301To George Washington from Duncan McLaren, 18 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
Doubting not but it will appear Strange and great presumtion in me who are a mean Mechanic to trouble Such a great man with my writing from a Foreign Country and having no title to any favour from you: yet I hope in hearing my Claim you will in Some measure excuse me; I was bred a Mason and taught in the differant branches of that trade Such as Stone Cuting and building Stones and bricks; I...
302To James Madison from [André Limozin?], 13 November 1789 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 13 November 1789, Havre de Grace, France. Mentioned in JM to James Madison, Sr., 21 Jan. 1790 (IaU) and JM to Jefferson, 24 Jan. 1790 ( Boyd, Papers of Jefferson Julian P. Boyd et al., eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson (19 vols. to date; Princeton, 1950—). , XVI, 126). Reports scarcity of bread and prices of wheat and flour. French government is offering bounty on wheat,...
303To Thomas Jefferson from Jonathan Dayton, 7 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The Committee appointed by the House of Representatives to consider, and report upon, the petition of the Canadian refugees, wish to be possessed of a list of the persons falling under that description. A return was made to the former Congress, and I am informed is at this time on the files in your office. If this be the case Sir, I will thank you to direct a copy of it to be immediately made...
304From Alexander Hamilton to John Cochran, 13 August 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, August 13, 1793. “I have directed the Treasurer of the United States, to furnish you with a draught on the Office of Discount & Deposit at New-York, for Seven Thousand Nine Hundred and Eighty five Dollars; for the purpose of enabling you … to discharge a half years pension which will become due to the Invalids of the United States on the 5th of the ensuing month.” LS ,...
305From John Adams to Samuel Adams, 18 October 1790 (Adams Papers)
I am thankful to our common friend as well as to you for your favour of the 4 th. which I received last night.— My fears are in Unison with yours, that Hay, Wood and Stubble will be the materials of the new political Buildings in Europe, till Men shall be more enlightened and friendly to each other. You agree, that there are undoubtedly Principles of Political Architecture: but instead of...
306From James Madison to Benjamin Rush, 3 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 3 May 1790. Offered for sale in the Parke-Bernet Catalogue No. 468, May 1943.
307From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 8 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor respectfully to transmit to the President of the United States a Contract made by the Collector of Portsmouth in New Hampshire with Titus Salter for furnishing the Light house on New Castle Island with oil, wick, fuel & candles, and for the care & lighting of the same from the 15th. day of August 1789. to the 1st. day of July next, including some...
308To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Willing, 3 February 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
The President & Directors of the Bank of the United States acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st. Ulto. & feel with peculiar sensibility the notification of your Resignation; With sincerity they offer their best wishes, that you may be as happy in private, as your administration has rendered you useful, in public life. They recollect with extreme satisfaction the liberal and...
309From Alexander Hamilton to Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard, 18 March … (Hamilton Papers)
The Treasurer of the United States has been directed to draw upon you, a Bill, at ten days sight, in favor of the Secretary of State, for ninety nine thousand Guilders, which you will dispose of, according to directions to be given you by, Mr. Jefferson. I am &c. Copy, RG 233, Reports of the Treasury Department, 1792–1793, Vol. III, National Archives. This letter was enclosed in H’s “Report on...
310Cabinet Opinion on the Administration of the Presidential Oath, 28 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
If the qualification is to be in private, T.J, A.H H.K and E.R, are of opinion, that Mr Cushing should administer the oath to the President at his own house, where such officers, or others, as He may notify, will attend. T.J. and A.H. think, that it ought to be in private. H.K. and E.R. on the other hand think, that the qualification ought to be in public: and that the Marshal of the district...
311To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 5 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
In conformity to the intimation you were pleased to honor me with on evening last I have reflected on the etiquette proper to be observed by the President and now submit the ideas which have occurred to me on the subject. The public good requires as a primary object that the dignity of the office should be supported. Whatever is essential to this ought to be pursued though at the risk of...
312From Alexander Hamilton to James Lovell, 29 November 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Various circumstances have prevented an earlier answer to your letter of the 22d of August last. The question referred to having been stated to the Attorney General, you will receive a copy of his opinion herewith enclosed, in which I concur. I am Sir Your obedient Servant L[S] , RG 36, Collector of Customs at Boston, Letters from the Treasury, 1789–1807, Vol. 4, National Archives. Although...
