1From George Washington to Robert Adam, 28 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
With a pleasing sensibility I received your favor of the 26th, and beg leave to offer you my sincere thanks for the favorable sentiments with which it abounds. I shall always feel pleasure when it may be in my power to render service to Lodge No. 39, and in every act of brotherly kindness to the Members of it; being with great truth Your affecte Brother and Obedt Servant ViAlL .
2From George Washington to Robert Adams, 3 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 18th of Octr 1788 informing me of your having shipped a box of plants for me by desire of Sir Edward Newenham & Colo. Persse. The Box has arrived at Baltimore, and, I am informed, the plants are in good order; but the severity of the season has closed our Rivers and prevented their being sent round. You will please, Sir, to accept my thanks for your attention...
3From George Washington to Robert Alexander, 14 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
Fifteen months ago I informed you in as explicit language as I was master of, of my want of the money you are indebted to me. I have waited (considering the urgency of my call) with patience to see if you would comply with the demand: But no disposition having yet appeared in you to do this; I find myself under the disagreeable necessity of informing you, that unless you name a time not far...
4From George Washington to Jaquelin Ambler, 22 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to receive your favor of the 12th in time for the meeting; and in consequence of the power given me by you, represented the State on the 17th inst. I have the pleasure to inform you that the subscriptions (including those in behalf of the two States) amounted to upwards of four hundred shares; consequently the company became legally constituted & incorporated—a president &...
5From George Washington to American Philosophical Society, 13 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
While you recall to my mind the honor formerly done me by enrolling my name in the List of the Members of your Society, you greatly heighten the pleasure of your present congratulations. For if I know my own inclination, it is to be the friend and associate to men of Virtue & philosophical knowledge; or if I have a wish ungratified, it is that the Arts & Sciences may continue to flourish with...
6From George Washington to Du Bois de l’ Amoligniere, 1 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to Receive your Letter of the 27 July and the Discourse which accompanied it and I beg you Sir to accept my thanks as well for this mark of your attention as for the pleasure I have Received from the perusal of your performance. The interest you take in the future happiness of this Republic—claims the gratitude of every American—and I am persuaded that all, to whom your...
7From George Washington to Robert Anderson, 3 November 1784 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 15th of Octor is at hand, & is the first I have ever received from you. Persons as well acquainted with Husbandry, in its various branches, as you profess yourself to be, & have credentials of, must no doubt be an acquisition to any Country, & meet with encouragement in this. I should be glad to employ a Man who has a perfect knowledge of Agriculture—skilled in the rotation...
8From George Washington to d’Annemours, 20 February 1789 (Washington Papers)
The letter which you did me the honor of writing to me on the 11th came to my hands at George Town the 16th at a time when it was not in my power to give it an answer: but my sentiments on the purport of it were fully delivered to Captn Zollickoffer to whom I beg leave to refer you. Briefly they were—that Major Cottinear de Kerloguin was either a member, of right of the Society of the...
9From George Washington to John Ariss, 8 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
In answer to your letter of the 5th, I have to inform you that I have no untenanted Lands in the Counties of Berkley or Frederick, except two lotts Nos. 5 & 6—the first containing 346½ acres, & the 2d—224½—in the latter, which I bought at the Sale of Colo. George Mercers Estate, in the year 1774—& for which I have had many persons applying to become Tenants. My intention was, after I had...
10From George Washington to Charles, marquis de La Rouërie Armand Tuffin, 15 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
Among the last acts of my public life none afford me more pleasure than to acknowledge the assistance I have received from those worthy men whom I have had the honor to command & whose exertions have so much contributed to the safety & liberty of my Country. In the number of these, you my dear sir, cannot pass unnoticed: the great zeal, intelligence & bravery you have shewn, & the various...
11From George Washington to Charles, marquis de La Rouërie Armand Tuffin, 1 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favor of Yesterday—As you think the Petition of the Officers (dated the 16th of June for Lands within a certain district therein described Northwest of the Ohio) has a different tendency to that which you propose for your Legion—As your views—my ideas—and the Sentimts of Congress may all differ. and Moreover as it would give me great pain to think that a previous...
12From George Washington to Charles, marquis de La Rouërie Armand Tuffin, 13 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 11th inst: has been delivered to me—I am extremely sorry to be obliged to deny any request which comes from you; but never having opened a corrispondence with the Minister of War in France, & having refused the like application from other Officers, it is impossible to comply with it in this instance. I shall however be very happy in giving you a Certificate or letter,...
