301From George Washington to Samuel Sommers, 28 November 1799 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Little forwarded your letter of the 25th instant to me, yesterday evening; & I have now to request (if it is not already done) that my Entry may be made in the County Surveyors Book of Record, and the Treasury Warrant deposited therewith. Not having the Laws of this Commonwealth (since the Revolution) by me, I am entirely unacquainted with the regular mode of proceeding with respect to...
302From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 12 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 7th instant, giving an extract of Mr Nicholas’s letter to you. With respect to the request contained in it, I leave the matter entirely to his own discretion with your advice to advance, or halt, according to the tenableness of his ground, & circumstances. If he could prove, indubitably, that the letter addressed to me, with the signature of Jno. Langhorne,...
303From George Washington to Daniel Jenifer, Jr., 7 June 1797 (Washington Papers)
A person of the name of Perry called upon me yesterday concerning the exchange mentioned in the enclosed letter, and seemed very desirous of effecting it. I told him that whatever Mr Craik had done, or should do respecting it, I would abide by; or as his return from Congress must be uncertain as to time, if you were acquainted with the circumstances of this case (which indeed is more than I...
304From George Washington to Thomas Law, 17 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
Knowing that Nelly Custis had announced her intended Marriage to her Sisters; informed them of the day on which it was to be celebrated; and invited their presence at the Ceremony; I have given no particular invitations. But lest Mrs Law and yourself should require something more formal than an Invitation from the Bride Elect, I inform you that Friday next is to make her and Lewis one flesh &...
305From George Washington to Augustine Davis, Matthew Brown, and Leonard Yundt, 20 September 1797 (Washington Papers)
Be pleased to insert the enclosed advertisement four times in your Paper with proper intervals between —and consider me as a Subscriber to it from the first of next Month at which time you will begin to forward them to Sir Your Very Hble Servt ALS (letterpress copy), NN : Washington Papers. Augustine Davis had been editor of the Virginia Gazette, and General Advertiser in Richmond since 1790....
306From George Washington to James Ross, 1 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive by the enclosed letters, left open for your perusal, the delinquency of Colo. Shreve, and my determination to enforce payment of the Instalment of his judgment Bond, the 1st of June last. Whether, as the Bond was deposited in the Bank of Pennsylvania for collection, it rests with me to draw it from thence for the purpose of putting it in Suit—or for them to order it—your...
307From George Washington to David Stuart, 4 January 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of this date is just received; and the cause why I did not hear from you by the return of my Carriage, was conjectured, as you will perceive by a letter I wrote to you yesterday (covering one from Mrs Washington to Nelly) and sent to the Post Office in Alexandria for conveyance by the Mail. I do not, myself believe, that there will be a call of the augmented Troops to the Field of...
308From George Washington to Burgess Ball, 22 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 16th instt has been received, informing me of the death of my brother. The death of near relations, always produce awful, and affecting emotions, under whatsoever circumstances it may happen. That of my brother’s, has been so long expected, and his latter days so uncomfortable to himself, must have prepared all around him for the stroke; though painful in the effect. I was...
309To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 14 August 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Enclosed are sundry letters (as mentioned on the other side) which have come to my hands, recommending Captain Edmund Taylor and Captain William K. Blue for the Office of Brigade Inspector. As this Officer is to be appointed by the Inspector General I forward these letters for your consideration; and add, that I have not a personal knowledge of the Gentlemen recommended which can enable me to...
310From George Washington to Charles Carroll, Jr., 13 December 1798 (Washington Papers)
Mr McHenry—Secretary of War—communicated to me your wish to receive an Appointment in the Corps of Light Dragoons, about to be raised. Conceiving that the inducement to this application could be no other than a laudable zeal to serve your Country, and a desire to set an example to the young Gentlemen of family & fortune in it, which, undoubtedly would be attended with a happy effect; I...
311From George Washington to James McHenry, 7 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed are two letters of application for Appointments in the Army of the United States—One from Genl Morgan covering a letter from Capt. A. C. Randolph applying for an office in the Cavalry instead of the Infantry where you will find him among the newly appointed Captains. I have little or no personal knowledge of Capt. Randolph; but from the manner in which Genl Morgan speaks of him, and...
312From George Washington to Thomas Peter, 20 June 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 14th with the money, Tobacco notes & A/c from Colo. Deakins, came safe; but not ’till yesterday. I will endeavour to recollect that I stand indebted to you for change—but it is more your interest than mine that it should not be forgotten. Be so good as to let me know if the two Tobacco notes would sell in George Town, & at what for Cash, or on credit of 60 or 90 days?...
313From George Washington to Tobias Lear, 30 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have, at length, received the President’s answer (through the Secretary of War) to my request to be allowed a Secretary, who gives it as his opinion that I have an undoubted right to one, or all of my military family, if I find it convenient, and that their pay &c. will be allowed. And the Secretary having thrown a mass of Papers upon me which I have not looked into (being this moment...
314From George Washington to Richard Peters, 26 June 1797 (Washington Papers)
Until last week, I had no suspicion that the Hessian fly was among my Wheat; but upon examination I found there were many. They have come too late, this year, however, to do me much damage; but as I view them as the harbingers of those who will visit me next year, I would guard, as far as it may be in my power, against the threatned evil. Permit me therefore to ask, if from your own...
315From George Washington to Frederick Kitt, 10 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
We have never heard of Herculas our Cook since he left this; but little doubt remains in my mind of his having gone to Philadelphia, and may yet be found there, if proper measures were employed to discover (unsuspectedly, so as not to alarm him) where his haunts are. If you could accomplish this for me, it would render me an acceptable service as I neither have, nor can get a good Cook to...
