89101From George Washington to Joseph Caverly, 14 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have not yet been able to examine the drifted wood on my shores—but as I am informed you have been a considerable sufferer by the Storm —you shall be welcome to all that now lays from the Gut which formerly divided Simpsons plantation and Johnsons, to the point of Pocoson opposite to the mouth of Piscataway Creek—excepting Walnut logs. or such pieces as will do for the framing of a...
89102From George Washington to John Marshall, 15 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 10th Ulto to Doctr Stuart enclosing a Summons for L. Washington &c. did not come to my hand till lass Night. I am at a loss what step to take in this matter, and should be glad of your advice. Luther Martin is the Attorney Genl of Maryland and lives in Baltimore. Elizabeth and Sarah Cresap I have always understood live with one Jacobs who Married there Mother, and is said to...
89103To George Washington from Thomas Ridout, 15 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I presume that your Excellency has heard that I had the misfortune to be taken by a party of Indians on my way to the Falls of the Ohio—although I lost every thing I was possessed of, I may reckon myself fortunate in having my life preserved—after remaining rather more than three months amongst the shawanese, I was brought into Detroit and there given up to a Trader for a debt of 340 dollars...
89104From George Washington to Charles Pettit, 16 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge with much sensibility the receipt of your letter, dated the 5th instant, in which you offer your congratulations on the prospect of an established government, whose principles seem calculated to secure the benefits of society to the Citizens of the United States; and in which you also give a more accurate state of fœderal Politics in Pennsylvania than I had before...
89105To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 17 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
By last post, I forwarded a Letter from Mrs Morris which Came with a pair of Stays. The stays I put in charge of Capt. Ellwood who promised great Care of them, inclosed is the Bill of loading of sundry Articles by said Captain of which a Certificate was delivered him to save the Duties. the Invoice & of Course the Account Current lays open for want of Mr Hare’s bill for the Porter which have...
89106From George Washington to John Beale Bordley, 17 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
The letter with which you honord me, dated the 31st Ult.; together with the Wheat, Barley and Madder came safe to hand. For your kindness in presenting them, I pray you to accept my best acknowlegments and thanks. Agriculture being my favourite amusement I am always pleased with communications that relate to it. To these the great improvemts in Husbandry, of late years, in England, may be...
89107From George Washington to James Madison, 17–18 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Although the letter of Mr Pleasants and its enclosure will appear under date of the 25th of July, it never got to my hand till friday last. Tomorrow is the first Post by which I could forward it. It is now sent with thanks for the perusal. I shall write to the Count de Moustier, but in pretty general terms—giving the substance rather than the detail of this business. That the circular letter...
89108From George Washington to Moustier, 17 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
In the letter which I did myself the honor to address to your Excellency on the 26th of last March, I intimated that as soon as I should have obtained more particular information concerning the commercial intercourse between France and the United States, I would most willingly communicate the result. Ill prepared as I still am to treat of a subject, so complicated in its nature and so...
89109To George Washington from Thomas Ruston, 17 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Will your Excellency permit me to congratulate you on the acceptance of the new constitution by eleven of the States? An event that I think must be highly pleasing to your Excellency, for as there is no one who has contributed so much towards the establishment of the liberty and independence of this Country, so I am convinced that there are none who have her happiness and prosperity more at...
89110From George Washington to Hector St. John Crèvecoeur, 18 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Will you permit me to take the liberty of addressing the enclosed Letters to your care, to be forwarded when a conveyance shall offer for France? I will make no apology for the freedom, because you have encouraged me to use it. With sentiments of esteem & consideration I have the honor to be Sir Yr Most Obedt and Most Hble Servt ALS , DLC : Crèvecoeur Papers; LB , DLC:GW . GW also wrote to...
89111From George Washington to Christopher Gadsden, 18 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I take the earliest opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of the letter, which you did me the favor to write to me on the 5th of June last; and of informing you that I have received and forwarded the letters of Mr Warville, in conformity to your desires. You have done perfectly right in appreciating the full value of the esteem and attachment by which I am connected with that amiable young...
89112From George Washington to Auguste, Comte de Grasse, 18 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
The letter which you did me the honor to write on the 11th of March last is before me, and affords an occasion of testifying the sincerity of my regrets for the distressing event announced in it. Be persuaded, Sir, I should do injustice to my feelings, if my disinterested friendship did not sympaithize with your filial duty, in expressions of the most genuine grief, for the death of your...
