51To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 3 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency has been pleased to refer to my determination what boats, besides batteaux & two gun--boats, will be necessary on the Hudson. I shall be happy, nevertheless, to be favoured with your opinion on the arrangements I have had in contemplation relative to this business. The common batteaux being built with pine boards, are of course very tender, and altogether unsuitable for the...
52To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 7 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully requests the President of the United States to grant him an order on the Secretary of the Treasury for Two thousand dollars, to enable him to continue the payment of the expences attending the procuring of copies of the proceedings of the British Courts of Vice Admiralty in the cases of captures by the armed vessels of that nation. ALS , DNA : RG 59,...
53To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 21 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your letter of the 14th relatively to the fever which has raged so fatally in this city. “Accurate information” of its state it may be impossible to obtain. But I am warranted by Doctor Rush’s opinion, grounded on his own practice and the information of other physicians, that there is an abatement of it by at least one half. For a number of days preceeding the last...
54To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 24 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor to lay before the President of the U. States this day received from Mr Adams & Mr Deas. Mr Bond informs the Secretary, that neither Major Beckwith nor any other person is coming from Canada on the subject of the posts. ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. Pickering likely enclosed...
55To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
Capt. OBrien arrived here last Saturday from Lisbon. The Dey of Algiers is entirely our friend. Tripoli has agreed to a perpetual peace, for 40,000 dollars & some peace presents, without an annual tribute. In January last Mr Barlow mentions his expectations that peace would soon be effected with Tunis. The Dey of Algiers is now so warmly attached & has such entire confidence in the Honesty of...
56To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 19 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the U. States the draught of an answer to the Grand Master of Malta. If approved & signed, the Secretary proposes to commit the same to the care of M. Maisonneuve who desires to be Consul at Malta, who forwarded the letter from the Grand Master, and to whom Mr La Colomb (who is settled in Philadelphia) will send the packet by a...
57To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 31 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
An unexpected demand is made of 40 Waggons & 200 horses, to transport artillery & military stores to the Southward exclusive of what are attached to the troops destined thither. To that number are to be added probably six waggons for quarter masters stores—There is no possibility of furnishing them without taking both horses & waggons from the troops going to the northward. If your Excellency...
58To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 6 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I find that one great cause of the failure of transportation of the salted provisions from Connecticut has been the general want of forage; of private forage I mean. The farmers there in general have not a lock of hay for their own stocks. Your Excellency’s wishes are anticipated. Colo. Hughes went off yesterday from Fishkill by one o’clock for Danbury (which I assure myself he reached last...
59To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 August 1799 (Washington Papers)
(confidential) Sir, Philadelphia August 2. 1799. A letter from Mr Murray of May 17 received this week, covers a letter from Talleyrand, dated May 12th, assuring him that the Executive Directory will receive the Envoys of the U. States in their official character; and that they shall enjoy all the prerogatives attached to it by the law of nations; and that one or more ministers shall be duly...
60To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I received another letter from Mr King—it is dated the 16th of August, covering a duplicate of the former, and saying that he had heard nothing from Mr Monroe respecting the letter from the Directory to Mr Barthelemy, so interesting to the commerce of neutral powers: and this silence was the only circumstance that left him a hope that the letter in question is not genuine. At the...
61To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 21 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you on Friday, informing that on that day two vessels were to sail for England carrying the two copies of the treaty ratified and the papers which were to accompany them, and one packet for Mr Monroe, to be forwarded by Mr Deas. A second will be sent to Mr Monroe by the first vessel to Hamburg; and the others by the first conveyances to France. The letters to Mr Pinckney are not yet...
62To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 27 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
Not meeting myself with any private conveyance, I have committed to the Atty Genl the care of forwarding the packet with your buckles; and also mentioned it to Mr Harrison, whose wife will shortly go to her father’s, & who will carry it, if Mr Lee should not find a conveyance. Mr Barlow sent by Capt OBrien a parcel of Barbary mellon seeds, addressed to the Society of Agriculture of...
