9351To Alexander Hamilton from Caleb Gibbs, 12 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Barre, Massachusetts, December 12, 1791. On September 10, 1792, Gibbs wrote to Hamilton : “I wrote you On the 12th. of Decr. last.” Letter not found. ] Gibbs, like H, had been an aide-de-camp to George Washington during the American Revolution.
9352To Alexander Hamilton from Otho H. Williams, 12 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Baltimore, December 12, 1791. “I have no reason to doubt the probability of receiving a sufficient sum before the first of January next to pay 10,000 Dollars as you desire to Messrs. Elliot & Williams.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. See H to Williams, December 7, 1791 .
9353To Alexander Hamilton from Otho H. Williams, 12 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have very lately received a letter which has a reference to your circular of the 5th. of August; and upon reperusing the latter I discover that I have been very remiss, but I hope not censurable, for not replying to some parts of it sooner. My attention to the previous parts, and a supposition that I was not immediately concerned in the latter, produced in my mind, a temperory suspension of...
9354To Alexander Hamilton from Otho H. Williams, 12 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Baltimore, December 12, 1791. According to its catalogue description, this letter relates to the “Registry of the Brig Dove, Josiah Parsons, master.” Letter not found. ] Sold by Harvard Trust Company, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1962. See H to Williams, December 6, 1791 .
9355Memorandum of Thomas Jefferson, 12 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
The discussions which are opening between mister Hammond & our government, have as yet looked towards no objects but those which depend on the treaty of peace. there are however other matters to be arranged between the two governments, some of which do not rest on that treaty. the following is a statement of the whole of them. 1. The Western posts. 2. the Negroes carried away. 3. the debt of...
9356To George Washington from William Lewis, 12 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
I must beg that you will excuse the liberty which I take, in troubling you with the following representation in behalf of William Jones now Confined in the Jail of the County of Philadelphia. He was a Mariner belonging to the Brigantine Andrew, and was at the last District Court for the Pennsylvania District, Convicted of an assault and Battery on his Commander Captain William Young. His...
9357From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 12 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
It is with great concern that I communicate to you the information received from Major General St Clair of the misfortune which has befallen the troops under his command. Although the national loss is considerable according to the scale of the event, yet it may be repaired without great difficulty, excepting as to the brave men who have fallen on the occasion, and who are a subject of public...
9358To James Madison from Daniel Carroll, 12 December 1791 (Madison Papers)
I send by this post the act of our Assembly past last Saturday entiteld [ sic ] an Act Concerning the Territory of Columbia—and the City of Washington. I refer you to it. The very great advantages of this Law will be strikeing. It gives some relief to my mind which has indeed been much oppressd by the disagreable business we have lately had on hand. I am sorry for the Chagrin which it must...
9359To James Madison from David Owings and David Woods, 12 December 1791 (Madison Papers)
Permit us (th’o Stranger[s]) to beg leave to trouble you, with a matter that there is no one but you Can do for us. We were Soldierers in the late Continen⟨tal⟩ army—and never have had our Claims Settled and have laid the matter before the Assembly of this State—and they have Judged it reasonable. And sent the papers on to Congress—in order to have them paid but we are inform’d Congress...
9360For the National Gazette, [ca. 12 December 1791] (Madison Papers)
Dependent Territories Are of two kinds. First —Such as yield to the superior state at once a monopoly of their useful productions, and a market for its superfluities. These, by exciting and employing industry, might be a source of beneficial riches, if an unfavorable balance were not created by the charge of keeping such possessions. The West Indies are an example. Second —those, which, though...
9361To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Bruce, 12 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Having repeatedly Experienced favors of this kind from you it Emboldens me still to intrude further on your goodness.—David Owings and David Woods have got some military Claim sent on by the Assembly to Congress to have them settled—And they have wrote to Mr. Madison to lay them seperately before Congress. And as I was in some measure the Instigation of their not being paid as you will see by...
9362To Thomas Jefferson from Daniel Carroll, 12 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I do myself the honor of transmitting herewith, a copy of the Act , passed last Saturday, by the General Assembly, entitled an Act concerning the Territory of Columbia and the City of Washington. It is not from a certified copy. I believe however correct. The Bill propos’d that the Willfull shou’d be under the same circumstances with the Minors &ca. but it was thought proper in that case to...
9363From Thomas Jefferson to George Hammond, 12 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of inclosing you an extract of a letter from a respectable character, giving information of a Mr. Bowles lately come from England into the Creek country, endeavouring to excite that nation of Indians to war against the United States and pretending to be employed by the government of England. We have other testimony of these his pretensions and that he carries them much...
