51To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 7 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President the draught of a letter to mister Genet, in pursuance of the opinion of Saturday last approved by the President. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. Jefferson wrote the enclosed letter to Edmond Genet of 7 Aug. as a result of the Cabinet Opinion on...
52To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 7 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose the draught of a letter to mister Hammond. if the President approves it, he will send it to mister Hammond’s immediately, as tomorrow’s post is the last one which will be in time for the Packet. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. Jefferson, in his letter of 7 Aug.,...
53Cabinet Opinion on French Privateers and Prizes, 5 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of departments & the Attorney general at the Secretary of state’s office Aug. 5. 1793. The case of the Swallow letter of marque at New York, desired to be sent out of our ports, as being a privateer. it is the opinion that there is no ground to make any new order on the subject. The Polly or Republican, in the hands of the Marshal at New York, on a charge of having...
54To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 4 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President and will pay due attention to his letter of this day. the question of convening the legislature was considered and as our opinions differed, we agreed to give them seperately which will be done tomorrow. we are to meet at 10. oclock tomorrow to apply the rules, now approved by the President, to the several memorials & complaints as yet...
55To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 4 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President having been pleased to propose, for consideration, the question Whether it be proper or not to convene the legislature at an earlier period than that at which it is to meet by law? and at what time? I am of the opinion it will be proper. 1. Because the protection of our Southern frontiers seems to render indispensable a war with the Creeks, which cannot be declared, nor provided...
56Cabinet Opinion on the Rules of Neutrality, 3 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
August 3. 1793 The foregoing rules having been considered by us at several meetings, and being now unanimously approved, they are submitted to the President of the United States. DS , in George Taylor, Jr.’s writing, DLC:GW ; copy (letterpress copy), DLC : Jefferson Papers; LB , DLC:GW ; Df , in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC : Jefferson Papers; copy, DNA : RG 46, Third Congress, 1793–1795,...
57Cabinet Opinion on French Privateers, 3 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
That The Minister of the French Republic be informed that the President considers the U. States as bound pursuant to positive assurances, given in conformity to the laws of neutrality, to effectuate the restoration of, or to make compensation for, prizes which shall have been made of any of the parties at war with France subsequent to the fifth day of June last by privateers fitted out of...
58To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 31 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to return to the President the copy of questions which had been destined for the judges. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. For the questions prepared for submission to the justices of the Supreme Court, see Jefferson to GW, 18 July , and enclosure .
59To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 31 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
When you did me the honor of appointing me to the office I now hold, I engaged in it without a view of continuing any length of time, & I pretty early concluded on the close of the first four years of our republic as a proper period for withdrawing; which I had the honor of communicating to you. when the period however arrived circumstances had arisen, which, in the opinion of some of my...
60Memorandum from Thomas Jefferson, 26 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
Mr Genet’s declaration to the President at his reception, that France did not wish to engage the U.S. in the present war by the clause of guarantee, but left her free to pursue her own happiness in peace, has been repeated to myself in conversation, & to others, and even in a public answer, so as to place it beyond question. Some days after the reception of mister Genet (which was May 17.) I...
61To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 25 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President a second complaint of Peter LeMaigre a merchant of this city, for a second vessel taken from him by the British. in the former case, which happened during the absence of the President, it was unanimously agreed by the heads of the departments that it would be proper to communicate the case to Mr Hammond, and desire his interference. AL ,...
62To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 22 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his respects to the President has the honor of inclosing him some letters just received also the draught of a letter to the Judges. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. The enclosed letters to Jefferson from diplomats William Carmichael and William Short of 18 April and 5 May 1793...
63To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 19 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his respects to the President has the honor to inform him that Judges Jay & Wilson called on him just now and asked whether the letter of yesterday pressed for an answer. they were told the cases would await their time, & were asked when they thought an answer might be expected: they said they supposed in a day or two. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG...
