1From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 12 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 28th ultimo, enclosing a Copy of what you had written to the Secretary of War, on the subject of a Military Academy. The Establishment of an Institution of this kind, upon a respectable and extensive basis, has ever been considered by me as an Object of primary importance to this Country; and while I was in the Chair of Government, I omitted no proper...
2From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 27 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
Since writing the enclosed letter to you yesterday, I have received a letter from Colo. Parker, and one from Mr Mackey, Agent for the War Department at Harper’s Ferry; stating the impracticability of procuring plank &c. sufficient for covering the huts intended to have been built for three Regiments at Harper’s Ferry. In consequence of this information I have again written to Colo. Parker,...
3From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 27 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
To my official letters I refer you for my communications with Colo. Parker. I have no conception however, that such difficulties as are ennumerated in his and Mr Mackie’s letters, can exist in the erection of simple Hutts, (such as served us last War); and so I am about to inform the former. I am averse to the seperation of the 8th 9th and 10th Regiments under any circumstances which exist at...
4From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 26 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 21st instant, enclosing a letter to Colo. Parker, which I have forwarded to him, and at the same time repeated my instructions for hutting the Troops, in conformity with the idea which you originally suggested. I presume that the impression made on your mind by Colo. Parker’s letter, respecting Winter Quarters for the three Regiments, must have been...
5From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 15 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
Since writing to you on the 29th ultimo, I have received a letter from Colo. Parker, informing me that he had fixed upon a spot, on the public Ground, at Harper’s Ferry, as the most eligable place for cantoning the 7th, 8th and 9th Regiments, agreeably to your instructions, and the ideas which I communicated to him. And, I presume, measures are now taking to provide huts at that place for...
6From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 29 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 23d instant was received the 27th; and this day will proceed in the Mail to Winchester—the nearest Post Town to Colo. Parker’s residence, if he should be at his own house, the letter enclosed for him. There being no person in my view more eligable than Colo. Parker to carry your Instructions into effect: unless Colo. Carrington had been in office as Quarter Master General, I...
7From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 15 September 1799 (Washington Papers)
Mrs Washington’s indisposition (being confined eight or ten days)—and other circumstances, would not allow me to give your letter of the 9th instant, and the Reports, Journals &c. &c. which accompanied it, an earlier consideration. Having done this, however, with as much thought as I have been able to bestow, under the circumstances mentioned, I can see no cause (with the limited force which...
8From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 14 August 1799 (Washington 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...
9From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 25 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your private letter of the 15th instant came duly to hand. So far as my information extends (which by the bye is very limited) the Recruiting Service in this State progresses beyond my expectation, But is retarded very considerably from the want of cloathing: the ragged appearance of the Recruits having a tendency to disgust, rather than to excite, enlistments. I think with you, that policy...
10From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 19 June 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 7th instant, with its enclosures, has been duly received. I am very glad to learn that the recruiting business, so far as it has been put in Operation, succeeds agreeably to your wishes. It has commenced in Virginia, and I am informed that, in this vicinity (and I have no intelligence from the more distant parts of the State) its progress is very flattering. A supply of...
11From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 10 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 10th April 1799 I have received your letter of the 27th ulto, enclosing a design of dividing the State of Virginia into Divisions, & subdivisions, for the head quarters of the Rendezvouses in each: asking my opinion of the proper distribution of them, for the convenience of the Recruiting Service. The Grand division of the State, I conceive to be well...
12From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 25 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 14th instant with its enclosures, came to hand by the last Post. In the present State of the Army (or more properly the Embryo of one, for I do not perceive from any thing that has come to my knowledge that we are likely to move beyond this) and until the Augmented force shall have been Recruited, Assembled and in the Field, the residence of the Paymaster Genl (I did not...
13From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 25 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favoured with your letter of the 15th instant. When the disposition was contemplated for assigning to Major General Pinckney and to yourself your respective districts of superintendence, I was of Opinion (as you will see by the enclosed copy of a letter which I wrote to the Secretary of War on my way from Philadelphia to this place) that the whole of General Wilkinson’s...
