101To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The return of boats of which your Excellency has a copy, is dated the 2d of April. At that time there appeared to be 60 batteaux at Wappon’s creek that were repairable. On the 29th of April there were eight batteaux there under repair, & fifteen more repairable, but very old. The residue, of consequence, of the 60, had been repaired & taken away. But I do not know of any repaired elsewhere;...
102To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 11 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose another letter from Colo. Humphreys which came in some of his late letters from Lisbon, & which among a mass of dispatches was overlooked. I have yet met with no private conveyance for the case with the buckles mentioned in my last. A letter of January 12 th reed this day from Mr Adams at the Hague, contains his conjectures on the motives of the extraordinary...
103To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 9 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
I put one of your letters for Mr King and the four before received (for Sr John Sinclair & others) on board a vessel bound to London, & which was to have sailed last Sunday or monday; but the continued rainy weather has detained her. Mr Monroe has anticipated me in furnishg you, by his publication in the news-papers, the correspondence between us on the subject of his demanding the reasons of...
104To 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...
105To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 16 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
General Gates has written to Congress describing his distressed situation from the want of men, money, arms, provisions &c. We were surprized at the mention of arms ; for by a return made in February it appeared that better than 2000 stands were then at Albany, fit for service; and the board have never given any order respecting them. Colo. Malcom says a quantity were sent from thence lately...
106Timothy Pickering to Tobias Lear, 31 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
Can you inform me of any of the facts or representations communicated to the president relative to news-papers, which led him to notice them in his speech, at the opening of the present session of Congress? It seemed generally to be understood to imply that obstructions to their transmission had arisen from the post office law. Were not the obstructions to the papers which should have passed...
107To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State begs leave to inform the President of the United States, that the patent for Benjamin Tyler is destined to be carried to him by Mr Strong, who will leave town to-morrow morning by three o’clock. If the President should find time to attend to it before this evening, the Secretary will then have the honor to receive it at the President’s house. ALS , DNA : RG 59,...
108To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 25 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
yours of the 22d inst. came to hand yesterday evening. I immediately sent orders to the Clothier General to send on to camp without delay all the shirts, over-alls & blankets in his possession, reserving only so many as were necessary to answer the orders given for supplying Colo. Proctors & Colo. Hartley’s regiments. The Clothier General informs me there will then remain but about 150...
109To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 1 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your letter of the 28th ult. by this days post. A copy of the laws neatly bound, and of my letter to General Pinckney with the documents to which it refers, have been some time packed up for you. The workman who undertook to make rollers for your copying press, has been called on many times; and he has often promised to complete them. At the last call, about two days since...
110To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 14 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a letter from Colo. Lowther to Governor Brooke, and an extract from the Governor’s letter of the 4th relating to it. I have written to the Governor that I should submit the matter to you.: In the mean time informing him that peace was now made with the Indian tribes on all the frontiers of the U. States; & that even Mero District was enjoying perfect tranquility;...
111To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 11 April 1798 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to inclose copies of the instructions to and dispatches from the Envoys of the United States at Paris. No statement of the facts described in the latter can give them their proper force: but the facts as related by the envoys, with the manner and all their circumstances, carry irresistable evidence to every fair and unprejudiced mind, that this display of corruption and...
112To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 14 April 1798 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed has just come to hand with Mr King’s public letters. The publication of the instructions to our Envoys to the French Republic and their dispatches is operating admirably. The Democrats in neither House of Congress make much opposition: and out of doors, the French Devotees are rapidly quitting the worship of their idol. The long-enduring patience of the people of the U. States...
113To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 30 October 1797 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed pamphlet on Orcharding, addressed to you by the author, I received this evening under cover from Mr King. Another copy is also addressed to you, & has the following addition on the cover—“for the philosophical society of Philadelphia, with the author’s compts.” If you think proper to introduce it to the Society, & favour me with your letter for the purpose, I will put that under...
114Timothy Pickering to Tobias Lear, 14 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter from Samuel Freeman Esqr. of Portland I should have presented long ago: but laying it by in my desk very safely, it has been overlooked. Perhaps it may now be of no consequence. Possibly you may know Mr Freeman. He has written to me in consequence of an acquaintance formed by his being the postmaster at Portland. I take him to be of a very respectable character there; and...
115To 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...
116To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
As soon as you had decided on the expediency of substituting a consul in the place of Mr Parrish at Hamburg, I requested Mr FitzSimons at Philadelphia, and Mr King at New-York, to enquire for a suitable person to succeed him. I also wrote to Mr Cabot at Boston making the same request. The two former gentlemen informed me that they found no fit character in Philadelphia or New-York. Last Friday...
117To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 26 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Of the seventeen teams impressed by Justice Chandler for the artillery, tents & intrenching tools, five only came in, & those too late to draw the artillery, which I completed with Continental horses by breaking up three double teams. The five single teams which came in I have caused to be loaded with two horsemans tents—75 common tents—& 75 axes besides two crow bars. These will go about six...
