156751From George Washington to Countess of Tankerville, 30 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
About ten days ago I had the honor to receive your Ladyships favor of the 21st of June from London. It is painful to me to be under the necessity of declining the trust which the Earl of Tankerville & your other Son the Honble Mr Bennett have invested me with—To discharge the duties of which, your Ladyships state of matters & request, would be strong excitements, if My situation was not such...
156752From George Washington to Robert Cary & Company, 20 September 1765 (Washington Papers)
It cannot reasonably be imagined that I felt any pleasing Sensations upon the receipt of your Letter of the 13th of February covering accts of Sales for 153 Hhds of Master Custis’s Tobo and 115 of mine. That the Sales are pitifully low, needs no words to demonstrate—and that they are worse than many of my Acquaintance upon this River—Potomack—have got in the Out Posts, & from Mr Russel and...
156753[Diary entry: 8 February 1790] (Washington Papers)
Monday 8th. Nominated Officers for the Revenue department in No. Carolina—Mr. Iredall as an Associate Judge; and all those who had been temporarily appointed during the recess of the Senate to fill resigned Offices—likewise Majr. Saml. Shaw as Consul for Canton in China. Sent the Bill which had been presented to me on Thursday last back to the House of Representatives with my approvg....
156754From George Washington to James Hill, 21 December 1772 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to James Hill, 21 Dec. 1772. On 5 Feb. 1773 Hill wrote to GW : “I recd your letters in the office the 30th of Jany one dated the 21st Decr.”
156755From George Washington to George Weedon, 23 July 1785 (Washington Papers)
It is some time since I received the enclosed Bill, under cover from the Drawer: among a multiplicity of other letters it got buried & forgot; until a line from Mr de Marbois the other day, forwarding the third bill of same tenor & date, reminded me of it. As I do not know who the Treasurer of the Society of the Cincinnati of this State is, I take the liberty of committing the Bill to your...
156756From George Washington to Major General Charles Lee, 26 February 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received your esteemed favor of the 14th Instant, which gave me great pleasure being impatient to hear from you—I rejoice to find that you are getting better, & Coud not avoid Laughing at Capt. Parkers reasons for not putting his repeated threats into execution. I take notice of your intended dispositions for defence, which I request you will loose no time in putting into execution—as from...
156757From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 15 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your letters of the 26th and 30th ulto and 1st Inst. I cannot learn that any troops have yet arrived at New York from Virginia. A fleet of 20 sail came in last saturday with troops, but they are said to be Hessian Recruits from Europe. The Concorde Frigate is arrived at Newport from Count de Grasse. He was to leave St Domingo the 3d of this month with a Fleet of between 25 and 29...
156758From George Washington to Josiah Quincy, 25 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 7th Instt coming duely to hand I thank you for the Intelligence therein contained. It gives me pain, to find from your Acct, that matters are taking a wrong biass in the Politicks of your Government. I left five Regiments (upon an Average as strong as any in the Service) to erect such Works, and in such places, as should be deemed most conducive to the defence of the...
156759From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Walton White, 1 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
A Letter just received from Brigadier General Maxwell informs me of the desertion of one of your light horse —this disagreeable Circumstance will naturally put you upon your guard; but I desire that you will farther make very particular Scrutiny into the Characters of your men and if you shall find any more suspicious ones among them—that you will immediately dismount them and order them to...
156760From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 4 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had, last Evening, the honor of receiving your favor of the 31st of May, by the Duke de Lauzun, who informs me, that he is authorised by your Excellency and the Count de Barras to enter into a free communciation with me, upon the subject of the Council of War held on board the Duke de Burgogne, and to request my opinion upon the propriety of their determination. I must confess to your...
156761From George Washington to William Livingston, 7 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
You have both obliged and amused me, by your communication of the 27th. I have not seen the piece to which you allude; but I should be more surprised had you been suffered to escape without paying a tax so antient and customary. When one is over rated in this way, it is very natural to complain, or to feel disgust at the ingratitude of the world; tho’ I beleive with you, that to persevere in...
