31To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 19 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
The news-papers which will go by this post, will present you with a letter from Mr King to Mr Johnson, the consul of the United States at London, containing the agreeable information that such a decree of the Directory as the note from Delacroix to Barthelemy imported, had not passed, nor would be issued, unless Britain set the example. Mr King’s letter as published is doubtless authentic: but...
32To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I received another letter from Mr King—it is dated the 16th of August, covering a duplicate of the former, and saying that he had heard nothing from Mr Monroe respecting the letter from the Directory to Mr Barthelemy, so interesting to the commerce of neutral powers: and this silence was the only circumstance that left him a hope that the letter in question is not genuine. At the...
33To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
To-day I was honoured with your letter of the 10th instant. A commission will be made out for Mr Bourne as districtjudge of Rhode Island. The letters concerning him which I transmitted to you yesterday will add to the satisfaction you have in conferring the commission on him. The gentleman who was recommended for district attorney for Kentuckey, was William Clarke. His commission was forwarded...
34To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 11–12 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
Last Saturday I received from Colo. Monroe a letter dated the 24th of July, in which he refers to a former one, in which he transmitted copies of M. Delacroix letter to him & his answer, on the question, Whether the House of Representatives of the United States had passed a law to carry the British treaty into effect? At the same time Mr Monroe expressed his opinion that this letter originated...
35To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your letter of the 28th ulto. A subsequent letter from Mr Monroe covered the copy of one from Dela Croix, the minister of the French Republic for foreign affairs, in which he still manifests some dissatisfaction: but this was so contrary to the information given by a member of the Directory to Mr Monroe, that the latter says he supposes the act to be that of the...
36To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
Last Saturday I received a letter from lieutenant governor Wood, and opened it, agreeably to your directions. He declines the office of Surveyor General, as not professionally qualified. The next day I rode to Belmont, to converse with Judge Peters relative to Major Alexander: but he was gone to see his brother Colo. Robinson, at Naaman’s Creek. On Tuesday Judge Peters, as usual, came to town,...
37To Alexander Hamilton from Timothy Pickering, 24 September 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just received your letter of the 21st relative to Mr. Pitcairn. As soon as the President had determined to change our Minister at Paris, I considered it not less necessary to make a change in the Consulate; and Mr Pinckney will go thither with the requisite powers on this subject. I have mentioned to him Mr Pitcairn as the gentleman whom he may safely and advantageously employ in the...
38To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 20 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I received from Mr Monroe a letter dated the 12th of June, from which we may conclude that the complaints of the French Republic, which had been the subject of his former letters, will not be renewed. But it may be more satisfactory to read Mr Monroes own words at length; and therefore I inclose an extract from his letter, being the only thing interesting in it. Mr Craik will present...
39To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 20 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have just received a letter dated the 17th from Judge Benson: He accepts the place of third Commissioner under the fifth article of the British treaty, and was to set out yesterday for Passamaquoddy, to meet there the other Commissioners on the third of October. The trust, he remarks, is not incompatible with his present office; and interfering with it only for a short time, his acceptance...
40To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 19 September 1796 (Adams Papers)
The President set out early this morning for Mount Vernon; and soon after, his address to the people of the United States appeared in Claypoole’s news-paper. Of this public declaration, that he will not be a candidate for the office of President, at the ensuing election, I supposed it would be grateful to you to receive the earliest advice. The sentiments he has expressed on the occasion may...
41To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President the instructions for Mr Ellicott, altered to conform to the President’s idea. If approved, they will be delivered this evening to Mr Ellicott, as he wishes to start very early in the morning. The Secretary also submits a draught of instructions for General Pinckney—corrected & enlarged. ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB ,...
42To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
The paper you put into my hands to-day was attentively perused by us all. I am now going over it by myself, but it will not be possible to get thro’ in time to return it before bed-time. Before breakfast in the morning I will wait upon you with it. I am most respectfully your obt servt ALS , DLC:GW . The date is taken from the docket. Pickering probably commented on a copy of GW’s farewell...
43To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 14 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
I submit to your consideration the inclosed draught of instructions for Messrs Ellicott & Freeman, for running the boundary line between the U. States and the Spanish colonies of East & West Florida; and am, most repectfully, your obedt servant I have just heard that Capt. German is arrived, & consequently Mr Pinckney, from Charleston. ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG...
44To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 10 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully submits to the President of the U. States a letter intended for Mr King, the occasion of which is exhibited in the accompanying letter from the deputy collector of Norfolk. ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. GW replied to Pickering on this date . The deputy collector at Norfolk, Va.,...
45To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 9 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
In draughting the letter of credence for Mr Pinckney, the motives for his appointment, arising out of the present state of things between the U. States & France, pressed me to depart from the usual formalities of this diplomatic instrument: it is therefore respectfully submitted to your consideration, for any alterations you may deem proper previous to its being transcribed. I also submit the...
