1To George Washington from John Lynch, 20 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
I beg the Favour of your Excellencys excusing my taking up your time by interfereing with That multiplicity of Business of a higher nature and purpose. A Mr Kennedy left this town and joined the British at the beginning of those times from whom he received the Commission of Captn—he is nearly relatied to my wife on account of Which he Sent me out in the year 1777 a Deed of Gift wherein he...
2To George Washington from James McHenry, 10 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
I am extremely obliged to you for your letter of the 8th and received the exposition of your motives as a fresh mark of that confidence with which you have so often favored me. I should indeed, if I know myself, be the last person in the United States, who on a public account would wish you to feel any other; and as it respects your personal fame, I beleive the first to regret their being...
3To George Washington from James McHenry, 29 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
I received, this morning, your letter of the 23d inst. for which I am much obliged to you. I did not in my own mind consider you dilatory in your answer, aware of the nature of your employments, and the incessant interruptions, by company to which you are subject. There are one or two points you mention which I shall say a few words to. The officers of the additional Regiments were put upon...
4To George Washington from James McHenry, 10 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
Packet, No. 1. which is enclosed contains the last dispatches from General Wayne. The private letter included therein, is a duplicate of one not yet come to hand, which it would seem contains the papers to which it refers. Packet, No. 2. The last letters from Tennessee. Packet, No. 3. The proceedings of a Court Martial on a soldier who attempted to desert. With the greatest respect I have the...
5To George Washington from James McHenry, 14 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
This packet will be delivered you by Mr Lindsay manager of the Baltimore Theatre, who waits upon your Excellency to solicit a change in the parole of the band of musick at Frederick to this place. If this favor can be granted it will be adding essentially to the obligations which this Town is under to your Excellency, by increasing its pleasures. I would suppose the Band can have no objection...
6To George Washington from James McHenry, 2 October 1797 (Washington Papers)
I was too much hurried with business before leaving Philada to answer your last letter of the 14th of Augt and since my arrival here I have had a bilious fever, and more business than if I had remained in Philada, according to which reasoning I ought not to answer it now. The fact is I perhaps should have suspended the pleasure a little longer, if I had not received to-day the enclosed letter...
7To George Washington from James McHenry, 1 June 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have just received an express from Baltimore informing me that my brother lays dangerously ill, in consequence of which I set out immediately for that place. I wish to communicate this circumstance to your Excellency that it may be mentioned to the convention should my absence without leave be taken any notice of. With the greatest respect I have the honor to be your Excellency’s ob. st ALS...
8To George Washington from James McHenry, 3 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
You will hardly stand in need of the inclosed paper to convince you of its writers principles altho’ it may be necessary as a proof of his criminal intentions. It is to be laid before Congress to-day. There are some circumstances that would induce a belief that there is more of French in the plot than British; altho’ Chisholm actually had conversation last winter with the British minister on...
9To George Washington from James McHenry, 28 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your late indisposition which has alarmed me not a little makes me more desirous than ever that you should have some person near you who is well acquainted with your constitution and who has been accustomed to your confidence. This leads me to take the liberty to remind you of old Doctor Craik whom I well know, unless he is greatly changed cannot be very happy at a distance from you. I think...
10To George Washington from James McHenry, 9 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to submit for your inspection a draught of a letter to Lord Dorchester, made out agreeably to the idea presented in the attorney generals letter, which corresponds with the second draught I had the pleasure of reading to you on saturday, and yesterday morning. I beleive it is the safest ground to move upon, and the most correctly constitutional. I have shewn it to Mr Lee & Mr...
11To George Washington from James McHenry, 10 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you upon a variety of matters by Major Lynch, and as some of them were interesting I hope the latter has met with no disasterous accident. I am once again a man of health after five fevers; each of which was violent and obstinate enough to have condemned a constitution much stronger than mine; and yet mine does not give any marks of what it has so recently suffered. I am now going to...
12To George Washington from James McHenry, 5 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have received my dear Generals two letters dated the first instant, last night. You will have seen by the newspapers that I have sent an advertisement inviting proposals for clothing for the new regiments and cavalry; but I have not as yet, been able to accomplish a like measure to supply them with subsistence. It is not however too late, as contracts of this kind can be soon formed. When I...
13To George Washington from James McHenry, 21 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment received your favour of the 20th, and am truely sensible of the sincerity of your wishes that I should accept of the war office department. On my part I beg you to believe that nothing could give me more pleasure than to be near you for a few years independent of public motives or considerations. I must however pray you to allow me till monday to reflect on the offer and...
14To George Washington from James McHenry, 14 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
Governor Davie of N. Carolina sent me by the last mail, three copies of a little work of his intitled, “instructions to be observed for the formations and movements of Cavalry,” one of which he requested me, which I now do, to present to the commander in chief. I do not recollect whether I mentioned to you, that he is one in the Commission to the Directory. The President has directed the...
15To George Washington from James McHenry, 29 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
I beg you to sign the within authority to borrow for the use of the City of Washington and to have it returned to me with a power signed by the three commissioners. You may recollect that the one sent me for a duplicate contained only the names of two of them vz. Mr Scotts & Mr Thorntons. The Willinks may consider that power as imperfect as the law and your authority have reference to three....
