1To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 22 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have waited here two weeks cheifly to try to finish my engagement with you—But all my endeavors are vain—I shall never recede from my exertions till I do accomplish the end, for no event of my life has given me more anguish. I would if you consider yr sale injurious rather relinquish the contract & give up the payments made, than to be the instrument of damage to you—The loss of money I am...
2To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 12 May 1799 (Washington Papers)
I found yr letter by Mr Anderson last evening at my lodgings & took the earliest opportunity of conversing with Mr Page on its contents Mr Page says that on his first conversation with Mr Harrison he rated his property at five pounds pr acre, but that on a subsequent meeting he fell to 50/ pr acre, for which price he could have purchased the land. He offered 45/ & proposed renewing the...
3To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 27 April 1799 (Washington Papers)
On my way to North[umberlan]d election I recd yr favor of the ⟨ illegible ⟩ instant. In the course of the last ⟨month⟩ I rented out my distillery to a Mr ⟨ illegible ⟩ of Frederic, now residing in this county & sold to him all my corn. Had your application preceded the sale I would most chearfully have given you the preference. I will try to purchase 100 or 200 ⟨bls⟩ for you on the terms you...
4To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 28 February–3 March 1799 (Washington Papers)
Last monday evening Mr C. Washington presented me with yr favor covering a duplicate of yr let. of the 4th Novr & accompanying deeds for the land given for Magnolio. The deeds have been executed agreably to desire. The duplicate is the first letr I recd from you on the subject it concerns, which fact will of course apologize for my silence. I passed thro. alexa. early in Decr & should have...
5To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 29 January 1799 (Washington Papers)
In our late session the views of opposition to govt have been disclosed with more than usual frankness. That you may possess an accurate copy of the address on the part of the minority I beg leave to forward to you the enclosed. If the people will generally read the proceedings of the legislature I console myself with the hope that the disposition of Virga will change respecting congressional...
6To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 28 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have at length got to this place & will do myself the pleasure to call at Mt Vernon on my return home. In the mean time I shd be happy to hear whether you accede to my proposition when last with you of taking good property for the whole debt due to you. I have houses & lots in the fœderal city: well situated & which to close our business I would part with even at this present dull period,...
7To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 26 August 1798 (Washington Papers)
I had prepared to set out for mt vernon & alexa. last week but I am obliged to stay till after our district court which happens early next month. Then our citizens will fix on an opponent to our present representative—much as many of us approve of our govt, we find it very difficult to obtain the consent of a proper character for Congress. The present crisis imperiously commands our attention...
8To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 2 February 1798 (Washington Papers)
Mr Hopkins presented me with yr letter of the 25th ultimo. I learn with much surprize & chagrin that Mr Simmes has failed to pay his note—He used to be considerd as very punctual & therefore I recd his paper for a debt due to me. Nothing but the untoward & unexpected course of fiscal concerns in this country could have produced delay in my payment of yr debt. I am pained in a great degree to...
9To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 27 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have not time to pay my respects as I intended, in as much as I cannot leave town this evening & my long absence from home forbids my loosing another day. My demands on Philadelphia unless the yellow fever interrupts the Philadelphians will be settled in Septr. I then shall have some of Wilsons money, on which fund I counted when I bought yr land. I now enclose a negotiable note for 1000 Ds....
10To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 26 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
In reply to your letr by your servt this evening, I can only say, that my recollection of the lands sold to you, authorizes me to consider every fair attempt to wrest your title to them as the result of error—In Kentucky, I am told, too often are efforts of another sort made to deprive real owners of their property. I know that all the money due on the purchase of the lands you hold thro me...
11To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 15 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
On reaching this place I called on Mr Lingan to whom R. & F. referred me. The inclosed paper shews the determination to transfer 41 shares—letters are daily expected from R. & F. which will lead to the transfer of the ballance. As my election comes on next monday I fear my hurry will be such as to compel me to ⟨pass⟩ you & therefore I do now that by letr which I meant to have done personally....
12To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 13 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
at length the new govt has received the last act necessary to its existence. This day Congress passed the requisite previous arrangements. The first Wednesday in January the ratifying states are to appoint electors, on the first Wednesday in february the president is to be chosen, & the first Wednesday in March is the time, & this city the place for commencing proceedings. Some delay has...
