71To 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 :...
72Timothy 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...
73To 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....
74To 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...
75To 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...
76From 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...
77To 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...
78To 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...
79To 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...
80To 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...
81Timothy Pickering to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 30 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Pickering incloses to Mr Dandridge a memorandum of the Director of the Mint, of copper he has purchased; for the payment of which Mr Dandridge will be so good as to make out an order in the usual form, & present it to the President for his approbation & signature. 6495 lbs. at 2/4 amount to Dollars 2020 67/100. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, GW’s...
82To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 8 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your Excellency’s letter of yesterday. The military stores ordered from hence are all gone, together with near twenty (I think) casks of flints which some of the ox teams had brought on from Springfield. The whole were a few days ago advanced as far as Sussex Court House, and are under the care of Ebenezer Brannon conductor of military stores. Lest there should not be...
83To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 3 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
In the inclosed proposition for general orders, I have these objects in view: To ascertain the quantity of forage consumed in this county, by knowing the numbers of cattle fed there—To find who are possessed of public horses—To see who keep horses to whom public forage is not allowed, or who keep more horses than are allowed them, or than your Excellency shall judge necessary; that what are...
84To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 26 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
In the letter with which you honored me, bearing date the 27th of June, your expressed your approbation of John Davis, the late Comptroller, to be appointed to the office of District Attorney of Massachusetts, provided his professional knowledge (of which you had no correct information) should be deemed adequate to the discharge of its duties, and he would place himself in a situation to...
85To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 10 March 1798 (Washington Papers)
I duly received your letter of the 6th ulto and must beg your pardon for suffering it to lie so long unanswered. I have shown the letter to all my colleagues; and we are of opinion that it is neither necessary nor expedient for you publicly to contradict the false assertions of Fauchet. The villains who propagate slanders against you in this country do not believe in their own assertions: of...
86To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your Excellencys orders, we have consider’d of an arrangement of Colonel Baldwins regiment of artificers, and are of opinion That all the non commissioned officers & privates should form one company under the direction and command of Capt. Patten and Lieut Lears Artillery Artificers at the Park, and one lieutenant to be taken from said regiment, the whole to do duty at present at...
87To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
In your last dispatches were received two patents passed by the Attorney General for your signature, which I now return for that purpose. I have also the honor to inclose a duplicate commission for John Trumbull Esqr. The original went by Mr King; and to be with perfect respect, sir, your most obt servant ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DNA : RG 59, Domestic Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, GW’s Correspondence...
88To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 21 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
On the 18th I was honoured with your letter of the 14th covering an instrument directing the transfer of the streets and public lots in the City of Washington from Messrs Beall & Gantt to the Commissioners for that city: The seal of the United States has been affixed to it; and by to-morrow’s mail I shall send it to the Commissioners, as you desire. Dr Edwards has handed me the inclosed...
89To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 19 June 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of War respectfully presents to the President the name of Mr George Clymer for one of the Commissioners to hold the treaty with the Creek Indians. Mr Fitzsimons, it is understood, will contest Mr Swanwick’s election for the city of Philadelphia. Mr John D. Cox is highly esteemed for his integrity and candour—his law-knowledge and sound judgement: But he is thought to be slow in...
90To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 10 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have received from my Counsel in Woolsey’s action, a special bail piece, which he says I with my bail must acknowledge before Judge Barber of Wallkill. I have proposed to go to-morrow and return by evening, if your Excellency has no commands to prevent it. I have been some time anxiously waiting for money from Philadelphia, to enable me to complete the payment of debts for which I am daily...
91To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 12 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
General Wayne has requested leave to visit his friends and his home. I wrote to him that your absence from philadelphia prevented a decision on his request. It will be desirable to send him an answer by next Saturday’s post: and lest accident should prevent your arrival here before that time, I send this and a duplicate to meet you either at Baltimore or other place beyond it; requesting to be...
92To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 October 1798 (Washington Papers)
This morning I saw a New-York paper announcing the arrival of General Pinckney, & that on account of the prevailing fever, he had landed at Paulus Hook: So I expect in two or three days to have the happiness to see him. The inclosed letter I received yesterday morning, with others by the mail from New-York. I have the honor to be with great respect sir your most obt servt ALS , DLC:GW . The...
93To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary respectfully lays before the President of the United States a letter from Governor Blount this moment received by Express, with Genl Robertson’s letter of the 13th of January & the Governor’s answer. Genl Robertson’s letter of Jany 9th mentioned by the Governor in his answer to the General was not inclosed. ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . James Robertson’s letter to William Blount...
