1From John Adams to Charles Lee, 21 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received Yesterday the opinion of yourself the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of the Navy on the Case of the Prisoners under Sentence of death for Treason, formed, as I doubt not under the full Exercise of Integrity and humanity. Nevertheless as I differ in opinion, I must take on myself alone the responsibility of one more appeal to the humane and generous natures of the...
2From John Adams to Charles Lee, 21 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have read your report of the 17th of May relative to the conduct of Dr Stephens and Mr. Mayer & the documents under the labell useful. I have also read the report of the late Secretary of State of May 12th on the same subject & agree with both, that the conduct of Dr. Stephens ought to be approved and that Mr Mayer ought to be removed from his office. Mr. Hammond may be appointed to succeed...
3From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 20 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
Questions 1. Among the three Criminals under sentence of death is there any discrimination in the essential Circumstances of their Cases which would would justify a determination to pardon or reprieve one or two and execute the other? 2. Is the Execution of one or more, so indispensably demanded by public Justice and by the Security of the public Peace, that Mercy cannot be extended to all...
4From John Adams to Charles Lee, 16 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I transmit you a copy of a resolution of the Senate of the United States, passed in Congress, on the fourteenth of this month, by which I am requested to instruct the proper law officers, to commence & carry on a prosecution against William Duane, Editor of the newspaper, called the Aurora for certain false, defamatory, scandalous & malicious publications, in the said newspaper of the...
5From John Adams to Charles Lee, 28 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I request the favor of your sentiments, concerning the communications, which ought to be made to the legislature at the opening of their approaching session. Your observations on the rebellion in Pennsylvania & the means employed for its suppression, the negotiation with St Domingo, the interuption of the board of commissioners, the mission to France & on all other subjects, relative to the...
6From John Adams to Charles Lee, 17 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 10th. I am told that Mr Lewis is of opinion that Fries Crime amounts not to Treason. Can you give me a minute of his reasons? I am MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
7From John Adams to Charles Lee, 29 March 1799 (Adams Papers)
Esteeming very highly the opinion & character of your friend General Marshall, I thank you for inclosing his letter of the 3d of March in yours of the 14th which I have received. The nomination of Murray has had one good effect at least It has shown to every observing & thinking man, the real strength or weakness of the constitution, & where one part of that weakness resides It has also...
8From John Adams to Charles Lee, 10 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
The session of congress approaches faster than I can prepare for it in the afflicted State of my family & tottering state of my frame. I request you to consider, whether congress can meet in Philadelphia with safety to their persons, & also to write me your sentiments of the particulars, which ought to be inserted in the speech. I shall be obliged by the long continued sickness of Mrs Adams &...
9Enclosure: John Adams to James McHenry, Timothy Pickering, Oliver Wolcott, Junior, and Charles Lee, 24 January 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
The President of the U S. requests the Secy of State, the Secy of the treasury, the Secy of War and the Atty. general to take into consideration the state of the nation and its foreign relations especially with France. These indeed may be so connected with these, with England Spain Holland and others that perhaps the former cannot be well weighed without the other. If our Envoys extraordinary...
10From John Adams to Charles Lee, 15 October 1797 (Adams Papers)
It is my design to remain here, and at New york, till the day of the Meeting of Congress, or at least within a few days of it.— You will oblige me by giving me your Opinion whether the Epidemical Distemper in Philadelphia, is so dangerous to the Lives or health of the Members as to render a Proclamation necessary to convene Congress at some other place; and by committing to Writing and...
11From John Adams to Charles Lee, 29 August 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received last evening your favor of the 19th & thank you for communicating to Mr John Read the determination to Appoint him agent for the United States respecting British claims under the treaty of 1794 I have received solicitations and recommendations for several other persons; but see no reason to alter the opinion we formed before I left you. I have accordingly written to the Secretary of...
12From George Washington to Charles Lee, 4 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to my promise I have looked among those parcels which I conceived most likely to produce the Paper of which you required a copy, without the desired effect. How to account for it I am at a loss unless Mr Lear & Mr Dandridge (whom I employed to seperate & Pack up my files) may have left it, with papers of a similar nature, which I also miss, with those designed for my Successor in...
13From George Washington to Charles Lee, 31 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 24th Inst. came to hand by last Post. The demand of Mr Monroe is no more than another card played in the same game. The moment I can get at my Papers (for having no convenient place yet to arrange them, they remain in an indigested mass) I will send you a copy of that which you require. A Lady of my acquaintance (who lives at a distance from hence) being under some...
14From John Adams to Charles Lee, 20 June 1797 (Adams Papers)
I request you take into your immediate consideration, the inclosed original Letter signed and to consult with the Attorney of the District, and such other Learned Counsel, as you shall judge proper in confidence and report to me your opinion with theirs upon these questions 1st Whether the Letter is in any and in what parts criminal— 2d. If criminal at all, under what Species of Crime it is to...
15From John Adams to Timothy Pickering, Jr., 20 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States requests The Secretary of State and the Attorney General to take into their Consideration the 3.ss of the 2d Article of the Constitution of the United States. “He (the President) shall from time to time give for Congress, information of the State of the Union and recommend to their consideration, such measures as he shall judge necessary and Expedient. He may...
