51To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 1 September 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment been made happy by the receipt of your acceptable & good letters of the 28th ultimo, with their enclosures. The mail being on the point of closing will only allow me at this time to acknowledge the receipt of your favors, and express the grateful sense which I have of your continued kindness towards me. The offer which you have the goodness to make of appointing me one of...
52To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 3 August 1795 (Washington Papers)
The weather has prevented the meeting of a sufficient number of the Potomak Company to do business today, they have therefore adjourned ’till Thursday, when it is expected that numbers will come in. If it should be convenient for you to attend I think your presence will be of great service; but should that not be the case, it would be well to send a power to vote in behalf of the shares you...
53Tobias Lear to John Lamb, 4 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
I was this day honored with your letter of the 30th ultimo, enclosing one for Mrs Washington, the receipt of which she requests me to acknowledge, and beg your acceptance of her best thanks for the nuts and Apples which you have had the politeness to send to her, & which have come safe to hand. The Box, which was at the same time sent to the President, and which you mention to have arrived...
54Tobias Lear to Alexander Hamilton, 28 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
The President of the U. States being very desirous that the several Accts of those Articles which were furnished by directions of Saml Osgood & William Duer Esqr in pursuance of a resolution of both houses of Congress of the 15th of April 1789 and deposited in the house provided for the President of the United States, for his use, should be settled & paid. He has, therefore, directed me to...
55Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 10 July 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of War the enclosed letters from Governors Lee & Telfair which have been submitted to the President, and to inform the Secretary that the President requests that any answer to these letters which may require his inspection, may be submitted to him by twelve o’clock tomorrow, as he intends setting out for Virginia in...
56Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson, 11 July 1792 (Washington Papers)
The President of the U.S. informs the Secretary of State that he has retained one of the proof Sheets of the federal City, and returns the others with the letter from Mr Blodget, which the President thinks had better be sent to the Commissioners by the mail, which will certainly reach G. Town on Monday. The President’s Cavalry are in such order that he cannot say with any precision when he...
57Tobias Lear to “John A. Dingwell”, 18 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
The letter which you addressed to General Knox and myself, enclosing one for the President, came to hand this morning; and as the President is not expected to return from Rhode Island in less than 6 or 8 days from this time, we have, so far as is in our power, complied with your wishes, as you will see by the enclosed engagement. I will now add, that Colo. McGillivary and the Indians leave...
58To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 17 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
I called at Mr Moncrieff’s with the enclosed bill, and was informed that he went over to the Eastern Shore some time last week, and was not expected home for several days. I could find no person who transacted his business in his absence from whom I might have gained some information respecting the payment of the bill. I have therefore left it that you may do with it as you think best. Perhaps...
59Tobias Lear to Daniel Bowen, 28 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
Mr Lear presents his Compliments to Mr Bowen & will thank him to send by the Bearer the six framed pictures which Mr B. bid off yesterday for the President —Whenever Mr Bowen has leisure to draw off the Acct of the Prints &c. bo[ugh]t by him for the President Mr Lear will immediately pay it—and it would be pleasing to the President if he could know what would be a compensation to Mr Bowen for...
60Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 29 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secy of War the Speechs of Hendricks wh. have been submittd —likewise a letter from Mr Hoge to the Secy of War & the Secy’s answer, wh. expresses in its conclusion the President’s idea on the subject. ADfS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Knox, in his letter to Lear of 28 Dec., enclosed “speeches from Hendricks, to which I confess I...
61Tobias Lear to Joseph Williams, 14 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
I take the earliest opportunity, after receiving your letter of the 11th instant, to inform you of the President’s sentiments on the subject of it. I think I mentioned to you when I had the pleasure of seeing you in this place, that the President had, when on his tour to the southward, been prevailed upon by the strong sollicitations of Colonel Washington and several other Gentlemen of South...
62To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 19 June 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your respected favor of the 15th instant, and shall, agreeably to your wishes, invest the balance in my hands in the Stock of Alexandria Bank as soon as a proper opportunity of doing it shall offer. I have been expecting a fall; but as the time of dividend draws so near I doubt whether they will be much below the principal & 4½ pr Cent Interest— and if they are to...