94To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 7 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Orders will be given forthwith to have a vessel got ready to carry a 100 barrels of flour to Albany. The necessary orders have been given, & in the most pointed terms, relative to the flour on the communications between this & Pensylvania; & as (other means failing) actual payment is to be resorted to, I cannot entertain an idea of disappointment. An express will go to-morrow for Boston. I...
95To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 31 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the U. States, a letter from Colo. Humphreys dated Octr 6. just received, with inclosures from Mr Barlow. There is but too much reason to fear for the fate of Capt. O’Brien. He sailed from Lisbon the 4th or 5th of August for Algiers, with 225,000 dollars on board. The Secretary has also received to-day another letter from Colo....
96To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 1 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
As I may not have another opportunity, I beg leave now to present to your Excellency the following questions & to be favoured with your answers or advice for my government. l. Whether any batteaux, & if any what number must be provided for the frontier service; and at what places, & by what time in the Spring, they must be ready? 2. For what number of troops, destined for the frontier service,...
97To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
In the plan for regulating the quarter-master’s department, there is a list of officers to whom forage shall be allowed; but the enumeration is very defective. Many officers who had very just claims to forage were omitted; but to whom either their stations, or the nature of the duties required of them, rendered the issuing of forage apparently proper. All the characters marked with an o were...
98To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 25 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I wrote last evening to Mr Humphrys, & gave him an account of my expectations respecting forage. The uncommon badness of the roads (either very rough or very miry) has prevented the farmers bringing in the forage the Justices of Ulster & Orange agreed to furnish & have in fact assessed: The present snow will enable them to come in. For instant relief to your Excellency’s horses I directed Mr...
99To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
(private) Sir, Philadelphia July 18, 1799. I am honoured with your letter of the 14th. La Fayette will not come to America as a minister : On the 13th instant I received a private letter from Mr Murray dated the 16th of April, inclosing one from Pichon, dated the 12th, written with Talleyrand’s privity, and indeed by his order. Pichon is eager to be the first to announce to Murray the message...
100To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 7 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Walker has shewn me a letter of this date from Genl Gates to your Excellency, representing that quarters are not yet provided for him. It is very true, yet I have spared no pains to provide for him. This day one of my assistants rode twenty miles from house to house, to find quarters for the director of the Hospital that he might quit Ellisons, but return’d without success. All former...
101To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The return of boats of which your Excellency has a copy, is dated the 2d of April. At that time there appeared to be 60 batteaux at Wappon’s creek that were repairable. On the 29th of April there were eight batteaux there under repair, & fifteen more repairable, but very old. The residue, of consequence, of the 60, had been repaired & taken away. But I do not know of any repaired elsewhere;...
102To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 11 April 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose another letter from Colo. Humphreys which came in some of his late letters from Lisbon, & which among a mass of dispatches was overlooked. I have yet met with no private conveyance for the case with the buckles mentioned in my last. A letter of January 12 th reed this day from Mr Adams at the Hague, contains his conjectures on the motives of the extraordinary...
103To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 9 August 1797 (Washington Papers)
I put one of your letters for Mr King and the four before received (for Sr John Sinclair & others) on board a vessel bound to London, & which was to have sailed last Sunday or monday; but the continued rainy weather has detained her. Mr Monroe has anticipated me in furnishg you, by his publication in the news-papers, the correspondence between us on the subject of his demanding the reasons of...
104To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 14 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
I submit to your consideration the inclosed draught of instructions for Messrs Ellicott & Freeman, for running the boundary line between the U. States and the Spanish colonies of East & West Florida; and am, most repectfully, your obedt servant I have just heard that Capt. German is arrived, & consequently Mr Pinckney, from Charleston. ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG...
105To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 16 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
General Gates has written to Congress describing his distressed situation from the want of men, money, arms, provisions &c. We were surprized at the mention of arms ; for by a return made in February it appeared that better than 2000 stands were then at Albany, fit for service; and the board have never given any order respecting them. Colo. Malcom says a quantity were sent from thence lately...
106Timothy Pickering to Tobias Lear, 31 December 1792 (Washington Papers)
Can you inform me of any of the facts or representations communicated to the president relative to news-papers, which led him to notice them in his speech, at the opening of the present session of Congress? It seemed generally to be understood to imply that obstructions to their transmission had arisen from the post office law. Were not the obstructions to the papers which should have passed...
