41To George Washington from James McHenry, 21 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment received your favour of the 20th, and am truely sensible of the sincerity of your wishes that I should accept of the war office department. On my part I beg you to believe that nothing could give me more pleasure than to be near you for a few years independent of public motives or considerations. I must however pray you to allow me till monday to reflect on the offer and...
42To George Washington from James McHenry, 24 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
I resume the answer to your letter of the 20th which I acknowleged the moment after I received it. I cannot say that I have ever experienced so much hesitation between giving way to inclination, and attachment to you personally, and my own interest and ease, as has taken place during the two past days. It is now however all over, and it is right I should confess, that the soothing idea of...
43To George Washington from James McHenry, 31 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
I received your favour of the 28th last night and had its contents immediately communicated to Mr Chase. He is extremely pleased with his appointment and I have strong hopes that its good effects as it respects the public will extend beyond the judicial department, but on this point it is unnecessary to be particular till I have the happiness to see you. He would have set out to-day at noon...
44To George Washington from James McHenry, 13 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
Without pursuing any official form, (with which I cannot say I am yet acquainted), I take the liberty to submit the thoughts that have occurred to me on reading the letters you were pleased to put into my hands on saturday last. Were you to conform to the dictates of friendship and receive publicly into your family the son of Mr La Fayette, it might be productive of certain political...
45To George Washington from James McHenry, 8 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
As the cases of illegal captures under the British treaty ought to be determined by the laws of nations it has occurred to me that you might think mercantile less necessary than law knowlege in the persons to be appointed commissioners. If one of the judges of the supreme court of the U.S. could be spared and no objection interferes against such an appointment I suppose there would be no...
46To George Washington from James McHenry, 11 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to inclose you a letter just received from Gen. Wilkinson with sundry returns and papers shewing the state of the army. With the greatest respect I am Sir your Excellencys Most ob. St ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The enclosed documents have not been identified. McHenry may have enclosed James Wilkinson’s letter of 10 Feb. (not identified). A summary by McHenry of Wilkinson’s...
47To George Washington from James McHenry, 11 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
A treaty of peace between the United States and the Regency of Algiers being completed gives operation and effect to the 9th section of the “act to provide a naval armament” which section, enacts “that if a peace shall take place between the United States and the Regency of Algiers that no farther proceedings be had under this act.” As this event produces a virtual repeal of that act, it...
48To George Washington from James McHenry, 12 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to subjoin to the names furnished Nicholas Hammond atty at law East Town & Mr Wm Hemsley. The latter possesses mercantile knowlege, is a man of respectability and long standing. The former a good lawyer of great integrity and well esteemed. The inclosed paper respecting the Frigates is that which I mentioned last night. If the letter to Chapin herewith submitted meets your...
49To George Washington from James McHenry, 26 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
In compliance with your note of the 25 instant I beg leave to submit the following opinions on the queries it proposed. 1. Whether the house of representatives hath or hath not a right to call upon the President of the United States for certain papers relative to the negociation of the treaty with Great-Britain. 2. Whether if it does not possess the right, it would be expedient under the...
50To George Washington from James McHenry, 5 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to request your Excellency attention to the inclosed draught of a letter to the Governor of Georgia. If it can be returned today it may go by to-morrows mail. With the greatest respect I have the honour to be Sir Your most obt st ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Jared Irwin (1750–1818), formerly a state senator from Washington County, had been elected governor by the Georgia...
51To George Washington from James McHenry, 12 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to lay before you a letter from Mr Seagrove which I received this morning, and one from Mr Price, the factor or agent for the trading house at Colerain with a draught of answers thereto. If you can spare time to look over them, I can receive your instructions at Any hour as the vessel is to sail to-day. I have the honour to be with the most perfect respect Sir Your most ob. & hble...
52To George Washington from James McHenry, 2 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to submit several letters & papers from the Governor of the State of New-York for your information and further directions. As the Government of the State of New-York is desirous that a treaty should be authorised to be held with certain chiefs of the Cohnawagas or seven nations of Canada, now at New York, for the purpose of enabling the State to purchase from them a right or...
53To George Washington from James McHenry, 9 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to submit for your inspection a draught of a letter to Lord Dorchester, made out agreeably to the idea presented in the attorney generals letter, which corresponds with the second draught I had the pleasure of reading to you on saturday, and yesterday morning. I beleive it is the safest ground to move upon, and the most correctly constitutional. I have shewn it to Mr Lee & Mr...
54To George Washington from James McHenry, 13 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secry of the Treasury has mentioned to me this morning the substance of a communication, which he said he had imparted to you some time since. It respects certain instructions given by Mr Adet to persons who are on their road to the Western Country which affect and may bring into danger the peace and safety of the U.S. I inclose you papers containing matter apparently connected with this...
55To George Washington from James McHenry, 26 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
Mr Liston has this moment favoured me with the inclosed letter. If you have time to look over the draught of the letter to Capn De Butts, and can return it to-day I shall endeavour to get him dispached to-morrow. I have the honour to be Sir with the highest respect Your most ob. st ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The docket reads “May 27th 1796” on the ALS , and the letter-book copy shows the...