64To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 18 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President a copy of the questions to be proposed to the judges, which he has endeavoured to make with exactness, but cannot be sure he may not have mistaken some of the interlineations of the original he has added at the end those from his own paper which were agreed to. they are the numbers 22. &c to the end. he incloses also the rough draughts of...
65To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 17 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
According to the desire expressed in your letter of June 30. I called together Doctr Thornton, Mr Hallet, Mr Hoben, and a judicious undertaker of this place, Mr Carstairs, chosen by Dr Thornton as a competent judge of the objections made to his plan of the Capitol for the City of Washington. These objections were proposed and discussed on a view of the plans: the most material were the...
66To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 16 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to submit to the President the rough draught of an answer to Mr Genet’s letter of June 22. it is left unclosed, in case any other matters should be thought proper to be added. otherwise he would propose to close it with reiterations of friendship to his nation. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of...
67To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 15 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his respects to the President returns him Montmorin’s letter, which he thought he would wish to keep, & sends him a letter from Govr. Chittenden, open as he received it. also the letter from Algiers in which there is nothing new but their present marine force in the last page but one. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, George Washington’s...
68Memorandum from Thomas Jefferson, 11–13 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: J. has the papers in the following cases which require as early consideration as the President can well give them. Vainqueur de la Bastille. Genet’s letter July 8. & Govr of Carolina’s June 24. Le Citoyen Genet and prizes. Hammond’s letter July 10. Genet’s letter June 26. covering protests of the Consuls against interference of the Admiralty courts, and expressing very improper principles....
69Cabinet Opinion on Foreign Vessels and Consulting the Supreme Court, 12 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of the departments at the President’s on summons from him, and on consideration of various representations from the Ministers Plenipotentiary of France & Great Britain on the subject of vessels arming & arriving in our ports, and of prizes it is their opinion that letters be written to the said Ministers informing them that the Executive of the U.S., desirous of...
70To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to send to the President Dr Thornton’s answer to mister Hallet’s objections this moment received, & which he has not had time to read. perhaps the President may think it worth while to communicate them to mister Hobens & see what he thinks of them, for which reason he sends them to the President in the instant of receiving them. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous...
71Memorandum from Thomas Jefferson, 11 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
Papers requiring the President’s instant attention. Th: J’s letter to Viar & Jaudenes. } the Courier goes on Saturday. Genet’s communications relative to Spain Little Sarah. the Governor’s letter of June 24. & Warden’s 1st report. the Governor’s letter of July 7. x Th: J’s conversation with Genet. x Th: J’s opinion against firing on the Little Sarah. Rawle’s letter. July 9. Genet’s letter....
72Memorandum from Thomas Jefferson, 11 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
to be read at the President’s leisure. Governr H. Lee’s letter. June 28. concerning supposed pestilential disease in W. I. The Suckey. Th: J’s letter June 26. to mister Hammond. Th: J. to mister Hammond. June 25. on insinuation concerning Western posts. do to do do developemt of order about privateers arming. Philips’s letter June 7. cannot be received as Consul at Curaçoa. Chiappe’s letter...
73To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 11 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President. he had expected that the Secretaries of the Treasury & War would have given to the President immediately the statement of facts in the case of the Little Sarah, as drawn by the former & agreed to, as also their Reasons: but Colo. Hamilton having informed Th: J. that he has not been able to prepare copies, Th: J. sends the President the...
74Enclosure: Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on a Conversation with Edmond Genet, 10 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of Treasury having communicated to Genl Knox & myself that he had been informed that the Little Sarah had much augmented her arms, and was greatly advanced in her preparations, we concurred in opinion that the Govr should be desired to have a reexamination of the fact. it was done & a Report made that she had entered the port with only 4. guns, & now had 14 &c. the next day,...