46To John Adams from Timothy Pickering, 5 September 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have just received your letter of the 29th. ulto. enquiring about your son Thos. B. Adams at the Hague. On the day of the date of your letter I recd. one from him dated the 28th. of May, from which be pleased to receive the following extract, containing all the information I can give in answer to your enquiries, excepting that the latest letter from your eldest son is dated the 22d. of June...
47To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
(Private) The day before yesterday, Mr McHenry put into my hands a printed Talk of the President of the United States to the Cherokee Nation. I had not an opportunity of examining it till to-day. You will permit me, sir, to say, that it appears to me in many parts exceptionable. As it was handed to me not for advice, but merely for information of a thing done, I think it most proper to...
48To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the United States, the draught of a letter to lieutenant governor Wood of Virginia, concerning the ship Eliza, Captain Hussey, captured by the Thetis British frigate, and carried into Hampton-road. It was intended to send the letter by this day’s post: but the absence of the Clerk who had locked up the inclosed papers, prevented...
49To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment left Colo. Hawkins—I called twice in the course of the day without finding him at his lodgings. His ideas & wishes correspond with what I mentioned to-day—to be the superintendant of the four southern nations—Chickasaws, Cherokees, Choctaws & Creeks—the latter requiring at present peculiar attention. He would prefer the Indian Department to that of the Surveyor. Two thousand...
50To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 22 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter came under cover to me from Wm Lithgow Attorney for the district of Maine, which he says contains his resignation. Daniel Davis Esquire of Portland is a lawyer well recommended by the Members of Congress to suceed Mr Lithgow, & I think has been doing the business of the office since Mr Lithgow’s indisposition prevented his attending the courts. The enquiries concerning a...
51To James Madison from Timothy Pickering, 19 August 1796 (Madison Papers)
Last week I received the inclosed letter dated Pisa 24th March 1796, addressed to “Edmund Randolph Esqr. Secretary of Congress, Philadelphia,” from Filippo Mazzei, covering one to you, and yours covering one to Mr. Jefferson, of the same date. I opened the first of course, as a public letter; and the other two were not sealed. Not understanding the Italian language, I went in the evening to a...
52To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 16 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
Expecting from Mr Blodget an improved design for a mediterranean passport, I delayed putting the one he sent me, & which I had the honor to lay before you, into the hands of the engraver. But receiving nothing more from him, I shewed his original design to Mr Wolcott & Mr McHenry who both approved of it, with some little alterations. The engraving has proved a more tedious work than I had...
53To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 12 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
This week I received letters from Colo. Humphreys dated the 4th and 8th of June. The latter covered an edict of the government of Portugal for opening a free port at Junguara, just at the Entrance of the harbour of Lisbon. Colo. Humphreys embraced this occasion to compliment the Minister on the liberal policy of the government, and to express his hopes that the subject of the free admission of...
54To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 3 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
In my letter of the 30th ulto which was forwarded by post the first instant, I had the pleasure to mention the arrival of the Spanish treaty, ratified by His Catholic Majesty. I now do myself the honor to transmit the treaty itself (being a duplicate original) with a proclamation, for your signature, in order to promulgate the same to the citizens of the U. States. I also inclose for your...
55To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 30 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
With very sincere pleasure I announce to you the ratification of the treaty with Spain. I received the ratified copy this day by the mail from New-York, with a certificate signed by the Prince of Peace and Mr Rutledge of the exchange of the ratifications, as on the 25th of April. I do not know why the certificate and the ratification on the part of Spain bear that date; for the treaty ratified...
56To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
(private) About noon to-day Mr John Churchman, who has been these two or three years in Europe, on account of his supposed discoveries relative to the variation of the Magnetic Needle, called at the office. He came last from Bourdeaux, and was the bearer of Mr Monroe’s letter of the 2d of May. I told him it had been broken open; & after a few questions, asked him to give me a certificate of...
57To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honoured with your letter of the 25th and agreeably to your directions have had a commission made out for Samuel Williams to be Consul of the U. States at Hamburg, & now inclose it for your signature. I will take care to advise Mr Monroe of the appointment. The untoward situation of the Cannon foundaries last year, excited apprehensions that the Contractors might fail of...
58To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 27 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
On the 25th I received letters from Colo. Humphreys dated April 30. May 30. & June 1. accompanied by a large packet from Mr Barlow at Algiers. The substance of the information respecting the pending treaty with Algiers is, That Mr Donaldson had gone to Leghorn, with orders from Mr Barlow to transmit two hundred thousand dollars to Algiers, which would procure the redemption of our captive...
59To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 26 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
In the letter with which you honored me, bearing date the 27th of June, your expressed your approbation of John Davis, the late Comptroller, to be appointed to the office of District Attorney of Massachusetts, provided his professional knowledge (of which you had no correct information) should be deemed adequate to the discharge of its duties, and he would place himself in a situation to...
60To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 21 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
(Private) I received this morning your favour of the 18th. The subjects of it shall have all the attention of which I am capable. De la Croix exhibition of the causes of complaint from the French Republic against the “ government ” of the U. States (which you will receive with Colo. Monroe’s answer in my public letter of this date) will place you at ease with respect to that country. The...