63Tobias Lear to Clement Biddle, 17 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 5th ultimo, in which you mention your having given the memo. contained in my letter of the 2d of October to a nephew of Mr Bartram who would deliver it to his uncle; but I have not since received any information relative to the plants & shrubs, my absence from New York with the President has undoubtedly been the cause of it. The President...
64Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 17 September 1789 (Washington Papers)
United States September 17th 1789. “The enclosed Letter was just now received by the President of the United States from the Governor of New York; and I am directed by the President of the United States to transmit the same to you, requesting that you will, after considering the subject, give him your opinion upon the expediency of his making an official or other communication of the...
65To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 7 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment returned from Annapolis, and had the happiness to meet your aceptable & respectable favors of the 30th of Novr and the 2d of Decr with their enclosures. As it is within a few hours of the closing of the mail it is not in my power to give a decided answer to Mr Myers’ proposition for superintending the works of the Potomac Company; but before the next mail, I will see the...
66Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson, 10 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President orders T. Lear to return to the Secretary of State the letter from Mr Pinckney—the one from Mr Johnson and that from Mr Livingston, which have been submitted to the President’s perusal; and to observe that the President thinks it is to be regretted that Mr Pinckney does not say anything in his letters relative to certain matters which he was instructed to be particularly attentive...
67Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson, 12 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to transmit to the Secretary of State the Report of the Proceedings in the Executive Departmt of Govermt in the Territory of the U.S. North West of the Ohio, for six months, ending the 30th of June last—which the President wishes the Secretary to examine at his leisure & report to him anything that may be found therein requiring the agency of...
68Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 25 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
By the Presdent’s command T. Lear has the honor to transmit to the Secy of War a lettr from O. Pollock & Jno. Nicholson Esqs. requesting to be furnished with copies of certain parts of the treaty lately made by Genl Putnam with the Illonois & Wabash Indians —to wh. the President requests the Secretary will give an Answer to the effect of the enclosed sketch, wh. was intended to have been...
69Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 18 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s Command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of War the letter & enclosures from Majr Genl Wayne, which have been submitted to the President, and the letter from Mr Greenup, upon which the President observes that if the request therein containd can be complied with, it ought to be done as he thinks it would be attended with good affects. ALS (letterpress copy),...
70To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 18 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing you last, the Potomac bill has passed the House of Representatives of this State by a majority of ten, and there was no doubt of its passing the Senate. But until this is known the directors cannot act in any engagements. I saw Mr Charles Lee yesterday, who gave encouragement that the application to the legislature of Virginia would be successful as it was...
71V: Tobias Lear’s Notes on the Opinions of the Cabinet, c.4 April 1792 (Washington Papers)
The opinion of the Secretary of State declares the bill unconstitutional—for it does not apportion the Representatives among the states strictly according to their numbers. It provides for fractions—which the Constitution never intended. It leaves the dertermination of apportioning the Representatives without any fixed principle—which may hereafter be productive of great evil, and admits of...
72To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 5 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
A few weeks ago Mr William Bailey of this neighbourhood wished me to inform him, if I could, whether you had disposed of your lands on the Great & Little Kanawas & on the Ohio between these two Rivers, which he understood you were inclined to part with; and if you had not, he wished to know what you would be willing to take for them, as he and some others had it in contemplation to obtain...
73Tobias Lear to Alexander Hamilton, 28 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
The President has commanded me to transmit the enclosed to you from Mr Thatcher and request that you will give it the consideration it may merit—The President also requests that you will take occasion to converse with some others of the gentlemen from Massachusetts on this subject—and to mention it likewise to some from New Hampshire. I have the honor to be very respectfully & sincerely Your...
74Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 24 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of War the letter to Govrnor Lee—to Thomas Wilson Esq. & others —and the Copy of a letter to Genl Wayne, which have been submitted to the President & to inform the Secretary that their contents meet the ideas of the President. ADfS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . For Knox’s letters to Henry Lee and to Thomas Wilson, see Lear...
75Tobias Lear to James Pemberton, 11 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, 11 Feb. 1792. Returns “the enclosed paper which was submitted to the Consideration of the President last evening, containing the sentiments proposed to be delivered, in writing, by the Quakers to the deputation from the Cherokee nation of Indians now in this City —and [is commanded] to inform, that the President, upon a due consideration of the subject, does not see any...
76Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson, 25 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President encloses a draft for the Director of the Mint to receive five thousand dollars for the purposes of that establishment —likewise a letter for Mr G. Morris, which he requests the Secretary of State will be so good as to forward with the public dispatches he may send to that Gentleman. AL , DLC : Jefferson Papers. The enclosed draft to Alexander Hamilton of this date reads: “Pay to...
77Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson, 11 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
T. Lear is ordered by the President of the U.S. to transmit to the Secretary of State a letter and its enclosures, together with a draft of the survey of the federal district, which he has received from the Commissione[r]s. The President requests that the Secretary will take this matter into consideration and report to the President his opinion whether it should be laid before Congress or not....
78Tobias Lear to Albert Gallatin, 11 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
On Saturday last the President recd a letter, wh. was enclosed in one to you from Mr Thos Bowen, in wh. Mr Bowen requests to be informed by the President, of the person who administerd on the Estate of a Mr George Harrison who formerly lived near Alexandria. In reply to Mr Bowen’s enquiry, the President has directed me to give you the following information (which is all he possesses on the...
79To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 14 October 1791 (Washington Papers)
By the Post of yesterday I had the honor to receive your favor of the 10th instant, in which was enclosed a letter for Major Jackson, to whom I delivered it. The enclosed papers will give the accounts which have been received by the late arrivals from Europe. Peace seems to be the predominant feature in these accts. And there do not appear any strong marks of a disposition to invade France,...
80Tobias Lear to Alexander Hamilton, 18 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President does not recollect the name of the person mentioned to succeed the Collector of Edenton (N: C.)—and wishes you to send it. Is it intended that the person mentioned should be appointed Inspector of Survey No. 2. which office was held by the Collector of Edenton? Inspector of the Port he will be of course. Is William Munson to be appointed Inspector as well as Surveyor of the Port...
81To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 15 July 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that we arrivd here last evening after a pleasant journey from Phila. and shall sail for Providence in about an hour. I have thought it best, & upon the whole most œconomical to take a water carriage to Providence. The principal object in troubling you with a letter at this time is to mention that while I was on board the Packet this morning engaging a passage I...
82Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 14 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of War the dispatches from Mr Seagrove, which were submitted to the president yesterday. The President thinks there are some parts of these communications which should be laid before Congress, and requests that the Secretary will select such as may be proper & have them communicated accordingly. ALS (letterpress copy),...
83To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 20 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to enclose you a bill of Lading for the Articles ship’d on board the Sloop Salem, which was chartered to take your things around to Mount Vernon. She sailed Yesterday with a good wind, and I think the chance is that she will be in the Potomac by this day week. She is entirely filled with your things; and a few are yet remaining, which will be put on board a Vessel that sails...
84Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson, 5 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
Upon submitting the enclosed note from Mr Bache to the President, he desired I would send it to you, that if you thought it right for him to be furnished with the letter wh. he requests it might be done. Should you determine in the affirmative & not have a copy of the translation at hand—I will have a copy of the note left with the President—sent to Mr B. The President has been informed that...
85To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 22 August 1794 (Washington Papers)
It is with peculiar pleasure that I inform you of my having once more arrived in this comparatively happy Country. I sailed from Liverpool on the 11th of June and reached this place today. I have brought with me a valuable cargo of goods—and have made my arrangements of business to my Satisfaction in England, Scotland & Holland. I have returned home without visiting other Countries, because I...
86To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 20 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
Shares may at this moment be bought in Alexandria Bank at par—and those of the Bank of Columbia at one per Cent under par. The Shares of the Alexandria Bank are 200 dollars each— and a dividend, of 6 Months interest at the rate of 9 or 10 per Cent per Annum will take place in July; but the present want of Cash operates to keep the shares down altho’ the period of receiving the interest is so...
87Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson, 31 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of State, the draughts & Copies of letters which he sent to the President this day —And to inform the Secretary, that the President is so much indisposed that he does not think he shall be able to meet the Gentlemen at his House tomorrow (the President having had a high fever upon him for 2 or 3 days past, and it still...
