1To George Washington from James McHenry, 24 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
It may give you some pleasure to know from one who cannot be supposed to have any interest in concealing disagreeable circumstances from you, that all your late public acts, and the arrangements which respect your household meet with universal approbation. Men of different political sentiments have united in your praise. The unfriendly to the constitution have only ventured to observe “that...
2To George Washington from James McHenry, 28 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your late indisposition which has alarmed me not a little makes me more desirous than ever that you should have some person near you who is well acquainted with your constitution and who has been accustomed to your confidence. This leads me to take the liberty to remind you of old Doctor Craik whom I well know, unless he is greatly changed cannot be very happy at a distance from you. I think...
3To George Washington from James McHenry, 2 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
Mr Eiclberger of this place informs me that he has petitioned for surveyor or other appointment in the customs, and begs that I would mention him to your Excellency. I think he served about three years in the late army, since which he has carried on a retail trade with a very fair character. He is a Dutch man and not without influence among his countrymen which he has always used like a good...
4To George Washington from James McHenry, 4 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
About two years ago Mr Copeley an English manufacturer did himself the honor to pay his respects to you at Mount Vernon: Being about to return to his own country he wishes to renew his homage and respects, and has intreated me to recal him to your remembrance by another introduction. I pray you to excuse this liberty, and am with the greatest and most sincere respect Sir your most devoted and...
5To George Washington from James McHenry, 30 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
I am much to blame. I have neither congratulated you on your recovery from a dangerous illness, nor yet sympathized with you in those many and perplexed labors in which you have been involved during the late important session of Congress. I will tell you the truth. Every sorrow and consideration whatever has been swallowed up or diminished in the depth of affliction I felt on the loss of my...
6To George Washington from James McHenry, 25 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
Mr McHenry begs the President will do him the honor to accept a small parcel of asparagus sent by the stage. It is carefully packed up in dry earth, and if delivered according to directions Mr McHenry hopes it will be found to have lost but little of its vegetable properties ALS , DLC:GW . Tobias Lear replied to McHenry on 31 Jan. 1791: “The President of the United States has received Mr...
7To George Washington from James McHenry, 20 April 1791 (Washington Papers)
Baltimore, 20 April 1791. Mr. Purviance has requested that his name be suggested for consideration for the vacancy occasioned by the death of the comptroller. “His chief reason for begging to be again brought to your mind is the small income of his present office, which last year produced only he tells me 801 dollars, and this year it is not expected to exceed 600. You who do not disdain to...
8To George Washington from James McHenry, 17 July 1792 (Washington Papers)
The letter you did me the honor to write which I had not received when I had the honor to see you was handed me the day after. It has the Philadelphia post mark of the 11th and was they tell me overlooked by the post-master here or rather his assistant when my letters were called for. I thought it proper to mention this particular to you that the cause of its detention might not be...
9To George Washington from James McHenry, 16 August 1792 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to recieve your letter of the 13th yesterday. The business of the maritime court as you remark requires that the district attorney should be a resident of Baltimore. With respect to Mr Tilghman and Hammond both stand extremely fair in politics, and would either settle here would be acceptable. The former will sooner yield to transient circumstances than the latter who as far as...
10To George Washington from James McHenry, 25 September 1792 (Washington Papers)
My not writing has been owing to two causes. I was confined to my bed by a fever (remittent) the 5th instant, which left me there till the 20th. I had little hopes of a recovery but it has pleased god that I should get the better of it. I am now convalescent and may soon be as well as heretofore. The other reason is that I have only had Mr Hammonds answer which is against a removal. Mr...
11To George Washington from James McHenry, 4 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to inclose you Mr Tilghmans determination which I received only to-day. I had informed him that you had intimated to me a desire to appoint him to the vacant office of District Attorney if it could be ascertained that he would remove to Baltimore which the nature of the business made necessary. After visiting this Town to examine and investigate prospects in the way of...
12To George Washington from James McHenry, 7 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
Fayetteville, Md., 7 Mar. 1793. Wrote that “Mr Wallace the gentleman who is to deliver this letter, has resided lately in Baltimore. . . . He has been a captain in the British army and served in this country till the reduction of York Town where he was made prisoner, and some time after by your indulgence permitted to return to his friends on parole. I have understood that previous to his...