89113To George Washington from John Mary, 18 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
your Excellency will hardly remember of me, but when i will mention to you that i was secretary to the Consulate general of France under Mr Gerard’s orders during the late war, & that i had the honour of dining there with you & your lady several times, then likely you will recollect me. however give me leave to wish you a very good health, your lady & all that belongs to you. I have lately...
89114From George Washington to James Swan, 18 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 5th of June from Havre de Grace. The measure you took, in recommending to Mr Cadson the transmission of the Marqs de la Fayette’s letters for Mr Crevecœur through my hands, was very acceptable to me and did not stand in need of an apology. About the time I was occupied in forwarding the Packet to New York, I had the satisfaction to hear of Mr Warville’s safe...
89115From George Washington to William Tudor, 18 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have just received your friendly letter of the 26th of July, together with the History of the Insurrections in Massachusetts; and cannot delay to return you my thanks for these tokens of your regard. Though I have not yet had time to look through the book, from the interesting nature of the subject, and the judicious manner in which it seems to be handled, I anticipate considerable amusement...
89116To George Washington from Thomas Hanson Marshall, 21 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your Farmer applyed to me on Sunday last, to know if I had any Wheat for sale, which you wanted for seed, I have not any out, nor will it now be in my power, conveniantly, to have aney ready, for that purpose, until about the first of next month weather &c. permiting: I will let you have, as fast as can get it out &c. from the above mention’d time, Two hundred Bushels at Five shillings...
89117From George Washington to John Fitzgerald and George Gilpin, 22 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
It is of so much consequence to the Company, that necessary and legal measures should be pursued to obtain Judgments againts its delenquent members at the ensuing General Court—now little more than five weeks distant—that I beg a moment may not be lost in complying with the requisition of Mr Lee for this purpose. In the mean time, if one of two things must take place which seem very likely—a...
89118To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 24 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is your Account Currt (including the Goods ⅌ Cap. Ellwood) balance in my favour £5.3.8 —If you choose to have the barley please to inform me & I will procure it by Capt. Ellwoods return—the price is not yet ascertained —I have not yet disposed of the herrings but have the preference from two vessels intended for Hispaniola if they load any—they have been very low in that Island which...
89119To George Washington from James Madison, 24 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favored with yours of the 17th 18th under the same cover with the papers from Mr Pleasants. The Circular letter from this State is certainly a matter of as much regret, as the unanimity with which it passed is matter of surprize. I find it is every where, and particularly in Virginia, laid hold of as the signal for united exertions in pursuit of early amendments. In Pennsylva....
89120From George Washington to Thomas Hanson Marshall, 24 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Upon receipt of your letter of the 21st instant I sent up to Alexandria to know what the cash price of wheat was at that place; and am informed that the hig[h]est that has been offered is four Shillings and sixpence for wheat at 60 lb. to the Bushel—all Cash or 4/9 part Goods. As I do not incline to exceed the market price I cannot give 5/ unless it should rise to that; and whether this is...
89121From George Washington to Thomas Thomson, 24 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
In answer to your favor of the 12th instant, I can assure you, if it shall be found that Doctr Spence and family are in the unhappy situation you suppose, and I can be instrumental by writing to Mr Jefferson or to any of my friends in France in obtaining their release, I should do it with chearfulness and pleasure—An application to the Court of that Nation from a private character would be...
89122From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 25 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 13th & 17th instt are both at hand, but the Packet is not yet arrived. The Iron written for in one of my last letters, was no other than the common Sheet iron (about as thin as Sheet copper) which is rolled at the Trenton Mills. The use for which I wanted it being, to cover the Mould boards of my Ploughs to prevent the Wood from wearing by the friction. If that which you...
89123From George Washington to George Morgan, 25 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
The letter which you did me the favor of writing to me the 31st of last month, with a Postscript to it on the 5th of this, came duly to hand; as did a small parcel of wheat, forwarded some time before, by the Post Master general from new York. For your polite attention to me in these instances I pray you to accept my best acknowledgments & Thanks. With much concern I have heard of the ravages...
89124To George Washington from Thomas Lewis, 27 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
In the Month of April last I Recd a packet from Your excellency in which was inclosed, duplicates of the Surveys of Your Lands lying on the Kannawa, & Between the mouths of the two Rivers of the Same Name, also a letter from You, Appointing me Your Agent, to let your lands for a term of Years, which Agency If accepted by me, would have No Other tendency, than that of Desceiving You. And permit...
