1Proceedings of Sinking Fund Commissioners, 26 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the Commissioners of the Sinking fund on the 26th day of December 1795; Present, The President of the Senate, The Secretary of State, The Secretary of the Treasury. A Report of the Secretary of the Treasury was read, as follows. “That to provide for the payment of the Interest on the public debt which will fall due at the close of the present year, it will be necessary to...
2To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 19 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
(private) This morning I received the inclosed letter from Mr Dayton, expressing fully his opinion of Mr Israel Ludlow, whose application for the office of Surveyor General I had the honor lately to transmit to you. While it must be acknowledged that Mr Dayton is perfectly competent to pronounce accurately on the character of a man so well known to him as Mr Ludlow must be, it is proper for me...
3To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 21 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully returns to the President his report on the claims of the Cohnawagas, or Seven Nations of Canada, with the draught of a letter which he thinks proper to go from the department of war, with the report, to the Governor of New-York. The Secretary also transmits a press copy of the report, to be lodged in the war-Office, which will enable the Secretary of War to...
4To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 6 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
To the President of the United States, The Secretary of State respectfully makes the following brief representation of the affairs of the United States in relation to Algiers. When Colonel Humphreys left America in April 1795, he was accompanied by Joseph Donaldson Esqr. who had been appointed Consul for Tunis and Tripoli; and him Colo. Humphreys was authorized to employ in negociating a...
5To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 17 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter from Mr Paleski, the Prussian Consul being marked “duplicate,” I suppose the Original may have already fallen under your notice. I thought it proper however to lay it before you: at the same time it appears to be so clear a case, that I have written an answer to Mr Paleski, suggesting that the prolonging of a treaty is tantamou[n]t to the making of a treaty, in which the...
6To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 21 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
On the 16th instant I received from Governor Jay, an answer to my letter of the 3d relative to the intended negociations with the Onondagas, Cayugas & Oneidas for the purchase of their lands. In my letter was inclosed the opinion of the Attorney General, that those negociations could not lawfully be had without the intervention of the government of the United States. A copy of the Governor’s...
7To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 20 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the U. States three papers of nominations. To that respecting the Spanish treaty he wished to have added a name for a commissioner for the spoliations: but is not satisfied about a suitable character. He has examined the Constitution of Pennsylvania & by that, the office of Mayor of Philadelphia, which comprehends the office of a...
8To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour to lay before you the form of a pardon for Mitchell & Vigol, insurgents, for your signature. The petition inclosed for their pardon was received after you had decided to grant it. Some letters from Mr FitzSimons, & from me to Mr Deas are also inclosed for your information. I will wait on you to-morrow morning upon these subjects; and am most respectfully Sir Your obt servt...
9To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I was honoured with your letter of the 28th ulto. In my letter of last Monday I inclosed the copy of the treaty made by General Wayne and an extract of every thing relating to it from his letter of the 9th of August. The messenger who brought it was a discharged serjeant of dragoons, who did not leave Greenville till the 26th (or thereabout) and who brought letters to some people...
10To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, November 1795 (Washington Papers)
Topics which have occurred to the Secretary of War as proper to be noticed at the opening of the ensuing session of Congress. 1. The treaty of peace effected by General Wayne with the Indians northwest of the river Ohio. 2. The continuance of peace with the Cherokees. 3. The formal agreement entered into by Mr Seagrove and the Chiefs of the Creek Indians for putting an end to their...
11To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 30 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
Two vessels are to sail for England this week—one, as intended, to-morrow, and one on Thursday: by each a set of the dispatches for Mr Pinckney will be forwarded. Supposing that the Chevalier de Freire would be apprized of opportunities for Lisbon, I applied to him. Such direct conveyances rarely occur: He generally sends his letters to the care of his correspondent at Falmouth. I expressed to...
12To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, c.17 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
William Claiborne, of the State of Tenassee—to be district judge. Recommended by General Marshall—and strongly by Colo. Carrington. David Campbell, late a Judge of that Territory, is recommended for District Judge, by a Mr Roane the friend of James Ross Esqr. who relies on his discernment & probity in the recommendation. Elias Backman, a merchant of Gottenburg in Sweden, to be Consul for that...
13To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 11–12 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
Last Saturday I received from Colo. Monroe a letter dated the 24th of July, in which he refers to a former one, in which he transmitted copies of M. Delacroix letter to him & his answer, on the question, Whether the House of Representatives of the United States had passed a law to carry the British treaty into effect? At the same time Mr Monroe expressed his opinion that this letter originated...
14To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 7 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State with great pleasure lays before the President of the United States the inclosed letters just received from Colo. Talbot, which confirm the utility of his mission, & the good-will of the British naval officers. ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters. No reply to Pickering from GW has been found. The letters to Pickering from Silas Talbot, the U.S. agent in the West...