316From George Washington to William Roberts, 17 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 12th instant is received, and I am obliged to you for the advice respecting the management of the flour I had on hand; which however, is less necessary now, as I have disposed of it all. I should be glad to render you any consistent Service in my power, but must decline writing to the Gentleman you have mentioned, on the subject proposed; first, because I am entirely...
317From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 15 October 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 28th ulto has been received, and I sincerely regret the continuance of the malady which afflicts the City of Philadelphia, and other Seaport Towns; but hope the frosts which we have lately had, & the approaching cold, will eradicate the disorder. The Season rendering the Room for which I wanted a stove in a manner useless for the purpose it was designed without one, I have...
318From George Washington to the District of Columbia Commissioners, 17 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 15th, enclosing Mr Blagdens statement, relative to my proposed buildings, did not reach my hands until last night. He has not accompanied this Statement with Specific prices; nor has it altered my opinion of the unreasonableness of the former estimates of some of its parts. But being desirous of closing the matter with Mr Blagden some way, or other, I make him the following...
319From George Washington to William Thornton, 30 January 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 28th instant, enclosing Deeds for my Lots in the Federal City—and Messrs Blagden & Lenthals estimate and drawing of the Windows—dressed in the manner proposed—came to my hands yesterday. The drawing sent, gives a much handsomer appearance to the Windows than the original design did; and I am more disposed to encounter the difference of expence, than to lessen the exterior...
320From George Washington to Stephen Milburn, 15 May 1797 (Washington Papers)
Having in a great measure given up the idea of Renting my Farms (from an apprehension that I could not dispose of the whole of them, & that unless I did this my objects wd not be answered) I was not as explicit as I might have been in my answers to some of the questions you asked on friday last. Revolving on the matter since, & believing if I wait until an offer is made for the whole—I may not...
321From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 1 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 27th Ulto was received last Night. As the whole quantity of Blue-grass seed was purchased before my last letter to you got to hand, it may be sent on without diminution. Let it be accompanied, if to be had fresh and good, with twelve pounds of White clover seed; and the like quantity of Lucern. You will remark how pointed I am with respect to the goodness & quality of the...
322From George Washington to William B. Harrison, 16 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have given the proposition you have made me, respecting your part of Chapel land, all the consideration that is necessary; the result of which is. That I will give, as a Rent, thirty dollars for every hundred acres within the bounds you shall establish; and in that proportion for the overplus, or add[itional] acres, according to measurement: Provided I receive a Lease for the whole quantity,...
323From George Washington to William Herbert, 1 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter with its enclosure, was not received until after candle light last night; owing, I presume, to my not having sent to the Post Office on friday: rarely sending—oftener than every other day, for my letters & Papers. I have put my name to the enclosed note, although it ought to have been at the Bank yesterday; to be returned, or destroyed, as circu[m]stances require. This business of...
324From George Washington to James McHenry, 14 November 1798 (Washington Papers)
In order to form an opinion on the query contained in your letter of the 10th instant, whether it will be best to furnish Rations for the Troops by Contracts, or by purchasing and issuing Commissaries, it will be necessary that I should know the prices of Rations, now paid by Contract, at the several places where Troops are sta⟨tione⟩d. You will therefore be pleased to add this to the...
325From George Washington to William Thompson, 18 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Thos Lee (of Loudoun) is possessed, I am informed, of a tract of about 400 acres of Land within a mile of Colchester, which he is disposed to sell. Let me request the favour of you to describe it to me as accurately as you can from your own knowledge, or from the information of others on whose judgment you can rely. In doing this, say what the kind & quality of the Soil is; Whether level...
326From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, Jr., 11 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
Sometime ⟨between illegible ⟩ment to the walks of ⟨private illegible ⟩ girl*, the body servant of Mrs Washington⟨,⟩ absconded without the least pr⟨ovocation⟩ and without our having ⟨ illegible sus⟩picion of such, her intention ⟨ illegible ⟩ whither she had gone. At length, we learnt ⟨ illegible ⟩ got to Portsmouth in New H⟨ampshire; in⟩ consequence of this information ⟨ illegible ⟩ authentic)...
327From George Washington to James Ross, 26 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
Early in January last, in answer to a letter from Colo. Shreve in the old style of unprovidedness, and craving further indulgence, I wrote him, and transmitted the letter open under a Cover to you, that I would stay proceedings on his judgment Bond until the first of April last, and no longer; and that I should, without fail, expect to have the next Instalment paid at the appointed time (the...
328From George Washington to Elizabeth Dandridge Aylett Henley, 20 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive by the Enclosed, which is left open for your perusal before it is forwarded, that your son John, is appointed a Mid-shipman in the Navy of the United States. You will press him to take the oath of Office, required by the Secretary of the Navy, without delay; and forward it to that Gentleman in the manner he directs—Enclosing it in a letter couched in some such terms as you...
329From George Washington to Bryan Fairfax, 15 May 1798 (Washington Papers)
Herewith, I send you Letters of introduction to Gentlemen with whom I occasionally correspond, agreeably to my promise. I also send you a Genealogical account of the family of Fairfax, which was presented to me by the Earl of Buchan through Mr Lear (who carried a letter of introduction from me to his Lordship when he went to England four or five years ago) thinking it might be satisfactory to...
330From George Washington to James McHenry, 1 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
The letters herewith, from Colonels Fitzgerald & Simms, conveys all the information I am enabled to give you relatively to the characters of Captn Piercy (who is a good looking man—apparently turned of Forty) and Mr Bent. Where applications are made to me by persons whom I know, or from the Report of those in whom I can confide, believe are deserving, I shall pass them on to your Office; with...