156762George Washington to Major General William Heath, 22 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Whitpain Township [ Pennsylvania ] October 22, 1777 . Discusses distribution of newly arrived supplies. Sends news of General John Burgoyne’s defeat. Describes recent movements of enemy. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Photostats, Library of Congress.
156763[Diary entry: 9 May 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 9th. Thermometer at 60 in the Morng.—66 at Noon and 64 at Night. Clear & warm, with but little Wind and that did not spring up till about 11 Oclock—first from the No. Et.—shifting afterwards to So. Et. Rid to all my Plantations between Breakfast and dinner. Found the Flax in the Neck had come up, and full thick; and that the grass Seeds (rather Millet) obtnd. from Colo. Cary had come...
156764From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 26 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 13th and 18th instt with the several letters and papers they inclosed. Mr McHenry has informed me of the failure of the Refugee expedition to the Coast of Monmouth; but he mentions an account from Genl Maxwell of a Body of New Levies and Refugees having been embarked, supposed for Georgia. I could wish if it be so, that the numbers might be ascertained with...
156765From George Washington to James Bowdoin, 14 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received Your Two favors of the 29th & 31st of last Month, with the plan referred to, and have to return You my warmest thanks for the same & for your very kind & polite attention to my request. The plan & table of reference are very intelligible and satisfactory—and convey a clear idea of many points, about which I was uninformed before. These may be of great use—and from the manner...
156766[Diary entry: 17 May 1788] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 17th. Thermometer at 64 in the Morning—76 at Noon and 77 at Night. Lowering morning with the Wind at So. Wt. Clear afterwards with the Wind at So. Et. till about 5 Oclk. when their fell a heavy Shower of rain. Visited all the Plantations and the Brick yard. At the Ferry—the Plows were at work as yesterday and the women in the New ground. As (besides the three whole rows of Cabbages...
156767[Diary entry: 14 January 1789] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 14th. Thermometer at 29 in the Morning—32 at Noon and 30 at Night. Variable wind, with a little Snow in the Morning but clear about Noon. The Sleet, or hail that fell yesterday making a hard crust on the Snow to day, I discontinued sowing grass-Seeds as they could not bury themselves, & were liable to be blown of the surface of the Snow and drifted.
156768[Diary entry: 7 June 1770] (Washington Papers)
7. Raining more or less all day & sometimes very hard. Wind Eastwardly but not very cool.
156769[Diary entry: 1–6 August 1763] (Washington Papers)
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. } Cutting curing and Stackg. Hay from Creek Meadow. Note. Too late cutting Hay for first Crop this year.
156770From George Washington to David Waterbury, 1 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you Yesterday pr Capt. Buckley—directg you to march with all the Troops you can collect under your Comand & form a Junction at Clapps in Kingstreet, with Colo. Sheldon, who is to be at that Place on the 2d instant.I am now to inform you that you will also be joined at the Same Time & place by the French Legion under the Comand of the Duke de Lauzun, who is a Brigadier in the Service of...
156771[Diary entry: 25 May 1796] (Washington Papers)
25. Wind at No. Et., & fresh with constant rain until 4 O’clock—thick & mistg. afterwds.
156772From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 21 May 1794 (Washington Papers)
Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives. I lay before you, in confidence, sundry papers, by which you will perceive the state of affairs between us and the Six Nations, and the probable cause to which it is owing. And also certain information, whereby it would appear that some encroachment was about to be made on our territory by an officer and party of british troops....
156773[Diary entry: 22 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Friday 22d. Exercised on Horse back in the forenoon. Called in my ride on the Baron de Polnitz, to see the operation of his (Winlaws) threshing Machine. The effect was—the Heads of the Wheat being seperated from the Straw, as much of the first was run through the Mill in 15 minutes as made half a bushel of clean Wheat. Allowing 8 working hours in the 24. this would yield 16 Bushels pr. day....
156774From George Washington to Brigadier General Caesar Rodney, 18 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Lord Stirling did me the favr of sending to me your letter of the 8th Inst. to him, mentioning your Chearfullness to continue in Service (tho’ your Brigade had returned home) and waiting my determination on that head. The readiness with which You took the Field at the period most critical to our Affairs—the Industry you used in bringing out the Militia of the Delaware State—and the Alertness...
