1To George Washington from Major David Humphreys, 23 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have taken the liberty to present Your Excellency, with the Copy of an Address to the Armies under your command, which was begun for my own amusement, compleated with the Design suggested in the introduction, and suffered to be published, on the representation of my friends, that it might in some measure answer so valuable and important a purpose. Should it be so fortunate as to have any...
2IV. To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel David Humphreys, 23 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
General Greene, directs me to inform your Excellency, that from the best intelligence he is able to obtain, the Enemy are now out in force, with seventeen Pieces of Artillery—At first they made a demonstration of acting on his right; and large parties were seen from the heights of Springfield filing off in that direction: A considerable Column, in the mean time advanced on his left, where...
3To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel David Humphreys, 21 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received at Lebanon ⟨your favour of the 15th and⟩ shall yield implicit obedience to the contents —but having been obliged to procure a Horse near N. Haven in the room of one of mine which I had lamed, I shall be under the necessity of sending tither ⟨&⟩ my return will be delayed a week or ten days; unless I should be honored with your further Commands which will find me at this place. I...
4To George Washington from David Humphreys, 6 January 1784 (Washington Papers)
After your public Audience was concluded on the 23d of Deer the President of Congress took me aside, and requested, “if any thing should occur to me in consequence of what had just been suggested in favor of the Gentlemen of General Washington’s family who had continued with him to that moment, that I would communicate it to him in a Letter,” and further observed, that he should take great...
5To George Washington from David Humphreys, 20 March 1784 (Washington Papers)
I arrived at this place just a Month from the time of my leaving Mount Vernon, perfectly free from Misadventures, altho’ attended with disagreeable roads & the coldest weather I ever experienced—in my route I had the pleasure of executing all your commands, except that of delivering your verbal Message to Govr Clinton, this, the impracticability of passing the Hudson below Kings-ferry...
6To George Washington from David Humphreys, 18 May 1784 (Washington Papers)
A few hours after your departure, I received a private communication from a friend in Congress informing me of my appointment as Secretary to the Commissioners for forming Commercial Treaties in Europe —Tho’ pleased with the information I considered myself as unfortunate in not having recd the Letter while your Excellency remained in Town—because I wished to avail myself of Letters of...
7To George Washington from David Humphreys, 15 July 1784 (Washington Papers)
You may be surprised, tho I dare say you will not be displeased to receive a Letter from me, dated at a moment when you would have supposed I had already traversed at least one half of the Atlantic—The occasion of my having yet to embark is this—Governor Jefferson on his tour to the eastern States informed me (in Connecticut) of the arrival of a french Packet at New York, in which he proposed...
8To George Washington from David Humphreys, 12 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
Finding there was a Vessel in this port destined for Virginia, I could not take my departure for Paris without informing my dear General of my safe arrival in france after a most delightful passage of twenty four days; and as I cannot give a better discription of the excellent accomodations & beautiful weather which we have had during the whole of our voyage, than I have already given in a...
9To George Washington from David Humphreys, 18 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
A direct opportunity for America having offered itself thro’ the medium of Colo. Franks I again indulge myself in writing to my dear General; and take the most heartfelt satisfaction in acknowledging the receipt of the Dispatches which were so obligingly addressed for me to the care of Govr Jefferson—who arrived in this City about ten days before me. Tho I dare not undertake to say in this...
10To George Washington from David Humphreys, 30 September 1784 (Washington Papers)
I was obliged to close my last Letter of the 18th of Augst so abruptly that I had not even time to tell you how much satisfaction it would afford me, should I be able by my communications to contribute in any degree to your amusement or information, as you were pleased to intimate—permit me now to assure you, that the delightful employment of thus conversing with my dearest General, under the...
11To George Washington from David Humphreys, 11 November 1784 (Washington Papers)
Colonel le Maire who is this moment Setting off for Virginia affords an opportunity for communicating the latest & most important intelligence respecting European politics. The Emperor & the Dutch have gone so far in their quarrel about the navigation of the Scheld that there is hardly a possibility that either should recede—indeed the act of recalling their Ministers amounts in the estimation...
12To George Washington from David Humphreys, 15 January 1785 (Washington Papers)
There is no great alteration in the complexion of the political world since I had the honour of addressing you last, except that there appears to be more probability that the contest between the Emperor & the Dutch will be accomodated without bloodshed, than there did at that period—preparations for war are however continued, & the Count de Maillebois—Leiut. Gen. in the Armies of France, now...
13To George Washington from David Humphreys, 10 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor to receive by the last Packet your favor dated in Feby last I have been unwell with a slight fever, & tho recovered at this moment it has retarded my public business in such a manner, as will prevent me from writing so particularly as I wished to have done by the present opportunity. I am extremely concerned & mortified to find that you have been under the necessity of...
