74451From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Tazewell, 16 January 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
As far as the public papers are to be credited, I may suppose that the choice of Vice president has fallen on me. On this hypothesis I trouble you, and only pray, if it be wrong, that you will consider this letter as not written. I believe it belongs to the Senate to notify the V.P. of his election. I recollect to have heard that on the first election of President and Vice President gentlemen...
74452Abigail Adams to John Adams, 15 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
The Cold has been more severe than I can ever before recollect. it has frozen the ink in My pen, and chilld the Blood in my veins, but not the Warmth of My affection for Him for whom my Heart Beats with unabated ardor through all the Changes and visisitudes of Life, in the still Calm of Peace Feild, and the Turbelent Scenes in which he is about to engage, the prospect of which excite, neither...
74453[Diary entry: 15 January 1797] (Washington Papers)
15. Wind at So. Wt. mild & pleasant. [36]
74454From George Washington to James Anderson, 15 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 11th and Reports of the preceeding week, came to hand yesterday. It is a thing I had resolved to do, so soon as I should be fixed at Mount Vernon, to seperate the old & bad horses, cattle and Sheep from the young, thrifty & good; and to dispose of them in some way or another, as soon as they could be got in order for it; by a Summer’s run, or other means not too expensive...
74455To George Washington from Henry Knox, 15 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Possessing as I do a thousand evidences of your friendship, I am persuaded that you will readily beleive me, when I say that my silence of late, has been the effect of my unwillingness to intrude, lest I should for a moment prevent the consideration and different views, you give to the important subjects incessantly before you. Although the same cause continues to prevent my interruption, yet...
74456From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 15 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
The last mail brought me your favor of Jany. 1. inclosing an unsealed one for Mr. A. & submitting to my discretion the eligibility of delivering it. In exercising this delicate trust I have felt no small anxiety, arising by no means however from an apprehension that a free exercise of it could be in collision with your real purpose, but from a want of confidence in myself, & the importance of...
74457From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 15 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have lately recd. a letter from Mr. Freneau, who formerly edited the National Gazette in this City, in which he tells me that he has removed from N. Jersey to N. York, and is associating himself with Mr. Greenleaf in the publication of a Daily & Biweekly papers. Having been acquainted with Mr. Freneau from our youths, and being sensible of his private worth, his literary talents, and his...
74458From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 15 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
The last post brought me your favor of Jany. 2d. It will be well for you to send on your list of articles wanted as soon as possible. I hope Kyser will not disappoint us in the Clover Seed; and that other chances at Fredg. & elsewhere will be watched: As I shall get some at all events even here, I wish a Box to be made as soon as can be done. It will be the more necessary the more scanty the...
74459To James Madison from Francis Corbin, 15 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
It is a long time since I had the pleasure of writing to you, and as the Subject of this Letter will not be of a political or public, but altogether of a private and confidential kind, I ought, perhaps, to apologise for it. But I have always relied very much on your goodness and, I assure you, my opinion of it is still exalted and still undiminish’d. An excuse, therefore, would be...
74460From James Madison to Robert Gamble, 15 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 15 January 1797. Acknowledged in Gamble to JM, 21 Jan. 1797 . Encloses newspapers and a bank note of $50 for Mary Coles Payne. Discusses political and international news.
74461To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 15 January 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
The last mail brought me your favor of Jany. 1. inclosing an unsealed one for Mr. A. and submitting to my discretion the eligibility of delivering it. In exercising this delicate trust I have felt no small anxiety, arising by no means however from an apprehension that a free exercise of it could be in collision with your real purpose, but from a want of confidence in myself, and the importance...
74462John Adams to Abigail Adams, 14 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
M r Beale called upon me, a few Days ago and left your Letter of Dec r. 23 d. — Last Evening I presented him to the P. and M rs W. together with M r Howard, a son of D r Howard of Boston. You Say M r H. is very full of his Praises of M r Monroe— So is D r Edwards— He Says M
74463Ruth Dalton to Abigail Adams, 14 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
Your kind letter should not have lain so long unanswered had I not impatiently waited for the event so much wished by me, an event which to myself and Family gives great pleasure, and I beg leave to congratulate you with the greatest Sincerity I am happy to find the Country have not forgot to be grateful to so good a Man, and firm Friend. I have no doubts but the place of our Worthy and great...