156775[Diary entry: 15 February 1772] (Washington Papers)
15. At home all day.
156776[Diary entry: 4 September 1770] (Washington Papers)
4. Rid to My Mill and back to Dinner.
156777From George Washington to Colonel Thomas Clark, 22 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have a Copy of the Arrangemt of your own and Colo. Pattens Regiments. If any Alterations have happened since the Copy was made out by Resignation or otherwise be pleased to remark them and return the lists to me that I may send them back to the Board of War and obtain Commissions upon them. I am &c. Df , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . The...
156778From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 25 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since my letter of the 14th to your Excellency on the subject of an immediate supply of provision for Fort Pitt, I have received the following intelligence, thro’ a good Channel, which makes the measures I then recommended more indespensably necessary—"Colonel Conolly with his corps to proceed to Quebec as soon as possible, to be joined in Canada by Sir John Johnson with a number of Tories and...
156779Orders to Brigadier General Nathaniel Heard, 23 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I would have you leave at this place (out of the Militia under your Command) One hundred Men, or as near that number as have had the Small Pox (Officered agreeably to the resolutions of Congress). You are also to send a Subaltern & twenty five Men to Succasony to guard the Magazines and Stores at that place—agreeably to Orders which the Officer is to receive from the Assistant Quarter Master...
156780[Diary entry: 12 June 1772] (Washington Papers)
12. Rid over Muddy hole Wheat Field—also that at Doeg Run. Dr. Rumney came in the Ev[ening]. Rumney brought Patsy Custis eight musk capsules to be used for relief of her epileptic seizures (receipt from William Rumney, 24 June 1772, ViHi : Custis Papers).
156781From George Washington to William Holt, 6 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I thank you sincerely for your polite Address & Congratulation on the important success, which has been obtained, by the assistance of the Troops of our great & generous Allies. If I have been instrumental in restoring tranquillity to any part of the United States, which was suffering under the ravages of the Enemy, I consider the approbation of the Virtuous Citizens of America, as the most...
156782[Diary entry: 1 November 1770] (Washington Papers)
1. Went up the Great Kanhawa abt. 10 Miles with the People that were with me.
156783[Diary entry: 23 April 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 23d. Set off after breakfast, on a journey to Richmond—to acknowledge in the General Court some Deeds for Land sold by me as Attorney for Colo. George Mercer which, it seems, could not be executed without. Dined at Dumfries and lodged at Stafford Court House. Very cloudy all day with but little wind and that from the Eastward.
156784From George Washington to Unknown, 25 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
The printed notification (enclosed) gives a general description of the lands held by the Subscriber on the Rivers Ohio & Kanhawa. For one more in detail, it is presumed the purchaser would choose to rely more on his own investigation, or on the report of an Agent, than on that of the Seller, and therefore it will not be attempted. The price has been rising, and at present is eight dollars pr...
156785From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 15 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have now before me your letters of the 16th Ulto & the 5th & 8th Inst. Mrs Washington’s Slippers and Clogs have come safe to hand, the latter, however, are not such as she wished to have—she intended to have had leathern Gloshoes made, and will, by the first convenient opportunity, return the Clogs to Mr Palmer and get a pair of Gloshoes. I am very sorry that you did not get the quantity of...
156786[Diary entry: 16 January 1799] (Washington Papers)
16. Clear. Mer. 38. Wind at No. W. in the Morning but moderate calm and exceedingly pleasant afterwards.
156787From George Washington to Brigadier General William Woodford, 26 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
There will be a necessity of throwing up a small Work upon Stoney point to protect the communication by Kings ferry—Colo. Gouvion will go down tomorrow to lay it out. When that is done, you will be pleased to furnish a party from Lord Stirlings Division to assist in executing it. I have wrote to Genl Wayne to furnish a party also from the Infantry —You had best see him and detail agreeable to...
156788General Orders, 29 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief earnestly exhorts the officers of every rank to use their utmost exertions to have the huts completed as soon as possible, that the troops may get comfortably lodged. He also directs a gill of spirits to be served this afternoon to each non commissioned officer and soldier. And as officers may find it difficult and expensive to procure spirits for their own use in camp,...