13From George Washington to Charles, marquis de La Rouërie Armand Tuffin, 3 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
I enclose you a Resolution of Congress which has passed on the 29th of last month, and transmitted to me yesterday, by this you will observe the necessity I am under of requesting you to discharge the Legion under your Command as soon as possible—on application to the War Office in Philadelphia you may be supplied with the necessary blank discharges. I am sr DLC : Papers of George Washington.
14From George Washington to John Armistead, 29 December 1786 (Washington Papers)
Many months having elapsed since I informed you in explicit terms of my want of the money which is due to me from the Estate of your deceased Father, without having received any acknowledgement of the letter, I presume it has miscarried. To avoid the like accident, I have taken the liberty of putting this letter under cover to Mr Holmes, at the Bowling-green, who I persuade myself, will do me...
15From George Washington to John Armistead, 17 April 1786 (Washington Papers)
It has been my hope since my return, that it would be unnecessary for me to remind you of the debt due to me from the Estate of your deceased Father; the speedy payment of which, at different times I have received assurances of from your self. Besides standing much in need of the money (which alone will, I persuade myself, be a stimulus to the discharge of my claim) it may be well for you to...
16From George Washington to John Armstrong, 25 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
From some cause or other which I do not know your favor of the 20th of February did not reach me till very lately. This must apologize for its not being sooner acknowledged. Altho Colo. Blain forgot to call upon me for a letter before he left Philadelphia, yet I wrote a few lines to you previous to my departu[r]e from that place; whether they ever got to your hands or not you best know. I well...
17From George Washington to Darrot, 25 September 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your kind remembrance of me in a letter of the 15th of July from the Island of Tobago, does me much honor; at the sametime that the knowledge of your appointment as Governor of that place, & of your good health, gave me much pleasure. I pray you to be assured that nothing which comes from Colo. D’Arrot can be considered as a trouble; & that to hear, at his moments of leisure, that you are in...
18From George Washington to Samuel Athawes, 8 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 20th of July last informing me of the death of our much esteemed & worthy friend, George William Fairfax Esqr. I sincerely condole with you and his other friends in England upon the occasion. Altho’ the precarious state of his health for several years past must have prepared his friends, in some measure, for his death, yet the event could not take place...
19From George Washington to Jonathan Loring Austin, 23 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Oration of the 4th of July, which you did me the honor to send me; & am much obliged to you for so polite a mark of attention. I have perused it with a great deal of pleasure, & hope that the anniversary of that day will ever be commemorated in this Country as the era from which we may date our happiness & importance. I am Sir, &c. LB , DLC:GW . The Oration Delivered July...
20From George Washington to William Bailey, 2 August 1785 (Washington Papers)
By a letter which I lately received from Mr Stoddert, I am informed that you had agreed to supply my Nephews George & Lawrence Washington with such articles from your Store as their necessities might require. For which I thank you, & I have no doubt of your doing it upon good terms: the amount of which I hope will always be ready when called for. But I have to beg Sir, that they may not be...
21From George Washington to William Bailey, 22 November 1785 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 19th. The expensive manner in which my Nephews are proceeding at George Town, added to some other considerations, have determined me to remove them from the Academy at that place, to Alexandria. I have already for about fourteen months residence, paid to Mr Stoddart & yourself £125.11.0 on their Accot; & it appears from your letter of the above date, that for...
22From George Washington to Stephen Bloomer Balch, 22 November 1785 (Washington Papers)
The expence attending the residence of my Nephews at Georgetown so far exceeds the idea I was led to entertain when they went there, that, in behalf of their Guardian, I am compelled to remove them. When they were sent to the Academy under your management, I was informed by Colo. Fitzhugh, that the charge for schooling & Board (if I am not mistaken) was £31 each—Cloathing if judiciously...
23From George Washington to Stephen Bloomer Balch, 26 June 1785 (Washington Papers)
My Nephews are desireous of going to the Dancing School in George town kept by Mr Tarterson (I think his name is)—and as it is my wish that they should be introduced into life with those qualifications which are deemed necessary, I consent to it. Sometime ago I expressed my approbation of their learning French, & a wish that when you had got your House in order to receive them, they might...
24From George Washington to Stephen Bloomer Balch, 30 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
If you will now, or at any other time, furnish me with an account of the expences which have been incurred for schooling, boarding & clothing of my Nephews, I will transmit you the money. Such of the latter as are proper for them, I hope will be obtained on the best terms, as the cost of them shall be regularly paid. I think it would be very proper to have them taught the French language &...
25From George Washington to Henry Banks, 22 November 1787 (Washington Papers)
For the letter you did me the favor to write to me on the 21st Ult: I offer you my thanks. no application has ever been made to me or to any person on my account that has ever come to my knowledge, for the taxes of my land in Greenbrier and totally ignorant am I of the amount of them—If you can inform me, I would thank you. I have no objection to the settlement of my Lands on the Great...