74464[Diary entry: 14 January 1797] (Washington Papers)
14. Wind Southerly. Morng. very heavy, with rain from Noon. Company dined with 5 Gent[leme]n. [32]
74465To John Jay from Jedidiah Morse, 14 January 1797 (Jay Papers)
Soon after I had the honour of receiving your Letter wh[ic]h accompanied the Laws of N York, I wrote you by a vessel bound to N. York & accompanied my Letter with a Sett of the last Edit[io] n of my Geog[raph] y . in boards for your acceptance. It was as long ago as October last. I hope they reached you safely. The hint you dropped when I last saw you, relative to my undertaking to write the...
74466To Thomas Jefferson from James Wood, 14 January 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to enclose you an Authenticated Copy of a Resolution which passed the General Assembly at their late Session, respecting the boundary line between this Commonwealth and the State of Maryland; together with a Copy of the Resolution of the Legislature of Maryland On the same Subject. I pray you Sir, to have the goodness to Acknowledge the receipt of this dispatch as soon as...
74467[Diary entry: 13 January 1797] (Washington Papers)
13. Wind still Southerly. Exercised on horseback, on the River Delaware Crossing to Cowpers Tavern & recrossing below. [24] cowpers tavern : probably the ferry house erected by Samuel Cooper (1744–1812) in 1770 at Cooper’s Point in what is now Camden, N.J. Samuel’s son William was running the ferry by this time. There were actually several ferries within a short distance of each other, all...
74468From George Washington to Tobias Lear, 13 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
It is nearly, if not quite a month, since I enclosed you a letter from the Revd Mr Van Vleck, agreeing to take Colo. Ball’s daughter, along with Maria. In that letter, he mentioned his terms; his wishes to know their exact ages; and informed you what necessaries they ought to come provided with. To these I added , that knowing many unsuccessful attempts had been made to get girls admitted to...
74469From George Washington to John Trumbull, 13 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed you will receive Mrs Washington’s thanks for the many marks of politeness she has received from you; permit me to say, that she has expressed my sentiments fully; and to add, that you will do me a favour in causing the letter, herewith, to be sent to its address. It will always give me pleasure to hear of your welfare, for I am truly, and sincerely, Dear Sir, Your Affecte Servant ALS...
74470Relations with Algiers, [13 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
On 10 January the House had considered a motion that a committee be appointed “to select such parts of the confidential communication sent … by a message of the President of the United States” on 9 January “as in their opinion may, with propriety, be printed.” JM, Ames (Massachusetts), Sherburne (New Hampshire), Davenport (Connecticut), Livingston (New York), Grove (North Carolina), and...
74471From Samuel Griffin to John Adams, 12 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
Permit me much respected Sir, to congratulate Your Excellency, as well as the good Citizens of America, on Your late election to the Presidency of the United States, and to assure You Sir, that from every information that can be collected, it was the general wish of most of the good people of Virginia, who are attached, to order & good Government, that this happy & fortunate event should take...
74472To Alexander Hamilton from Stephen Higginson, 12 January 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Letter of 20 of last month I have received. The election of Mr. Adams seems to be secured, but with an excess only of one vote, which is close work indeed. This, while it avoids the point I before stated to you, will involve another, I fear, more dangerous & difficult. The blind or devoted partisans of Mr. Adams, instead of being satisfied with his being elected, seem to be alarmed at the...
74473[Diary entry: 12 January 1797] (Washington Papers)
12. Clear & pleasant all day. Wind at So. Wt. All the Diplomatic Corp (except France) dined with me. [34] The absence of the French minister, Pierre Auguste Adet, from GW’s dinner party was undoubtedly a reflection of the strained relations existing between France and the United States at this time.
74474To George Washington from Marie-Jeanne-Jacqueline-Antoinette Pernot, 12 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
allow an ancient inhabitant of America, who has had the honor of knowing you, when she was at Philadelphia, to break in one moment upon your important business, to claim from you the Justice, which She is threatened not to obtain from the tribunals. as president of congress your are to cause the laws of your country to be faithfully executed: and it is their strict execution I claim. give me...