156789From George Washington to Henry Edwin Stanhope, 4 January 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Henry Edwin Stanhope, 4 Jan. 1776. Stanhope’s letter to GW of 25 Dec. 1775 is endorsed in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing: “Ansd the 4 Jany 1776.”
156790After Orders, 17 May 1756 (Washington Papers)
After Orders. Lieutenant Thomas, with the Orange Militia, is ordered to Lieutenant Hedgmans post, as all his men have deserted except eight; who are to join the Spotsylvania Militia. Captain Woodford is ordered to Lieutenant Thomas’s post—Lieutenant Bebb, of the Louisa Militia, is to go in pursuit of his men, who deserted all except six men: These six are to join the Carpenters at work. LB ,...
156791To John Jay from George Washington, 5 September 1794 (Jay Papers)
This encloses a copy of my last—written, as you will readily perceive, with much haste as one indication of it, I omitted the stamp of privacy, but you would not, I am well persuaded, consider it as official nor in any other light than as the private sentiments very hastily thrown together of Your obedient and Affectionate ALS , DLC ( EJ : 10633 ). LbkC , DLC : Washington. In this letter of 30...
156792General Orders, 30 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Coll Beauford is appointed to visit & superintend the Hospitals in Jersey—He will apply at the Orderly-Office tomorrow for instructions. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . GW dined on this date with Congressman Samuel Holten, John Jay, French minister Conrad-Alexandre Gérard, and “about 60 other Gentln” ( Smith, Letters of Delegates Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress,...
156793From George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 29 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform your Excellency that the detachment sent against the Mutineers as Mentioned in my last, surrounded them in their Quarters on the Morning of the 27th and demanded an immediate surrender, which was complied with on their part without the least attempt to resist—Two of the principal actors were executed on the spot & the remainder pardoned. From the appearances of...
156794From George Washington to Brigadier General George Weedon, 8 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
You are so well acquainted with our Circumstances and Situation that I need not assign any Reason for desiring you to call upon every Colonel within your reach and order him to march whatever Men he may have raised to join the Army immediately. Let a good Officer be sent forward with the first party who may receive and take Care of the Men of his Regiment as they come up. Endeavour to procure...
156795From George Washington to Conrad-Alexandre Gérard, 1 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
As you have been pleas’d to honor me with a communication of His Excellency Count D’Estang’s intention of returning to this Continent with the Squadron under his command, and have desired to know my sentiments of the manner in which this event may be best improved for the interest of the common cause—and what can be done on the part of these States towards that end—I beg leave to offer the...
156796From George Washington to John Marshall, Edward Carrington, and William Heth, 12 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
Although the letter, of which the enclosed is a copy, is of old date, it has but just been received from the Secretary of War. Without aid, it will be impossible for me to carry his views into effect; which, & the confidence I place in you, is the best apology I can make for asking you to assist me, in the business required. I have, with the exception of short intervals, been so many years...
156797[Diary entry: 24 March 1770] (Washington Papers)
24. Ground very hard froze. The morning again clear and calm but the Wind hard from the No. West after 9 Oclock.
156798From George Washington to Jedediah Huntington, 15 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
It was a very unlucky Circumstance which you mention in your Favor of the 20th June—& has taken place without any Order from me, or Concurrence of mine. I am sorry however that the Assembly have taken such hasty Offence at the Measure, and have carried their Resentment so far as you inform—It could never be my Intention to call for, or Expectation to receive, other Men in the Room of those who...
156799General Orders, 14 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Quarter Master General, is to apply to the Adjutant General, for a fatigue party, to repair the road from hence, to Pluck’emin, which, is said, to be almost impassible in some places. He is also, to have a Guard-house, in the upper Redoubt, on the hill adjoining this place, erected with dispatch, and sufficient to contain 30 Men—This building to be slight, and attended with little expence....
156800From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 31 July 1768 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 15th Inst. covering Master Custis’s Letter to his Mother came to hand a few days after date.—In looking over the Books I find Cicero: De Officies and send it, as also his own Grammer which he forgot—a Livy I cannot find. —If the pain which he complained of in his stomach should return, with any other Symptoms of worms, it might be very proper for Doctr. Mercer to prescribe...