted to defray the Contingent Charges of the Government. LS , DNA : RG 46, entry 47; LB , DLC:GW . The “Act making further appropriations for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six,” 1 June 1796, had appropriated...
143[Diary entry: 14 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
14. Fine Rain—Wind in the same quarter. Mercury 38.
144To George Washington from James Anderson, 14 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of 5th came duely, And have now to hand You reports of last Week, in Writing of which in mistake began on the wrong end of 3 page —I am sorry that I have hitherto been unsucessfull in procuring Fowls for Mrs Washing—It is said we are too late—And they are all sold—Shall still try—I have never heard from Mr Carter, And if I do not in a few days Shall try in some other place —Am glad...
145To George Washington from Landon Carter, 14 February 1797 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Landon Carter, 14 Feb. 1797 . GW wrote Carter on 27 Feb. : “Your favor of the 14th instt came duly to hand.”
146To George Washington from Charles Lee, 14 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have examined the journals of the House of Representatives and also of the Senate respecting your message to Congress of the 18th of February 1793 accompanied with a report and plot of the territory of the United States on Patowmack. In each House an order was made that the message lie on the table. On the next day the Clerk of the House of Representatives delivered to the Senate a message...
147From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 14 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have given the draughts of the letters to Messrs Pinckney—Humphreys—and Adams an attentive perusal, and approve of their contents. It might however be better, to soften some of the strong expressions in the letter which is addressed to the first of those characters; or to convey them in Cypher, lest they should (which is not improbable) fall into hands they are not intended for. and might it...
148To George Washington from William Thornton, 14 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I imagine there will not be a full Board for two or three weeks, and, as I consider the Subject of extending the reservations to the areas which are formed by the Intersection of several Streets & Avenues as very interesting I thought it would border on neglect were I to fail to lay them before you, although I with great unwillingness intrude again upon your time. When the Subject of...
149Abigail Adams to John Adams, 13 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
It is now the Middle of Feb’ ry it will be the 20 by the Time this reaches you. the whole Months has been a Thaw So that to present appearences we shall have an early Spring. Billings has been Several Day at work upon the Wall. he tells me he shall want help to cart & Digg. Veseys time is just expiring, and as he is a bird of passage, he does not incline to tarry longer, So that I have to Seek...
150From John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 13 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
I recd by this days Post your favr of the 3d No. 2. I had before received Number 1.—I shall confine myself in this to No. 2. You are Apprehensive “that France will view the discussion of Gratitude in its full Extent, as trespassing the Line of defence” But Adet had laid his demands of Gratitude so high and all his Partisans were in the habit of deafening our People with such rude and...
151To John Adams from Jonathan James Maund, 13 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
I beg your Acceptance of a Barrel of Seed Oats of a Superior Quality which I shall send to Boston by a Captn. Allen now in this River he sails the beginning of next Month and I hope the Oats will arrive in Time for seeding You will do me Honor by presenting my most respectful Compliments to Mrs. Adams and by your remembrance of me in your Letter to my Friend Mr. Thomas Adams when you write him...
152[Diary entry: 13 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
13. Cloudy morning, and fine rain all day afterwards. Wind Easterly—Mery. 38.
153From George Washington to James Anderson, 13 Feb. 1797 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to James Anderson, 13 Feb. 1797 . Anderson wrote GW on 22 Feb. : “I was duely favored with Yours of 13th.”
154To George Washington from William Blount and William Cocke, 13 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
We recommend Robert Hays of Davidson County for Ma[r]shal Thomas Gray of Jefferson County for Attorny and Morgan Brown of Palmyra for Collector of the Impost in the State of Tennessee. Mr Hays was an officer in the Revolutionary army, is at present Colonel of a Regiment of Cavalry and a Citizen of great Respectability. Mr Gray is a Lawyer of upwards of twenty years standing in No. Carolina and...
155To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the U. States the draughts of letters to General Pinckney, Colo. Humphreys and Mr Adams. In the letter to Colo. Humphreys (not private) remains to be added what is mentioned in that to Mr Adams respecting his salary, on which the Secretary entertained some doubts; but on the whole deemed the principle he has adopted to be...
156From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 13 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
I recd. yesterday your’s of the 16th. covering a letter for Mr. Chew, & by the prec[e]ding mail yours of 30th Ult: I shall attend to the objects of both. I am glad you did not retain Js. Coleman’s Ned at the price he demanded. I do not think the profits to me would justify it. I suggested some time since a mode in which I thought you shd. try to get Clover seed, which I hope you have made use...
157Petition of Anna de Neufville, [13 February] 1797 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison observed that he should be sorry to interfere with public business, but the peculiarity of the case of the family of De Neufville was such as to call for immediate attention, he therefore moved that the petition of the widow and daughter of the deceased John De Neufville, be now taken up. Merchants’ Daily Advertiser , 14 Feb. 1797 (also reported in New World , 15 Feb. 1797, and...
158John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson, 12 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
I was reflecting this morning, with what peculiar force and propriety, I could make the application of these tender and affectionate lines of Hammond, and how much more truly they were suited to the object of my constant love than to the person for whom they were originally destined, when your Letter of the 31 st: of last month was brought me. … It put an end at once to the delicious...
159From John Adams to John Lathrop, 12 February 1797 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind Letter and thank you for your friendly Congratulations I begged a Copy of the inclosed Volume of my Friend Judge Peters for our Accademy: but as he sent me one in boards I will get that bound for myself that I may Send His the Sooner. to our Accademy I ask your Pardon for sending you Such a Scrawl, being in great haste, your humble sert MBAt : American Academy of Arts...
160[Diary entry: 12 February 1797] (Washington Papers)
12. Clear & pleasant. Wind Westerly—Mercury at 35.