1From George Washington to John Barry, 6 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have received a list of the Ships that were in Canton in China the last year which you were so good as to send me on the 30th of June; and must beg your acceptance of my best thanks for this polite mark of attention. I am, Sir, Your most Obedt Servt LS , NHyF ; LB , DLC:GW . Following his illustrious naval career during the American Revolution, John Barry (1745–1803) settled at Strawberry...
2From George Washington to Pierce Butler, 10 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for giving me the perusal of ⟨the⟩ enclosed Letters. The business respecting t⟨he⟩ Indians is now before Congress. It would be well if ⟨the⟩ information concerning fugitive Negros co⟨uld⟩ come forward specifically—Judge Draytons name shall be placed among those who will come under consideration whe⟨n⟩ nominations for the Judiciary are taken up —and I am Sir Yr Most Obedt & Most...
3From George Washington to Wilson Miles Cary, 10 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have received your very obliging and affectionate Letter of the 19th Ulto and can assure you that no circumstance, amidst the numerous occurrences of my new and arduous employment, has given me more heartfelt satisfaction than the repeated testimonies of approbation which my conduct in accepting of the Presidency of these United Stats has drawn from every quarter, and particularly from those...
4From George Washington to the Commissioners to the Southern Indians, 29 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
To Benjamin Lincoln, Cyrus Griffin and David Humphreys Esqrs. Commissioners Plenipotentiary, for negotiating and concluding treaties of peace with the independant tribes or nations of Indians within the limits of the united States, south of the river Ohio. Gentlemen The united States consider it as an object of high national importance, not only to be at peace with the power full tribes or...
5From George Washington to the German Reformed Congregations, June 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am happy in concurring with you in the sentiments of gratitude and piety towards Almighty-God, which are expressed with such fervency of devotion in your address; and in believing, that I shall always find in you, and the German Reformed Congregations in the United States a conduct correspondent to such worthy and pious expressions. At the same time, I return you my thanks for the...
6From George Washington to the Governor and Council of North Carolina, 19 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
It was scarcely possible for any Address to have given me greater pleasure, than that which I have just received from you: because I consider it not only demonstrative of your approbation of my conduct in accepting the first office in the Union, but also indicative of the good dispositions of the citizens of your State towards their Sister States, and of the probability of their speedily...
7From George Washington to Cyrus Griffin, 18 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
I think it expedient to acknowledge the receipt of your two Notes, dated the 10th of July & the 14th of Augst, for the purpose of assuring you that there was certainly nothing improper in the tenor of them. But it will be an instance of Justice to inform you, at the same time, that, without considering myself at liberty to give either encouragement or discouragement to the wishes of Gentlemen...
8From George Washington to Ebenezer Hazard, 3 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 27th of June, together with the amount of receipts and expenditures of the General Post-Office of the United States from 1782 to 1789, and the forms of bonds, accts &c. relating to the Post-Office Department, were duly handed to me; but my late indisposition has prevented my paying any attention to business ’till within a few days past. I have now inspected those papers; and...
9From George Washington to Ebenezer Hazard, 17 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 15th Instant enclosing the Post Office Ac[coun]ts in detail for the years 1784 & 1788. But there still remains one point on which I would wish to have further information. By the statement of the Produce and Expences of the Post office which accompanied your letter of the 27th of June, there appears to have been an annual Profit arising from that Department,...
10From George Washington to Hodge, Allen, & Campbell, 17 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter of yesterday requesting permission to add my name to your list of subscribers for an american edition of Dr Gordon’s history of the late revolution. As I have already several sets of that work I would wish to decline adding my name as a subscriber for more. I am Gentlemen, Your most obedient Servant LB , DLC:GW .
11Egbert Benson to David Humphreys, 31 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
New York, 31 July 1789. Requests Humphreys to “mention to the President that all the Gentlemen from our State have agreed to suggest Mr John C. Ten Broeck as surveyor for Hudson and a majority of Us have agreed as to Jeremiah Lansing to be surveyor at Albany.” ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters. John C. Ten Broeck (1755–1835) served in New York regiments during the Revolution and was a...
12From George Washington to Abraham Hunt, 20 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
Being desirous of purchasing a number of good brood mares to send to Virginia, I have been advised by several Gentlemen to make application to you for this purpose, with assurances that I might depend upon your judgment and fidelity in the business. I would wish to obtain from 10 to 20 good, likely, strong, and well made mares, none of which should exceed 6 years old, or be less than 15 hands...
13From George Washington to John Hurt, 28 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 24th instant, and have to inform you on the subjects mentioned in it, that, according to the best of my recollection the Arrangements respecting the Commutation of the half-pay of the Officers in the late army were made between Congress & a Committee from the Army, without any agency of mine. Nor do I remember to have taken any measures with regard to...
14From George Washington to Mathew Irwin, 20 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 9th Inst. enclosing a letter from Captn O’Brian giving a detail of the sufferings of himself and several other unfortunate Americans who are Slaves in Algiers, and requesting that some measures may be taken by Government for their redemption. Mr Jefferson, our Minister at the Court of France, has in view, among other objects, the redemption of these...