63To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to your Excellency’s directions, being accompanied by Colo. Swift, Colo. H. Jackson and Colo. Cobb, I have viewed divers parts of the Highlands, and the wood lands in the vicinity of New-Windsor and Newburgh, to find places adapted to the hutting of troops. About a mile on this side of the huts late of the 3d Massachusetts brigade, on the right of the road leading to them, after...
64To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 23 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency being vested with authority, by the resolve of Congress of the 11th of March 1780, to make the necessary regulations relative to the servants of officers of the army; and the general orders of the 18th of January last not comprehending any officers in my department, I request you will be pleased to extend your consideration of the subject, and fix the number of servants to be...
65To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 16 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter from Governor St Clair was received yesterday by post. The proposed visit of the Chiefs of the Sioux, Puans &c. will be postponed of course, at least for one year— unless they come forward without an invitation or consent. Were it otherwise, I should doubt the expediency of the visit. All the means of attaching those numerous Indian nations to the United States it would...
66To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
At the request of the Chairman of the Committee on the bill for regulating trade with the Indian Tribes, I furnished him with a copy of Governor Blount’s letter mentioning the intended intrusions on the Cherokee lands; and also with a copy of the Attorney General’s letter to me on that subject. The chairman called upon me last evening, and suggested, that if the President officially...
67To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 7 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of War respectfully informs the President, that if Mr Wolcott has completed the information he undertook to obtain relative to Spanish commerce, there will be nothing to prevent the President’s commencing his journey to-morrow. For it is found impracticable to prepare instructions for further negociations with G. Britain, the instructions & correspondence of Mr Jay being...
68To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 25 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
The left wing of the army, commencing its march at seven o’clock to morrow morning, will proceed by the Continental Village to Nelson’s Point, where on Sunday boats will be in readiness to carry the troops to West Point; from whence they will march over Butter Hill in the road leading to Murderer’s Creek. On their descent from the Hill, the quarter masters of brigades will join and conduct...
69To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 10 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honour to lay before the President of the United States the draught of a letter to Colo. Humphreys, with such of his communications as are referred to and necessary to elucidate the remarks in the letter. The Secretary also presents a letter from Joseph Sterlitz resident of New-York, communicating the request of his partner & uncle Philip Mark to be favoured with...
70To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 20 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
The President will read with pleasure the postscript of the inclosed letter from Robert Montgomery our Consul at Alicante, which I have received this day—excepting what relates to the capture of another American vessel by Tripo⟨li⟩ concerning which however Mr Barlow’s words are consoling. The last sentence broken by the seal I read thus—“I have taken now what I think will be effectual measures...
71To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 26 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
Since your Excellency spoke to me yesterday relative to the movement of the army,I have more maturely considered of the means of effecting that movement, and the time requisite for collecting the horses and oxen to Verplank’s Point. In consequence of the orders given the 23d instant, I expect all the public horses and oxen on the west side of the river will have crossed over at Newburgh, one...
72To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 9 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have just received from Colo. Hughes a letter of which the inclosed is an extract. Mr Pomeroy (the bearer of it, brother to the D.Q.M.) informs me that the towns who were called on early in March to send forward their salted meat, got themselves excused by the government, under pretence that the roads were impassable, promising to turn out when the roads were good. But when called upon, the...
73To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 24 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the U. States—the draught of A message to Congress on the subject of Genl St Clair’s letter— Message to the Senate naming a district attorney for Massachusetts— A letter to Mr Pinckney —and A letter to Mr Parrish, Consul of the U. States at Hamburg. ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, GW’s Correspondence...
74To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 31 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
To-day major Campbell handed me a letter from General Knox relative to the collecting of timber for bomb proofs in the four redoubts back of West-Point. I beg leave to inclose a copy of it, and of my answer. In reading Genl Knox’s letter, two things very naturally occurred: One, That if all the other works so materially depended on those redoubts, and they were not tenable for half an hour,...
75To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of War respectfully submits to the President’s inspection a letter to the Governor of Georgia and one to Mr Seagrove relative to the intended treaty with the Creek Indians. A talk to invite the Creeks to the treaty and a draught of instructions to the Commissioners. The two letters are intended to be sent by tomorrow’s post; and by the same post the Secretary supposes it will be...