14To George Washington from David Humphreys, 17 July 1785 (Washington Papers)
I cannot permit M. Houdon to depart for Mt Vernon without being the bearer of a line from me. I am very happy Mr Jefferson has been able to procure him to make the voyage, because I am persuaded he will be able to transmit an excellent likeness of you to the remotest ages. He is considered as one of the ablest statuaries in Europe & has performed some capital peices for the Empress of Russia....
15To George Washington from David Humphreys, 1 November 1785 (Washington Papers)
Being uncertain whether this letter will arrive at Bourdeaux in time to be carried to America by the vessel which brought me your favour of the 25th of July, I will content myself with assuring you how deeply I am penetrated by those expressions of confidence & friendship with which it is replete. Whether I should, or should not be at liberty to accept the liberal offer you make I cannot at...
16To George Washington from David Humphreys, 11 February 1786 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you by the ship which brought me your affectionate favour of the 25th of July; since which I have been honoured by the receipt of your letters of the 1st of Septr & 30th of Octr—they reached me a few days ago in this city, where I have been about two months. You may naturally expect I should give some little account of this great wonder of the world and the reception I have...
17To George Washington from David Humphreys, 23 May 1786 (Washington Papers)
My last letter to you, My dear General, was dated in Febry at London and forwarded by Captain Clagget late of the Maryland line, in that I had the honor of informing you of my intention to return to America in the Spring, in this I have the pleasure to announce my safe arrival from L’Orient after a pleasant passage of 32 days—I am charged with Compliments & messages for your Excellency on the...
18To George Washington from David Humphreys, 24 September 1786 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure, before I left New York, to receive your favor containing the enclosures respecting Asgil’s affair, and am taking measures for their publication —Interested, as I feel myself in your wellfare & happiness, I could not but be extremely affected by the account of your ill-health; and beg you will let me know in what condition your health is, as I shall not find myself at ease...
19To George Washington from David Humphreys, 1 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency some time ago from Hartford & enclosed you the draft of a letter on the subject we talked of when I left Mount Vernon. I hope you have duly received it, tho’ I shall not be free from anxiety until I know with certainty that has been the case. When I wrote that letter, I was in hopes that it might have been in my power before this time, to give you a favorable account of...
20To George Washington from David Humphreys, 9 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment been honored with your letter of the 22nd of Octr & am thereby relieved from some anxiety for fear mine of the 24th of Septr had miscarried. For the reasons you mention, I think it will be best that the General Meeting of the Cincinnati should be holden at Philadelphia. I am happy that the enclosures have met with your approbation. A few days ago, I addressed a letter to you...
21To George Washington from David Humphreys, 16 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have written you twice within these few days, and agreeably to the promise in my last, I have now the honor of enclosing papers containing the state of facts respecting Captn Asgill’s confinement—I have no fear but that the truth will become generally known, I hope it is digested & printed in a manner that will be acceptable to you. I would have sent you several of the late papers from the...
22To George Washington from David Humphreys, 20 January 1787 (Washington Papers)
I am indeed much flattered by the private and confidential communications contained in your favor of the 26 of Decr. I trust; on the present critical & momentuous occasion, by disclosing the very sentiments of my soul without reservation; I shall not render myself less deserving of your confidence, or worthy a place in your friendship. As Colonel Wadsworth will be the bearer of this, I shall...
23To George Washington from David Humphreys, 11 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour to receive, last evening by the Post, your letter of the 23d of Jany, and am happy to relieve you from your apprehension, by informing that your confidential favor of the 26th of Decr with its enclosures had long since been safely received; & duly acknowledged in a private letter which was forwarded more than a fortnight since, by Colo. Wadsworth. But as he has business at New...
24To George Washington from David Humphreys, 28 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the pleasure of writing you last, I have received Orders to march the part of my Regt which is raised in Connecticut to this place. Two compleat Companies arrived on Saturday last. They occupy the Barracks & take the guard of the Arsenal & Magazines. I intend to return to Hartford in a few days, & shall remain there probably for some time. As I conceived you would be anxious to...
25To George Washington from David Humphreys, 24 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have but just had the pleasure to receive your two favours of the 18th of Feby and 8th instant—Nor will I delay a moment giving my sentiments on the subject of the latter, for the sake of throwing them into a more elegant dress or methodical arrangement. I need hardly preface my observations by saying, that I feel myself superlatively happy in your confidential communications, and in...
