1To Thomas Jefferson from George Washington, 13 October 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
In the selection of Characters to fill the important offices of Government in the United States I was naturally led to contemplate the talents and disposition which I knew you to possess and entertain for the Service of your Country.—And without being able to consult your inclination, or to derive any knowledge of your intentions from your letters either to myself or to any other of your...
2To Thomas Jefferson from George Washington, 30 November 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
You will perceive by the enclosed letter (which was left for you at the Office of Foreign Affairs when I made a journey to the Eastern States) the motives on which I acted with regard to yourself, and the occasion of my explaining them at that early period. Having now reason to hope from Mr. Trumbulls report that you will be arrived at Norfolk before this time (on which event I would most...
3To Thomas Jefferson from George Washington, 21 January 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasure to receive duly your letter dated the 15th. of Decr. last; but I thought proper to delay answering or mentioning the contents of it, until after the arrival of Mr. Madison, who I understood had been with you.—He arrived yesterday, and I now take the earliest opportunity of mentioning to you the result of my reflections; and the expediency of your deciding, at as early a...
4Enclosure: George Washington to Louis XVI, 6 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
As the Time limited for the Duration of Mr. Jefferson’s Residence in Quality of our Minister plenipotentiary near your Majesty will shortly expire, and the public Interests require that he should undertake other Functions, we have directed him to take Leave of your Majesty, and to assure you of our Friendship and sincere Desire to preserve and strengthen the Harmony and Confidence which so...
5Proclamation of the Consular Convention of 1788, [9 April 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
By the President of the United States of America. A Proclamation Whereas a Convention for defining and establishing the functions and privileges of the respective Consuls and vice-Consuls of his most Christian Majesty and of the said United States, was concluded and signed by the Plenipotentiaries of his said most Christian Majesty and of the said United States, duly and respectively...
6To Thomas Jefferson from George Washington, 19 June 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed Letters and documents from Mr. Gouvr. Morris are sent for the perusal of the Secretary of State. The private letters from the Marquis de la Fayette and Mr. Payne he also gives Mr. Jefferson a sight of; because there are some ideas in the latter which are new, and in the former, general information respecting the Affairs of France, which, by being compar’d with other Accounts may...
7IX. Queries from the President to Members of the Cabinet, 27 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Provided the dispute between Great Britain and Spain should come to the decision of Arms, from a variety of circumstances (individually unimportant and inconclusive, but very much the reverse when compared and combined) there is no doubt in my mind, that New Orleans and the Spanish Posts above it on the Mississippi will be among the first attempts of the former, and that the reduction of them...
8II. George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 15 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Have you formed an opinion on the subject I submitted to you on Tuesday?—Have you heard whether the Bill was disputed in both or either House of Congress on the ground of the Constitution, or whe[ther] this objection (in its full force) was held in petto for the last move, in the present stage of the business?—If it was debated, as above, whether the Arguments adduced by the Author of the...
9To Thomas Jefferson from George Washington, 26 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The President of the United States transmits to the Secretary of State, to report thereon, a memorial of Monsr. de le tombe, Consul of France, to the Legislature of Massachusetts, respecting certain parts of the Consular Convention agreed upon by and between his most Christian Majesty and the President of the United States, together with a Resolution of that Legislature upon said memorial; and...
10To Thomas Jefferson from George Washington, 27 [August] 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Enclosed is the report (I mentioned to you on our Passage to Rhode-Island) of the Officer who was directed to explore the Navigation of Big Beaver &c.—When you have read, and taken such extracts from it as you may be inclined to do, please to return the papers to me, as they will have a place with some other Papers I mean to take with me to Virginia. The short and rough Extracts also enclosed,...
11George Washington to John Hancock, 28 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of July 20th. came safely to hand, together with the Memorial of Monsieur de Latombe of the 7th. of June, and the Resolve of the Legislature of Massachusetts of the 24th. of the same month. On considering the nature of the difficulties which have occurred in the execution of the Consular Convention, they appeared to be such as could not be removed but by a legislative Act. When...
12Enclosure II: Sketches for the Conveyance of the Lands whereon the Federal Seat is to be fixed, [17 September 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
The Conveyance to be executed, according to the forms of the laws of Maryland, by the Proprietors of the land designated by the President for the federal seat. The preamble to recite the substance of that part of the residence act which authorises the President to receive grants of lands and money for the use of the United States and to declare that the object of the conveyance is to furnish...
13To Thomas Jefferson from George Washington, [before 8 December 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
The P———requests that Mr. J———would give the letter and statement herewith sent from the S. of War a perusal, and return it to him in the course of the day with his opinion as to the propriety of the manner of making the communication to Congress; and whether it ought not, at any rate, to be introduced in some such way as this (if it is to pass thro him to Congress) “Pursuant to directions I...
14VI. The President to the Senate and the House of Representatives, 23 December 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
It appearing by the Report of the Secretary of the Government North West of the Ohio, that there are certain cases respecting grants of land within that territory, which require the interference of the Legislature of the United States;—I have directed a Copy of said Report and the Papers therein referred to to be laid before you; together with a copy of the Report of the Secretary of State...
15XI. The President to the Senate and the House of Representatives, 18 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received from the Secretary of State a Report on the Proceedings of the Governor of the Northwestern Territory at Kaskaskia, Kahokia, and Prairie, under the Resolution of Congress of August 29th. 1788, which containing Matter proper for your Consideration, I lay the same before you. RC ( DNA : RG 46, Senate Records, 1st. Cong., 3rd. sess.); in clerk’s hand, signed by Washington;...
