1To George Washington from Roger Alden, 31 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to enclose to Your Excellency the news papers of this day, published in the city of New York—and I am directed by the Members of Congress present to transmit them daily —with the greatest respect I have the honor to be Your Excellency’s Most Obedt & most Humble servt. Copy, DNA:PCC , item 49. Roger Alden (d. 1836) of Connecticut, major and aide-de-camp to Jedediah Huntington...
2To George Washington from John Armstrong, 5 June 1787 (Washington Papers)
My last letter addressed to your Excellency at Mount Vernon, intimated some expectation as well as desire, of being in Philada about this time —being frequently urged by the Trustees of Dickinson College, to make a farther attempt to obtain benifactions in the City—together with this, the prospect of seeing you once more, had greatly induced me to go; but on the receit of several letters from...
3To George Washington from John Armstrong, 2 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
Amongst many others, I consider myself your Excellencys debtor—and that the small Annuity of a letter is the least discharge I can offer. how this acknowledgment has been made in the two preceding years, memory is now too weak to inform me, and having enuff to do with the trivial Originals, I do not pretend to keep Coppys—but whether my last reached you or not, will be known by the liberty I...
4To George Washington from Samuel Athawes, 20 July 1787 (Washington Papers)
It is with sincere & very heartfelt Concern that I communicate to you an Event, which will excite the same sentiments of Sorrow in your Breasts; a long & uninterrupted Attachment to & Friendship with the Object of it, has convinced me that where he was barely known he was honoured; where he was well known he was valued & venerated; & where Friendship had knot the Tie he was unreservedly...
5To George Washington from Henry Banks, 21 October 1787 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Henry Banks, 21 Oct. 1787. On 22 Nov. GW thanked Banks “For the letter you did me the favor to write to me on the 21st Ult.”
6To George Washington from François Barbé de Marbois, 30 November 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have so many times experienced your Excellency’s Favour that I hope you’ll forgive me for an application which I could not refuse to a brave officer who at the same time is a friend of mine. you will see by a letter of Count de la Luzerne which accompagnies this that he takes a particular interest in knowing whether Mr de Saqui des Tourets can or not wear the insignia of the Cincinnati. I...
7To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 20 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
I had engaged the Freight & was preparing to Ship the Articles you had ordered in the Sloop Dolphin Capn Steward (the first Vessel that had offered this Spring for Potowmack) when I received your favour of 11th inst., Mr Haines had Kept 50 bushels of Barley for me but could share no more —what I send is New England Summer Barley which is much the best. I should have applied to another Brewer...
8To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 26 April 1787 (Washington Papers)
By the Sloop Dolphin Capt. Steward who sailed last week for Alexandria I have shipp’d the scythes & Spinning wheels of which acct & bill of loading are inclosed the Scythe Maker could get only one of the Briar Scythes finished in time —I gave Capt. Steward the necessary Certificate of these articles being the Manufacture of this State to save the duties—very few vessels loading for the west...
9To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 27 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
I reced your favour of 14th in time to procure five Augers—they are made in the Country & I could not get a sixth at the Shops which sell them. they Cost 6/ is £1.10.0. to your Debit I have sent them by Capt. Steward by whom I shipped the Barley &c. & inserted them in the Bill of Loading which remained here—he Sails this Day for Alexandria & returns here immediately—I consulted the Iron...
10To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 23 September 1787 (Washington Papers)
On rect of your favour from the head of Elk I waited on Capt. Morris who informed me he had not recd your note respecting the Hounds but he has now wrote you fully on that subject as far as your Queries went in my Letter—if there is any thing omitted he begs you to inform him —Mr Haines from whom I had the seed Barley for you informs me that there has been most extraordinary great Crops of...
11To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 15 November 1787 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Clement Biddle, 15 Nov. 1787. On 3 Dec. GW wrote Biddle : “Your letters of the 23d of Septr & 15th of Novr came duly to hand.”
12To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 14 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
It must give the highest satisfaction to every friend of the Union, that the same Gentleman, who bore so distinguished, so capital a part, in emancipating the United States, is appointed a Delegate in the intended Convention, for perfecting their federal government. It is with great earnestness hoped, that the plan of Confederation, to which that respectable body may agree, will be well formed...
13To George Washington from James Brindley, 5 April 1787 (Washington Papers)
I was detained in Charleston untill the 17th of March and returned for expedition, by the Philadelphia Packet—therefore had not time to return by Land. If You have any occasion for me on Potomac Please let me know and I will attend. have some expectation of Visiting James River Canal, but not Yet certain. I recd a Letter and a small Packet for You from Coll Washington which comes with this. He...