14From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 25 February 1799 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir Mount Vernon 25th Feby 1799. Your private letter of the 16th instant came duly to hand, & safe: and I wish you at all times, and upon all occasions, to communicate interesting occurences with your opinions thereon (in the manner you have designated) with the utmost unreservedness, to me. If the augmented force was not intended as an interroram measure, the delay in...
15From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 12 November 1798 (Washington Papers)
Herewith you will be furnished with the Copy of a letter from the Secretary of War to me, suggesting many very important matters for consideration, and to be reported on. It is my desire, that you will bestow serious and close attention on them, and be prepared to offer your opinion on each head, when called upon. I also propose, for your consideration and opinion, a number of queries which...
16From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 10 November 1798 (Washington Papers)
Queries—propounded by the Commander in Chief To Majors Genl Hamilton & Pinckney. 1st Is an Invasion of the United States, by France, to be apprehended whilst that Power continues at War with Great Britain? 2d In case such an Invasion should take place, what part of the United States, in their opinion, is most likely to be first attacked? 3d Is it probable that the French will, in the way of...
17From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 21 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
The last mail to Alexandria brought me a letter from the President of the United States, in which I am informed that he had signed, and given the Commissions to yourself, Generals Pinckney & Knox, the same date; in hopes that an amicable adjustment, or acquiescence might take place among you. But, if these hopes should be disappointed, and controversies should arise, they will of course be...
18From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 24 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 24th Sep. 1798. I have seen the correspondence between the President of the United States & Secretary of War, on the subject of the relative rank of the three Major Generals first appointed. But as it was given in confidence, unaccompanied with an Official letter, I had no ground on which I could proceed, without betraying that confidence. I have therefore...
19From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 9 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 9th Augt 1798 By the same Post which brought me your favour, began in Philadelphia and ended in New York the 1st instant, I received a letter from General Knox dated the 29th Ulto, in answer to one I had written him on the 16th of that month. In confidence, and as a proof of my frankness & friendship, I send both of them to you, together with my reply of this...
20From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 14 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
(Private & confidential) My Dear Sir, Mount Vernon 14th July 1798 Your letter of the 8th instant was presented to me by the Secretary of War on the 11th, and I have consented to embark once more on a boundless field of responsibility & trouble, with two reservations. first, that the principal Officers in the line, and of the Staff, shall be such as I can place confidence in; and, that I shall...
21From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 27 May 1798 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday, brought me your Letter of the 19th instant. You may be assured, that my Mind is deeply impressed with the present situation of our public affairs, and not a little agitated by the outrageous conduct of France towards the United States; and at the enemical conduct of its partisans among ourselves, who aid & abet their measures: You may believe further, from assurances equally...
22From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 8 October 1797 (Washington Papers)
The ardent desire which Mr La Fayette feels to embrace his Parents and Sisters in the first moments of their liberation, induces him to set out for New York, or further Eastward, in search of a Passage to France. It was my opinion that he had better have awaited authentic accounts of this event; but his eagerness to see his friends—the fear of a Winter passage—and a conviction that he is under...
23From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 21 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
Not for any intrinsic value the thing possesses, but as a token of my sincere regard and friendship for you, and as a remembrancer of me; I pray you to accept a Wine cooler for four bottles, which Coll Biddle is directed to forward from Philadelphia (where with other articles it was left) together with this letter, to your address. It is one of four, which I imported in the early part of my...
24From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 22 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 19th instant was received yesterday. From the general impression on my mind, relative to Mr De Neuvilles claim on the justice of this country, a delay, or a refusal to administer it, would be hard; but I must add, that I am too little acquainted with the particulars to form a correct opinion, and were it otherwise, I do not see how I could, with propriety, appear directly or...
25From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 21 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
Having written to you on Saturday the 11th instant (accompanying it with enclosures) without hearing any thing from you in the course of last week, or by the Mail of this day, I begin to have uneasy sensations for the fate of my letter. To this cause, & to my solicitude to have the Papers returned, you must ascribe the trouble of receiving this letter. If my last got safe to your hands, &...
