4591From George Washington to Rufus King, 29 February 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have received the letter with which you were pleased to honor me from Boston, and pray you to accept my thanks for, & congratulations on, the important information it contains. Happy, am I, to see the favorable decision of your Convention upon the proposed Government; not only on acct of its adding an important State to the number of those which have already accepted it, but because it must...
4592From George Washington to John Jay, 16 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had yesterday afternoon the honor to receive Your Excellency’s Letter of the 6th with a copy of the Act of the 8th of March and the Report referred to. It might have been better on the score of supplies and some other considerations, if Captain Wilkie’s company had been annexed to the 11th pensilvania Regiment; but as this was not done—and as the arrangement both of Spencer’s and Hubley’s...
4593From George Washington to Anne-César, chevalier de La Luzerne, 15 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I had, last Evening, the honor of receiving your Excellency’s favor of the 11th and immediately forwarded the Packets for the Marquis de Vaudreuil and Monsr de L’Etombe. I am happy to hear that your Excellency has recommended a plan for the protection of these Coasts, it will be of infinite advantage to the common interest, should effectual measures be taken to cover them from the depredations...
4594From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Ebenezer Stevens, 17 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to transmit you the inclosed Commission and the Copy of a Resolution of Congress that accompanied it. I received the Letter which inclosed the Commission on my way from Fredericksburg; but being separated from my papers just after it came to hand—and not getting the Letter again till a day or two ago, I have been prevented from sending the Commission till now. In...
4595From George Washington to John Didsbury, 20 July 1767 (Washington Papers)
Please to send the following Shoes &ca and apply to Messrs Cary & Co. for the amount. For Geo. Washington &ca For Mastr Custis & to him chargd 1 pr dble Campaign Boots pr Mea[sur]e 6 pr strong Shoes } For a boy 14 yrs old—the last were too smal 2 pr Neat Pumps 1 pr Do Do Shoes 1 pr Strg Calfskin Slippers 6 pr Womans bla: Callimanca pr Mea[sur]e to be broader in the Soles & not so strait over...
4596From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 25 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowlege two favors from your Excellency, both of the 10th of this month. I flatter myself that the measures of the Assembly for recruiting the quota of troops, and bringing them into the field, will fully answer your Excellency’s expectations. I am persuaded, that for such an essential purpose, nothing will be left undone. That part of your Excellency’s letter which relates to the...
4597From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 10 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 11th Ulto was received in the usual course of the Post. That the City of Phila. should again be visited by that dreadful malignant fever which has made such impressions upon it heretofore, is matter of sore regret and that it should baffle more & more the skill of the Physicians adds poignancy to the misfortune. The only intention of giving you the trouble to receive a...
4598From George Washington to John Adams, 3 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honoured with your favour of the 19th Ulto, mentioning the nomination of Mr Murray to be Minister Plenipotentiary to the French Republic. With the writer of the letter, which I did myself the honour to enclose in my last to you, I truly observed that I had never held any correspondence; and I only knew him in his public mission from this Country to the Barbary States, the...
4599From George Washington to John Lamb, 18 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favr of the 16th inclosing the proceedings of a Brigade Genl Court Martial held at Burlington upon Salmon and Brown of the 2d Regt of Artillery. It does not appear in the face of the proceedings by whom the Court was constituted, at any rate it must have been illegal—as a General Court Martial can only be held by order of the Commander in Cheif—the Commanding Genl in any of...
4600From George Washington to Robert Cary & Company, 17 May 1767 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter & Goods by Boyes for our Plantations on York River have come safe to hand as I wish Mrs Dandridges also had done she being a good deal disappointed in having them withheld from her —I must now desire that the Inclosed order may be complied with, & the Goods sent by the ⟨fi⟩rst ship bound to York River (chargd to me) still hoping that they may ⟨c⟩ome to hand some time this Fall. I...
4601From George Washington to Henry Knox, 8 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
Count Wengiersky, a Polish Gentleman travelling the Continent for his amusement, will have the pleasure to deliver you this; he comes recommended to me by the Marquis de la Fayette and by the Minister of France and as he proposes to take West-point in his tour I take the liberty to Request your civilities to him during his stay there. Mr Vernon, an English Gentleman lately from Europe travels...
4602From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, Jr., 24 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 17th inst: was received yesterday. With you, I sincerely regret the death of your amiable Sister; but as it is one of those events which is dispensed by an allwise and uncontroulable Providence; and as I believe no person could be better prepared to meet it, it is the duty of her relatives to submit, with as little repining as the Sensibility of our natures is capable of. Mr...
4603From George Washington to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 9 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
I now lay before you a General Account rendered by the Bankers of the United States at Amsterdam of the payments they had made between the 1st of July 1790 and 1791 from the fund deposited in their hands for the purposes of the Act providing the means of intercourse between the United States, and foreign Nations, and of the balance remaining in their hands; together with a letter from the...
