101To George Washington from Robert Aitken, 9 June 1790 (Washington Papers)
after very Sincere Congratulations upon Your Excellency’s Election to the distinguished Office of Chief Magistrate of the United States, I beg leave to Solicit your Excellency’s friendship in a Case deeply interesting indeed to me; but in which I conceive, if not mistaken, the Honor and Justice of the Union are also concerned. Your Excellency, I presume, is uninformed of the large Sums of...
102To George Washington from William Augustine Washington, May 1793 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Augustine Washington, May 1793. GW wrote Anthony Whitting on 2 June that “Colo. Washington wrote to me a few days ago” to report that “one load of lime & two of Shells” had been delivered. For William Augustine Washington’s efforts to acquire oyster shells for his uncle, see his letter to GW of 14 May .
103From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 17 June 1791 (Washington Papers)
By the last post from the southward I received your letters of the 17th and 24th of April, with their enclosures. In a letter of the 7th of May, which I wrote to the Secretary of the Treasury from Charleston, I expressed my approbation of what he informed me had been determined by the Vice-President and Heads of Departments, relative to Mr Short’s negociation at Amsterdam, and the further...
104To George Washington from Samuel Vaughan, 28 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
It is with pleasure I take up my pen to renew an acquaintance with an Illustrious Character I have ever respected & admired, and to introduce to You my Son Benjamens amiable family who are embarking in the Ocean Capt. Howard for New York. My amiable Daughter in Law & seven Children are accompanied by my Daughter Sarah and the Revd Mr Merrick, a worthy & respectable character, who has resided...
105To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Ducoigne, 24 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Jean-Baptiste Ducoigne, 24 April 1794. On 16 July, GW sent Henry Knox “a letter from Baptiste Ducoigne, Kaskasias, 24 April ’94” ( JPP Dorothy Twohig, ed. The Journal of the Proceedings of the President, 1793–1797 . Charlottesville, Va., 1981. , 314).
106To 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...
107Cabinet 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...
108To 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...
109To 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...
110To 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.”
111From 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...
112Tobias 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...
113[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...
114From 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...
115From 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...
116From 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...
117To 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...
118To 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...
119From 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...
120[Diary entry: 15 May 1795] (Washington Papers)
15. Thunder, lightning & rain—cool.
121To 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...
122To 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...
123To 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...
124To 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...
125To 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...
126To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 31 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor of sending to the President a letter from Colo. Smith; upon which he is now in conference with Mr Hammond and the result will be communicated to the President in the morning. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. Samuel Smith’s letter to Randolph of 29 March, sending information about...
127To George Washington from Anna La Caux, 29 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will doubtless be surpris’d at being address’d by a Stranger, & particularly from so distant a part of Europe as Ireland, but distant as it is, the Universal Benevolence of General Washinton’s Character is well known, & his firm attachment to the welfare of mankind, & even to individual right & happiness, has embolden’d me to lay before Your Excellency the Cause of two Orphans,...
128To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 25 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to the President of the United States & encloses the drafts of two passports for the President’s signature. One for the Schooner Commerce, now in this Port; and the other for the Schooner Eagle at Baltimore. Colo. Smith of Baltimore has applied, thro’ the Secry of State, for a Passport for a small vessel (name & Captain not known) to be sent...
129To George Washington from Jacob Broom, 4 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
as I was an applicant for the Office to which Major Bush was appointed, and by whose demise a vacancy has taken place, I take the liberty to renew my application —should I be so fortunate as to be the object of your choice, my best endeavors shall not be wanting to deserve the favor—on the other hand, should any one be preferred before me, I shall again chearfully submit; being firmly...
130To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 28 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
The rise in the price of copper, & difficulty of obtaining it from other quarters, has induced the Director of the Mint (as I had the honor of mentioning to you yesterday) to turn his attention to Sweden, as the country from which according to his information it may be obtained on the best terms. he wishes that some means could be adopted of importing some on the public account. there is so...