118To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Excellency’s letter of the 15th instant, which would have been acknowledged by the subsequent post, had I not been made to expect a small supply of money the same week, by the bearer of which I meant to write to your Excellency: but in this expectation also I was disappointed. My long continuance here has distressed me exceedingly; but it appeared to me that the...
119To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 14 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
Mr FitzSimons has sent me three bills amounting to upwards of five hundred dollars, drawn by the agents in the W. Indies & Halifax for the expences of obtaining copies of the papers in the spoliation cases. I presented them to the Secretary of the Treasury for payment: but to avoid the tediousness of paying such small sums in the form used at the treasury, he desired me to request from the...
120To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the United States the draught of instructions and a seperate letter for Mr Pinckney, relative to further negociations with Great Britain, the Secretary not supposing a formal commission would be necessary. Should he be mistaken, there will be time to prepare a commission, as the ship favourite will not sail till Tuesday. ALS ,...
121To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 31 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of War respectfully informs the President that General Rochambeau, who some time ago proposed sailing for France, now expects to depart next Monday, & will gladly take any letters or commands with which the President may have occasion to honour him. AL , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The following Monday was 2 November. Donatien-Marie-Joseph de Vimeur, vicomte de Rochambeau, had come to...
122To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
I was last evening honoured with your two letters of the 8th. Measures were taking to supply the great article of wood, to the amount of five hundred cords, in addition to the quantity first proposed; in consequence of a late letter from your Excellency to general Knox; from which it was thought not improbable that a larger garrison than five hundred men must be provided for. Those measures...
123To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 16 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the happiness to inform you that the box, containing the orderly books & some returns, which has been so long missing is found. It was carried to Reading, from whence it was lately brought to this city with Genl Mifflin’s papers. ’tis now at the War Office, & waits your orders. I am desired by the board to remind your Excellency of their request to know your sentiments relative to the...
124To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 23 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully requests the President of the United States to grant his order on the Secretary of the Treasury, to pay to the Secretary of State fourteen hundred and ninety eight dollars and eighty four cents to enable him to take up a bill of exchange dated August 11th 1795, drawn by Fisher & Darrell of Antigua on Thomas Fitzsimons Esqr. Chairman of the Committee of...
125To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 28 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have in some measure anticipated your wishes of information relative to General Wayne’s treaty: and now have the pleasure to inclose a copy received yesterday evening, with an extract from his letter of the 9th ulto being all that he says on the subject. He has obtained more land than was expected. The chiefs who signed the treaty are not numerous: but I observe among them the names of Blue...
126From Timothy Pickering to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 9 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of War requests Mr Dandridge to lay before the President the inclosed letter of John Parker Hale, lieutenant in the corps of artillerists and engineers, desiring to resign. From the information heretofore received by the Secretary, the resignation is not to be regretted. Mr Hale wishes to leave town to-morrow morning. AL , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Also on this date John Harris,...
127From Timothy Pickering to Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., 10 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
In answer to your favour of this date just handed me, relative to the standards for the army, I have to inform you, that they came to the store at this place in a box with other articles, directed to Mr Frothingham field commissary of military stores, who opened the box & took out some of the articles, but left the standards, saying he would send for them: how ever, there they are yet. This is...
128To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
The intelligence contained in the enclosed copy of a letter from Mr Storer, seemed to be of sufficient consequence to trouble you with; and I should have transmitted it a week ago; but the sickness in my family, and the death of a favourite son, have prevented me. To Governor Simcoe’s public professions of regret &c. at the issue of the treaty, a number of facts may be opposed. These with...
129To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 May 1791 (Washington Papers)
(Duplicate) Sir, Philadelphia May 2d 1791. Of the measures pursuing by general Knox, relative to Indian affairs, he doubtless makes to you the necessary communications. In those communications, he may, perhaps, have mentioned my being here, preparatory to my undertaking another mission to the Indians of the Six Nations, for the purpose of confirming the peace and friendship subsisting between...
130Timothy Pickering to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 31 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed draught of a letter to Mr Seagrove touches on points of such importance, I think it necessary to be submitted to the President’s inspection: and as it respects Mr Seagrove’s letter to the President, the submission is indispensable. The letter with its inclosures accompany my answer, as well as Mr Seagrove’s Talk, which has occasioned many of my observations: but which from its...
131To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your last letters to be forwarded to Europe I expect will proceed next week. The three for England I shall put under cover to Mr King and send them by the British packet which is to sail next Wednesday or Thursday. I have the honor to inclose copies of the Presidents communications to Congress on the 18th & 21st of January, concerning French affairs. In my report, I had noticed (in as gentle...
132To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 8 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with your Excellency’s letter of this date respecting the preparations to be made for the next campaign. The reason of my stay at the North River I mentioned in a letter from thence. As soon as I obtained the returns in that quarter I came away. A general return is forming, which, from the multiplicity of articles, will be voluminous; but as soon as possible I will complete and...
133Timothy Pickering to George Washington Craik, 19 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
I will thank you to send me a letter to be addressed to Mr Adet, concerning some prizes sent into Charleston & Wilmington; if the President approves of the draught. Mr Adets last long note will be in Brown’s paper on Monday morning; & I wish to acknowledge its receipt before hand. yr obt ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters. No reply to Pickering from either GW or Craik has been found. The...