4604From George Washington to Joseph Wright, 30 January 1785 (Washington Papers)
It has so happened that your card of Septr 1st, with the Bust which accompanied it, did not get to my hands until some time in the course of last month: & that a letter from your good mother dated Decr 8th 1783, only reached me the 12th of last December. For the first you will please to receive the united acknowledgements & thanks of Mrs Washington & myself. The large one she prays may give...
4605From George Washington to Robert Townsend Hooe, 27 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
The plank I want is to floor a room 24 by 32 feet. It must be 24 feet long & 1½ inches thick—all of a colour, and entirely free from Knots & sap. More than the nett quantity is requisite, for allowances. If it were seasoned, so much the better; but this is hardly to be expected in plank of this particular kind. If Mr Swift can supply me, it will be better than to send to the Eastern shore; if...
4606From George Washington to Abraham Baldwin, 7 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 30th of April, containing the resignation of your seat at the general Board of Commissioners for finally adjusting all accounts between the United States and the individual States; and shall cause it to be filed in the proper office as soon as the necessary arrangemt of departments shall have been made. I am, with great esteem, Sir, Your most Obedt Servt...
4607From George Washington to Ségur, 4 May 1792 (Washington Papers)
I received with much satisfaction the information of your having made an acquisition in this Country, & of your intentions to take up your residence among us. Your letter of the 30th of Sepr giving me this information, did not get to my hands ’till some time in the last month. The United States opens, as it were, a new World to those who are disposed to retire from the noise & bustle of the...
4608To John Adams from George Washington, 15 January 1776 (Adams Papers)
I am exceedingly sorry I did not know that you were in this place today. Our want of Men and arms is such, as to render it necessary for me to get the best advice possible of the most eligeble mode of obtaining of them. I adjourned the Council of Officers today, untill I could be favourd with your opinion (together with that of others of the General Court) on these heads. They meet again...
4609From George Washington to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 18 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
It is with no small Concern that I find the Arrangement of General Officers made by the Honourable Continental Congress has produced Dissatisfaction. As the Army is upon a general Establishment, their Right to controul & supersede a Provincial one must be unquestionable: and in such a Cause I should hope every Post would be deemed honourable which gave a Man Opportunity to serve his Country. A...
4610From George Washington to the United States Senate, 4 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
Pursuant to the powers vested in me by the Act intitled “An Act repealing after the last day of June next the duties heretofore laid upon distilled Spirits imported from Abroad, and laying others in their stead, and also upon Spirits distilled within the United States, and for appropriating the same”, I have thought fit to divide the United States into the following Districts—namely— The...
4611From George Washington to James Maury, May 1795 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed is the copy of a letter I wrote you from George Town, on Potomac, the 28th ulto; at which time & place I happened to be, as I was returning to this city. As soon as the Tobacco is disposed of (regarding the caution therein contained) ⟨I⟩ pray you to send me by the first American (⟨ne⟩utral) vessel, bound to Potomac, the following articles—viz. 500 Ells of best Oznabrigs 500 Do Do...
4612From George Washington to Elias Boudinot, 16 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your Excellency’s Letter of the 11th instant—I thank you for the information communicated therein, and shall take measures for forwarding the Letter which was enclosed, by an early and safe conveyance. In conformity to the pleasure of Congress, expressed in their Resolve of the 8th of Novr I wrote to Sir Guy Carleton on the 20th. A Copy of that Letter, together with Copies of...
4613From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Smith, 4 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter dated yesterday—giving an account of the reinforcement which you expect from Genl Varnum and the Supplies of Clothing from Genl Forman, it gives me pain to learn that the latter are likely to be so inadequate to your wants, but hope that by taking proper measures the Contributions of the Inhabitants will not prove so poor a resource as you seem to fear. Inclosed is...
4614From George Washington to Brigadier General Duportail, 31 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favour of the 20th, inclosing your remarks on the state of the fortifications already erected for the defence of the Town of Boston, and on such amendments and additions as appear to you necessary to render them effectual. Your reasonings and observations appear to be strong and well founded; but at this distance, and without so perfect a knowlege of the local...
4615From George Washington to Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 20 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writing to Your Excellency yesterday from Fort Clinton —since which I have received intelligence by a New York paper that Admiral Byron in the princess Royal of ninety guns—accompanied by the Culloden Capt. Balfour of seventy four, arrived at New York on the 16th instant. the same paper mentions that an armed Sloop from Hallifax announces the arrival of the following...