15To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 22 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter came under cover to me from Wm Lithgow Attorney for the district of Maine, which he says contains his resignation. Daniel Davis Esquire of Portland is a lawyer well recommended by the Members of Congress to suceed Mr Lithgow, & I think has been doing the business of the office since Mr Lithgow’s indisposition prevented his attending the courts. The enquiries concerning a...
16From Timothy Pickering to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 30 June 1795 (Washington Papers)
I mentioned to the President to-day the request of Mr Boudinot that the President would sign 50 diplomas for the New Jersey Cincinnati. The President thought he had signed that number during the late session of Congress. The inclosed papers will show that General Knox was to request it: but I suppose the blanks were never sent to the President. For I now find in this office one bundle...
17To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 20 September 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have just received a letter dated the 17th from Judge Benson: He accepts the place of third Commissioner under the fifth article of the British treaty, and was to set out yesterday for Passamaquoddy, to meet there the other Commissioners on the third of October. The trust, he remarks, is not incompatible with his present office; and interfering with it only for a short time, his acceptance...
18To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 14 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
As the carved work for the frigates should be relative to their names, and will require a length of time to accomplish—there being but a single Carver here competent to the work for the frigates building at Philadelphia, Baltimore and Norfolk—the Captains, with Mr Humphreys the Constructor at this place, have represented the necessity of an early designation of the names of the Frigates. To...
19To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 13 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
The subject of the letter dated March 18. 1795, from Harry Innes Esqr. of Kentuckey, to the President of the United States, with the letter of James Smiley inclosed therein, has been considered by the Secretary of War; who now respectfully reports to the President. That by the letters of the late Secretary of War, the accounts of the service of scouts were directed to be certified on oath, by...
20To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 23 January 1797 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State has the pleasure to present to the President a letter received this morning from Colo. Humphreys, by which it appears that Capt. OBrien & hands with the treasure are safe at Tripoli—and that the Dey of Algiers has demanded the delivery on pain of making war: there can be little doubt of the recovery of the money, seeing the Dey considers it as the property of the...
21To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 31 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor to inclose a letter from our Consul at Cadiz, with one for the President. The secretary recollects a Colo. Tatem’s calling on him last summer. He said he had been formerly in the southwestern territory—talked about very valuable maps of the U. States or some of them which he had made and was making; but needed pecuniary aid to complete & publish his...
22To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 26 August 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of War respectfully lays before the President a letter to Mr Adet, in answer to his of the 19th inst. Mr Wolcott approves of it. The Secretary of War will wait on the President at nine o’clock, to receive his orders on the subject. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters. The docket states that Pickering wrote the letter “doing the dutyes of the Secrety of State” (see GW to...
23To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 6 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor to inclose a letter of Oct. 16. received this day from Mr Adams at the Hague. The following passage is in a letter recd this day from the Consul of the U. States at Falmouth in England, dated Novr 26th: “A vessel arrived to-day from Lisbon, and the master reports that at Madrid the populace would not permit Lord Bute to depart, and that the Spanish and...
24Timothy Pickering to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 14 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of War prays Mr Dandridge to lay before the President, the reports No. 1. 2. 3 & 4, for the two Houses of Congress. No. 5, on the frigates I shall myself present to the President in perhaps half an hour. No. 6. on the fortifications will require a further examination; but will be ready to-morrow morning. The reports of the Directors of the mint will be ready to send in this...
25To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State respectfully lays before the President of the United States, the letter of resignation of Mr Benjamin Joy, late consul of the United States at Calcutta; and the recommendations of Mr William James Miller late of Philadelphia, now established at Calcutta, as a fit person to succeed Mr Joy in the Consulate. In addition to the testimonies inclosed in favour of Mr Miller,...
26To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 18 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Pittsburg mail is arrived, but no letter from General Wayne. I suspect he has sent dispatches by an officer who is taking the route thro’ the Wilderness. Mr Hodgden this moment mentions the intelligence he had from his neighbour Mr Vanuxem, a mercantile agent for the French, who told him last evening, that the Secretary of the French Legation here said that a national vessel had arrived at...
27From Timothy Pickering to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 13 April 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary has this moment received Mr Dandridge’s note of this morning, enquiring whether the Secretary had come to any resolution on Govr Mifflin’s letters &c. The answer is in the negative. The Secy received that letter &c. last Saturday evening; and to expedite the departure of Capt. DeButts, was yesterday engaged in draughting the form of a long treaty to aid General Wayne in his...
28To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 1 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor to lay before the President of the United States the opinion of the Attorney General, that a secretary may be allowed to a Minister Resident, or Chargé des Affaires. The Secretary has considered the situation of our affairs with the Barbary powers, & particularly with Algiers, and the necessity of a consul to reside there. That altho’ Mr Barlow desires to...
29To 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,...
30To 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...
31To 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...
32To 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...
33To 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...
34To 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...
35To 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...
36To 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...
37To 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...
38To 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...
39To 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...
40To 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...
41To 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...
42To 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...
43To 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...
44To 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...
45To 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...
46Timothy 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....
47To 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...
48To 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....
49To 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 :...
50Timothy 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...