88Tobias Lear to Henry Knox, 18 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by the President of the United States to transmit to you the enclosed letters which have been received by him, and which come properly under the cognizance of the Secretary of War. The letters enclosed are as follows, viz. one from Samuel McDowell, as chairman of a committee of a Convention in Kentuckey, upon Indian Affairs in Kentuckey, and containing a list of sundry tribes of...
89To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 10 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writing to you on the 8th inst. Since which I have been favored with a letter from Colo. Pickering, covering the agreement of the prop[r]ietors of the land at the junction of the Potomac & Shanandoah, and requesting my agency to complete the purchase for the United States, if it can now be done. Tomorrow I set off for that quarter, and shall endeavor to close the business...
90Tobias Lear to Robert Pollard, 11 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States requests that you will transmit to him a statement of his accot with the James River Company, from it’s first institution; in order that he may be fully acquainted with the payments which have been made on his account, as well as with what may be due from him. The President’s long absence from home, & the little attention that his public duties have permitted...
91Tobias Lear to Alexander Hamilton, 5 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
By direction of the President of the United States, I have the honor herewith to transmit to you a letter from the Governor of Virginia, dated December 18th, 1789, enclosing an Act (which is likewise sent you) of the general Assembly of that Commonwealth, passed Novr 13th 1789, to convey to the United States in Congress assembled certain Land for the purpose of building a Light House on Cape...
92Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson, 24 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President sends to the Secretary of State two letters which he has received from Baltimore, written by persons from St Domingo. The President has no knowledge of the writer of the letter in English; but he wishes the Secretary of State to consider it, and if he thinks the circumstances therein mentioned deserve attention, the Secretary will communicate to the President such answer thereto...
93Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson, 26 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to send to the Secretary of State a Copy of the proceedings to the Executive Department of the Government of the North Western Territory —and a copy ⟨of⟩ the laws passed there from the 1st day of July to the 31st of december 1792, which the President requests the Secretary to look over, and to report to him any thing that may therein appe[a]r to...
94To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 23 September 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that I am thus far on my return from New Hampshire to Philadelphia. I have been detained at Portsmouth a fortnight longer than I expected to have been, in order to settle some matters that were interesting to me. I shall leave this place tomorrow and proceed to Philadelphia at the rate of about 30 or 35 miles per day. I have neglected no opportunity of obtaining...
95To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 12 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
I enclose the letter from Colo. F. Deakins which I mentioned to you yesterday. Any Commands you may have for Richmond I shall be happy to take. Altho’ I have not sanguine expectations of pecuniary aid from the Assembly of Virginia; yet a petition to permit the collection of Tolls is an object of too much importance to be neglected at this moment. I therefore feel it a duty incumbent on me to...
96Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson, 20 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
T. Lear has the honor, by the President’s command, to return to the Secretary of State the following letters &c. which were laid before the President on Saturday the 18th currt. A Letter from Mr Short of the 6th of March. Copy of Letters to & from the Governor of St Augustine. Copy of treaties between the Spaniards & several of the Indian Nations. Copy of a letter to the Minister of France of...
97Tobias Lear to Francis Bailey, 26 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States has received Mr Bailey’s polite note offering him the perusal of an english translation of Lavater’s treatise on physiognomy and has commanded T. Lear to return his thanks to Mr Bailey for his politeness, and to inform him that the President’s time is so much occupied by business as not to permit him to profit of Mr Bailey’s offer. LB , DLC:GW . Johann Caspar...
98Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson, 26 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s command T. Lear has the honor to inform the Secy of State, that the President desires Commissions to be made out for the following persons—and to bear the dates annexed thereto—viz. John Adams, the first, and Benjamin Gunnison, second mate in the New Hampshire Cutter—June 30th 1792. John Finley, second Mate in the New York Cutter—July 17: 1792. David Porter, Master of the...
99Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson, 11 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States sends to the Secretary of State a letter & enclosures which he has just received from the Governor of New York, respecting the detention of an Armed vessel which was about to sail from New York, supposed to be commissioned as a privateer by one of the European belligerent Powers. The President wishes the Secretary of State to lay these documents before the...
100To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 23 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you that I yesterday closed the bargain, on account of the United States, for the two tracts of land at the junction of the Rivers Potomac and Shanandoah, for the sums which the proprieters proposed to sell them last fall, and with some circumstances respecting the Reservations on the ferry tract, more advantageous to the public than were then proposed. I set off...