89125To George Washington from William Barton, 28 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency may probably recollect that I had the honor of waiting on You, at the Winter-quarters of the Army, early in the year 1779, with letters from Mr Laurens and the late Genl Reed. Altho’ barely known, however, to You, I take the liberty of inclosing, for your own perusal, a short treatise on a subject little understood, or attended to, in this Country—namely, Heraldry or Blazon....
89126To George Washington from William Bean, 28 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have Understood By an Accquaintance of mine From Redstone, that You propose selling Your Mill You have in that Country, If So I would Be Glad to know Your terms & What Quantity of Land You will Sell with the Mill, I have Been in that Country But Never Seen Your Land nor mill But from the Inteligence I have had It may Be A place that would please me if your Terms Seem Favourable I Shall Go &...
89127From George Washington to Jonathan Edwards, 28 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the receipt of the letter & Pamphlet, which you have been pleased to forward to me by a late conveyance; and to desire you will accept of my best thanks for them. You have been rightly informed relative to the application, which had been made to me from Europe, for Documents concerning the Indian Language. It seems that a Society of Literati are endeavouring to make...
89128From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 28 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive your letter dated the 13th—accompanied by one addressed to General Morgan. I will forward the letter to Generl Morgan by the first conveyance, and add my particular wishes that he would comply with the request contained in it. Although I can scarcely imagine how the Watch of a British Officer, killed within their lines, should have fallen into his hands (who...
89129From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 28 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I received with your letter of the 9th instant, one from Mr Minot and also his History of the Insurrections in Massachusetts. The work seems to be executed with ingenuity, as well as to be calculated to place facts in a true point of light, obviate the prejudices of those who were unacquainted with the circumstances & answer good purposes in respect to our government in general. I have...
89130From George Washington to George Richards Minot, 28 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 7th of this Month has been duly received; and I lose no time before I acknowledge the obligations under which you have placed me, by offering the copy of your History as a present. Aside of the honorable testimoney of my friend Genl Lincoln, the intrinsic merit of the work (so far as I am able to form a Judgement from its perspicuity & impartiality) carries a sufficient...
89131From George Washington to Joseph Mandrillon, 29 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have lately received, with a grateful sensibility, the Miscellaneous Collection in verse and prose, which you have had the goodness to send to me, accompanied by your letter under date of May the 24th—for both of which I pray you to accept my warmest thanks. But, Sir, I consider you as a patriot of the world, earnestly solicitous for the freedom and prosperity of all nations. And I should do...
89132From George Washington to Edward Newenham, 29 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I beg you will be persuaded that it always gives me singular pleasure to hear from you; and that your obliging letters of the 22th & 25th of March afforded me particular satisfaction. I am also to thank you for the Irish Parliamentary Papers which have come safe to hand. The Edition of Cooke’s Voyage, which you mention to have forwarded by a former occasion, has not been so successfull in its...
89133To George Washington from Francis Adrian Van der Kemp, 29 August 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Francis Adrian Van der Kemp, 29 Aug. 1788. On 27 Sept. GW wrote Van der Kemp that his letter “dated the 29th of Augt came duly to hand.”
89134From George Washington to William Stephens Smith, 30 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I was favoured, a few days ago, with your letter, dated the first day of this Month, in which you obligingly acknowledge the receipt of mine of a former date. In the dearth of News and Politics at this moment—and especially in my distance from the sources of intelligence, and retirement from the scenes of public life; I should have scarcely any topic of importance enough to trouble you with a...
89135From George Washington to Thomas Barclay, 31 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have received a letter from a Doctr Thomas, of Westmoreland in this State, requesting me to make enquiries respecting Dr Spence and his Lady, who were supposed to be lost at sea, several years ago, and who are now reported to be in slavery among the piratical States of Barbary. As I knew of no person more likely to give information on the subject than yourself, I have taken the liberty of...
89136From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 31 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I was very much gratified by the receipt of your letter, dated the 3d of May. You have my best thanks for the political information contained in it, as well as for the satisfactory account of the Canal of Languedoc. It gives me pleasure to be made acquainted with the particulars of that stupendous work, tho’ I do not expect to derive any but speculative advantages from it. When America will be...
89137From George Washington to Thomas Johnson, 31 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I shall be obliged to you for informing me, what foundation there is for so much of the following extract of a letter from Doctr Brooke at Fredericksburgh to Doctr Stuart of this County, as relates to the officious light in which my conduct was viewed for havg written the letter alluded to. Since then, I was informed by “the Honourable James Mercer, that his Brother Colo. John Mercer, who was...