9364Enclosure: Extract of Letter concerning W. A. Bowles, 12 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
A vessel arrived here from New Providence with certain accounts of a Mr. Bowles being there, having lately arrived from London in company with five Indians, and British goods to amount of upwards thirty thousand pounds sterling, said to be delivered as presents (by Bowles) to the Indians in this quarter from the goverment of Great Britain. That the said Bowles was actually to sail four days...
9365Report on Matters for Negotiation with Great Britain, 12 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The discussions which are opening between Mr. Hammond and our government, have as yet looked towards no objects but those which depend on the treaty of peace. There are however other matters to be arranged between the two governments, some of which do not rest on that treaty. The following is a statement of the whole of them. 1. The Western posts. 2. The Negroes carried away. 3. The debt of...
9366To Thomas Jefferson from José Ignacio de Viar, 12 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Don Joseph Torino, mercht. of Madrid, having sollicited the interposition of the King my master to recover a debt which the Ct. de Espilly assigned to him of 15960 rials of vellon (or 798 dollars) due from the U.S. or their Chargé des affaires at that court, his majesty has commanded me to lay before the U.S. this sollicitation to obtain so legitimate a payment. In pursuance of his royal...
9367To George Washington from Samuel Gath, 13 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
Give me leave to offer you ray sentiments, or oppinion, what wou’d be the most reasonable, and prudent method to settle a lasting Covenant, or treaty of peace, with the Indians in the westren County—From what little I have read in my youth, I remember great crueltys practised by the Spanard Commanders in Maxico and Perew, and something has been practised Similer, in this here country called...
9368Memorandum from Thomas Jefferson, 13 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President of the U.S. and sends him the letter he has prepared for mister Hammond relative to his Commercial commission. he also incloses the rough draught of the one he has prepared on the subject of the treaty of peace, with the documents he proposes to communicate in support of the facts. the 1st of these (the Substance of the Conference &c.) is...
9369Henry Knox to Tobias Lear, 13 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, 13 Dec. 1791. “Mr Kirkland seems desirous that the President . . . should peruse his plan relatively to the Oneida indians, and I therefore send it accordingly.” LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The enclosed plan of the Rev. Samuel Kirkland, missionary to the Oneida Indians since 1766, probably was his “Plan of Education for the Indians, Particularly of the Five Nations,” which he...
9370From George Washington to Pierre L’ Enfant, 13 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 7th instant, and can only once more, and now for all, inform you that every matter and thing which has relation to the Federal district, and the City within it, is committed to the Commissioners appointed agreeably to the “Act for establishing the temporary and permanent Seat of the Government of the United States” that it is from them you are to derive your...
9371From George Washington to James Madison, 13 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
At as early an hour this evening as you can make it convenient, I should be glad to see you. yrs sincerely & affecly Sparks transcript , MH . The only year of GW’s presidency in which 13 Dec. fell on a Tuesday was 1791.
9372From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 13 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
I place before you the plan of a City that has been laid out within the District of ten miles square, which was fixed upon for the permanent seat of the Government of the United States. DS , sold by Sotheby’s, Catalog 5759, item 205, 26 Oct. 1988; LB , DLC:GW ; copy, DNA : RG 233, Second Congress, 1791–1793, Records of Legislative Proceedings, Journals. For the background to this letter, see...
9373From James Madison to William Madison, 13 December 1791 (Madison Papers)
Phila . Dec. 13. 91. “I have recd. yours of the 3d. instant, mentioning the conversation held with you by an intimate acquaintance of Col: Henry. Having never, in the midst of political contests indulged any personal ill-will to that gentleman, & at all times admired his eminent talents, I cannot be supposed insensible to any friendly sentiments he may have expressed towards me, or indisposed...
9374From James Madison to Baron von Steuben, 13 December 1791 (Madison Papers)
I have not been neglectful of your commission, though I am so late in making report of my proceedings. Whilst I was in Virginia I laid a train for remitting to Col: Anderson the money lodged with me, and since my arrival here I have learned that it is gone to him by a safe hand. I also wrote to a friend in Richmond, desiring the proper steps to be taken there for obtaining patents. An answer...
9375To James Madison from Daniel Carroll, 13 December 1791 (Madison Papers)
I wrote a few lines lately confidentially. The following are under the same circumstances. You have heard I doubt not by our official letter that Major L’Enfant immediately on his return proceeded to finish the demolition of Mr. Carrolls House, our directions to the contrary notwithstanding. On our meeting he sent us a letter of which we have not yet taken any notice, excepting what has passd...