74475To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 12 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to return the address of the Senate of Pennsylvania, with the draught of an answer in terms which I imagined would correspond with your feelings, and which unsullied honor and the dignity of truth would authorize you to express. If however you prefer any other sentiments, by receiving the draught thus early, there will be time for alterations. I sent the intended letter to Mr...
74476From George Washington to Benjamin Walker, 12 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Permit me once more to give you the trouble of forwarding the enclosed letters to their respective addresses. If you read the Aurora of this City, or those Gazettes which are under the same influence, you cannot but have perceived with what malignant industry, and persevering falsehoods I am assailed, in order to weaken, if not to destroy, the confidence of the Public. Amongst other attempts...
74477To Thomas Jefferson from James Sullivan, 12 January 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
This intrusion can do no hurt, if it can do no good. I ask leave to tell you, that your Friends in the New England States, who are many will be much disappointed if you should decline being Vice President. It is true that you have been abused. But this abuse came from a party, who are determined to abuse every one, who will not with them, bow, in adoration to the british monarchy. If the...
74478John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
on Tuesday when I waited as usual on M rs W. after attending the Levee, She congratulated me very complaisantly and Affectionately on my Election and went farther and Said more than I expected. She Said it gave them great Pleasure to find that the Votes had turn’d in my favour. &c I doubted whether their Prudence would have ventured so far. I believe it Sincere. Ket however the Stewart was...
74479From John Adams to Francis Gardner, 11 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received this morning your favour of the 29 th of last month inclosing The Rural Repository, in which are the Sentiments of Clericus on the Banks. His opinions are too well founded: and his Advice to young Candidates for the Ministry is sound and Salutary. One would think that the People of America had made Experiments enough, to have discovered the nature of Money by this Time. But it is...
74480[Diary entry: 11 January 1797] (Washington Papers)
11. Wind at No. Et. Sprinkling of Snow in the Morning and raining soberly afterwds. [24]
74481To George Washington from James Anderson, 11 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Refering to my last of 2d have now to hand You Report of last week. As said in my last I have now brought my Family here, which with Mr Pearce sickness has put it out of my power to send You Inventory of every Article I find here. It is however nearly compleat And will certainly forward it in my next—which I intend by Monday, instead of this days post, I have been at all the Farm’s various...
74482From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 11 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 7th instant, but which did not get to my hands until yesterday; and to express to you, the sincere pleasure I feel in finding that I had interpreted some parts of your letters erroneously. As you have the best, and most unequivocal evidence the case is susceptible of, that I have no other object in view by extending my cares and...
74483From George Washington to James McHenry, 11 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
I shall have occasion to write to Mr Lear by tomorrow’s Post, and would thank you to let me know (in a summary way) what money he has drawn on acct of the Arsenal on the Potomack; and what report he has made to the War Office of his proceedings in that business, for I shall take an occasion (as from myself) to ask him what has been done therein. Yours always ALS (photostat), DLC : James...
74484To George Washington from Alexander White, 11 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Previous to Mr Scotts setting out for Annapolis, it was mentioned by him and not controverted by Doctor Thornton, that a full Board would not be necessary till about the tenth of this month, and that I might with propriety remain in Virginia till that period, unless something should occur to render my presence sooner necessary, in which case they would give me notice. By a letter put in the...
74485To James Madison from George Taylor, Jr., 11 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Being prevented by excessive hurry of Business at the office, from waiting on you in person, I take the liberty of reminding, you by a few lines, of my unpleasant situation as to salary being the same as it was when I last troubled you on the subject. I need not mention or urge to a gentleman of your independent Character, how irksome it must be to a feeling mind to be totally dependent on the...
74486Petition of Gilbert Dench, [11 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
The House went into a Committee of the Whole to consider the report of the Committee of Claims on Gilbert Dench ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 4th Cong., 2d sess., 1835–36). Messrs. Madison … were of opinion, that if Mr. Dench had any claim it was upon the state of Massachusetts, and not upon the United...
74487Petition of Joseph-Léonard Poirey, [11 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
JM called up the bill on the claim of Poirey. The House went into a Committee of the Whole, rose, and reported the bill without amendment ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 4th Cong., 2d sess., 1839). Mr. Madison observed, that if he saw any danger from the precedent of making this provision, he should not be...