15Enclosure: Richard O’Bryen to Mathew and Thomas Irwin, 20 December 1788 (Washington Papers)
In Algiers the City of Bondage Sirs December the 20th 1788 Since my unfortunate lot of Slavery Commenced I have wrote you, many letters, by Every Convenient oppertunity, that has offered, Informing you of many particulars, of my Captivity and Sufferings during a period of three years and five munths, I have now to inform you that I and my Crew are Still in Slavery without any prospect of Ever...
16From George Washington to John Jay, 14 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
I find myself incompetent to form any decided opinion upon the paper I received from you the other day without having a view of the transactions which have been had with the Spanish Minister. I wish also to know whether, if the negociations are renewed, it can be made to appear from anything that that Gentln has said, as the result of an advance towards it from him, in his official character?...
17From George Washington to Henry Knox, 4 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of a Resolve of the Congress of the United States, bearing date the 26th of Augt 1789, I have thought fit to appoint Andrew Ellicot to compleat a certain survey directed to be made by an Act of the late Congress of the 6th of June 1789. The sum of Eleven hundred and twenty five dollars is (by an estimate of Mr Ellicot) found necessary to carry into effect the beforementioned...
18From George Washington to Henry Knox, 26 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
Provision having been made by the Act of Congress of the 20th of August 1789, that a sum not exceeding twenty thousand dollars, arising from the duties on imports & tonnage shall be appropriated for defraying the expence of Negotiating & treating with the Indian Tribes; I have therefore to request that you will use your best exertions to obtain the necessary means for carrying the intention of...
19From George Washington to Henry Knox, 5 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
In order to carry into effect a certain survey directed to be made by a Resolve of the Congress of the United States, passed the 26th of August, it has been found necessary to ascertain a certain point within the Limits of Canada, from which a meridian line is to be drawn; and as the consent of the British Commander in chief in Canada is necessary to be obtained before any operations can be...
20George Partridge to Tobias Lear, 27 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
New York, 27 July 1789. Recommends William Watson, Ephraim Spooner, William Jackson, Joseph Otis, and Sturgis Gorham for customs posts in Massachusetts and will “be obliged to you to make the above recommendations to the president.” ALS , DLC:GW .
21From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 2 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
The extreme hurry in which I have been thrown for several days, to compare the merits and pretensions of the several applicants for appointments, under the Revenue Law (in order that the nominations might speedily follow the passage of the Collection Bill) has prevented my acknowledging the receipt of your favor of the 27th Ulto until this time. Mr Charles Lee will certainly be brot forward as...
22From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 20 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
I informed you on the 11th Inst. that a bill was before the House to provide for the Expences that might attend the Treaties & Negociations to be made with the Indian Tribes, and for the appointment of Commissioners to be employed in the same. This Bill has to day passed into a Law, and in consequence thereof I have nominated, and by & with the advice & consent of the Senate, have appointed...
23From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 11 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
On the 15th of September next there is to be a treaty held in the State of Georgia, between the Indians on the southern frontiers and Commissioners on the part of Georgia. At this treaty there will be a numerous and respectable concourse of Indians; two, and some say three thousand. Their famous Counsellor, the noted McGilvery is to be present at it; and it is now in agitation, and a bill is...
24From George Washington to James Madison, 9 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
Consequent of the enclosed resolution, I had a conference with the Commee therein named yesterday, when I expressed the Sentiments which you also have enclosed. I was assured by the Committee, that the only object the Senate had in view was to be informed of the mode of communication which would be most agreeable to the President, and that a perfect acquiescence would be yielded thereto. But I...
25From George Washington to James Madison, 5 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
I want to communicate two matters to Congress; the substance of which is contained in the enclosed Paper —The first requires to be decided upon before the proposed adjournment shall take place—but my motive for communicating the other, at this time, is only to fix the attention, & to promote enquiry against the next meeting. Whether would an oral or written communication be best? If the first...
26From George Washington to the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives, 9 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your Address, with which I have been honored, has made a most sensible impression upon me. That my acceptance of the Presidency of these United States should have given joy to the people of Massachusetts—and that my conduct through our late arduous struggle for Liberty and Independence hath met the approbation of the Citizens of that Commonwealth will be considered by me, as among the most...
27From George Washington to James McHenry, 3 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have received your very friendly letter of the 28th of June, and feel a grateful sense of the interest which you take in my welfare and happiness, and the kind solicitude which you express for the recovery of my health—I have now the pleasure to inform you that my health is restored, but a feebleness still hangs upon me, and I am yet much incommoded by the incision which was made in a very...
28From George Washington to Thomas McKean, 4 July 1789 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Thomas McKean, 4 July 1789. The endorsement on an envelope in PHi : McKean Papers reads: “Note from General G. Washington. July 4th 1789.”
29From George Washington to Thomas Mifflin, 20 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed letter, which is directed to the Government of the United States, was put into my hands; but upon having it translated I found it related to a person who is said to live in Philadelphia, and have therefore taken the liberty of forwarding it to your Excellency, not doubting but you will have the goodness to make known the contents to the person whom it concerns, if he is an...
30From George Washington to the Moravian Society for Propagating the Gospel, 15 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
I receive with satisfaction the congratulations of your Society and of the Brethren’s Congregations in the United States of America. For you may be persuaded that the approbation and good wishes of such a peaceable and virtuous Community cannot be indifferent to me. You will also be pleased to accept my thanks for the Treatise which you presented; and to be assured of my patronage in your...