89138From George Washington to Annis Boudinot Stockton, 31 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have received and thank you very sincerely, my dear Madam, for your kind letter of the 3d instant. It would be in vain for me to think of acknowledging in adequate terms the delicate compliments, which, though expressed in plain prose, are evidently inspired by the Muse of Morven. I know not by what fatality it happens that even Philosophical sentiments come so much more gracefully (forcibly...
89139To George Washington from Cottineau de Kerloguin, 4 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
Ever Since the Glorious Peace which fixt the American Independance, have I wished for a favourable Opportunity to address Your Excellency, which I have at last obtained through My good Friend Mr J. C. Zollickoffer who has the Honour of presenting this Letter. So Conspicious a part, as Your Excellency has had in this perilous affair, in Conducting the same Under so many Difficulties, will be...
89140To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 5 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have before me your esteemed favour of 25th ulto—A Vessel had set up for Alexandria but meeting with little freight there will be no Opportunity til Capt. Ellwood returns by whom shall send another hundred Weight of plate Iron as the kind I sent must be what you wanted. I have discharged Mrs Morris’s Accot and her receipt thereon is inclosed & the amount to your Debit. From the enquiry I...
89141To George Washington from the marquis de Lafayette, 5 September 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from the marquis de Lafayette, 5 Sept. 1788. On 29 Jan. 1789 GW wrote Lafayette acknowledging “your letter, dated the 5th of September last.”
89142From George Washington to William Barton, 7 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
At the same time I announce to you the receipt of your obliging letter of the 28th of last month, which covered an ingenious essay on Heraldry, I have to acknowledge my obligations for the sentiments your partiality has been indulgent enough to form of me, and my thanks for the terms in which your urbanity has been pleased to express them. Imperfectly acquainted with the subject, as I profess...
89143From George Washington to Richard Peters, 7 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
Occasional absences from home—and occurrences—unimportant to any except myself—added to the want of matter wherewith to trouble you—are the reasons for my not having acknowledged the receipt of your favor of the 27th of June at an earlier period. I was sorry to learn from the above letter that the crops of wheat in the lower parts of your State were indifferent. The cause assigned for it,...
89144To George Washington from Thomas Barclay, 9 September 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Thomas Barclay, 9 Sept. 1788. On 18 Sept. GW wrote to Barclay : “Your favor of the 9th instant came duly to hand.”
89145To George Washington from Samuel Powel, 9 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
About three Weeks, or a Month, since I did myself the Honor of writing to you and informing you that I had shipped a chair for you by Capt. Ellwood, who promised to deliver it at Mount Vernon or Alexandria. The chair is, I hope, in your Possession before this Time. In one of your Letters you have requested me to remind you of the Spanish chestnuts. I now take the Liberty to request the Favor...
89146To George Washington from Samuel Thurber, Jr., 10 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
Being Informed that the State of Virginia is Endeaviouring to entroduce diferant species of Manufactrey & I cannot learn that the Article of Paper is Manufactried there, I as being acquainted with that buisnis am induced (as I would wish to be in a place whire there is some encouragement) to lay a Request before your Excellency (knowing of no other Man who is so great a friend to all that is...
89147To George Washington from Nicholas DuBey, 11 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
At the latter End of 1786, I bought of Messrs Savary & Gallatin of Richmond a tract of 20 thausend acres of Land, Scituated 2 miles from the ohio, between Little & Great Canaway, joigning your Excellency’s possessions on the Same River, near Sandy Creek Harrisson’s County. This Parcel is undivided between Mr Ostervald, a rich Swiss, for the greatest part, Mr J. P. Jeanneres of the Same Country...
89148To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 13 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
at length the new govt has received the last act necessary to its existence. This day Congress passed the requisite previous arrangements. The first Wednesday in January the ratifying states are to appoint electors, on the first Wednesday in february the president is to be chosen, & the first Wednesday in March is the time, & this city the place for commencing proceedings. Some delay has...
89149To George Washington from James Madison, 14 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
The delay in providing for the commencement of the Government was terminated yesterday, by an acquiescence of the minor number, in the persevering demands of the major. The time for chusing the electors is the first Wednesday in Jany, and for chusing the President the first Wednesday in Feby. The meeting of the Govt is to be the first Wednesday in March, and in the City of New York. The times...
89150From George Washington to John Canon, 15 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
As I have not received a line from you for more than fifteen months, and am altogether in the dark respecting the business which was committed to your care —I would thank you for information respecting the tenements—the Rents &ca of my Lands in Fayette and Washington Counties. And, as the latter—that is the Rents—may have been received in specific articles I should be glad to know they are...