76To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 12 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the United States, lists of the names of such persons as his enquiries or personal knowledge induce him to think eligible for the respective objects prefixed to the lists. Theophilus Parsons Massachusetts Judge Hobart New-York Edward Tilghman } Pennsylvania Thomas FitzSimons Gunning Bedford (Judge) Delaware Christopher Gore...
77To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 9 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Last evening I received the inclosed letter from Colo. Lutterloh, which I think it my duty to lay before your Excellency. It describes a practice not new: but which I hoped to remedy by possitive injunctions to the state agents to deliver none except to the order of the Commissary of Forage, who has repeatedly written to the agents to that effect. The abuse however continues; and in some cases...
78To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 6 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President a letter & inclosure received to-day from the Governor of Virginia, by which it appears that he has given orders to detain the vessels destined to export the horses purchased by the British in Virginia. Seeing the Executive of that state entertains such erroneous ideas on the subject, it seemed to the Secretary expedient to transmit...
79To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 19 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President the draught of a letter to communicate to Congress the report of the Director of the Mint. His report last year was laid before each house thro’ the Secretary, by the President’s direction. If approved, the present report will be communicated to-day. ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters. Pickering’s draft letter to Congress...
80To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 4 April 1795 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter from Genl Wayne has just arrived at this office. Peace with the Indians seems no longer doubtful. The act of Congress correcting an error in a former act about the bounty to soldiers who should reinlist, was passed the 29th of January, and on the 31st I forwarded it with that to which it related, to General Wayne, for his information on the subject of recruiting. His letter...
81Timothy Pickering to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 26 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Pickering incloses the proceedings from Winchester, with the draught of an answer under the same cover, which Colo. Pickering wrote a number of days since & locked up in a closet at the office of state, where it lay unnoticed till this forenoon. Mr Dandridge will also find inclosed two letters received to day from Mr Monroe, which Mr D. will have the goodness to lay before the President....
82To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 1 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Director of the Mint has presented the inclosed statement to show at what rate he can probably import ten tons of sheet copper for the mint. He can purchase no more here and all that has been purchased has been coined. The rate of exchange being extremely favourable at this moment, he wishes to obtain your approbation of his estimate to enable him to obtain from the Treasury the sum...
83To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
(private) Sir Trenton [N.J.] Sept. 13 1798. I have this moment received your favour of the 9th. Since mine of the 1st the Secretary of War has received from the President a letter deciding the ranks of the three first General Officers in question—that they shall stand, Knox—Pinckney—Hamilton. This decisive act is the more surprizing, seeing but a fortnight before the President had written to...
84To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 10 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor to inform the President of the United States, that having examined the Constitution & the law respecting the President & Vice President of the U. States, he sees no part requiring that the Vice-President elect should come to the Seat of Government to take the oath to support the Constitution of the U.S. which appears to be the only oath required of him....
85To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 26 October 1797 (Washington Papers)
Last evening I received from Mr John Parish, our former Consul at Hamburg, a letter dated the 3d of August, from which I transcribe the last paragraph, as follows. “Permit me, before concluding, to request that you will do me the honor of representing to General Washington, that an old servant of the United States would be happy to send from hence any thing which he may think will in the...
86To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor to request the approbation of the President of the United States, of the purchase of copper made by the Director of the mint, agreeably to the inclosed account, amounting to three thousand two hundred & fifty one dollars & seven cents—being nearly 2½ cents per pound cheaper than the preceeding purchase. ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA :...
87Timothy Pickering to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 20 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of War received yesterday the inclosed letter from Mr Kinlock, desiring the extract from Mr Huger’s letter might be laid before the President: you will have the goodness to present it. Captain Kalteisen, who is an old officer now in the corps of artillery & who has been commanding at Fort Johnson, in Charleston Harbour, being in town, wishes very much to pay his respects to the...
88To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 26 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have not found it easy to form a satisfactory judgement of the situation on the Potowmac most eligible for an arsenal. Several places will very well accommodate such an establishment: but an attentive consideration of all the information I am possessed of, leads me to conclude, that at the fork of the Potowmac and Shenandoah the greatest number of advantages will be united. I now beg leave...