9376To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Barclay, 13 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Gibraltar, 13 Dec. 1791 . He was compelled to put in here on 4 Dec. by contrary winds and hopes to resume his journey to Tangier today. He does not know where he will meet the Emperor, who by last accounts had apparently set out from Larach to Mequinez. RC ( DNA : RG 59, CD ); 1 p.
9377From Thomas Jefferson to Christopher Gore, 13 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Having received from the British Minister here, a Memorial on the Case of Thomas Pagan, a British Subject, supposed to have been wrongfully condemned and imprisoned by Authority of the Courts of Massachusetts, I take the liberty of asking you to procure for me a complete Copy of the Record of Proceedings in this Case. I understand there has been something done by the Legislature and Executive,...
9378From Thomas Jefferson to George Hammond, 13 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have laid before the President of the United States the letters of Nov. 30. and Dec. 6. with which you honored me, and in consequence thereof, and particularly of that part of your letter of Dec. 6th. where you say that you are fully authorised to enter into a negociation for the purpose of arranging the commercial intercourse between the two countries, I have the honour to inform you that I...
9379From Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 13 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I enclose you the copy of a Letter received from Don Joseph de Viar one of his Catholic Majesty’s commissioners here, stating the claim of Don Joseph Torino for a sum of money paid by the Count de Espilles for our captives at Algiers, and on account of our Commissioner Mr. Lamb who was sent there. You will be pleased to consider this as a part of the debt, which in my letter of July 13th. of...
9380To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Willson Peale, [13? December 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of sitting today will oblige Your very Hble Servt., FC ( PPAP : Peale Letter Book); in Peale’s hand; undated except as above, but the letter succeeding this one was written after an illness and apparently after some lapse of time on 12 Jan. 1792. The one immediately preceding it is the note to TJ printed at 3 Dec. 1791. Neither Peale’s two notes nor TJ’s presumed replies are...
9381From Thomas Jefferson to José Ignacio de Viar, 13 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I was not unapprised that monies had been advanced by the government of Spain, or some of it’s Officers, for our captives at Algiers, nor had I been inattentive to it: but no account, nor any specific demand on that subject had come to my knowlege; and finding for some time past the utter impossibility of getting letters either to or from Mr. Carmichael, I had been obliged to adopt a...
9382From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 13 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President of the U.S. and sends him the letter he has prepared for Mr. Hammond relative to his Commercial commission. He also incloses the rough draught of the one he has prepared on the subject of the treaty of peace, with the documents he proposes to communicate in support of the facts. The 1st. of these (the Substance of the Conference &c.) is...
9383From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 14 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I do not think you will be justifiable in making a deduction from the legal rate of duty on Coffee, on account of its being broken, nor on cocoa, because of an inferiority of quality, they being in each instance as I presume the unmixed article, on which the Legislature has imposed an uniform impost, without providing a variation of duty in case of differences of quality. The shells of Coffee...
9384To Alexander Hamilton from Otho H. Williams, 14 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your instructions respecting the Brige. Trimmer and she shall be dispatched accordingly. What you say of disbursements of money actually made may make it necessary to inform you that in the case of the Brig Trimmer, and in others similar thereto (where the matter of illegality was duly reported without reserve, and manifestly without any intention of evading the law) the custom...
9385To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 14 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honour to submit to the President a letter from Mr de Viar, with the answer he has prepared to it, and a letter in consequence for Colo. Humphreys. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DLC:GW . The enclosures were the Spanish chargé José Ignacio de Viar’s letter to Thomas Jefferson of 12 Dec. and Jefferson’s reply of 13 Dec., as well as Jefferson’s letter to...
9386From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 14 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
I am very glad to find that matters, after all that has happened, stand so well between the Comrs and Majr L’Enfant. I am sorry, however, to hear that the work is not in a more progressive State. Yesterday afternoon I wrote a letter, of which the enclosed is the copy to Majr L’Enfant. and receivg his of the 10th added the Postscript thereto. I hope the two will have a good effect. I am always...
9387From George Washington to Henry Lee, 14 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
Unfortunate and melancholy as the event is, which has given rise to your communication of the instant, I sincerely thank you for it. Since the receipt of your letter official account of the defeat is come to hand, and is herewith enclosed. As the whole of it went to Congress, it was thought best to expunge no part of that which should be given to the public; otherwise the throwing away of...
9388To Thomas Jefferson from George Hammond, 14 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
In answer to your letter of yesterday, I can only repeat what I have before stated, in my first conversations with you after my arrival, and subsequently in my letter of the 6th. of this month; viz, that I have no special Commission, empowering me to conclude any definitive arrangement upon the subject of the commercial intercourse between Great Britain and the United States: But that I...