13To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 24 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
The misery of my situation in consequence of the continued ill health of Mrs Lee, has prevented me the gratification of congratulatin you on the auspicious prospect which the adoption of the new constitution presents to our country. Indeed I am now so inadequate from my temper of mind to execute a task so agreable, & on which I wish to say much, that I should have posponed the satisfaction,...
14To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 20 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
It is with reluctance that I trouble you on any matter of a private nature, but the peculiar hardship of Mr Heards case I hope will fully apologize for this interruption. Mr Heard was an officer in my regiment—in the year 1780 I received an order from the Quartermaster General to impress a Number of horses in Monmouth county in obedience to an order from you on the subject, it being probable...
15To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 11 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have your letter of the 31st octr besides the pleasure we all feel in knowing the health of Mount Vernon I am delighted and edified by your sentiments—This moment Genl Knox & Mr King left me having perused the part of your letr which respects the Insurgents—They expressed the highest satisfaction in finding that your retirement had not abated your affectionate zeal for the prosperity of...
16To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 17 October 1786 (Washington Papers)
In my last letter I detailed the eastern commotions and communicated my apprehensions of their objects & issue. G. Knox has just returned from thence and his report grounded on his own knowledge is replete with melancholy information—a majority of the people of Massachusetts are in opposition to the government, some of their leaders avow the subversion of it to be their object together with...
17To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 11 October 1786 (Washington Papers)
In the full confidence you receive my letters as testimonials of my unceasing respect, and from a solicitude to acquaint you with all material contingencys in the administration of our national affairs, that you may be able to form your judgement on authentic documents, and consequently that your opinions being bottomed on truth may not fail to produce the most beneficial effects to our...
18To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 1 October 1786 (Washington Papers)
I have not written to you for a long time having nothing important or agreable to communicate. Nor have I now any thing agreable, but alas the reverse. The commotions which have for some time past distracted the two eastern states, have risen in Massachusetts to an alarming height—In New Hampshire the firmness of their President the late General Sullivan has dissipated the troubles in that...
19To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 8 September 1786 (Washington Papers)
By Col. Humphrey I had the pleasure to receive your letter acknowledging the receipt of the china account paid here by me, and at the same time got one hundred and fifty dollars payment in full for the money advanced. Before this Mr Gardoquis box must have reached you; it was sent to the care of Mr C. Lee in Alexandria and I hope your China has also got to hand—It had left this for Norfolk...
20To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 12 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
Since writing my last I have an opportunity of sending the small box given to me by Mr Gardoqui for you under care of Mr Wilson of Petersburgh by the stage, to be delivered to Mr C. Lee. I prefer this conveyance to the one intended, & now enclose the letter which accompanyed the box. It is probable that the China will leave New York for Norfolk next week. I am most respectfully Yours ALS ,...
21To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 7 August 1786 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of hearing from you last week, and have complied with your wishes respecting the china. No conveyance at present offers for Alexandria, but every day presents one to norfolk, from which place the correspondance up your river is frequent. I intend unless I should meet with a vessel for potomac, to send the box to Col. Parker naval officer at norfolk, and ask his special...
22To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 11 July 1786 (Washington Papers)
Your friend and servant, the patriot and noble Greene is no more—on the 19th June after 3 days fever he left this world. Universal grief reigns here—how hard the fate of the U. States, to loose such a son in the middle of life—irreparable loss—But he is gone, I am incapable to say more—May health attend you my dear General Yours most affy ALS , DLC:GW . Nathanael Greene died on 19 June at...
23To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 3 July 1786 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of your letter four days past, and would have sooner replied but waited in the expectation of learning something about the package you enquire after. The letter from Mr Arthur Young came in the packet, but was not accompanied by any thing else. The british Consul here tells me it is not customary to send packages of any sort by the packets as they sail from Falmouth or...
24To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 21 April 1786 (Washington Papers)
Your very polite reply to my two letters reached me a few days past. It is impossible for my mind so thoroughly impressed with testimonials of your friendship, when that friendship operated both to my honor and happiness to ascribe any act of yours in which I am interested to disregard or neglect. My cheif object in my correspondence with you, was to manifest the unabated respect which...
25To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 2 March 1786 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the honor to write to you some days past: since which an Arabian stud horse has arrived in this City & has been announced in the gazettes a present to you, from his Catholic Majesty. I consider it not improper to inform you that the printers have mistaken the matter, the horse being sent to Mr Jay. Our fœderal distresses gather fast to a point. New Jersey has refused the...