89To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 12 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was at Fishkill this morning4 & from Mr Stevens’s account of provisions received from Connecticut, compared with Mr Josiah Pomeroy’s, I am apprehensive your Excellency has been informed of larger quantities of salted provisions being put up in the towns westward of Connecticut river than were in fact provided. By Mr Stevens’s acct it appears, that from the 6th of February to the 11th inst....
90To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 8 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
Having been accidentally detained here longer than I expected, and a little leisure now presenting, I have thought it would not be misapplied in suggesting the means of introducing the art of husbandry, and civilization, among our Indian neighbours. In the treaty with the Creek Indians, I observe provision is made for furnishing them with domestic animals and instruments of husbandry, with a...
91To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 21 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
The manner in which I have been employed to effect the present visit of the Chiefs of the Five Nations, renders me peculiarly interested that the negociations with them should conform with the direct object of the invitation. This object is indelibly impressed on my mind; it having been the main argument offered by me, to convince them of the real friendship of the United States. I feel...
92To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 30 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
On the 23d instant I had the honour of writing to your Excellency; and mentioned my expectation of leaving town the last week. But Mr Morris is not yet prepared for my departure, and he desires me to stay yet longer. I suppose he has informed your Excellency of his embarrassments, in consequence of the states witholding their taxes. I expect that Colo. Miles will send from hence, by the 15th...
93To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Major Platt having signified to me his intentions to quit my department, I immediately sought for a suitable character for the office of deputy quarter master to the main army; and after due inquiry, have fixed on lieut. colo. Dearborn. He has consented to serve: but being in the line of the army, he cannot be taken from thence without your Excellency’s approbation, which I now solicit. The...
94From Timothy Pickering to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 20 June 1795 (Washington Papers)
Mr Dandridge will be pleased to lay before the President the inclosed letter from Mr Seagrove & the Newspaper which accompanied it. The Secretary of War has had copies made of the Talks of the Creek Chiefs, which he proposes to forward by post next Monday, to Governor Blount. AL , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Neither the letter from Creek Indian agent James Seagrove nor the accompanying newspaper...
95To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 14 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I sent by the express an answer to your letter respecting the office of adjutant general, & gave what appeared to me sufficient reasons to excuse my declining to accept it; but have since been uneasy, lest you should deem them otherwise; & that I was too willing, under the civil offices I sustain, to shelter myself from the dangers & fatigues of war. An opinion which, if it has taken place, I...
96To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
Last Saturday I received a letter from lieutenant governor Wood, and opened it, agreeably to your directions. He declines the office of Surveyor General, as not professionally qualified. The next day I rode to Belmont, to converse with Judge Peters relative to Major Alexander: but he was gone to see his brother Colo. Robinson, at Naaman’s Creek. On Tuesday Judge Peters, as usual, came to town,...
97To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
It may be proper that I report to your Excellency the circumstances & events of my late journey to Williamsburgh. I was unable to leave camp the 2d inst. till late in the afternoon, which prevented my reaching Williamsburgh till the evening. I immediately waited on the Intendant with Count Chastellux’s letter, reciting the agreement he had made with me respecting the future employment of the...
98To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 24 January 1799 (Washington Papers)
I have been so much occupied since the receipt of your letter desiring a copy of one you wrote last year, that I have not had time to search for the original: as soon as I can I will do it, & if found, forward a copy. Your letter of the 15th covering one for Mr Murray & one for Lafayette I will take care of, and forward those two to their destination in a few days, when I shall write to Mr...
99To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 11 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
Since closing my letter of this date, arrived a letter from Major Craig at Pittsburg in which is this passage. “The quarter master general by his letter of the 3d ulto (August) informs me a treaty with all the western Indians was concluded on that day.” The hour for closing the mail is past; but I shall request a new mail to be formed, that this intelligence may not be delayed. With the...
100To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 23 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you by Monday’s post. That afternoon I went to see Mr Peters; and had the pleasure to find that your accommodation and a suitable provision for Congress had engaged the attention of him and divers other citizens of Philadelphia who were scattered in the adjacent country. They have had some consultations on the subject; and will continue them until suitable provision shall be made; of...