13To George Washington from James McHenry, 9 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from James McHenry, 9 Aug. 1793. In his letter to McHenry of 28 Aug. , GW acknowledged receipt of “your letter of the 9th instant.”
14To George Washington from James McHenry, 11 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have received to-day the following information from a quarter that may be depended on which I think it my duty to communicate. The French minister has made a requisition upon the French merchant fleet in this harbour for 600 seamen to rendezvous at Philadelphia, and has ordered the consul here to furnish each volunteer with five dollars. So far is certain. The requisition has been complied...
15To George Washington from James McHenry, 18 February 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have been requested by Dr Allison to mention to you Mr Robt McRea who removed some time ago from Alexandria to Wilks’s County State of Georgia as a very worthy person and well qualified to discharge the office of Marshal which he understood was vacant by the death of Major Forsyth. It appears also by information I have received from other persons that Mr McRea is a good man who has...
16To George Washington from James McHenry, 31 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
(private) Sir. Fayetteville [Md.] 31 March 1794. I have very often troubled you respecting others; will you excuse me for speaking a little concerning myself. My health which has suffered a considerable shock by an autumnal fever in 1792 & 1793, I am pretty well persuaded might be benefited by a change of climate for a short time. It has struck me that the new situation in which the United...
17To George Washington from James McHenry, 3 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
I ought to have mentioned in the letter which I took the liberty to write to you a few days since what I had then chiefly in my mind abstracted from the personal consideration of health. I thought that perhaps it might come within your view at this juncture to send a commissioned person to Vienna to solicit the release of Mr la Fayette with powers to proceed to France on a like errand in favor...
18To George Washington from James McHenry, 10 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
I am extremely obliged to you for your letter of the 8th and received the exposition of your motives as a fresh mark of that confidence with which you have so often favored me. I should indeed, if I know myself, be the last person in the United States, who on a public account would wish you to feel any other; and as it respects your personal fame, I beleive the first to regret their being...
19To George Washington from James McHenry, 19 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
It having been intimated to me that two of the commissioners for the federal City intended soon to resign, and that Major Davidson of the Council of this State was desirous to devote his time to the duties of that trust if appointed, I beg leave at the request of the gentleman who gave me this information to state, that Mr Davidson has been a member of the council for several years, and...
20To George Washington from James McHenry, 20 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
Before my setting out for the springs which will be on wednesday permit me again to bring into your recollection Mr George Salmon whose worth and qualities as a citizen has been the cause of my having heretofore ventured to solicit you in his behalf. I am very sensible to the difficulties attendant on your situation and the serious embarrassments you must frequently experience in deciding...
21To George Washington from James McHenry, 13 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
Mr John Kirwan has renewed to me his request upon learning of a vacancy in the office of Marshal and collectors office at Annapolis to mention him again to your Excellency. I can safely assure you that Mr Kirwan has talents competent to the discharge of the duties of either office, and I dare say should he be appointed to either will give full satisfaction. He has been an unfortunate man in...
22To George Washington from James McHenry, 14 June 1795 (Washington Papers)
In the event of a new arrangement in the judiciary department I beg leave to suggest to your consideration the present chief justice of this State, at the same time I would remark (having had no conversation with Mr Chase) that I do not know whether he would incline to relinquish the office he now holds for one that would be attended with greater fatigue. Among the inducements I feel for...
23To George Washington from James McHenry, 8 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
I inclose you an exposition of the principles of a new bank proposed to be established in Baltimore, designed to be laid before our Legislature at Annapolis of which I beg your acceptance and perusal. The thing having been composed at the Sulphur Springs in Greenbrier County and the authorities added since my return (which was only monday week) you will make allowance for some of its defects...
24To George Washington from James McHenry, 5 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
Well knowing how employed you must be at this moment I had not calculated on hearing from you till after the meeting of Congress. The Commissioners of the federal City have not applied to the legislature, but the Potomack company have to interest the State in a certain number of shares which I hope and expect will be taken. Mr Lear is with us. Mr Pinckney a man of real talents and genius and a...
25To 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...
26To 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...
27To 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...
28To 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...
29To 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...
30To 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...