1801From John Jay to George Washington, 23 July 1788 (Jay Papers)
I wrote to you a few Days ago and enclosed a Copy of certain Propositions, or mode of adoption— great objections to it being urged it was withdrawn for the present — The Convention proceeded to Day in debating on the Plan of conditional amendment, some of the anti Party moved for striking out the word on Condition and substituting the words in full Confidence — It was carried 31 to 29 in the...
1802To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 24 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
The misery of my situation in consequence of the continued ill health of Mrs Lee, has prevented me the gratification of congratulatin you on the auspicious prospect which the adoption of the new constitution presents to our country. Indeed I am now so inadequate from my temper of mind to execute a task so agreable, & on which I wish to say much, that I should have posponed the satisfaction,...
1803To George Washington from Thomas Pleasants, Jr., 25 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
I duly received your obliging answer to the enquiry respecting Mr Dydsburys Claim under Van braam of Land on the Kanhawa—and the obligation will be increased, if you will enable me to extend my enquiry into that part of the County, by Mentioning some person of Character, to whom I may apply for a particular description of its situation and Value. When Mr Madison left this State he put into my...
1804To George Washington from John Polson, Jr., 25 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the honor of writing you the 2d September 1783 and took the liberty of puting under your Cover a letter for my old friend and Attorney the late Mr Alexr Craig of Williamsburg: a freedom I would not have taken if I knew how to direct to him if living, and was then uncertain whether he was dead or alive. I am sorry if you were offended at it, which I have reason to fear was the Case...
1805To George Washington from William Tudor, 26 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
The strong Attachment which I know you have always felt, & in a Variety of Instances demonstrated, for the State of Massachusetts, induces me to send you, what is here considered, an interesting Pamphlet; which, with great Impartiality, states the rise, causes, & happy Termination of the late most alarming Insurrections in the Commonwealth. The Author is a young Lawyer, & Clerk to our lower...
1806To George Washington from Chartier de Lotbinière, 27 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
At length the State of New York, of which I had always the greatest doubt, as being the seat of British Corruption, has adopted the new Constitution like the others; whereupon I have the honour to make my most particular compliments—And from the extreme attention I have paid in pursuing the persons employed even through their most intricate windings & from the different movements I have made...
1807To George Washington from James McHenry, 27 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
It is whispered here that some leading characters among you have by no means dropped their resentment to the new constitution, but have determined on some secret plan to suspend the proper organization of the government or to defeat it altogether. This is so serious and alarming a circumstance that it is necessary to be apprised of its truth, and extent that we may be on our guard against...
1808To George Washington from James Madison, 27 July 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from James Madison, 27 July 1788. On 3 Aug. GW wrote Madison : “Your favors of the 21st & 27th of last month came duly to hand.”
1809From James Madison to George Washington, 27 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 27 July 1788 . Acknowledged in Washington to JM, 3 Aug. 1788 . Reports ratification of the Constitution by the New York convention.
1810To George Washington from Robert Townsend Hooe, 28 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have been for some time past endeavoring to state the claims and Collect the Debts due to Mr Bennetts Estate & as I find among others they claim a Sum due from the Estate of Mr Thomas Colville late of this County, I have applied to Mr Thomas West for an Acct of the disposition of the Monies arising from the Sale of the Maryland Tract, also the Legacy left by Mr Colville to Mr Bennett, and...
1811To George Washington from Henry Knox, 28 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
It is with the most sincere satisfaction that I congratulate you on the unconditiona⟨l⟩ adoption of the constitution by the Convention of this state. The particulars of this important event are contained in this days paper herein enclosed. Messrs Jay Hamilton and the rest of the federalists have derived great honor from their temperate and wise conduct during the tedious debates on this...
1812To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 30 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
I was favourd with yours of 20th and by the same post sent a ps. of velvet Ribbon to pattern 15 yards for 9/6—which I sent because it cost less in a store than 12 yds would do in a retale Shop. Capt. Ellwood is arrived but I have not seen him yet (as I shall do) about the wheel of the Plough and by him I shall ship the Articles orderd & then forward the Account Current—Altho’ we had plentiful...
1813To George Washington from George Morgan, 31 July–5 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency is no doubt informed of the Ravages made in Connecticut, New York & New Jersey by the Hessian Fly, whose History is given in various Publications: As this Insect is now advanced to the Neighbourhood of Philadelphia, & its Progress southward is alarming to the Farmer, I have taken some Pains to inform myself of its Manners & Life, & to make several Experiments to oppose its...