9389To Thomas Jefferson from George Hammond, 14 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor of acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 12th of this month, which did not reach me until yesterday evening. With respect to Bowles, I have no knowledge of any circumstance whatever relative to him, except that of his actual visit to England. His name was never mentioned to me in any manner, directly or indirectly by any of his Majesty’s ministers: And I therefore...
9390To Thomas Jefferson from George Washington, 14 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very glad to find that matters, after all that has happened, stand so well between the Commissioners and Majr. L’Enfant.—I am sorry, however, to hear that the work is not in a more progressive State. Yesterday afternoon I wrote a letter, of which the enclosed is the copy to Majr. L’Enfant, and receiving his of the 10th. added the Postscript thereto.—I hope the two will have a good...
9391Appendixes Nos. I–XXII: Letters from various authors, 15 December 1791–30 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I From Maria Reynolds December 15, 1791 II From James Reynolds December 15, 1791 III From James Reynolds December 17, 1791 IV From James Reynolds December 19, 1791 V From James Reynolds December 22, 1791 VI From James Reynolds January 3, 1792 VII From James Reynolds
9392To Alexander Hamilton from James Reynolds, 15 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I am very sorry to find out that I have been so Cruelly treated by a person that I took to be my best friend instead of that my greatest Enimy. You have deprived me of every thing thats near and dear to me, I discovred whenever I Came into the house. after being out I found Mrs Reynolds weeping I ask’d her the Cause of being so unhappy. She always told me that she had bin Reding. and she could...
9393From Alexander Hamilton to James Reynolds, 15 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, December 15, 1791. In the “Reynolds Pamphlet” Alexander Hamilton, Observations on Certain Documents Contained in No. V and VI of “The History of the United States for the Year 1796,” in which the Charge of Speculation against Alexander Hamilton, Late Secretary of the Treasury, is Fully Refuted. Written by Himself (Philadelphia: Printed for John Fenno, by John Bioren, 1797)....
9394To Alexander Hamilton from Maria Reynolds, [15 December 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
I have not tim to tell you the cause of my present troubles only that Mr. has rote to you this morning and I know not wether you have got the letter or not and he has swore that If you do not answer It or If he dose not se or hear from you to day he will write Mrs. Hamilton he has just Gone oute and I am a Lone I think you had better come here one moment that you May know the Cause then you...
9395To Alexander Hamilton from William Short, 15 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
I have now the honor of inclosing you a copy of the contract for the loan opened at Antwerp, which could not be had in time to go with my last of the 1st. inst. The customary ratification has been promised on it, which it is hoped will be obtained & forwarded to Antwerp. A duplicate will be sent by another conveyance. The translation is in French, the English language not having been...
9396To Alexander Hamilton from Joseph Whipple, 15 December 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, December 15, 1791. “Mr. Parrott the 2nd Mate of the Scammel having an advantageous offer in the Command of a Ship has risigned his place in the Scammel.… I was obliged to acquiesce in this resignation which is rendered the more inconvenient by the Scarcity of young men Suitable for the Station of 1st. Mate to which I recommended Mr Parrott.… I would propose for your...
9397From George Washington to Charles Pinckney, 15 December 1791 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Charles Pinckney, c.15 Dec. 1791. In a letter to GW of 8 Mar. 1791 , Charles Pinckney wrote that he had received “your obliging letter of introduction which had been previously left by Colonel Trumbull at my house.” GW wrote a letter of introduction for Trumbull to Edward Rutledge on 15 Dec. 1791 and almost certainly wrote a similar letter to Pinckney (and perhaps others)...
9398To George Washington from Henry Knox, 15 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
I will instantly see the person you mention. I enclose a paper by which, and other information, it will appear that some creeks, whom I apprehend to be Bowles party will be here immediately. I am most respectfully Your humble Servant ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The letter is docketed 15 Dec. 1791. The enclosure was an extract of a letter from John Williamson to Philadelphia merchant William...
9399To George Washington from Robert McCulloch, 15 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to State the distressed Circumstances of an Old Soldier. At the Battle (or Surprize) at the Peola I recd Two Wounds with the Bayonet, At the Battle of Germentown I recd a Wound in my left leg, by a Musket Ball, which was afterwards Cut out by the Doctrs—At Chemung, in Genl Sullivans Expidi[ti]on agains the Indians, I recd a bad wound in my left Arm by a Rifle or Musket Ball—at the...
9400To George Washington from Thomas Mifflin, 15 December 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to transmit to you copies of the documents respecting a contract which was made between the State of Pennsylvania and the late Board of Treasury of the United States, for the purchase of a certain tract of land, bounding on lake Erie; a report from the Comptroller General of Pennsylvania exhibiting the amount of the consideration money, as settled by him and the Comptroller of...