4616From George Washington to John Searle, 30 January 1764 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 22d of August last I have had the pleasure to receive, as also the Wine accompanying of it which lyes yet untasted, but from your recommendation of it I shall suppose it good and therefore desire you will send me such another Pipe and draw as before upon Robert Cary Esqr. & Co. who are advised thereof and will pay accordingly. If no oppertunity shoud offer soon to Potomack...
4617From George Washington to Colonel Thomas Proctor and Captains Winthrop Sargent, John Doughty, and Thomas Clark, 23 March … (Washington Papers)
Business has prevented my answering yours of the 18th before this time. If I have given Capt. Duplessis a character, in my recommendation of him to Congress, which he does not deserve, I have done it through misinformation. As you very well know, I was not an eye witness of any part of his conduct or behaviour. I took the matter up from Colo. Greens letters, who commanded at Fort Mercer, and...
4618From George Washington to Henry Knox, 21 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
The cessation of hostilities having been now proclaimed, you will permit any Citizens of the State of New York or of the United States to pass and Repass your Post with any Vessels, Boats or Water Crafts without any hindrance or molestation on their Reporting themselves to you or to such Officer as shall be appointed by you for the purpose. I am Sir Your most Obedt Servt Sent also to William...
4619From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 8 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have lately recd a letter from the secretary of the Board of War in which he complains that you have drawn Arms for the full Complement of Henly’s, Lee’s and Jackson’s Regiments when there is scarce any chance of their being compleated, I therefore desire if the matter is so, that you may return all the supernumerary Arms into the Magazine at Springfield or Brookfield. As you will...
4620From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 31 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 27th instant was received by the last Post to Alexandria. I thank you for the information contained in it; as I shall for any further communication of the sentiments of the people respecting the treaty, which you may be able to obtain, and think worthy of transmission: for, as it is an interesting subject, on which mens minds are a good deal occupied, I should like, as far...
4621From George Washington to Brigadier General William Woodford, 8 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received Your Letter of Yesterday with the report of the Field Officers of the Virginia line. The Agreement and plan entered into at White plains and sanctioned by the Committee of Arrangement as stated by the Board, will warrant the Opinion which they have given—and place the point with respect to filling vacancies in the Virginia line, in a much clearer light than I had conceived of...
4622From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 27 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
I cannot, under all the circumstances of the case, satisfy myself, that I am at liberty to go contrary to my last instructions; and that I have authority to direct the money, which I have expressly directed to be applied to the purchase of the public debt, to be applied to any other object. Still, however, I am willing, that the embarrassments, which you Stat Richard Peters, ed. The Public...
4623From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel William Butler, 24 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of the 13th instant dated at Schohary, giving me an account of events in that quarter since your arrival there. I am very glad to hear of the success of your two scouting parties, and I hope that these checks, tho’ small, and the appearance of a force upon the Frontier, will give spirit to our friends, discourage the disaffected, and establish the confidence and friendship of...
4624From George Washington to Wakelin Welch, 5 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
On the other side is a copy of my letter to you of this date under cover to Arthur Young Esqr. of Bradford Hall, near Bury in Suffolk. The articles which I have written to him for are, 2 ploughs, with spare shares & coulters; & a mould to form others on. A little of the best kind of cabbage seeds for field culture. 20 lb. of best Turnip seeds. 10 bushels of Sainfoin seeds. 8 Do of the winter...
4625From George Washington to William Lord Stirling Alexander, 18 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Favours of the 7th and 14th instant. However desirable the Plan you mention may be, there are insuperable Obstacles to our undertaking it at present, or any other which would require a Transportation of a Magazine of provisions. Mr Duer has no Doubt informed you upon how precarious a Footing our Subsistence stands, even in a Country full of Supplies. We are as quiet here...
4626From George Washington to David Stuart, 12 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
At length I have received the sheriffs acct against me for Taxes—a copy of which I enclose you. Mr Ratcliff supposes I am well acquainted with the manner of discharging it, but in truth I am not—nor whether his charges are right, or not; I shall thank you therefore for your Inspection, & comparison of it with the revenue Acts; and then, for providing me with the means for discharging it to the...
4627From George Washington to François Barbé de Marbois, 7 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
Mr Frondeville President of the Parliament of Normandy has transmitted me the enclosed Letter, with a desire that I would convey it to Mr Lambert—I have some reason to suppose that Gentleman to be at Philadelphia, and shall be much obliged to you to inform me whether I may assure Mr frondeville of the letter being delivered to its address. With much Regard I am Sir Your very Obedt Servt AAE :...
4628From George Washington to Major Michael Ryan, 10 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of Yesterday. You know very well that by the Rules of the Army which have been and now are in force, that no officer could hold two appointments, unless by an express Resolution of Congress, and that therefore when you accepted the appointment of Brigade Major, you vacated your Rank in the line. You cannot produce an instance where a Brigade Major has returned to the line, except...