26To George Washington from David Humphreys, 9 April 1787 (Washington Papers)
(Private) My dear General. Fairfield [Conn.] April 9th 1787 Since I did myself the honor to address you on the 24th Ulto I have been in New York, & find such a variety of opinions prevailing with respect to the Convention, that I think it expedient to write to you again on the subject. General Knox has shewn to me, in confidence, his last letter to you. tho’ I cannot concur in sentiments...
27To George Washington from David Humphreys, 25 April 1787 (Washington Papers)
Mr Rogers, who will have the honor of delivering this letter, is an American Gentleman with whom I became acquainted in London. Being of Massachusetts he was introduced to me by Mr Adams, and appeared to be upon terms of intimacy with that Minister. Afterwards I had the pleasure of being a fellow Passenger from Europe with Mr & Mrs Rogers: & considered myself under many obligations for their...
28To George Washington from David Humphreys, 28 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
I intended fully, when I left Philadelphia, to have written to you from New York, but on my arrival there my Servant (who was a German) ran away, & I was so occupied in procuring another, that I have not been able to take up the pen until the present moment. Recollecting imperfectly, as I do, the purport of Mr Jefferson’s letter, as well as of the Extract from the Encyclopedia; I have found...
29To George Washington from David Humphreys, 13 August 1787 (Washington Papers)
I would not trespass upon your time, while I knew you was occupied in such momentuous affairs, as the revisal of the Confederation: but now that common Report says the principles are settled & the business, on which the Convenn assembled, nearly compleated, I take the liberty of addressing myself again to my dear General. And the rather as I do not know whether the letter I wrote from N. H.,...
30To George Washington from David Humphreys, 28 September 1787 (Washington Papers)
I would not trespass on your attention, while you was occupied in such momentuous affairs as the revisal of the confederation: the last time I had the honor of addressing a letter to you, was, I believe, in the beginning of June, from this place—in that letter was enclosed the sketch of an Answer to Mr Jefferson. I hope it came safe to your hands. We have been, a few days since, gratified with...
31To George Washington from David Humphreys, 21 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
I did not trouble you with a letter from Savannah, because our public Dispatch to the Secretary at War would inform you of our proceedings to that time. Besides the oppressive nature of the intollerable heat & the exertion we were obliged to make to get forward on our journey, occasioned such a relaxation & consequent sickness as rendered me almost incapable of writing. We are all now well....
32To George Washington from David Humphreys, 26 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
Finding an opportunity to Augusta, I could not excuse myself from giving you the progress of our negotiation since my last. On monday last (that is to say the day after the arrival of Genl Lincoln & myself) a deputation from all the Creeks of the Tuccasee, the Hallowing & the Tellasee Kings, waited upon us, to congratulate us on our arrival, to express in general terms their desire for peace,...
33To George Washington from David Humphreys, 27 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of writing to you yesterday, some things have happened, of which I conceive it expedient to give information by this conveyance. On the evening of the 25th McGillivray omitted to comply with his positive promise to write to us or come over the river, in order to explain the objections of the Chiefs to the Project of the Treaty which we had proposed to them, and to propose...
34To George Washington from David Humphreys, 13 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
Seventeen Miles east of Camden [S.C.] My dear Genl Octr 13th 1789. Having been led to believe that this route was the shortest & best, we left Augusta this day week; and having now an opportunity by Charles Town, I write (in conformity to the intimation you was pleased to give) for the purpose of keeping you advised of our progress. From the Savannah at Augusta to the Congaree at Friday’s...
35To George Washington from David Humphreys, 28 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am taking occasion by a water conveyance to inform you, that we are thus far on our way to New York. But my principal object is to mention the political intelligence which we obtained in North Carolina. The prevailing opinion in that State (so far as we could ascertain it from repeated enquiries) is, that the Constitution will be adopted. However, many of those who are opposed to it think...
36David Humphreys to John Jay, 8 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
I am commanded by the President of the United States of America to send to you some Papers which have just come to him, and which are of a nature highly interesting to the Community. His object is to avail himself of your opinion, relative to the measures which should be adopted in consequence of this Communication. I have the honor to be with perfect respect &c. N.B. the above letter was from...
37To George Washington from David Humphreys, 8 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to put under cover to you a letter for Mr Manley the Engraver in Philadelphia, who is about to strike the Medal containing your likeness. At the moment when I was leaving New York he asked me for my opinion on the subject, and requested that I would write to him as soon as I might find it convenient—which I promised. In case there should be any thing erroneous in the Model,...
38David Humphreys to John Adams, 8 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
On Saturday next, the President proposes to go, with Mrs Washington and his family, to view the remains of the the old fortifications near Kingsbridge. He has understood from Mrs Washington that Mrs Adams was desirous of gratifying her curiosity on the same subject. If you should find it convenient to make the ride, with Mrs Adams and your family, he will be happy in the pleasure of all your...