134To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday a letter arrived from Mr Pinckney. It is dated at Madrid the 21st of July. He arrived there the 28th of June. As Mr Short had observed in his letters, little business could be done at this period, the Court being in a state of perambulation. Mr Pinckney however had obtained two interviews with the Duke de Alcudia; but to no purpose: that court appears to be playing the old...
135To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 23 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honoured with your Excellency’s letter of the 21st, to the several directions in which I shall pay due attention. Yesterday I received a letter from Major Claiborne dated the 12th instant informing me “that the two expresses stationed at the Bowling Greene, had left it some days for want of support." As Colo. Carrington had comprehended in his estimate for Virginia one charge...
136To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 30 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
The letter from Judge Walton covering the proceedings of the meeting at Augusta against the late treaty with Great Britain, were to have been transmitted in my 1ast: they are now inclosed. I have acknowledged the receipt of the letter and proceedings, seeing they were addrerssed to the Department of State, to be laid before you. Mr Wolcott concurs with me in opinion that they are not necessary...
137From Timothy Pickering to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 26 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
Mr Dandridge will be pleased to present the inclosed letter from Mr Seagrove to the President. It contains the agreeable intelligence that the Creek Nation are coming in with prisoners & stolen property, and are determined to be at peace with every part of the United States. ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . An extract of Creek Indian agent James Seagrove’s letter to GW of 12 May states: “I have...
138To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 16 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
The pay & Subsistence of divers officers in the quarter master generals department being deemed inadequate to their services, & no provision made for some necessary officers, the following view of the present appointments and of those proposed, is respectfully presented to the consideration of the Commander in Chief. chart The condition of the Southern States compelling the army there to draw...
139To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 8 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
It will give you additional pleasure to learn that such is the increased and increasing respectability of the U. States among the European powers—that from being viewed with indifference & even contempt, our friendship and commerce are courted. The Russian minister at London has suggested to Mr King that a Commercial treaty with the U. States would be agreeable to the Emperor Paul; and added,...
140Enclosure: Timothy Pickering to Henry Knox, 8 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
On the 23d Ulto I sent Horatio Jones the Interpreter to Buffaloe Creek to hasten the departure of the Indians and to give them any necessary assistance on the way. I thought also that he would be able to remove any little obstructions which the British Agents might continue to throw in the way. He went directly to their principal village, assembled the Chiefs and delivered my message. The...
141To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 20 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully returns the papers from Newbern, with the draught of an answer which seemed to him pertinent to the occasion. Mr Smith thinks it would by no means suit Mr Izard to undertake the St Croix business. In conversing afterwards on the subject with Mr King, Mr Cabot & Mr Ames, and looking over all the States eastward of Pennsylvania, no character appeared so...
142To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 20 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
(private) Last evening, about nine o’clock, when sitting in my office, the Messenger brought me a letter from Mr Monroe. When going to open it, I found it had already been broken open, but the broken edges of the paper had been slightly fastened again by introducing some pieces of wafer. The original sealing, as usual with Colo. Monroe’s letters, was with wax. The wife of the Messenger went to...
143To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 20 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
General Knox has handed me the inclosed communications from General Wilkinson, deeming them proper to be seen by you. He desires me afterwards to return them. General Knox’s letter of the 4th of last December to General Wilkinson accompanies the communications of the latter, to render them intelligible. I am most respectfully sir, your obt servant ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Pickering...
144To 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...
145To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 10 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your Excellency’s letter of this date, and will pay due attention to the contents. I had no notice for the demand for planks till Gl Knox mentioned it today: He will inform your Excellency how I proposed to obtain a part of them. I shall send an express to Colo. Hughes at Albany to morrow morning on that account; and one for Boston to morrow afternoon on the score of...
146To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 14 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
Solicitous to retain in the public service so estimable an Officer as Captain Dale, I wished to place the indulgence he requests on such ground as might save that service from injury and afford a justification to the Executive of the United States in granting him a furlough. Captain Dale will undoubtedly return from China in full time to take command of the Frigate to which he has been...
147To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 1 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
This morning’s mail brought me your letter of the 25th. I will forward the two letters you inclosed for John Trumbull Esqr. & Mr Dandridge, to the care of Mr King, by the Grantham packet, which is to sail this week. Governor Davie of No. Carolina is appointed, and, should the mission proceed, will accept the place of Envoy to the French Republic, in the room of Patrick Henry Esqr. who...
148To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 30 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor to lay before the President of the U. States the result of his examination of Mr Livingston’s speech. He also returns the draught of the proposed answer to the House, in the 3d page of which he has restored the idea of the Senate being composed of few members, as a reason why they participated in the power of making treaties: for taking the thing at large,...
149To 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...
150To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 25 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
This morning it occurred to me that very little if any of the cloathing at Springfield had been sent forward to the main army; and that as six brigades will perhaps remain here or in the neighbourhood for some time; or at least may not return soon to the westward, it may be best to order a sufficiency of the cloathing for them to be stopped, which will save an expensive carriage of a hundred...