26From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 12 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
In due time, and in good order, I received your letters dated the 4th, 5th & 10th instt; and shall be mindful of their contents. What construction do you put upon the information received through the assistant of D——r-B——? and what notice, if any, should it meet with now , or hereafter, if application should be made for leave, or the event take place without? Having sometime since, called upon...
27From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 3 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
After my letter of yesterday was despatched to you, the draught of the answer to Mr Adet was presented for my approbation, with the opinions of the Gentlemen about me, that it would be expedient to publish it, and without delay. It appeared also, by information from the Secretary of State, that as far as public opinion had been expressed on the occasion, that this measure was looked to, &...
28From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 2 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
On monday Afternoon I arrived in this City, and among the first things which presented themselves to my view, was Mr Adets letter to the Secretary of State, published by his order, in the moment it was presented. The object in doing this is not difficult of solution; but whether the publication in the manner it appears, is by order of the Directory, or an act of his own, is yet to be learnt....
29From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 6 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday, your letter of the 4th instant. If the promised paper has not been sent before this reaches you, Mr Kitt the bearer of it, who goes to New York partly on mine, and partly on his own business, will bring it safely. I only await here, now, and shall in a few days do it impatiently, for the arrival of General Pinckney. If you think the idea of a University had better be...
30From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 1 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
Private About the middle of last Week I wrote to you; and that it might escape the eye of the Inquisitive (for some of my letters have lately been pried into) I took the liberty of putting it under a cover to Mr Jay. Since then, revolving on the Paper that was enclosed therein; on the various matters it contained; and on the just expression of the advice or recommendation which was given in...
31From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 25 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
Private I have given the Paper herewith enclosed, several serious & attentive readings; and prefer it greatly to the other draughts, being more copious on material points; more dignified on the whole; and with less egotism. Of course less exposed to criticism, & better calculated to meet the eye of discerning readers (foreigners particularly, whose curiosity I have little doubt will lead them...
32From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 26 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter without date, came to my hands by wednesdays Post; and by the first Post afterwards I communicated the purport of it (withholding the names) to the Secretary of State; with directions to bestow the closest attention to the subject, and if the application which had been made to the Minister of France, consequent of the Capture of the Ship Mount Vernon, had not produced such an...
33From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 29 May 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to Alexander Hamilton, 29 May 1796. Hamilton wrote GW on 1 June : “Your letter of the 29th was delivered me.”
34From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 15 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
On this day week, I wrote you a letter on the subject of the information received from G—— M——, and put it with some other Papers respecting the case of Mr De la Fayette, under cover to Mr Jay: to whom also I had occasion to write. But in my hurry (making up the dispatches for the Post Office next morning) I forgot to give it a Superscription; of course it had to return from N: York for one, &...
35From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 8 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
(Private & confidential) Your note of the 5th instant accompanying the information given to you by G——M——on the 4th of March, came safe on friday. The letter he refers to, as having been written to me, is not yet received; but others from Mr Monroe of similar complexion, and almost of as imperious a tone from that government, have got to hand. That justice & policy should dictate the measures...
36From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 31 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I do not know how to thank you sufficiently, for the trouble you have taken to dilate on the request of the House of Representatives for the Papers relative to the British Treaty; or how to apologize for the trouble (much greater than I had any idea of giving) which you have taken to shew the impropriety of that request. From the first moment, and from the fullest conviction in my own mind, I...
37From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 22 March 1796 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Alexander Hamilton, 22 March 1796. On 24 March, Hamilton wrote GW: “I had the honor to receive yesterday your letter of the 22.”
38Enclosure: Gouverneur Morris to Alexander Hamilton, 4 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have just now written to the President to communicate some Intelligence lately received from Paris. This I have done in abstract but my correspondent has written to me as follows “The Government here are highly displeased with ours. You may easily guess the Reason. It is come to a very serious pitch. A fleet is to be sent to our shore with a new minister. A definitive answer must be given in...