75Cabinet Opinion on the Little Sarah [Petite Démocrate], 8 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting at the State house of the city of Philadelphia July 8. 1793. Present the Secretary of state, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary at War. It appears that a brigantine called the Little Sarah has been fitted out at the port of Philadelphia, with fourteen cannon, & all other equipments indicating that she is intended as a Privateer to cruise under the authority of France, &...
76To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 28 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
I should have taken time ere this to have considered the observations of mister Young, could I at this place have done it in such a way as would satisfy either him or myself. when I wrote the notes of the last year, I had never before thought of calculating what were the profits of a capital invested in Virginia agriculture. yet that appeared to be what mister Young most desired. lest...
77Cabinet Opinion on Relations with Spain and Great Britain, 20 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting this day of the heads of departments at the President’s on summons from him, a letter from Messrs Viar & Jaudenes dated June 18. & addressed to the Secretary of state, was read: whereupon it is the opinion that a full detail of the proceedings of the U.S. with respect to the Southern Indians, & the Spaniards be prepared, and a notification as to the particular matters charged in...
78To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 19 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to return to the President the minutes of the 17th inst. the letters then agreed on are sent to the Secretaries of the Treasury & war for their corrections, & will then be handed to the President. he sends him also a letter from the Attorney of Kentuckey for his information, & because the subject of it belongs to another department. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous...
79To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 19 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
The decision of the case of the British debts which was expected to have taken place at Richmond, being now deferred, Th: Jefferson has the honor of submitting to the President the draught of a letter to mister Hammond, asking an answer on the subject of the treaty of peace. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; AL (letterpress copy), DLC : Jefferson Papers; LB , DNA : RG 59, George...
80To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 19 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State having received from the Secretary of the territory of the U.S. South of the Ohio a report of the proceedings of that government from Sep. 1. 1792. to the 16th of Feb. 1793. Reports to the President of the U.S. That they do not contain any thing necessary for him to act on: unless, as it is suggested by mister Smith, it should be necessary to lay before Congress the act...
81To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 19 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Thomas Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President translations of some communications from Messrs Viar & Jaudenes, also a letter for Mr Pinckney. LB , DNA : RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. The letter from José de Jaudenes and José Ignacio de Viar to Jefferson of 18 June described “different acts practised” by Gov. William Blount and others in the Southwest...
82Cabinet Opinion on French Privateers, 17 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of departments at the President’s this day, on summons from him, a letter from mister Genet of the 15th inst. addressed to the Secretary of state on the subject of the seizure of a vessel by the Govr. of New York as having been armed, equipped & manned in that port with a design to cruize on the enemies of France, was recd as also the draught of an answer prepared by...
83Thomas Jefferson’s Second Opinion on a New Foreign Loan, 17 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
I cannot see my way clear in the case on which the President has been pleased to ask my opinion, but by recurring to these leading questions. Of the 7,898,999.88 D. borrowed, or rather of the 7,545,912. D. nett proceeds thereof, how much has been applied to the payment of the foreign , & purchase of the general , debt? To the balance thereof, which should be on hand, & the 2. millions of...
84To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 14 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President translations of some communications from Messers Viar & Jaudenes, also a letter for mister Pinckney. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters. The letter from Spanish consuls José de Jaudenes and José Ignacio de Viar to Jefferson of 12 June 1793 relayed Spanish concerns about efforts by U.S. officials in the Southwest Territory to...
85To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 13 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his respects to the President submits to him another letter to mister Morris, on a subject just now put into his hands. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. Jefferson’s second letter to Gouverneur Morris of 13 June asked Morris to inquire into an “unaccounted for” one million livres...
86Cabinet Opinion on the Polly (Republican) and the Catherine, 12 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President having required the opinions of the heads of the three departments on a letter from Governor Clinton of the 9th inst. stating that he had taken possession of the sloop Polly, now called the Republican, which was arming, equipping & manning by French & other citizens to cruize against some of the belligerent powers, and desiring to know what further was to be done, and they having...