14To George Washington from Richard Butler, 30 November 1787 (Washington Papers)
To know at any time that it is your Excellencys wish that any thing within my power should be done, will always be a Sufficient motive with me to do it. But when you were pleased to inform me that it had been required by the August Empress Sovereign of all the Russias, Through the medium of that Excellent Character the Right Honorable Major General The Marquis de La Fayette, it was an...
15Enclosure II: Extract of letter from Richard Butler, 30 November 1787 (Washington Papers)
Extract of a Letter from General Butler to General Washington (accompanying this Vocabulary). The little which I have been able to collect of the history of the Shawanoes from oral tradition & their old men, with some observations of my own may not be unacceptable, & may probably assist, or open a door to more able Inquirers. They say they were originally from an Island, and that they came to...
16Enclosure I: Richard Butler’s Indian Vocabulary, 30 November 1787 (Washington Papers)
The following Seven pages to the word Ten markd thus #, are the words which were sent me to be translated, The Shawano I have done myself which are Spelled as nearly as possible to the real Sound of the Indian word. The Lenoppea, or Delaware, was done by a Young man Called John Killbuck, an Indian of that nation who has been Educated at Princetown College at the Expence of the U.S. & patronage...
17To George Washington from Charles Carter, 21 October 1787 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Charles Carter, 21 Oct. 1787. On 14 Dec. GW wrote Carter apologizing for the delay in answering his “favor of the 21st of Octr.”
18To George Washington from Charles Carter (of Ludlow), 21 December 1787 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Charles Carter (of Ludlow), 21 Dec. 1787. On 20 Jan. 1788 GW wrote Carter that his “favor of the 21st of last month” had come to hand.
19To George Washington from Chartier de Lotbinière, 8 July 1787 (Washington Papers)
Having been informed on my Arrival in this City (the 26 of June) that your Excellency was hourly expected I have waited to deliver the Letter sent herewith which the Marquis de la fayette sent to me from Versailles to Paris the Day preceding my Departure for Havre. But General Knox having assured me Yesterday, at Dinner with him, that I must forego the infinite Pleasure of I expected from...
20To George Washington from Chastellux, 21 December 1787 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Chastellux, 21 Dec. 1787. On 25 April 1788 GW wrote to Chastellux : “In reading your very friendly and acceptable letter of the 21st of December 1787. . . .”
21To George Washington from Chavannes de La Giraudière, 10 July 1787 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ I am not personally known to your Excellency I hope that a summary acct of my situation and that of an ancient & illustrious family who are, at this time, overwhelmed with miseries, will be sufficient to excite your attention, and draw down your beneficience upon the father & the children. A particular detail of my misfortunes would be too long & tedious for your Excellency’s perusal; a...
22Draft of the Federal Constitution: Report of Committee of Detail, 6 August 1787 (Washington Papers)
6 August 1787. On 6 Aug. John Rutledge delivered the report of the “Committee of detail” in the form of a printed draft of the proposed federal constitution and provided copies for the members. GW and the secretary of the Convention, William Jackson, entered on one printed copy those deletions and additions that were adopted by the Convention between 6 Aug. and 3 Sept. and were included in the...
23Draft of the Federal Constitution: Report of Committee of Style, 12 September 1787 (Washington Papers)
[12 September 1787]. GW (or, in a few instances, the secretary of the convention William Jackson) entered on his printed copy of the draft of the Constitution presented to the Convention on 12 Sept. by the committee of style, all of the various changes in form and content adopted by the Convention between 12 and 15 Sept. when the Constitution took its final form. D , DLC:GW . On 8 Sept. the...
24To George Washington from Hannah Crawford, 16 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
I make no Doubt but you have heard of the Resolution of the Legeslative Body of your State, passed in my favour which will Enable me to make you satisfaction for your great kindness to me. you may Depend on having the bond paid up as soon as I Draw the first years Allowance, money being So Scarce here and so Dificult to come at, that it will not be in my power to do any thing sooner. the first...
25To George Washington from Joseph Davenport, 15 December 1787 (Washington Papers)
Major Washington tells me that you will not Concent for me to keep a horse—but Sir if I pay you What is reasenable and Customary Your Excelency Can not think hard of it—farr be it from me to ask aney thing out of reason—Sir you know to Sell him at this Season of the year. I Cannot Get the worth of him. to winter him out I may as well have none—Sir I Did not Get this horse because I thought You...
26To George Washington from William Deakins, Jr., 2 November 1787 (Washington Papers)
The bearer Peter felix Mauger, has been Informed that a Horse he has is an Exact Match for one of your’s, he has not yet paid the Amount of his Bond to Mrs Kirk, but is now Anxious to do it, if he can make Sale of his Horse, I beleive he finds it difficult to raise the Cash, I have pressed him hard to get this debt paid—& I hope he will soon Accomplish it—I am Very Respectfully Your Obt Servt...