1814To George Washington from John Beale Bordley, 31 July 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Beale Bordley, 31 July 1788. On 17 Aug. GW wrote Bordley : “The letter with which you honord me, dated the 31st ult. . . . came safe to hand.”
1815To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 31 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
I received your very obliging favor of the 29th Ulto and feel grateful for the pleasure it gave me by communicating the joy which was felt in your vicinity upon receiving the doubly pleasing intelligence of the accession of New Hampshire & Virginia to the proposed Constitution. Its adoption by the latter State gave peculiar & inexpressible satisfaction to the good people in these parts; for...
1816To George Washington from William Pierce, 1 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I enclose you a small pamphlet which contains an Oration that I delivered in Savannah on the 4th ultimo. Independant of the common ceremony practised on these occasions I present it to you with the highest sentiments of respect and esteem. With honor I subscribe myself Your obedient servant ALS , DLC:GW . William Pierce’s pamphlet An Oration, Delivered at Christ Church, Savannah, on the 4th...
1817To George Washington from William Stephens Smith, 1 August 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Stephens Smith, 1 Aug. 1788. GW wrote Smith on 30 Aug. : “I was favoured, a few days ago, with your letter, dated the first day of this Month.”
1818To George Washington from Annis Boudinot Stockton, 3 August 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Annis Boudinot Stockton, 3 Aug. 1788. On 31 Aug. GW thanked Mrs. Stockton for her “kind letter of the 3d instant.”
1819To George Washington from Charles Pettit, 5 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
On a Subject so pleasing as the Prospect of an established Government on Principles which bid fair to secure the Benefits of Society to the Citizens of the United States, Your Excellency will excuse me in approaching you with my hearty Congratulations. The excellent Sentiments conveyed to the World in your circular Letter of the 18th of June 1783, confirmed and methodized in my Mind Ideas...
1820To George Washington from Thomas Smith, 6 August 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Thomas Smith, 6 Aug. 1788. On 15 Sept. GW wrote Smith : “Your favour of the 6th Ult. came duly to hand.”
1821To George Washington from Samuel Hanson, 7 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your favour, per Mastr Lawrence, was handed to me last Night. Any “bruises” he may be able to shew, were not, as he well knows, given by me with design, but may be the consequences of the struggle which ensued upon my attempt to take him into a room for chastisement. I am certain he did not receive more than 3 strokes, and these with a Whip. Whether they could occasion any bruises, you, Sir,...
1822To George Washington from George Richards Minot, 7 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Permit me to offer for your perusal, a copy of the History of the late Insurrections &. in Massachusetts. The share which you had, in the great and glorious events of America, must interest your feelings in all subsequent transactions; and, I hope, this little narrative will not be unacceptable to you, as a continuance of information, upon the important subject of domestick History. The...
1823To George Washington from Thomas Newton, 8 August 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Thomas Newton, Jr., 8 Aug. 1788. On 10 Oct. GW wrote Newton about “Your letter of the 8th of August.”
1824To George Washington from George Steptoe Washington, 8 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter from Col. Hanson, and after considering the contents, think it necessary to transmit to you an account of the late occurrence, in which you have been informed I acted an improper part; my object in writing this letter is not to exculpate m[y]self, it is only to state matters as they really were; whither my conduct was justifiable in doing what I have, I am not a judge,...
1825To George Washington from Samuel Powel, 9 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
On board Capt. Ellwood, who sails for Alexandria Tomorrow, I have shipped an Arm-Chair for you, which he has promised to deliver at Mount-Vernon, if practicable, or to a Gentleman at Alexandria to whom, he says, he commonly delivers any Articles he carries from hence for you. It is a neat chair, & will, I hope, please you. Mrs Powel desires me to apologize for it’s having been so long delayed....
1826To George Washington from Brissot de Warville, 10 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Not knowing precisely at what time I shall be able to go to Virginia to pay my respects, I take the resolution to address by the Post to you the annexed Letter, which the Marq. de la Fayette hath sent to me & in which he makes mention of me —as it may contain news that may be interresting to you, I hasten to forward it. I have the honor to be &c. Translation, by David Humphreys, DLC:GW ; ALS ,...