26To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 16 February 1786 (Washington Papers)
You desired to hear from me now and then, when I left Virginia. I obey your wishes with pleasure, & must assure you, that I continue to feel the same unabating zeal to administer to your happiness, which my public duty formerly commanded from me. I wish that my communications may be always agreable; I apprehend your solicitude for the honor & prosperity of a nation formed under your auspices...
27To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 25 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
The shallop I ordered your nuts and trees by, has arrived here and brought up one package—there will be another by another vessel. The apple is the Medley russitan, the pear is known among us by the Name of the Chantilly pear, and the cherry is coronation—all excellent in quality and merit good ground and proper exposure to the south. I hope Mrs Lee will be able to set out on thursday. We...
28To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 20 December 1785 (Washington Papers)
I had provided for you all the forest trees we possess except the cypress worthy of transplantation, & joined to them some chosen fruit trees. I directed a label or some designation to be affixed to the fruit trees to shew their kind. Two oppertunitys having offered to send them up to you. I thought it better to leave them, where they were, than to send them to popes creek —A Captain...
29To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 12 March 1785 (Washington Papers)
Apprehending the escape of the season before your vessel may arrive, I have got the favor of Mr Hall to permit his servant to call at Mount-Vernon. He has twelve horse chesnut, twelve box-cuttings & twelve dwarf box-cuttings—you may have any supply of either box, you please to order—I can supply you also with cypress & holly which can be ready at the shortest notice—Perhaps we may have some...
30To George Washington from Henry Lee, Jr., 18 November 1784 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the pleasure of writing to you on the 15th Since which the meeting have concluded their business. they determined to send the petition to the representatives of this county, I beleive, & to trouble you with their bill for perusal, & then to place it in proper hands. However the express who will deliver this, is sent purposely by the meeting with our papers, & will bear a letr to...
31To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 21 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have just returned from Newark, where I completed the business your Excelly committed to me. The virtuous sergeant deserted last night, I saw the two in newark this day. This night they go to york. Desertion among us is pe[r]fect a stranger; my officers are very attentive, & some of them men of nice discernment, this leads me to apprehend thay will discover that the Sergeant is on some...
32To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 16 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I waited on Col. Dey yesterday, but received no information favorable to the business you was pleased to charge me with. On my return last evening The Marquis mentioned to me the same matter as very eligible, & Col. Hamilton made some enquiry on the same subject. I communicate this to your Excellency, least a mention of it by those gentleman to you may alarm you, on the score of secrecy. Be...
33To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 13 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have made it my business to see the person who was Capt. Browns guide. From a minute examination of him I am confident that Gen. St Clair was named to deceive, that Capt. Brown did not see or hear from Gen. St Clair, & that Capt. Brown passed himself on his conductor as a person engaged in our service, altho’ his object was to communicate with some gentleman of consequence among us—I am apt...
34To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 5 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your Excellency’s letr of the 3d inst. transcribing a complaint exhibited by the Cheif Justice of this state against three officers of my corps. the following is the exact state of the matter. When orderd to Monmouth, I posted a party of horse in the vicinity of Brunswic for the speedy communication of intelligence. the inhabitants on whom they were quartered, being people...
35To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 26 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform your Excelly that exclusive of sixty waggon load of forage sent in yesterday, we have I flatter myself two days fresh meat for the army. Col. Blains instructions pointed out the stock of sheep at Newark as proper to cull on this emergency. I accordingly detached a party to procure a part of them. The people assembled determined to rescue their property by arms....
36To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 22 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
My Corps reached Slotterdam yesterday evening, where they halt this day. In the mean time I have hurried to Camp to receive your Excellencys orders for the disposal of them, on their arrival here. I gave orders to Capt. Rudulph to deliver Mr Andersons horse to him. The horse is gelded & Mr Anderson refuses him. When I left Monmouth, I directed Capt. Rudulph to be under the guidance of Gen....
37To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 15 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have returned from the business committed to my direction by your Excellency, & am so far on my route to join the army. Captain McLane with his Infantry has come up. The fatigue of the troops has induced me to halt for a few days to refresh them. your Excellency will please to direct whether this halt shall be long or short. I have the honor to be with perfect respect your Excellys most ob....