26From George Washington to François Barbé de Marbois, 7 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
Mr Frondeville President of the Parliament of Normandy has transmitted me the enclosed Letter, with a desire that I would convey it to Mr Lambert—I have some reason to suppose that Gentleman to be at Philadelphia, and shall be much obliged to you to inform me whether I may assure Mr frondeville of the letter being delivered to its address. With much Regard I am Sir Your very Obedt Servt AAE :...
27From George Washington to François Barbé de Marbois, 21 June 1785 (Washington Papers)
The last Post brought me the honor of your favor of the 12th—I am made happy by occasions which induce you to write to me—and shall take pleasure in rendering Mr De Corney any service in my power. I will immediately inform myself of the name, & residence of the Treasurer of the Society of the Cincinnati of this State, and transmit Mr De Corney’s Bill on Colo. Wadsworth, to him. I am greatly...
28From George Washington to François Barbé de Marbois, 4 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have regularly received the letter you did me the honor to write to me on the 30th of November last, accompanied by one from the Count de la Luzerne, respecting the claim of the M. de Saqui des Tourets to be admitted a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. I should certainly find myself extremely happy in an opportunity of gratifying the wishes of so meritorious an officer as M. des...
29From George Washington to François Barbé de Marbois, 20 June 1784 (Washington Papers)
It was with very great pleasure I received from your own pen, an acct of the agreeable, & happy connection you were about to form with Miss Moore. Though you have given many proofs of your predeliction & attachment to this Country, yet this last may be considered not only as a great & tender one, but as the most pleasing & lasting tie of affection. The accomplishments of the lady, with her...
30From George Washington to Barbier de La Serre, 12 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
The letter which you did me the honor to write to me the 20th of last month, I found at this place when I returned from Richmond a few days ago; but it had been previously lost in the high way, & came to me open & without a cover: by what means it met with this accident, I am unable to learn—a neighbour of mine picked it up in the condition I have mentioned, & sent it to me. I pray you to be...
31From George Washington to Thomas Barclay, 2 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
The letter which you addressed to me, on the 18th of last month, has come to hand; and requires that I should write to you a few words on the subject of it. Previous to the receipt of your letter, I had been apprised of your desires by Colo. Humphreys, and made acquainted with the favorable opinion of your services, entertained by the several public Characters from America in Europe. You will...
32From George Washington to Thomas Barclay, 31 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have received a letter from a Doctr Thomas, of Westmoreland in this State, requesting me to make enquiries respecting Dr Spence and his Lady, who were supposed to be lost at sea, several years ago, and who are now reported to be in slavery among the piratical States of Barbary. As I knew of no person more likely to give information on the subject than yourself, I have taken the liberty of...
33From George Washington to Joshua Barney, 24 March 1784 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 6th only came to hand the 22d —I thank you for your care of the Packages sent by the Marqs de la Fayette, for which I will send a Carriage in the course of two or three days —In the mean while, if you would be so obliging as to have them deposited at the lodgings of Mr Jefferson, a Delegate in Congress at Annapolis, from this State, it would oblige me—If you will be pleased...
34From George Washington to Joseph Barrell, 8 June 1788 (Washington Papers)
General Washington, having lately received with great satisfaction the medal which the Owners of the adventure to the Pacific Ocean have been pleased to transmit to him, begs leave to return his best acknowledgments to those Gentlemen for the very acceptable Compliment, and to assure them that his hearty wishes for success attend their enterprise, he hopes and even flatters himself that the...
35From George Washington to William Barton, 7 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
At the same time I announce to you the receipt of your obliging letter of the 28th of last month, which covered an ingenious essay on Heraldry, I have to acknowledge my obligations for the sentiments your partiality has been indulgent enough to form of me, and my thanks for the terms in which your urbanity has been pleased to express them. Imperfectly acquainted with the subject, as I profess...
36From George Washington to Ephraim Basher, 22 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
I thank You sincerely for your affectionate Address, and entreat You to be persuaded that Nothing could be more agreeable to me than Your polite Congratulations: Permit me, in turn, to felicitate You on the happy repossession of your City. Great as your Joy must be on this pleasing Occasion, it can scarcely exceed that which I feel, at seeing You, Gentlemen, who from the noblest Motives have...
37From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 23 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
It would have given me much pleasure to have seen you at Richmond; and it was part of my original plan to have spent a few days with you at Eltham whilst I was in the lower parts of the Country; but an intervention of circumstances not only put it out of my power to do the latter, but would have stopped my journey to Richmond altogether had not the meeting, the time, and the place been of my...