39To George Washington from David Humphreys, 1 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
In taking leave of you, at the moment of your departure while I strove in vain to check an impulse which I apprehended betrayed too much weakness, I found the burden on my heart choaked the passage of utterance. In that moment a multitude of ideas crouded into my mind. A long seperation from one’s friends & country, under an idea of going into a nation where one is a total stranger, however...
40To George Washington from David Humphreys, 31 October 1790 (Washington Papers)
(Secret) My dear General London Octr 31st 1790. Since my arrival here, on the 14th inst., I have written four letters to Mr Jefferson, by different conveyances, in which I have given him a detail of such political facts & reports as I supposed might be in any degree, interesting in America. As these communications will be submitted to your inspection, I forebear troubling you with any...
41To George Washington from David Humphreys, 4 November 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from David Humphreys, 4 Nov. 1790. Frank Landon Humphreys claimed that before his vessel “finally left England, Col. Humphreys sent a letter to Gen. Washington from Gravesend on November 4.” This could have been, however, the letter Humphreys had written to the president four days earlier (see Humphreys, Life and Times of David Humphreys, Francis Landon Humphreys. Life and...
42To George Washington from David Humphreys, 30 November 1790 (Washington Papers)
(Secret) My Dear General Lisbon Nov 30th 1790. I have forwarded to Mr Jefferson for your information the continuation of my Proceedings until the present time. You will be pleased to observe by my letter to him of this date, that the Court of Lisbon, having, from a desire of opening an official intercourse with the U.S., made the first advances by appointing a Minister Resident to repair...
43To George Washington from David Humphreys, 16 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
Although it is impossible for a stranger, in merely travelling through a country & remaining only a few weeks in its capital, to give a complete account of the state of affairs & system of policy in it; yet he may have opportunities of collecting some informations which will be perhaps entertaining, if not useful, to Persons in public life at a distance. Under this idea, in consequence of your...
44To George Washington from David Humphreys, 3 May 1791 (Washington Papers)
Private. My dear Sir, Mafra [Portugal] May 3d 1791. I write this short letter for the sole purpose of thanking you for nominating & appointing me Minister Resident at this Court. The language of affection & gratitude is brief. It is with a sensibility not expressed in words, that all the instances of your friendship & particularly the kind expressions in the close of your letter of March 16th,...
45To George Washington from David Humphreys, 12 May 1791 (Washington Papers)
(Secret) My dear Sir Lisbon May 12th 1791 Lest my letters to the Secretary of State on the subject of the Persons executing the Duties of the Consulate here, should have been so inexplicit as to leave your mind in doubt respecting the merits or pretensions of those persons, I take the liberty to add a few facts; not because I feel myself interested in the decision, but because I wish to remove...
46To George Washington from David Humphreys, 23 July 1792 (Washington Papers)
(Secret & confidential) My dear Sir. Lisbon July 23d 1792 I take the liberty of writing to you again, after a considerable interval, to assure you there can be none in my sentiments of affection & gratitude to you. At the same time, I enclose a Manuscript “Poem, on the National Industry of the U.S.,” which, after you shall have done with it, if it should be so fortunate as to meet your...
47To George Washington from David Humphreys, 23 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
By my Dispatch of this date to the Secretary of State, you will perceive what measures I have thought it necessary to adopt respecting the subsistence of our Captives in Algiers; as also the reasons why I have judged it highly expedient to go myself to Gibralter to find and take care of the public property which must have been left there by the late Mr Barclay. I hope that these proceedings...
48To George Washington from David Humphreys, 8 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Private & confidential) My dear Sir. Gibralter Feby 8th 1793. An easterly wind having suddenly sprung up, I am obliged to leave this in an hour for the Port of Lagos, (not very distant from Lisbon) or run the risque of being detained here several weeks, or even perhaps Months. For information, I beg leave to refer you to my two last public letters, of equal date, to the Secretary State. My...
49To George Washington from David Humphreys, 24 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Secret & confidential) My dear Sir. Lisbon March 24th 1793. I took the liberty of addressing a letter to you from Gibralter on the 8th of last month, which I hope will have come safe to your hand. I mentioned therein that my design in writing was only to suggest two hints, the first whether you would wish to make use of Mr Church in the Morocco business, as he was soon expected at Lisbon? The...
50To George Washington from David Humphreys, 4 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Secret & confidential) My dear Sir. Lisbon April 4th 1793. Since I had the honour of addressing you on the 24th Ultimo, I have seen two letters from Captn Obrian (the last of the 12th of February) to the Messrs Bulkeleys of this Town. In these he mentions, “that a Peace had been made by the instrumentality of Spain, between Prussia & Algiers for One hundred & forty thousand Mexico Dollars:...