1827To George Washington from James Madison, 11 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favored with yours of the 3d instant. The length of the interval since my last has proceeded from a daily expectation of being able to communicate the final arrangements for introducing the new Government. The place of meeting has undergone much discussion as you conjectured and still remains to be fixed. Philada was first named, & negatived by a voice from Delaware. N. York...
1828From James Madison to George Washington, 11 August 1788 (Madison Papers)
I have been duly favored with yours of the 3d. instant. The length of the interval since my last has proceeded from a daily expectation of being able to communicate the final arrangements for introducing the new Government. The place of meeting has undergone much discussion as you conjectured and still remains to be fixed. Philada. was first named, & negatived by a voice from Delaware. N. York...
1829To George Washington from Charles Love, Jr., 12 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer has my instructions to deliver you 50–Barrels of Corn on a/c of Wm Hunter Junr Esqr. which I hope will get to hand in time to answer your purpose although much later than I wished or expected when I last had the pleasure of seeing you—However Sir should you be supplyed be pleased [to] order the Skipper to proceed on to Alexandria, as it will be no Inconvenience to Mr Hunter or...
1830To George Washington from Neil McCoull, 12 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have your Bond ⅌ £450 dated 12th Decemr 1774 & payable 10th Novemr 1775 to Mr Alexr Blair & myself—Mr Blair being since deceased I am to request you will write me how soon it will be convenient to you to take up this Bond and am very respectfully—Sir Your mo: Obt hu: Servt ALS , DLC:GW . GW wrote to James Mercer from Mount Vernon on 17 Aug.: “Dear Sir, By the last Post I received the...
1831To George Washington from Thomas Thomson, 12 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
The distress’d Situation of a Family in who’s welfare & happiness I am much interested, must plead my apology for thus addressing a person to whom I am unknown But the people of America both collectively and as individuals have long been taught to look up to your excellency for Assistance & protection against the worst of all evils, that of Slavery. The circumstance that has induced me to...
1832From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [13 August 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Capt Cochran of the British navy has requested my aid in recovering a family watch worn by his brother, who fell at York Town, (and now in the possession of _____ _____). In compliance with his request I have written the letter herewith (to_____ _____) which I take the liberty to convey through you, in hope that if you see no impropriety in it, you would add your influence to the endeavour to...
1833To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 13 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
By Capt. Ellwood who sails this day I have shipped the single & double refined Sugar, a Jug with two gallons of Spermaceti Lamp oil, two barrels containing six dozen of Porter, as Mr Hare advised leaving the remaining 18 dozen to be shipped next trip as it is now rather too brisk to ship and I shall send 1 Cwt of the plate Iron only for plow moulds as I have asked Mr Morris if he knew the kind...
1834To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 13 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Cochran of the British navy has requested my aid in recovering a family watch worn by his brother, who fell at York Town, (and now in the possession of —— ——). In compliance with this request I have written the letter herewith to —— —— which I take the liberty to convey through you, in hope that if you see no impropriety in it, you would add your influence to the endeavour to gratify...
1835To George Washington from Thomas Ridout, 15 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I presume that your Excellency has heard that I had the misfortune to be taken by a party of Indians on my way to the Falls of the Ohio—although I lost every thing I was possessed of, I may reckon myself fortunate in having my life preserved—after remaining rather more than three months amongst the shawanese, I was brought into Detroit and there given up to a Trader for a debt of 340 dollars...
1836To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 17 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
By last post, I forwarded a Letter from Mrs Morris which Came with a pair of Stays. The stays I put in charge of Capt. Ellwood who promised great Care of them, inclosed is the Bill of loading of sundry Articles by said Captain of which a Certificate was delivered him to save the Duties. the Invoice & of Course the Account Current lays open for want of Mr Hare’s bill for the Porter which have...
1837To George Washington from Thomas Ruston, 17 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Will your Excellency permit me to congratulate you on the acceptance of the new constitution by eleven of the States? An event that I think must be highly pleasing to your Excellency, for as there is no one who has contributed so much towards the establishment of the liberty and independence of this Country, so I am convinced that there are none who have her happiness and prosperity more at...
1838To George Washington from John Mary, 18 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
your Excellency will hardly remember of me, but when i will mention to you that i was secretary to the Consulate general of France under Mr Gerard’s orders during the late war, & that i had the honour of dining there with you & your lady several times, then likely you will recollect me. however give me leave to wish you a very good health, your lady & all that belongs to you. I have lately...