38From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, Jr., 3 February 1788 (Washington Papers)
Mr Dandridge for reasons which he can better explain to you than I, have requested that the enclosed Bonds may be put in Suit. I beg it may be done accordingly. Upon so great a change as has lately taken place in your career of life I ought, possibly to have begun this letter with compliments of congratulation but as they are not less sincere on account of there being made the second Paragraph...
39From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, Jr., 9 March 1788 (Washington Papers)
If my last letter to you, containing the Bond of the deceased Mr Dandridge on which you were requested to bring suit, was not sufficiently explanatory of the intention, I now beg leave to inform you that my meaning is after Judgement shall have been obtained and execution levied on the Slaves belonging to the estate of the decd Gentn that you, or Mr John Dandridge, in behalf of his Mother, wd...
40From George Washington to John Beckley, 5 February 1785 (Washington Papers)
Here with you will receive the ingrossed Bill which was forwarded to me by Colo. Grayson for the purpose of getting printed copies taken. I hope it will get safe to your hands—that I may be satisfied of this, be so good as to inform me thereof. I am Sir &c. LB , DLC:GW . See GW to William Grayson, 22 Jan. 1785 , and note 1 . Beckley acknowledged receipt of GW’s letter on 11 February .
41From George Washington to Thomas Bedwell, 7 June 1786 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 27th ulto with the patterns enclosed, I have received. I am sorry for the misfortunes which you have met with in the course of your business, & heartily wish that your future attempts to carry on any useful manufactory, may succeed; but I think Sir, that it would be presumption in me to recommend to any Gentleman in the State of South Carolina, a person from Philada with...
42From George Washington to Jeremy Belknap, 5 January 1785 (Washington Papers)
A few days ago, under cover from Mr Hazard of Philadelp[hi]a, I was honored with your favor of the 19th of July; and the first volume of your History of New Hampshire. For both, I pray you to accept my thanks—but my acknowledgments are more particularly due, for your favorable expression in the former, of my past endeavors to support the Cause of liberty. The proof you have given of your...
43From George Washington to Paul Bentalou, 19 December 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have received your polite letter of the 11th Inst. accompanied by the nuts &c. which you were so obliging as to send me, and for which I must beg you to accept of my thanks. I shall plant them at a proper season, and shall be very happy, if they can be propagated in this Country, but I doubt very much whether they will thrive here or not, for I have, within these few years, planted several...
44From George Washington to Thomas Bibby, 10 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
The delay in acknowledging the receipt of your favor of the 4th of May from New York, is to be ascribed more to the expectation I have been under of the pleasure of seeing you in this State, & at this House, than to any other cause. and I take the present occasion of assuring you, that if business or inclination should bring you to the Southward, I shall be happy in the opportunity of...
45From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 28 October 1786 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Clement Biddle, 28 Oct. 1786. On 5 Nov. Biddle wrote GW : “I have your Esteemed favour of 28th ulto.”
46From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 4 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
The articles which you shipped on my Acct on board of the Charming Polly have arrived safe & in good order. As I am under the necessity of purchasing, every year, a quantity of coarse Linen, Blanketings &ca for the clothing of my negroes, and sundry other articles for various purposes, and Goods of every kind being sold in Alexandria at a high advance, I am desireous of knowing if I could not...
47From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 20 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your favors of the 26th of May, 13th of June and 7th instt are before me; and I believe unacknowledged—The several Articles sent by the Packet came safe, except one of the Wheels belonging to the harrows which was not landed by Captn Ellwood who dropped them at my landing as he passed by in the Night returning. Whether the omission was in him or in putting them on board in Philadelphia I know...
48From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 27 November 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have now before me your letters of the 16th & 26th of October and 16th of November. The articles sent by Captn Ellwood arrived in good order and agreeable to the Invoice. Captn Ingraham has not yet arrived but is hourly expected. I think the Irish Linen @ 8/2 is very high, and as there has been a late importation of Linens into Alexandria I will endeavour to supply myself at that place; if I...
49From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 7 August 1787 (Washington Papers)
In addition to the articles contained in the Memo. given to you some time since, I pray you to procure, and send by Captn Steward the following. A Wimble bit—compleat. Pickled Walnuts & India Mangoes none were sent before. Thompsons Seasons and Gutheries Geography and the Art of Speaking. Some Pamphlets which have been sent to me since I came to Town; and Books purchased for my amusement...
50From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 16 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have your letters of the 24th Ulto & the 5th inst. now before me. The articles sent by Captn Ellwood arrived safe and agreeable to the invoice. If you have not already purchased the Winter Barley I would not wish you to do it, for I think it is very probable that I may be able to get the quantity which I shall want of the Brewer in Alexandria in exchange for Spring Barley, or if I should be...