16I. The President to the Secretary of State, 11 December 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Herewith you will receive the Powers and Instructions with which Gouvr. Morris Esqr. is invested and his Communications consequent thereof.—You will give them the consideration their importance merit, and report your opinion of the measures proper to be taken thereupon. The following extract from one of my private letters to Mr. Morris contains all the notice I have yet taken of his public...
17IV. The President to the Secretary of State, 9 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The messages to the two Houses, as altered, are quite agreeable to Whether, as it is equally known to both houses, that we have no person in a public character at the Court of London it is best that the word “informal” should remain in the message to the Ho: of Representatives, or not, Mr. J. may decide by the fair copy he shall send to RC ( DLC ); addressed by Washington: “Mr. Jefferson Secy...
18V. The President to the Senate and the House of Representatives, 14 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Soon after I was called to the administration of the government [I found it important to come to an understanding with the court of London on several points interesting to the U.S. and particularly to know Whether they were] disposed to enter into arrangements, by mutual consent, which might fix the commerce between the two nations on principles of reciprocal advantage. For this purpose I...
19VI. The President to the Senate, [14 February 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
Conceiving that in the possible event of a refusal of justice on the part of Gr. Britain, we should stand less committed should it be made to a private rather than to a public person, I employed Mr. Gouv. Morris, who was on the spot, and without giving him any definite character, to enter informally into the conferences before mentioned. For your more particular information I lay before you...
20VIII. The President to the Senate, [22 February 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
I will proceed to take measures for the ransom of our citizens in captivity at Algiers, in conformity with your resolution of advice of the first instant, so soon as the monies necessary shall be appropriated by the legislature and shall be in readiness. The recognition of our treaty with the new Emperor of Marocco requires also previous appropriation and provision. The importance of this last...
21X. The President to the Senate, [17 January 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
I lay before you a representation of the Chargé des affaires of France, made by order of his court, on the acts of Congress of the 20th. of July 1789. and 1790. Imposing an extra tonnage on foreign vessels, not excepting those of that country, together with the Report of the Secretary of State thereon: and I recommend the same to your consideration, that I may be enabled to give it such answer...
22II. The President to the Secretary of State, 2 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed Notes are sufficiently descriptive to comprehend the two objects fully; but it is necessary to remark, that if the first line begins at a point on Hunting Creek, the fourth line cannot, in any part, touch (Though it will include ) the Town of Alexandria; because Huntg. Creek is below the boundaries of the Town.—And, if it could be so ordered as for the first line to avoid touching...
23III. The President to the Secretary of State, [4 January 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
The P. begs to see Mr. Jefferson before he proceeds further in the Proclamation.—From a more attentive examination of some Papers, in his possession, he finds that it is in his power to ascertain the course and distance from the Court House in Alexandria to the upper and lower end of the Canal at the little Falls with as much accuracy as can be known from Common Surveying if not to...
24VI. The President to the Senate and the House of Representatives, [24 January 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
In execution of the powers with which Congress were pleased to invest me by their act intituled ‘an Act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States’ and on mature consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of the several positions within the limits prescribed by the said act, I have, by a proclamation bearing date this day, directed...
25VII. The Proclamation by the President, 24 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
By the President of the U. S. of America. a Proclamation. Whereas the General assembly of the state of Maryland by an act passed on the 23d. day of December in the year 1788. intituled ‘An act to cede to Congress a district of 10 miles square in this state for the seat of the government of the U. S.’ did enact that the representatives of the said state in the house of representatives of...
26X. The President to the Secretary of State, [1 February 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
Nothing in the enclosed letter superceding the necessity of Mr. Ellicot, proceeding to the work in hand, I would thank you, for requesting him, to set out on thursday; or as soon after as he can make it convenient; also for preparing such instructions as you may conceive it necessary for me to give him for ascertaining the points we wish to know; first , for the general view of things, and...
27XIII. The Proclamation by the President, 30 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
By the President of the U. S. of A. a Proclamation Whereas by a proclamation bearing date the 24th. day of Jan. of this present year, and in pursuance of certain acts of the states of Maryland and Virginia, and of the Congress of the U. S. therein mentioned, certain lines of experiment were directed to be run in the neighborhood of George town in Maryland for the purpose of determining the...
28Enclosure III: The President to the President of the National Assembly of France, 27 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I received with particular satisfaction, and imparted to Congress the communication made by the Presidents letter of the 20th of June last in the name of the National Assembly of France. So peculiar and and so signal an expression of the esteem of that respectable body for a citizen of the United States, whose eminent and patriotic services are indelibly engraved on the minds of his countrymen...
29George Washington to William Deakins, Jr., and Benjamin Stoddert, 17 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved your favors of the 9th. and 11th instant and shall be glad if the purchase from Burnes should be concluded before you recieve this at £15 or £15–10 as you hope. But as you mention that should he ask as far as £20. or £25. you will await further instructions before you accept such an offer, I have thought it better, in order to prevent delay, to inform you that I would wish his...
30The President to the Senate, 18 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The aspect of affairs in Europe during the last summer, and especially between Spain and England, gave reason to expect a favorable occasion for pressing to accommodation the unsettled matters between them and us. Mr. Carmichael, our Chargé des affaires at Madrid, having been long absent from his country, great changes having taken place in our circumstances and sentiments during that...