87To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 12 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to submit to the President his answer to mister Genet on the subject of the French debt. he had prepared it yesterday morning, but unluckily left it at home, which has delayed it a day. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. Jefferson’s letter to Edmond Genet of 11 June explained...
88To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 12 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor of inclosing to the President the opinion on the two cases of vessels referred to the Heads of the department, and the letter he has prepared in consequence to the Attorney of the district. Genl Knox will wait on him with his letter to the Governor. Symmes’s case is to be considered of tomorrow, as it required some enquiry. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters;...
89To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 11 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President a memorial from mister Hammond. he proposes to ask a meeting with the Secretaries of the treasury & war at 9. oclock tomorrow, in time to write by the post of tomorrow. should the President think fit that the inclosed should be the subject of deliberation, it may be considered at the same time. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB...
90To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 8 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President a letter from our bankers, at Amsterdam stating a balance due them on the foreign intercourse fund Apr. 2. of 13,225 florins equal to about 5,300 Dollars. this being communicated for the information of the President, the following explanation is necessary. independent of the fund on which this balance appears, the bankers had in their...
91To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 6 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
I cannot but think that to decline the propositions of mister Genet on the subject of our debt, without assigning any reasons at all, would have a very dry and unpleasant aspect indeed. we are then to examine what are our good reasons for the refusal, which of them may be spoken out, & which may not. 1. want of confidence in the continuance of the present form of government, and consequently,...
92Cabinet Opinion on Sending an Agent to the Choctaws, 1–5 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
That an Agent be sent to the Choctaw nation to endeavor secretly to engage them to support the Chickasaws in their present war with the Creeks, giving them for that purpose arms and ammunition sufficient: and that it be kept in view that if we settle our differences amicably with the Creeks, we at the same time mediate effectually the peace of the Chickasaws & Choctaws, so as to rescue the...
93To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 5 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his respects to the President has the honor to enclose him the answer to his note of yesterday. Should any article of it need explanation, he will be at the orders of the President for that purpose to do it either verbally or in writing. LB , DNA : RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. For the enclosure, see below. Later on this date, GW...
94To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 4 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President a letter from mister Pinckney covering proposals from a mister Holloway to come over as engraver to our mint. it does not appear that mister Holloway was very eminent, as far as we can judge from the expressions in mister Pinckney’s letter: his idea of making it a kind of appointment for life seems inadmissible; and the delay to which his...
95To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 4 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President the draught of a letter to mister Pinckney. also the paper sent to him for the signatures now put to it. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. Later on this date GW approved Jefferson’s letter to Thomas Pinckney of 4 June, whose topics included the...
96To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 3 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honour to inclose to the President a letter from the Director of the Mint, containing a general statement of the expenditure of the last monies furnished, & an application of a further sum of 5000. D. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. For the enclosed letter from David Rittenhouse...
97To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 3 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson respectfully submits to the President the draught of a letter to mister Hammond on the subject of the prizes taken by the Charleston privateers. Mr Randolph has read & approved it. he has had no opportunity of communicating it to the Secretaries of the Treasury & War. the former is still prevented from coming to town by the situation of his family. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous...
98To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 31 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to send the President draughts of letters on the subjects discussed in his presence the other day, meant merely as a ground-work for the gentlemen to propose amendments to. he shall be able to send another in the course of to-day, so that the whole would be ready for consideration tomorrow, if the President should think proper to have them considered before the...
99To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 31 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has now the honor of inclosing to the President the draught of a letter to mister Genet on the subject of the departure of the privateer. also a letter just recd from Colo. Humphreys. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State; LB (photocopy), DLC:GW . Tobias Lear’s docket on the AL
100To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 30 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President French copies of the communications of mister Genet on the subject of our debt to France, as they will convey his sense perhaps more faithfully to the Secretary of the treasury should the President think proper to refer them to him. he has changed the expression in the close of the 2d paragraph of the letter to mister Van Berkel, so as to...