38To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 25 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
Admiral Arbuthnot after many maneuvres off & on, has at length moved with his fleet towards Rhode-island & Sir Henry Clinton is preparing to push up the sound with an army. I have reced your Excllys let. of the 24th. I shall arrange matters here, & commit the execution of them to Cap. Rudulph, & pursue my route to Easton. I hope my orders may meet me there, as I wish to expedite the business,...
39To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 20 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your Excelly’s letr of the 19th. I conceiv’d it a matter of delicacy in communicating with H. quarters, unless advised so to do by Gen. Forman to whom the business had been committed. But sir this matter is now done away & I shall do every thing in my power to execute your orders. Our situation here is disagreeable & perilous for want of Infantry. Disagreeable because we...
40To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 18 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I addressed your Excellency yesterday advising of Admiral Greaves arrival. I omitted mentioning a report prevalent here from the enemy, viz. that Monsieur Ternay had fallen in with the British squadron, had sunk one seventy four & had taken one sixty four—This is said to have happened off Cape Henrey. I transmit a very exact list of the British fleet. They have received 3000 marines from N....
41To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 30 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I examined the country directed by your Excellency yesterday. I find a position most convenient for an army on the road by Captain Marsailles to Col. Dey’s. Having passed Marsailles house one mile, you arrive at the junction of the Paramus & Dey’s road. Here commences the position I allude to, & continues along Deys road. a very copious branch of water runs close to the camp in front—smaller...
42To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 28 June 1780 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Henry Lee, Jr., 28 June 1780. On that date , Lee wrote GW: “I wrote your Excellency this morning.”
43To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 28 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency this morning. Since which I have acquired more explicit knowledge of the enemy’s situation in Bergen Woods. They certainly may be expelled the country. Perhaps they may be made prisoners. It would give peace to the inhabitants for twenty Miles around & very much assist agriculture. Scarce a night passes but ten or twelve horses are stolen. Another good consequence would...
44To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 19 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have had variety of intelligence from the enemy this day—none very pointed or material—But it is of such a tenor, that I am firmly of opinion you will hear of Genl Clintons being before West point in less than 48 hours. Be pleased to excuse this laconic note, it proceeds from the anxiety I feel—I will be more full tomorrow If requisite—this wind is very fair. I am very affcy your Exclys h:...
45To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 15 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
The enemy remain in peace in their old position —Should any appearance of motion take place I will dispatch a dragoon with the intelligence. The post I am now at in charge of a subaltern & party was in peril last night from the desertion of the troops—Two left us out of fifteen. I very much apprehend disagreeable consequences from this spirit of infidelity. Pity it is that a corps of faithful...
46To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 11 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
On receipt of your Excellency’s letter directing the cavalry to halt, the corps were billeted in the vicinity of chester-town. Your lettr of the 8th inst. reached us on the 9th in the afternoon —The troops moved at three oclock, & arrived here this morning. We mean to halt & refresh for a few hours & then pursue our route to springfield—Your Excellency will please to favor me with your orders...
47To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 21 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to receive your Excellencys orders concerning the arrest of Lt Carns in consequence of a complaint lodged by Mr Samuel Allison of this town. I waited on Mr Allison & informed him of my readiness to execute your orders. He gave me for answer, That he was perfectly satisfied, & wished the matter to be dropped. This decision of the complainant arose not from his humanity or...
48To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 10 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since the receipt of your Excellency’s letter directing the corps to be in readiness to march to join the southern army, every measure has been adopted & pursued to accelerate the essential preparations. But such is the low state of finance, that no public business is performed with vigor. Previous to my departure for Virginia, I commenced the repairing accoutrements; notwithstanding this...
49To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 26 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to enclose a letter from Captain McLane. The transmission of his request throws me into an awkward situation. I beg your Excellency will be pleased to favor me with your answer as I wish to set out directly for Virginia. I have never yet thanked your Excellency for the affectionate remind of a debt due: I have got a mare for you which I mean to deliver to Mr Lunn...
50To George Washington from Major Henry Lee, Jr., 17 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
My last letter to your Excellency was antedated by one day, so that the business of collecting supplys for the army commenced sooner than then reported. I found the countys to which I was sent very patriotic, & the magistrates anxious to give every aid to the army. Salem has fully complied with the demand from her. one hundd & seventy head of good cattle & twenty barrels of flower are on the...