27To George Washington from William Deakins, Jr., 9 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have sent by your Boat 200 Bushels Oats, tho the price is higher than I could have Wished but at this season they Generally Advance in price, I think you will find them Very good, & I am sorry I could not supply the full Quantity you want. I am with the highest Respect Your Excellency’s Obt hble Servt ALS , DLC:GW . Deakins added this invoice: 115 Bushels Oats @ 3/6 £20: 2:6 24 Bushels...
28To George Washington from Alexander Donald, 20 June 1787 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour of receiveing your letter of the 2d Current—By which, I saw that the former remittance which I made you, at Docr Stewart’s desire, had got safe to hand, I now beg leave to trouble you with a further remittance of 306 65/90 th of a dollar, at the request of same Gentleman, which I hope will also reach you. I am with undissembled respect—Sir your mo: obt Sert ALS , DLC:GW . See...
29To George Washington from Alexander Donald, 22 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
At the desire of Docr Stewart, I have the Honour of enclosing you Mr Morris’s note for 200 Dollars, And the first of Messrs William Alexander & Co’s. bill on same Gentleman for 894. 85/90 ths payable at ten days sight—Both which I hope will get safe to hand. I beg you will do me the favour to acknowledge receipt of the above money. I will not trouble you with the second Copy of the bill, if I...
30To George Washington from James Jemima Jacobina Douglas, 26 November 1787 (Washington Papers)
I sit down to adres you as father of your Country and as one who his the pour to redres the injur’d one of your subjects Mr Glass Strahcan in virg⟨i⟩nia richmond town James river phychiuns ⟨then owse⟩ to my father andrwe Douglas in 74 6 hundre pound which with the interest upon must near double the sum[.] my fath⟨er⟩ dying sudingly with out neading up his affairs his been hard on ⟨me⟩ I am...
31To George Washington from Essarts, 1 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
It is well known to all the world that your Excellency, after having fought for the liberty of the thirteen States, like a true Fabius, supported with an indefatigable zeal those laws & establishments which might tend to advance the happiness of your Country. Admiring your virtues, I am persuaded that the inclinations of a great man will not be averse to the reading of the works of one of the...
32To George Washington from Bryan Fairfax, 16 November 1787 (Washington Papers)
This is to acknowledge Your Favor in sending me an Accot of my Brother’s Will and also the Receipt of the Watch by Mr Muse. It can’t be expected that You should act as an Executor upon this Occasion amidst that multiplicity of Business you are engaged in. In a few Instances I was so circumstanced that I could not comply with Ld Fx’s desire as well as my Brother’s tho’ I had a great Regard for...
33To George Washington from Robert Fenning, 5 September 1787 (Washington Papers)
I hope your Excellence will excuse the freeness of a strainger troubleing you with a Letter, as he had no other way to make himself known, or aquaint your Excellency, that he was about three years ago examind by Mr Laurence, and Mr Chase in London; Mr Laurence, of Charles Town, South Caralione and Mr Samuel Chase, of Maryland in Ameraca. I must now beg Leave to aquaint your Excellence, that I...
34To George Washington from George Fox, 14 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
In conformity to an unanimous Vote of the Society for Political Inquiries, I have the honor to signify to your Excellency their request, that you would permit them to enrol your name in the list of their Honorary Members. For your information with respect to the views which gave rise to this institution, I hand you a copy of its laws, and can not but add, that the Society flatter themselves,...
35To George Washington from Benjamin Franklin, 3 April 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have often thought that the Number of People, who by Curiosity and the Admiration of your Character are drawn to call at Mt Vernon, must be very troublesome to you, and have therefore generally declin’d giving any introductory Letters. But my Nephew Mr Jonathan Williams, who was a faithful and active Agent of the United States during the whole War, in shipping Stores, Arms, Ammunition &c....
36To George Washington from Christopher Gadsden, 13 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
I cannot let my worthy Friend Genl Pinckney leave us in order to join You on so important a Business for America without embracing the Opportunity of paying you my respects, I hope Heaven will favor the joint Endeavors of the Convention & make their Establishments effectually useful. We are all sure of your utmost Exertions to that Purpose. That Congress ought to be well supported & render’d...
37To George Washington from Gardoqui, 29 October 1787 (Washington Papers)
Permitt me my dear Sir to intrude upon your rural repose once more with a subjectt that from the moment that I became acquainted with the United States I have exerted myself with unabated zeal to establish a permanent & sincere amity between our two countrys on the principles of mutual interest. No two nations in the world in my opinion apply so exactly to each other. On such solid bassis I...
38To George Washington from Gardoqui, 19 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
Nothing but absolute impossibility wou’d have prevented me from doing myself the honor of waiting on your Excellency upon the first good news of your Excellency’s arrivall at Philadelphia, but unluckly for me I had then two Packetts upon my hands, one of which is already at Sea, so that I was depriv’d of the so much wish’d for honor of visiting your Excellency as soon as I expectted, however...