16To George Washington from James McHenry, 7 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday evening your letter of the 3d inst. I had understood by the public prints you were indisposed, and am truely & sincerely rejoiced to learn from yourself that you have recovered. I think it will be proper you should intermit for some time your attention to business, and avoid the early morning and evening air, as well as much exposure to the hot sun. The President is...
17To George Washington from James McHenry, 18 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
It has not been in my power to acknowlege the receipt of your letters of the 27 Ulto and the 8 inst. before to-day. Immediately on my return from Annapolis I sent the peas by Capn Mann with orders, if the wind would admit, to drop them at Mount Vernon, otherwise, to leave them with Col. Hoe; so that I expect they will have reached you long before this comes to hand. Campion for some time...
18To George Washington from James McHenry, 18 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your packet of the 6th and letter of the 7th of June inst. This is intended chiefly to acknowledge the circumstance. Mr Frances being Purveyor I have employed him to procure the articles mentioned in your letter. I have also seen Mr McAlpin, who informed me, that, tho’ some Spring Ships had arrived, he has not been able to obtain the gold thread; and that he had apprehensions he...
19To George Washington from James McHenry, 3 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have placed my resignation in the hands of one of the electors but he omitted forwarding it to Congress at the usual time. I now take the liberty to send it to your Excellency as the lateness of the resignation makes it rather improper on my own account for it to go to Congress from myself. I make no doubt but your Excellency when here suggested such measures as you saw necessary to be...
20To George Washington from James McHenry, 15 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since closing my letter of yesterday I have received the annexed from Majr Cushing whom I had previously directed to join the army. If he has made a fair statement of his case, some indulgence may be proper. If on the contrary, he has misrepresented it, he is unworthy of any and unfit for a soldier. At any rate, I presume that he has motives and reasons which he has not expressed. Should you...
21To George Washington from James McHenry, 3 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
Private. It strikes me, as among the first measures arising out of the proceedings of the Creek commissioners, that of a letter to the Governor of Georgia, somewhat in the stile of the inclosed. It would prove a considerable saving to the U.S. could the defence of the frontiers be carried on by regular troops without the aid of militia. It would give more consistency to military operations...
22To George Washington from James McHenry, 21 January 1799 (Washington Papers)
I send you inclosed some minute information respecting the nominations which you may wish to see. I have at the request of a committee of the Senate furnished them with a bill embracing the new organization for the army, and am preparing another for the provisional army, and a third for the Hospital department. I have required from Genl Hamilton assistance and have received it. Yours ever and...
23To George Washington from James McHenry, 23 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to communicate to your Excellency (in addition to my information through Mr Tilghman of the 21st Instant) by Major General Lord Stirlings particular directions, that on the 17th a detachment of the enemy (of about two hundred men) from New York effected a landing on the Middletown shore (near one Thomas Browers)—But re-imbarked in the night, without penetrating the country, or...
24To George Washington from James McHenry, 9 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from James McHenry, 9 Aug. 1793. In his letter to McHenry of 28 Aug. , GW acknowledged receipt of “your letter of the 9th instant.”
25To George Washington from James McHenry, 14 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to lay before you the proceedings and sentence of a court-martial on Lieut. Simon Geddis, and several papers and letters connected therewith. Lieut. Geddis having prayed for a new trial, I shall wave any remarks upon his case, and confine myself to the reasons which favour such an application. It is declared, in the articles of war, vz. Art. 1. for the administration of...
26To George Washington from James McHenry, 24 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
private. I inclose you a rough draught of a talk to the Cherokees and instructions to agent Dinsmore, containing a plan for promoting their civilization and rendering the management of them easier and more economical. If you think favourably of it I will revise and correct it and have Mr Dinsmore dispatched to his station. You will find it to contain little more than a mode for executing the...
27To George Washington from James McHenry, 24 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
I resume the answer to your letter of the 20th which I acknowleged the moment after I received it. I cannot say that I have ever experienced so much hesitation between giving way to inclination, and attachment to you personally, and my own interest and ease, as has taken place during the two past days. It is now however all over, and it is right I should confess, that the soothing idea of...
28To George Washington from James McHenry, 20 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
Baltimore, 20 April 1791. Mr. Purviance has requested that his name be suggested for consideration for the vacancy occasioned by the death of the comptroller. “His chief reason for begging to be again brought to your mind is the small income of his present office, which last year produced only he tells me 801 dollars, and this year it is not expected to exceed 600. You who do not disdain to...
29To George Washington from James McHenry, 31 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
(private) Sir. Fayetteville [Md.] 31 March 1794. I have very often troubled you respecting others; will you excuse me for speaking a little concerning myself. My health which has suffered a considerable shock by an autumnal fever in 1792 & 1793, I am pretty well persuaded might be benefited by a change of climate for a short time. It has struck me that the new situation in which the United...
30To George Washington from James McHenry, 30 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Dear Sir Philadelphia 30 March 1799 I received by yesterdays mail your letter of the 25th inst. For the present and until I can enjoy a few hours leisure from the most urgent business, I must content myself with a simple acknowledgment of the kindness of intention and friendship it discovers. Such has been the pressure of business upon the Clerks, that they have only been able to make...