16From George Washington to Charles Lee, 27 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to hear that your cold is obstinate, & your indisposition continues. If it will permit you to give a little attention to the Virginia Address, to day, that it may be dispatched by the Post of tomorrow, I would thank you. In the moment I received it, I sketched something by way of an answer, but whether I have therein said too much, or too little for the circumstances attending the...
17From George Washington to Charles Lee, 14 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
This letter is for your eye only—It is written for the purpose of expressing my regret for your continued absence from the Seat of the Government. Rely upon it, it is productive of unpleasant remarks, in which I must be involved. It will, indeed is, considered as making a Sinecure of the Office. To suppose there is no particular occasion for the Law-Officer of the government at the Seat of it...
18From George Washington to Charles Lee, 6 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Having shewn you the answr of the French Minister, to the communication of the Secretary of State, relatively to the Capture of the Ship Mount Vernon, by the French Privateer Flying Fish. Having read you also, the contents of a Letter from —— respecting information from St Domingo, of the intended measures of the French government, to Harrass our commerce with Great Britain; and also my letter...
19From George Washington to Charles Lee, 19 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Office of Attorney Genl of the U. States is not yet filled. The reason why it is not Genl Lee, at my request, will frankly relate to you. If you could make it convenient, and agreeable to yourself to accept it, I should derive pleasure therefrom, both from public & private considerations; being persuaded that the duties of the Office will be well executed, and because I should be much...
20From George Washington to Charles Lee, 27 June 1794 (Washington Papers)
If you will be so good as to let me know what I am indebted to you on acct of Colvills Estate—or any other—I will pay the money before I return, or leave the same for my manager to do. I am—Dr Sir Your obedt Servt ALS , DeHi . No reply has been found, but GW’s farm manager, William Pearce, recorded a payment of £28.09.9 to Lee on 3 July (Mount Vernon Accounts, 1794-1797).
21From George Washington to Charles Lee, 1793 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Charles Lee, 1793. An ADfS of this letter was offered for sale on 5 Dec. 1889 as item 334 in Bangs & Co., Catalogue of a Valuable Collection of Autographs. The catalog entry reads: “Written at Mt. Vernon. This is the first draft of the letter and is interesting, showing how careful Washington was to make corrections before sending off the clean copy.”
22From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Lee, 31 January 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, January 31, 1793. On February 7, 1793, Lee wrote to Hamilton : “In answer to your letter of the 31st. of last month.” Letter not found. ]
23From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Lee, 31 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, August 31, 1792. Encloses a copy of a letter which he has received from Francis Cabot. Concludes that if Lee is “satisfied of the truth of what is alleged, and no prosecution has been commenced, it will be agreeable to me that the wine be surrendered.” LS , RG 56, Letters to and from the Collector at Alexandria, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters to Collectors at...
24From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Lee, 30 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, August 30, 1792. “In my letter to you of the 4th Ultimo I did not mention that a boat would be to be procured for harbour service, in the room of the one which has been delivered to the Collector of Cedar Point. This is however to be understood, and if it has not already been done, I request that a suitable one may be provided.…” LS , RG 56, Letters to and from the...
25From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Lee, 3 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have to reply to your letter of the 5th of July. The instruction respecting the mode of computing the additional ten ⅌ Cent on the new Duties is founded on the following reasoning. The words of the Section which relate to that addition are “The addition of 10 ⅌ Cent made by the Second Section of the ‘Act making further provision for the debts of the United States’ to the rates of Duties on...
26From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Lee, 16 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have this day decided upon the case of Thomas Triplett. I could not consider the excuse which was alleged as a sufficient cause to induce a total remission. The interest of the United States is remitted to him, and he is to pay fifty Dollars for the benefit of persons, other than the United States. [That is to say there is a total remission on paying fifty Dollars & reasonable Costs &...
27From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Lee, 4 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have to request that the Boat mentioned in your letter of the 11th of April last may be delivered to the Collector of Cedar Point. In your letter, under date the 21st of September last, was enclosed a copy of an order of the District Court for compensating Charles Page, who was called as a Witness in the suit against William Simpson, which, agreeably to my Circular letter of the 8th Ultimo,...
28From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Lee, 20 February 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department, February 20, 1792. “I duly received your letter of the 29th Ultimo, and am of opinion that you may safely accept an entry made under the appointment by Mr Cuthbert transmitted to me in that letter.” LS , RG 56, Letters to and from the Collector at Alexandria, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters to Collectors at Small Ports, “Set G,” National Archives. Lee was collector...
29From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Lee, 18 January 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Sufficient time having been given to the owners and commanders of vessels to provide regular manifests, according to the last collection law, I am of opinion that the clauses you refer to should now be enforced. You will do well to let this idea be communicated immediately among the Gentlemen in Trade, as the season admits of their taking measures to make it known. Their possessing the Pilots...
30From Alexander Hamilton to Charles Lee, 10 November 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Gray’s letter of the 9th Ultimo, relative to the seizure made by you of the Ship Washington, and of five Casks of Brandy, has been received. To obviate inconveniencies which the Owners might suffer by a delay, I have no objection to an immediate restoration of the Vessel and Brandy, provided the parties enter into Bond, with sufficient security, conditioned, that they will abide the event...