313To Alexander Hamilton from James Madison, [20–28 November 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
The bearer will deliver two of your books which have been some time in my hands. I add to them a pamphlet recd. not long since from France. I can not recommend it because I have not read it. The subject tho’ a hackneyed is an interesting one, and the titles of some of the chapters promising. You will soon discover how far it may be worth your perusal. The inclosed letter to Genl. Schuyler...
314To George Washington from Veritas, 3 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
IN countries where the people have little or no share in the government, (as in Great Britain for instance) it is not uncommon for the executive to act in direct opposition to the will of the nation . It is to be hoped that the practice of apeing the absurd and tyrannical systems of Britain, though already carried to an alarming extent in this country, will never proceed so far, as to induce...
315To James Madison from Richard Taylor, 11 October 1794 (Madison Papers)
When your Brother the late Mr. Ambrose Madison was in Kentucky I purchased a Tract of Eight hundred Acres of Land of him the remainder of Hancock Eustaces Survey after he had sold Majr Croghan One hundred & six acres & Mr. Hancock Lee had got his claim satisfied. I have payed for the Land all but one Thousand Acres of Land on Green river oposit the mouth of Rough creek which I am ready to...
316From Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 12 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The following suits were put into the hands of Mr. N. Pope in 1791. to wit £ s d against Lewis & Woodson on bond. principal & interest to Sep. 30. 1791. were 192– 12– 9 1/2 against Woodson on his Note. do. to do. 7– 14– 2 against Lewis on Account of rent. balance & interest to Sep. 30. 1791 86– 7– 0 1/2 286– 14– 0 Out of these monies when recovered the following orders were given
317From Alexander Hamilton to Jean Baptiste de Ternant, [11 March 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
I hoped ere this to have sent you the calculation desired. But it happens that the Gentleman of my Office whom I usually employ on such occasions is unwell and I have been too much engaged myself to test by calculation the idea which has been in my mind. Of this however you are sure that the charges being 4 ⅌ Ct and the interest for 6 Months 2½ ⅌ Ct 6½ ⅌ Ct six and a half ⅌ Ct. is the utmost...
318To George Washington from John Greenwood, 1 May 1792 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Greenwood, 1 May 1792. In his letter to Greenwood of 1 July GW referred to “Your letter of the first of May.”
319From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 3 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
I lay before you a copy of an exemplified Copy of an Act passed by the Legislature of the State of New Jersey, for vesting in the United States of America the jurisdiction of a Lot of Land at Sandy Hook in the County of Monmouth; and a Copy of the letter which accompanied said Act, from the Governor of the State of New Jersey to the President of the United States. LB , DLC:GW . The beacon on...
320To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 18 January 1796 (Madison Papers)
I have been absent a fortnight on a visit to Albemarle—while there I went over all the papers and could find nothing among them answering the expectation of Mr. Knox and yet I think Monroe had some communications from the old Gent. himself or one of his Daughters to the purport of what Mr. Knox supposes he possessed. There were many papers and some statemts of Monroes respecting this business...
321Tobias 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...
322Enclosure: Refflexions on a Treaty of Peace between United States of America and Algiers, 20 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
It is not to me to Shew to Congress, the Great Advantages it would result to America, by a Peace or a Truce with Algiers. I have not been authorised to do what I have done till now; it may be desowned, and my too much active Zeal in that affair, may be with Reason Censured. The Conversing here or at Paris on that subject, with Thos. Jefferson Esqr. Secretary of State, when he was Minister in...
323To Alexander Hamilton from Henry Lee, 31 December 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Forced to meander on my ride home to close as far as I could the various matters which I considered under my care I never got to Richmond until the 29th. when Col. Carrington gave to me your favor of the 19th Decr. I am sure you understand too well my conviction of your constant efforts to give comfort to the late army with me, to suppose that I could for a moment impute to want of exertion in...
324[Diary entry: 12 July 1790] (Washington Papers)
Monday 12th. Exercised on Horse back between 5 & 6 in the Morning. Sat for Mr. Trumbull from 9 until half after ten. And about Noon had two Bills presented to me by the joint Committee of Congress—The one “An Act for Establishing the Temporary & permanent Seat of the Government of the United States”—The other “An Act further to provide for the payment of the Invalid Pensioners of the United...
325From George Washington to William Pearce, 9 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
since writing you a few lines on the 3d instant, I have received your letter of the 28th of last month, and that of the third of the present. If you are satisfied with Mr Butlers conduct and exertions, I shall be so. He has always appeared to me as a well disposed man, obliging and sober one who has seen better days: and must have had a good deal of practical knowledge in husbandry. If you can...