1839To George Washington from Thomas Hanson Marshall, 21 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your Farmer applyed to me on Sunday last, to know if I had any Wheat for sale, which you wanted for seed, I have not any out, nor will it now be in my power, conveniantly, to have aney ready, for that purpose, until about the first of next month weather &c. permiting: I will let you have, as fast as can get it out &c. from the above mention’d time, Two hundred Bushels at Five shillings...
1840To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 24 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is your Account Currt (including the Goods ⅌ Cap. Ellwood) balance in my favour £5.3.8 —If you choose to have the barley please to inform me & I will procure it by Capt. Ellwoods return—the price is not yet ascertained —I have not yet disposed of the herrings but have the preference from two vessels intended for Hispaniola if they load any—they have been very low in that Island which...
1841To George Washington from James Madison, 24 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favored with yours of the 17th 18th under the same cover with the papers from Mr Pleasants. The Circular letter from this State is certainly a matter of as much regret, as the unanimity with which it passed is matter of surprize. I find it is every where, and particularly in Virginia, laid hold of as the signal for united exertions in pursuit of early amendments. In Pennsylva....
1842From James Madison to George Washington, 24 August 1788 (Madison Papers)
I was yesterday favored with yours of the 17th. 18th. under the same cover with the papers from Mr. Pleasants. The Circular letter from this State is certainly a matter of as much regret, as the unanimity with which it passed is matter of surprize. I find it is every where, and particularly in Virginia, laid hold of as the signal for united exertions in pursuit of early amendments. In...
1843To George Washington from Thomas Lewis, 27 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
In the Month of April last I Recd a packet from Your excellency in which was inclosed, duplicates of the Surveys of Your Lands lying on the Kannawa, & Between the mouths of the two Rivers of the Same Name, also a letter from You, Appointing me Your Agent, to let your lands for a term of Years, which Agency If accepted by me, would have No Other tendency, than that of Desceiving You. And permit...
1844To George Washington from William Barton, 28 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency may probably recollect that I had the honor of waiting on You, at the Winter-quarters of the Army, early in the year 1779, with letters from Mr Laurens and the late Genl Reed. Altho’ barely known, however, to You, I take the liberty of inclosing, for your own perusal, a short treatise on a subject little understood, or attended to, in this Country—namely, Heraldry or Blazon....
1845To George Washington from William Bean, 28 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have Understood By an Accquaintance of mine From Redstone, that You propose selling Your Mill You have in that Country, If So I would Be Glad to know Your terms & What Quantity of Land You will Sell with the Mill, I have Been in that Country But Never Seen Your Land nor mill But from the Inteligence I have had It may Be A place that would please me if your Terms Seem Favourable I Shall Go &...
1846To George Washington from Francis Adrian Van der Kemp, 29 August 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Francis Adrian Van der Kemp, 29 Aug. 1788. On 27 Sept. GW wrote Van der Kemp that his letter “dated the 29th of Augt came duly to hand.”
1847From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, September 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Excellency’s friendly and obliging letter of the 28th Ulto. came safely to hand. I thank you for your assurance of seconding my application to General Morgan. The truth of that affair is, that he purchased the watch for a trifle of a British soldier, who plundered Major Cochran at the moment of his fall at York Town. I should be deeply pained my Dear Sir if your scruples in regard to a...
1848To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, September 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s friendly and obliging letter of the 28th Ulto came safely to hand. I thank you for your assurance of seconding my application to General Morgan. The truth of that affair is, that he purchased the watch for a trifle of a British soldier, who plundered Major Cochran at the moment of his fall at York Town. I should be deeply pained my Dear Sir if your scruples in regard to a...
1849To George Washington from Cottineau de Kerloguin, 4 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
Ever Since the Glorious Peace which fixt the American Independance, have I wished for a favourable Opportunity to address Your Excellency, which I have at last obtained through My good Friend Mr J. C. Zollickoffer who has the Honour of presenting this Letter. So Conspicious a part, as Your Excellency has had in this perilous affair, in Conducting the same Under so many Difficulties, will be...
1850To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 5 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have before me your esteemed favour of 25th ulto—A Vessel had set up for Alexandria but meeting with little freight there will be no Opportunity til Capt. Ellwood returns by whom shall send another hundred Weight of plate Iron as the kind I sent must be what you wanted. I have discharged Mrs Morris’s Accot and her receipt thereon is inclosed & the amount to your Debit. From the enquiry I...