39To George Washington from Gardoqui, 9 November 1787 (Washington Papers)
Under the 29th Octre I did myself the honor to write you candidly upon a subjectt to which beg your reference. Since that time nothing new has occurr’d upon it, but haveing the wish’d for oportunity to renew my respectts by my good freind Colln. H. Lee, I gladly embrace it requesting you wou’d accept & give a place in your Library to the last Spanish Edition of Don Quixote which I recolectt to...
40To George Washington from James Gibbon, 26 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
I am very sorry at this late period of time to trouble you particularly as all your officiall business has ceas’d so long; Your opinion will nevertheless avail sufficiently. A Demand, I long since made to the commissioner of accts for the army, for what I consider’d my due (the commutation) has remaind undetermind till now, owing chiefly to my business confining me at this place so as to...
41To George Washington from Pierre, chevalier de Gimel, 2 June 1787 (Washington Papers)
on me mande de paris, Monsieur, que Mr Le Mis de Lafayette, y est malade, et qui ne pourra peut etre pas de quelque terns, m’envoyer La Lettre de recommandation que Je lui ai demandé pour les Etats unis de L’amerique. Je vous envoye toujours mon Memoire, avec deux Lettres de le General, et deux Certificats. Je vous prie, de vouloir bien presenter le tout, à M. M. Les Membres Supperieurs de La...
42To George Washington from “The Author” [Robert Goldsborough], 1 June 1787 (Washington Papers)
If I had the honour of an Acquaintance with your Excellency, I wou’d respectfully subscribe my name to this address: But in communicating the sentiments which appear in the paper inclosed, I am not governed by a Motive of vanity in personally claiming your attention, but by a warm desire to see our political Union more perfectly established. Whether the ideas it contains can have any tendency...
43Enclosure, 1 June 1787 (Washington Papers)
America is like a distempered Patient, whose recovery depends upon the skill of the Physician: Her situation is not desperate; but the nicest applications will be necessary to effect her cure; The remedy is certainly in the power of the present Convention; and it is sanguinely expected that their united Wisdom will find out the healing balm and restore her to health and happiness. It is the...
44To George Washington from William Gordon, 6 September 1787 (Washington Papers)
I rejoice to find that your Lady has of late been troubled less than formerly with the bilious cholick. May She be wholly freed from it, & all prescriptions become unnecessary! Thank you for your kind wishes, they are still needful. No settlement has yet offered. I am going on with my History, & toward the latter end of next month shall begin printing. Health & strength permitting, shall...
45To George Washington from William Grayson, 30 June 1787 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor of introducing Doctor Johnson of Connecticut, a gentleman of great abilities and worth, who has been lately appointed one of the Convention: I am very happy to hear you have recovered your health & remain with great respect yr Affectionate friend & most Obed. Serv. ALS , DLC:GW . William Samuel Johnson, a delegate from Connecticut, arrived at the Convention on 2 June.
46To George Washington from David Griffith, 26 April 1787 (Washington Papers)
Being under the necessity of immediately discharging some claims against me, I am obliged to call upon my friends for their subscriptions to enable me to avoid a threatning difficulty—My Son waits on you for yours due for the last year, and you will oblige me greatly in discharging it. The Gallery being not yet compleated, no demand has hitherto been made of Pew rent—It has been determined...
47Benjamin Fitzhugh Grymes to GW, 27 March 1787 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: Benjamin Fitzhugh Grymes to GW, 27 Mar. 1787. GW wrote Grymes on 10 April : “Your favor of the 27th ult. was put into my hands the 7th instt.”
48To George Washington from Benjamin Fitzhugh Grymes, 14 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
It affords me the highest satisfaction to have it in my power to oblige you by sending of you five bushels of Jerusalem Artichokes, and had it not been for an [un]luckey experiment I shd have been able to have spared you a large quantity, but I have sent you the better half. In order to increase my crop, I cut off the tops three different times breast high, and by that means, made not a bushel...
49To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 3 July 1787 (Washington Papers)
In my passage through the Jerseys and since my arrival here I have taken particular pains to discover the public sentiment and I am more and more convinced that this is the critical opportunity for establishing the prosperity of this country on a solid foundation—I have conversed with men of information not only of this City but from different parts of the state; and they agree that there has...
50To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 30 October 1787 (Washington Papers)
I am much obliged to Your Excellency for the explicit manner in which you contradict the insinuations mentioned in my last letter—The only use I shall make of your answer will be to put it into the hands of a few friends. The constitution proposed has in this state warm friends and warm enemies. The first impressions every where are in its favour; but the artillery of its opponents makes some...