326From George Washington to Henry Knox, 8 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have taken into consideration your letter of the 15th of last month, and I approve of the proposals therein suggested, of endeavoring to avoid a War with the Creek nation of Indians. I approve particularly of your requesting Mr Hawkins to send the letter to Alexander McGillivray a copy of which you have enclosed—and I authorize you to employ a suitable person to conduct the business, and to...
327From Thomas Jefferson to Willink, Van Staphorst & Hubbard, 9 September 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Having received at length the leave of absence which I had asked, I wait now only for a vessel bound from some port of France to the United states; so that I may with some confidence expect to leave this within a fortnight or three weeks. You were so kind as to send me a list of the bills I had drawn on you to the 1st. of April inclusive. I must now beg the favor of you to send me a list of...
328To Alexander Hamilton from Philip Schuyler, 15 May 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
A few days after the receipt of your favor covering letters for the Supervizor of Vermont and Mr Jacob Cuyler I wrote you and my Eliza, but as I have not had a line from you since I fear my letters have not come to hand. I entreated Eliza to let me know when she would set out from Philadelphia for this place, that I might engage a good and discreet master of an Albany Sloop to bring her to...
329From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 12 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
In due course of Post I have received your Letters of the 5th and 8th instant. & thank you for the information contained in them. Tomorrow I leave this for Philadelphia. the advices which I may receive this Evening by the Post, will fix my route by Baltimore (as usual)—or by the one I intended to have come—that is, by Reading, the Canals between the Rivers, Harrisburgh, Carlisle &a—In either...
330To George Washington from Count d’Estaing, 8 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
Le Pere de la Patrie l’est aussi de tous ceux qui ont fait des éfforts pour lui être utile. Votre Excellence la prouvé aux Marins françois en obtenant de la société de Cincinnatus qu’ils Seroient traittés comme les Officiers de L’armée de terre. il m’a fallu resister au désir de ceux des deux Services qui ont été particuliérement mes Camarades. J’ai Voullu n’adresser qu’une listte pour chaque...
331To Thomas Jefferson from James Monroe, 3 July 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
Having written you very fully three days since I have nothing to add at present to the details then given except that in an unexpected rencounter the other day the French have lost 3. ships and by the shameful misconduct of the officers commanding them or some of them. They have in consequence dismissed the Comy. of Marine which I think converts the loss of the ships into a signal victory, in...
332Report on Stills and Spirits Distilled Within the United States, 2 March 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Pursuant to an order of the House of Representatives of the 8th of May last, I have the honor to transmit a general state of the Revenue on stills and spirits distilled within the United States, exhibiting the several particulars indicated by the said order, so far as returns have been received at the Treasury; to which I beg leave to add, the Copy of a letter of yesterday from the...
333From Thomas Jefferson to Peter Carr, 14 April 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter you mention to have written, never came to my hands; and indeed I have thought you a very lazy fellow to have let me hear from you so seldom. But if you will never give any other proof of laziness, I will pardon you this one. I have duly received my sister’s letter, and have written to her to-day a second time in answer to it. I also write to Dabney the inclosed letter, advising him...
334To Alexander Hamilton from Archibald Mercer, 30 April 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I am requested to acknowledge rect. of your favour of 14th Inst. to the Governor and Directors of the Society for establishing useful Manufactories. It is with pleasure I inform you that your observations in general conincide with the opinion of the board of Directors, and that they will esteem as a favour any communication you may be disposed to favour them with from time to time. It is with...
335To George Washington from Anne-Louis de Tousard, 26 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
I understand that a Corps of Artillery and Engeneers is raising, of which the Field officers and Commander in chief have not been yet appointed. Please, Sir, to remember my Services in the American Army, the loss of my right arm; that I have been brought up as an Artillery officer and Served fourteen years in that Corps where lessons and instructions Constituting a good Engeneer were also...
336From George Washington to Louis XVI, 2 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have received the letter wherein you inform me that you have thought proper to give a new Mission to the Sieur de Moustier, and thereby to put an end to his Functions as Minister plenipotentiary here. His conduct during the Time of his residence in this Country, has been such as to meet my entire approbation and esteem, and it is with great pleasure I render him the Justice of this...