56To George Washington from James McHenry, 31 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
If you see no objection to the inclosed letter in answer to Mr Hawkins received to-day it may be sent by to-morrows mail. I have the honour to be Sir with sincere regard Your ob. st ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The ALS is docketed 31 May 1796, which matches the date on the letter-book copy. Neither the enclosed letter to Benjamin Hawkins nor the one to which it responded has been identified.
57To George Washington from James McHenry, 10 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
This inclosed letter has been procured by Dr Williamson who knows the hand writing. It is written by a Msr Cole Montflorence, a french man who held a commission under the State of North Carolina early in the revolution war. The letter to Governor Blount by the same person I understand is gone to Tenessee. It would seem that Montflorence had his information at Paris. The reflexions which he...
58To George Washington from James McHenry, 14 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to lay before you the proceedings and sentence of a court-martial on Lieut. Simon Geddis, and several papers and letters connected therewith. Lieut. Geddis having prayed for a new trial, I shall wave any remarks upon his case, and confine myself to the reasons which favour such an application. It is declared, in the articles of war, vz. Art. 1. for the administration of...
59To George Washington from James McHenry, 15 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
Since closing my letter of yesterday I have received the annexed from Majr Cushing whom I had previously directed to join the army. If he has made a fair statement of his case, some indulgence may be proper. If on the contrary, he has misrepresented it, he is unworthy of any and unfit for a soldier. At any rate, I presume that he has motives and reasons which he has not expressed. Should you...
60To George Washington from James McHenry, 27 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22d instant with its references. No. 1. here inclosed contains the documents respecting the meditated loan for the use of the federal City. No. 2. The last letters received from Brigadier General Wilkinson with copy of my letter of the 7. May referred to in his instructions to Colonel Hamtramck. General Wilkinson you will...
61To George Washington from James McHenry, 27 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to inclose you Adjutant General Beckwiths answer to my dispach to Lord Dorchester of the 10th of last month. I inclose, likewise, copy of the orders for the evacuation of the posts of Fort Miamis—Detroit and Michilimackinac the originals of which will leave this to-morrow morning at 5 o’clock by express. Capn Lewis delivered the orders requiring the evacuation of Oswego &...
62To George Washington from James McHenry, 29 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
I beg you to sign the within authority to borrow for the use of the City of Washington and to have it returned to me with a power signed by the three commissioners. You may recollect that the one sent me for a duplicate contained only the names of two of them vz. Mr Scotts & Mr Thorntons. The Willinks may consider that power as imperfect as the law and your authority have reference to three....
63To George Washington from James McHenry, 2 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
I was in the Secy of States office with Mr Wolcott when he recd your letter containing queries to be submitted to the heads of departments. On my return home I committed the inclosed observations to paper relative to the power of the President to remove a foreign minister. Having gone so far I have determined to send it as explanatory of my reasons for signing the paper which will be forwarded...
64To George Washington from James McHenry, 5 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
private. I made a visit yesterday to Chevr Freire, and to-day he called to let me know, that his secretary had seen Mr Listons Secretary, who told him that Mr & Madam Liston would set out for Mount Vernon on friday, and that he and Madam Freire would follow on the 18th inst. Seeing that these ministers will avail themselves of your politeness, may it not be proper to be a little more...
65To George Washington from James McHenry, 6 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
In conformity with your Commands of the 1st instant, I have transmitted to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury, letters of which the inclosed is a Copy. In the mean while I shall turn my attention to the subjects on which you have desired my report, which I shall make as soon as the unavoidable duties of the Office will permit. With the greatest respect I am Sir Your most...
66To George Washington from James McHenry, 7 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
private. Since I had the honour of writing you, the Chevalier Freire’s Secry has called to inform me, that the extreme heat of the weather had induced Madam Freire, to induce Chevalier Friere to postpone the projected visit to Mount Vernon till September. You will not therefore I presume have the pleasure of seeing them. Mr Pickering has mentioned to me, that such of the materials as are not...
67To George Washington from James McHenry, 10 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
With the view of keeping you informed of the course of the most important business of the war department I here inclose, packets No. 1. which contains the last letters I have received from Gen. Wayne. vz. one private of the 27 June and one of the 28, with copies of two letters to the general and one to the Quarter master general. No. 2. Contains the last communications from the commissioners...
68To George Washington from James McHenry, 12 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
In addition to the suggestions in my letter of monday I would beg leave to submit the following considerations. With respect to the running of the Cherokee line. On Mr Dinsmore’s arrival from that nation I questioned him concerning the fittest persons to be employed on the part of the U.S. He said, that Gen. Pickens would be more agreeable to the Cherokees than any other person: that he knew...
69To George Washington from James McHenry, 13 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honour to inclose you the directions given to Mr Fox one of the clerks of the department of war, and well skilled in the quality of ship timber and construction of vessels of war relative to an examination of the materials on hand and such a disposition of them as may comport with the safe keeping of such as may be useful in future, and such as may be fit for the vessel...
70To George Washington from James McHenry, 16–17 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
private. I have just reced your private letter of the 13th inst. I am sorry and vexed, that what I said in my letter of the 7th should have conveyed an idea that the least avoidable delay had taken place in the arrangements for the Algiers frigate; nothing like which was intended. But the inclosed papers will shew you that every thing has been done which the case required. You will see by Mr...