74488John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Johnson, 10 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
How painful it is to me, my amiable friend to feel the assurance that my Letters for which you wait with so much anxious expectation, when they arrive, can bring to you none but unacceptable news, and that they can relieve you from suspense only by the confirmation of disappointment. My Letters of November 19. December 5. 13. 20. and 31. are most probably before this time all in your hands....
74489Louisa Catherine Johnson to John Quincy Adams, 10 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
In my last I mentioned having recieved yours of the 13 December, which time our general regulator opposed my answering— Shall I my best friend acknowledge the confession you there make, affords me no small satisfaction. I know not if it is the result of vanity, but am pleased to find a mind energetic as yours, own the theory of fortitude to be easier than the practice— I have frequently...
74490Elizabeth Smith Shaw Peabody to Abigail Adams, 10 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
Day after day has slid off into the ocean of time, with the Yesterdays beyond the flood, replete with Intentions of writing to my dear, esteemed, much loved Sister. But Sickness, accumalation of family business, & the extreme coldness of the weather has prevented— The time alloted for visiting my Friends was much too short, for my feeble constitution. I had been very unwell for three weeks,...
74491[Diary entry: 10 January 1797] (Washington Papers)
10. Clear. Wind Westerly—or rather Southerly & moderating. [0]
74492From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 10 January 1797 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to Bushrod Washington, 10 Jan. 1797 . Washington wrote GW on 21 Jan. : “I recd your favor of the 10th.”
74493To John Jay from Rufus King, 10 January 1797 (Jay Papers)
You probably will have heard before this Letter gives you the information, that the Directory have refused to receive General Pinckney, who on presenting his Letter of Credence was informed by La Croix in behalf of the Directory, “qu’il ne reconnoitra et ne recevra plus Ministre plenipotentiaire des Etats unis jusqu’apres le redressement des Griefs demandé au Gouvernment Americaine, et que la...
74494James and Dolley P. Madison v. Edward Heston, 10 January 1797 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 January 1797, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. Dolley Madison and JM brought suit against Edward Heston to recover costs incurred by Dolley Madison and the late John Todd for nursing and burying Heston’s son, Isaac, in 1793. The plaintiffs abandoned the cause and agreed to a nonsuit. Ms ( InU ). 3 pp. Notes on the case taken by Jonathan Williams, who was associate judge of the court of...
74495John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received to day, together, your Favours of the 31 st December 1796 and 1. Jan. 1797 Our H. of R. boasts that We are the most enlightened People in the World: but We behave like the most ignorant Babies, in a thousand Instances. We have been destroying all Terror of Crimes and are becoming the Victims of them. We have been destroying all Attachment and Obligation to Country and are Sold in...
74496John Quincy Adams to Joshua Johnson, 9 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
I received some time since your favour of Nov r: 29. and this morning that of Dec r: 16. You mentioned in the former your intention to take measures if possible which might secure my wishes, but that you could not fix upon them without first receiving Letters from your partners in America.— Not having it in my power to conjecture what you contemplated, I had hitherto postponed an answer until...
74497[Diary entry: 9 January 1797] (Washington Papers)
9. Clear & very cold—wind in the same place. Went to the Theatre, for the first time this Season. The Child of Nature & The Lock & Key were performed. [2] went : GW has inadvertently written “Wind” in the MS. The New Theatre on Chestnut Street above Sixth Street had opened in 1794, and was said to be the finest theater in America at this time. It was copied after the theater at Bath, Eng., and...
74498From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 9 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Not having seen the conclusion of your Statement for Genl Pinckney (if completed); and not knowing in what manner you propose to sum it up; it has occurred to me that, closing with some such sentiments as the following, might not be improper. That the conduct of the United States towards France has been, as will appear by the aforegoing statement, regulated by the strictest principles of...
74499From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 9 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Herewith I lay before you, in confidence, reports from the departments of State and the Treasury, by which you will see the present situation of our affairs with the Dey and Regency of Algiers. LS , DNA : RG 46, entry 52; Df , DNA : RG 59, entry 142; LB , DLC:GW ; copy, DNA : RG
74500Petition of Joseph-Léonard Poirey, [9 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
On 5 January JM had called up the report of the secretary of war on Poirey’s petition and moved that a bill be brought in. The House considered the matter in a Committee of the Whole on 9 January, with JM proposing that “provision ought to be made by law for settling the claim of M. Poirey” ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.;...