337[Diary entry: 15 May 1795] (Washington Papers)
15. Thunder, lightning & rain—cool.
338To Alexander Hamilton from Tench Coxe and Richard Harrison, 2 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
In addition to the Circumstances relative to the Case of the Secretary at War, transmitted from the Comptrollers office for our determination we have the honor to state to you the following facts for the purpose of obtaining the Attorney generals opinion after a knowledge of them. We find that the first appearance of the claim in question, in any form, is in an account current dated at the...
339To 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...
340To George Washington from Charles Pinckney, 2 May 1791 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to remind you that I shall expect the honour of your company at dinner on Thursday at four O Clock —and to a Ball on friday Evening at seven O Clock. I am with respectful Regard Dear Sir Your’s Truly ALS , PHi : Gratz Collection. GW landed at two o’clock in Charleston at Prioleau’s wharf to an artillery salute, pealing bells, and “reiterated shouts of joy” from “an uncommonly large...
341To Thomas Jefferson from C. W. F. Dumas, 8 April 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The Hague, 8 Apr. 1791 . The conferences at Reichenbach, The Hague, and Svishtov have placed the English and Prussians in a dilemma. He does not see how England can avoid bankruptcy or sustain Pitt, who is dominated by Grenville. He has just learned that the proposals by Denmark have been rejected. The Amsterdam regency is in bad humor. Some support it; others, their numbers growing, hope that...
342From John Jay to John Dumont, 27 February 1790 (Jay Papers)
I was favored with yours of the 28 th . Ult. just as I was preparing to go out of Town— it was not untill last Evening that I returned, or I should have taken an earlier opportunity of answering your Letter— Accept my Thanks for your friendly Congratulations. I am convinced of ^believe^ them Sincere ity and value them accordingly— It would give me great Pleasure to have opportunities of...
343To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 23 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
Major Ellicott’s, Briggs’s and Benjamin Ellicott’s Letters of the 29th of June, and 28th of February which you inclosed to Us assert so many untruths, artfully combined that an unusual lengthiness is required to draw the Circumstances into view which have happened for two or three years past. We certainly best know the real State of our own minds with regard to this Corps and Dermott, and of...
344To George Washington from the Rhode Island Ratifying Convention, 9 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
I had on the 29th Ulto the Satisfaction of addressing you after the Ratification of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Convention of this State. I have now the Honor of Inclosing the Ratification as then agreed upon by the Convention of the People of this State; the Legislature is now in Session in this Town, an appointment of Senators will undoubtedly take place in the...
345From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 14 August 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
The Attorney for the District of Virginia has presented to the accounting officers of the Treasury Department, a claim against the United States for his services in attending at Norfolk by direction from the Secy. of State, in order to take depositions respecting a british vessel alledged to have been taken by a french privateer within the limits of the United States; which claim has been...
346To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 18 September 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter dated the 3d. inst. inclosing a Copy of the instructions you have forwarded to Mr. Short, came to my hands by the mail of Wednesday. The appointment of that gentleman to negotiate the Loans in Holland, and the Instructions you have given for his government, meet my approbation. The first as no inconvenience it is conceived will result from his absence from Paris, is a measure of...
347To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 19 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
I duly received your letter of the 12th instant. My avocations have not permitted me sooner to comply with your desire. I have looked over the papers & suggested alterations & corrections; and I have also numbered the paragraphs I. II. III &c. in the order in which it appears to me eligible they should stand in the Speech. I thought upon full reflection you could not avoid an allusion to your...
348From Alexander Hamilton to ———, [April 1793] (Hamilton Papers)
I request the favour of you to present for me the inclosed Bill & when paid to remit the amount in bills of the Bank of the UStates. Yrs. ALS , Yale University Library. This letter is undated but is endorsed “April, 1793” in an unidentified handwriting.
349To Thomas Jefferson from David Jameson, 4 October 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I was honoured with your letter of the 14th. of August, and am truly sorry it is not in my power to throw any light on the subject. I made it my business to see Mr. John Browne and Mr. John Pierce in hope that by a free conversation with them something might be thought of that would give aid to the business, but they assured me every thing that came to their knowledge they had communicated to...
350From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 22 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Your three letters of the 21st of March, 6th and 10th of April have been received, and gave me great pleasure. I accept your challenge to meet you in the field of mutual confidential communication; though I cannot always promise punctuality, or copiousness. I will however do the best I can. Will it not be a necessary preliminary to agree upon a Cypher? One has been devised for me, which though...