39From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 13 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
In the moment I was closing & dispatching my letters to the Post Office, I learnt from the Attorney General of the U.S. that you would be here on the 17th. My mind being continually uneasy on Acct of young Fayette, I cannot but wish (if this letter should reach you in time, and no reasons stronger than what have occurred against it) that you would request him, and his Tutor, to come on to this...
40From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 22 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
Have you seen or heard more of young Fayette since you last wrote to me on that subject? Where did he go to? Did you deliver him the letter I sent under cover to you for him? His case gives me pain, and I do not know how to get relieved from it. His sensibility I fear is hurt, by his not acknowledging the receipt of my letter to him; and yet, if considerations of a higher nature are opposed to...
41From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 28 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
If indisposition, or business of a pressing nature, should have prevented your looking into, and making a digest of the papers I sent you on the 16th Inst. I pray you to return them to me by the first Post after this letter is received. The meeting of Congress is near at hand—and there is good reason to expect a punctual attendance of the members. I should be extremely unwilling therefore to...
42From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 23 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed are letters for Mr de la Fayette, and his Tutor. I leave them open for your perusal; and notwithstanding the request in my letter of the 18th I shall cheerfully acquiesce in any measures respecting them which you (and others with whom you may be disposed to consult) may deem most eligable. As there can be no doubt, that the feelings of both are alive to every thing which may have the...
43From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 18 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
Having no doubt that the petition contained in the enclosed Gazette, will make its appearance in the Virginia Assembly; and nearly as little of its favourable reception in that body, I resolved to give you the perusal of it, at this moment. But my principal view in writing to you now, is, to request that you would desire young Fayette and his Tutor to proceed to this place without delay;...
44From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 16 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
The papers herewith enclosed are so full, on the subject of my former request, that nothing more remains than to refer to them for every information I can give, as the ground work of the Superstructure you are to build. When you are done with them be so good as to return the whole to me again, with those sent before; together with the letters respecting young Fayette —and the result, relative...
45From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 10 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 5th has been duly received, but nothing was said in it of young Fayette. I am willing, as I said in my last, to receive him under any circumstances, or in any manner you may conceive best; & wish to know what that is. Having, since I wrote to you on the 29th Ult. received more agreeable—tho’ not conclusive—accounts from abroad, I pray you to suspend your superstructure until...
46From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 29 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
Two or three days ago I wrote you a few lines in haste, and promised one more lengthy when I was more at leisure. for this purpose I am now seated. The letters from young Fayette and Mr Frestal; my letter to Mr Cabot; and his answer (all of which are herewith enclosed for your perusal—mine in the rough state it was first drawn—and to be returned when read) will give you a full view of what I...
47From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 29 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
A voluminous publication is daily expected from Mr R——. The paper alluded to in the extract of his letter to me, of the 8th instt, and inserted in all the Gazettes, is a letter of my own, to him; from which he intends (as far as I can collect from a combination of circumstances) to prove an inconsistency in my conduct, in ratifying the Treaty with G. Britain, without making a rescinding (by...
48From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 29 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 20th and 21st Instt found me at this place, after a hot & disagreeable ride. As the measures of the government, respecting the treaty, were taken before I left Philadelphia, something more imperious than has yet appeared, must turn up to occasion a change. Still, it is very desirable to ascertain, if possible, after the paroxysm of the fever is a little abated, what the...
49From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 14 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of yesterday, this moment, when I am on the eve of a journey to Virginia. The opinion which you have given as to its being necessary to submit the new article to the Senate, being in direct opposition to that of the Secretaries and the Attorney general, has occasioned some embarrassment with me. For I always understood it to be the sense of the majority of the Senate,...
50From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 13 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have, in the regular course of the Posts, been duly favored with your letters of the 9th, accompanying your observations on the several articles of the treaty with Great Britain, and of the 10th supplimentary thereto. For both, I offer you my sincere thanks, as they have afforded me great satisfaction. Altho’ it was my wish that your observations on each article should be diffusive, yet I am...