107To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State begs leave to inform the President of the United States, that the patent for Benjamin Tyler is destined to be carried to him by Mr Strong, who will leave town to-morrow morning by three o’clock. If the President should find time to attend to it before this evening, the Secretary will then have the honor to receive it at the President’s house. ALS , DNA : RG 59,...
108To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 25 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
yours of the 22d inst. came to hand yesterday evening. I immediately sent orders to the Clothier General to send on to camp without delay all the shirts, over-alls & blankets in his possession, reserving only so many as were necessary to answer the orders given for supplying Colo. Proctors & Colo. Hartley’s regiments. The Clothier General informs me there will then remain but about 150...
109To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 1 July 1797 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your letter of the 28th ult. by this days post. A copy of the laws neatly bound, and of my letter to General Pinckney with the documents to which it refers, have been some time packed up for you. The workman who undertook to make rollers for your copying press, has been called on many times; and he has often promised to complete them. At the last call, about two days since...
110To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 14 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a letter from Colo. Lowther to Governor Brooke, and an extract from the Governor’s letter of the 4th relating to it. I have written to the Governor that I should submit the matter to you.: In the mean time informing him that peace was now made with the Indian tribes on all the frontiers of the U. States; & that even Mero District was enjoying perfect tranquility;...
111To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 11 April 1798 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to inclose copies of the instructions to and dispatches from the Envoys of the United States at Paris. No statement of the facts described in the latter can give them their proper force: but the facts as related by the envoys, with the manner and all their circumstances, carry irresistable evidence to every fair and unprejudiced mind, that this display of corruption and...
112To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 14 April 1798 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed has just come to hand with Mr King’s public letters. The publication of the instructions to our Envoys to the French Republic and their dispatches is operating admirably. The Democrats in neither House of Congress make much opposition: and out of doors, the French Devotees are rapidly quitting the worship of their idol. The long-enduring patience of the people of the U. States...
113To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 30 October 1797 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed pamphlet on Orcharding, addressed to you by the author, I received this evening under cover from Mr King. Another copy is also addressed to you, & has the following addition on the cover—“for the philosophical society of Philadelphia, with the author’s compts.” If you think proper to introduce it to the Society, & favour me with your letter for the purpose, I will put that under...
114Timothy Pickering to Tobias Lear, 14 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter from Samuel Freeman Esqr. of Portland I should have presented long ago: but laying it by in my desk very safely, it has been overlooked. Perhaps it may now be of no consequence. Possibly you may know Mr Freeman. He has written to me in consequence of an acquaintance formed by his being the postmaster at Portland. I take him to be of a very respectable character there; and...
115To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
(private) About noon to-day Mr John Churchman, who has been these two or three years in Europe, on account of his supposed discoveries relative to the variation of the Magnetic Needle, called at the office. He came last from Bourdeaux, and was the bearer of Mr Monroe’s letter of the 2d of May. I told him it had been broken open; & after a few questions, asked him to give me a certificate of...
116To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
As soon as you had decided on the expediency of substituting a consul in the place of Mr Parrish at Hamburg, I requested Mr FitzSimons at Philadelphia, and Mr King at New-York, to enquire for a suitable person to succeed him. I also wrote to Mr Cabot at Boston making the same request. The two former gentlemen informed me that they found no fit character in Philadelphia or New-York. Last Friday...
117To George Washington from Colonel Timothy Pickering, 26 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Of the seventeen teams impressed by Justice Chandler for the artillery, tents & intrenching tools, five only came in, & those too late to draw the artillery, which I completed with Continental horses by breaking up three double teams. The five single teams which came in I have caused to be loaded with two horsemans tents—75 common tents—& 75 axes besides two crow bars. These will go about six...
118To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 29 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Excellency’s letter of the 15th instant, which would have been acknowledged by the subsequent post, had I not been made to expect a small supply of money the same week, by the bearer of which I meant to write to your Excellency: but in this expectation also I was disappointed. My long continuance here has distressed me exceedingly; but it appeared to me that the...
119To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 14 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
Mr FitzSimons has sent me three bills amounting to upwards of five hundred dollars, drawn by the agents in the W. Indies & Halifax for the expences of obtaining copies of the papers in the spoliation cases. I presented them to the Secretary of the Treasury for payment: but to avoid the tediousness of paying such small sums in the form used at the treasury, he desired me to request from the...
120To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the United States the draught of instructions and a seperate letter for Mr Pinckney, relative to further negociations with Great Britain, the Secretary not supposing a formal commission would be necessary. Should he be mistaken, there will be time to prepare a commission, as the ship favourite will not sail till Tuesday. ALS ,...