4629From George Washington to Robert Stewart, 8 May 1756 (Washington Papers)
I received yours by the Bearer —As neither Captain Bell nor Captain Gist, can make out regular pay-rolls for their men; a months pay will be sufficient at this time to give them. If any officer is in want of pay, and not indebted to the country for Recruiting—Let him receive out of the Balance in your hands: but let them all know, that it will appear a little dark on their side, if they should...
4630From George Washington to the Pennsylvania Board of War, 8 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
By the last return of the 1st Pennsylvania Battalion, I discover a number of Vacancies, which for want of a knowledge of Gentlemen competent to the duties of an Officer I can not fill up—I must therefore beg the favour of You to perform this important business for me. The distractions occasioned in Battalions by irregular Promotions and bad Appointments are too generally known not to have...
4631From George Washington to James McHenry, 7 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
By the last Post I was favoured with your letter of the 3d instant and thank you for its enclosure, although, on the same day, I had, myself, transmitd a copy thereof to the Secretary of State. I had doubted a while, whether to forward it to your Office or that of State, but finally resolved to send it to the latter, as it seemed more properly I thought, to belong to that Department. If the...
4632From George Washington to Robert Howe, 8 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Mr Kirkland has delivered me your letter of Yesterday with one from B. Genl Patterson, respecting King under sentance of Death. In Consequence of their sollicitations in his Favr, I have consented that he shall be pardoned for his Offence—& not subjected to the Execution of his Sentence; his Releace from Service for obvious Reasons is not admissible. You will be pleasd to send him by the first...
4633From George Washington to Colonel William Malcom, 7 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Brigadier General Du Portail Chief Engineer is by my orders on a visit to the posts in the Highlands, to examine into the state of the fortifications carrying on there. It is my wish that Col: Koshiosko may comminicate every thing to this Gentleman, who is at the Head of the department, which he may find requisite for the purpose he is sent upon. I am persuaded you will show him every proper...
4634From George Washington to Presley Nevill, 27 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
Accept my thanks for the information given me in your letter of the 25th ulto from the Court House of Washington, respecting the decision of one of my Ejectments. I have, since, been informed by Mr Smith, of the favorable issue of the whole, and of the necessity there is of my paying immediate attention to the Tenements to prevent the waste & damage which otherwise will follow. Consequent of...
4635From George Washington to Elizabeth Powel, 6 June 1787 (Washington Papers)
Gen. Washington presents respectful compliments to Mrs Powell, & prays her acceptance of the Vision of Columbus which he promised some days ago, the Copies thereof, for which he subscribed some years since, having just come to hand. AL , ViMtvL . GW had subscribed to twenty copies of Joel Barlow’s The Vision of Columbus , several of which he gave away in Philadelphia. See the entry for 18 May...
4636From George Washington to Pierre Penet, 30 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received, not long since, your polite & obliging favor of the 12th of November last, accompanied by your agreeable presents to Mrs Washington and myself, for which we beg you will accept our acknowledgements. It will I am perswaded enhance the pleasure you feel on the occasion to be informed, that the extra shoulder and sword knots are destined for Generals Arnold and Lincoln; Gentlemen, who...
4637From George Washington to William Baynham, 30 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
The bearer of this ⟨letter⟩ my Ploughman, has, for ⟨some months⟩ past, been afflicted with a tumour which has occasioned partial, and threatens (if relief can not be obtained) total blindness. He has been under the care of Doctor Craik & others, without receiving much, if any benefit; and being desirous of relieving him from so serious a malady, if ⟨you⟩ can accomplish it, I send him to you....
4638From George Washington to James and Horace Hooker, 26 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
The distress of the Army for Rum and the impracticability, or at least the difficulty, of procuring a Supply in any reasonable time, has induced me to consent that a quantity shall be drawn from the Hospital Stores, where I have been informed there is much more than can be wanted for the sick. I have therefore to desire that you will deliver to Colo. Wadsworth Commissary General, or to his...
4639From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 23 October 1797 (Washington Papers)
A Mrs Forbes, who was Housekeeper to Governor Brooke, has been strongly recommended by his brother Mr John Brooke to Mr Anderson (my Manager) as a person who would answer my purposes well —She has been written to once or twice, and no answer is obtained. Let me request the favour of you (as it is said she lives somewhere in Richmond) to ascertain her character & fitness, and if such as you...
4640From George Washington to [John Fitzgerald], 21 May 1798 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed, I would thank you for forwarding to the Postmaster in Alexandria. It is to request him to return any letters which he may receive to my address at his office, between this and friday next, to your office: and I pray you Sir, if any should come there otherwise tha[n] in the Alexandria—that is—seperate therefrom for me, that you would be so good as to detain them until they are...