1To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 3 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
Generally speaking, no task could be imposed on me so ungrateful as that of applying for a public office. In the present instance, however, I feel little reluctance in doing it; because I know the application will be duly noticed, and the ultimate decision, whether for or against me, be governed by a just regard to the interests of the United States. By some of my friends I am informed that Mr...
2To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 5 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
The messenger to the Seneca nation set off this afternoon, with a letter addressed by me to their Sachems Chiefs & Warriors, informing them of my appointment from you to meet them under the authority of the United States; inviting the relations of the deceased Indians to come to Tioga on the 25th of October next; and expressing your desire that the chiefs of the Turtle tribe, & other Great Men...
3Enclosure: Estimate of the expense of necessaries for the meeting of the Seneca Indians at Tioga Octr 25. 1790., 25 … (Washington Papers)
4 barrels of Country rum 120 gall. @ at 3/. £ 18. 0.0 Provisions for 200 Indians 12 days, including the supplies they must receive when going home, viz. 3200 lbs. of beef @ 3 d. 40. 0.0 32 Cwts flour @ 15/. 24. . A silver gorget & other trinkets 10. . 1 Cwt of tobacco & pipes 2.10. 94.10.0 Provisions & necessaries for T. Pickering, & Colo. Wilson, agent for Pennsylvania, & for the...
4To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 4 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to your orders I held a Conference with the Chiefs &c. of the Seneca nation of Indians at Tioga in this state. About 220 of all ages attended. The day of meeting proposed was the 25th of October: but they did not arrive until the 15th of November. Such delays, I am informed, are common with them; but in the present instance I believe are greatly to be attributed to the...
5To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 23 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to your orders of the 4th of September last, I took the necessary steps for holding a conference with the Logstown Chiefs & warriors of the Seneca Nation of Indians; relative to the murders of two of their people at Pine Creek in Pennsylvania. I wrote to them by the express who at the same time carried a letter from the president of Pennsylvania. In my letter I informed them,...
6To 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...
7To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
I intended to have done myself the honour of waiting on you in person: but a letter may give you less trouble. General Knox informed me that it would be agreeable to you that I should undertake the superintendency of the northern Indians; I mean particularly the Six Nations. I answered, That by the new constitution of Pennsylvania, a Continental appointment was declared to be incompatible with...
8To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 2 May 1791 (Washington Papers)
(Duplicate) Sir, Philadelphia May 2d 1791. Of the measures pursuing by general Knox, relative to Indian affairs, he doubtless makes to you the necessary communications. In those communications, he may, perhaps, have mentioned my being here, preparatory to my undertaking another mission to the Indians of the Six Nations, for the purpose of confirming the peace and friendship subsisting between...
9To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 27 August 1791 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the honour to call at your house to-day, to speak with you: but you were engaged with Mr Jefferson. And the time not admitting another opportunity (as I wish to leave town on Monday morning) you will permit me to communicate what I had to say, in writing. As you thought it expedient, I went to New York, to converse with Mr Osgood on the business of the post-office. The contracts...
10To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 7 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
Among the great duties of your high station, the selection of proper characters for public offices is not the least difficult, nor the least important. The multiplicity of applications, the diversity, and sometimes the contrariety of opinions, must often produce painful embarrassments: while a constant aim to provide for the public service, will frequently oblige you to disregard private...
11To 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...
12Timothy Pickering to Tobias Lear, 3 May 1792 (Washington Papers)
I inclose the information given me by Colo. Louis. The copy of the letter from his nation bears date the 24th of January. I sent to the war-office for the Original, which I found was dated Feby 24th. Bad travelling at the breaking up of winter and ten days sickness, Louis says have occasion so much delay in his journey. He is anxious to return. In great haste sincerely yours ALS , MHi :...
13Timothy 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...
14Timothy 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...
15To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 15 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
The intelligence contained in the enclosed copy of a letter from Mr Storer, seemed to be of sufficient consequence to trouble you with; and I should have transmitted it a week ago; but the sickness in my family, and the death of a favourite son, have prevented me. To Governor Simcoe’s public professions of regret &c. at the issue of the treaty, a number of facts may be opposed. These with...
16To 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...
17To 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...
18To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 23 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
Since sealing my letter of this date, my servant has brought me an answer from the Mayor, which I enclose. I am surprized at the number of deaths from Oct. 11th to the 22d. I will continue to advise you of the state of the disease, as often as I can obtain any new information. very respectfully yr most obedt servt ALS , DLC:GW .
19To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 28 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you that the mortal fever which has raged in this city, is prodigiously reduced. A fortnight ago, from 10 to 14 were daily buried in Friends ’ burying ground: but in the last Five days only three in the whole have been buried there. Among the German Lutherans, the reduction appears by the following list— Oct. 22d buried 19 23 —— 10 24 —— 8
20Enclosure I: Timothy Pickering to Henry Knox, 20 September 1794 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here yesterday. Two or three hours before, two runners arrived from the Indian Council at Buffaloe Creek, with their answer to your invitation to meet me at Kanandaiguay for the purposes therein mentioned. They apologized for the delay in sending their answer, by saying that they had waited the arrival of the Chief (meaning Cornplanter) by whom their former speech on the subject had...
21Enclosure: Timothy Pickering to Henry Knox, 27 September 1794 (Washington Papers)
On the 20th I wrote you, that two runners had arrived the day before from Buffaloe Creek with a message urging me to hold the treaty there, that I had answered them that I had no authority to remove the Council fire and that the Treaty must be held at Kanandaigua. That upon receiving this answer, the runners replied that they were directed by the Chiefs to inform me that if I could not go to...
22Enclosure: Timothy Pickering to Henry Knox, 8 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
On the 23d Ulto I sent Horatio Jones the Interpreter to Buffaloe Creek to hasten the departure of the Indians and to give them any necessary assistance on the way. I thought also that he would be able to remove any little obstructions which the British Agents might continue to throw in the way. He went directly to their principal village, assembled the Chiefs and delivered my message. The...
23Enclosure: Timothy Pickering to Henry Knox, 28 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
Various accidents have retarded the business of the treaty—among others, the death of two Oneida Chiefs—they were very old men. And the appearance of William Johnson, the British interpreter, occasioned the loss of two days. As the Chiefs told me that he had come at their request, it seemed necessary, besides mentioning my orders to suffer no British agent to intrude, to give some reasons for...
24Timothy Pickering to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 7 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed draught of a letter to the Governors of Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, Georgia & New York, you will be pleased to lay before the President for his approbation. I wish to send to Virginia & Maryland & New York by this day’s post. yr obt servt ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Pickering erroneously wrote 1794 on the ALS . The letter is endorsed as 1795, and the letter-book copy is...
25To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 22 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to submit to your perusal and orders the inclosed communication from Mr Dixon, and my observations thereon. The other paper is the draught of a message I proposed to send to the Chiefs of the Six Nations to notify them of the ratification of the treaty of Konondaigua. Genl Chapin’s son, who proposes to leave town to-morrow, can carry that message, if approved, and a similar one to...
26Timothy Pickering to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 22 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
Be pleased to hand the inclosed papers for the perusal of the President. I will do myself the honour to wait on him respecting them to-day—at any hour the President shall direct, if one will be more convenient to him than another. I am sir, your most obt servt I send the map which you said the President requested with the boundaries of the lands of the Six Nations marked on it. ALS , DLC:GW ;...
27To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 3 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inclose for your perusal a letter of the first instant from Captain Bruff of the corps of artillerists and engineers, at Baltimore, respecting the arrest and character of William B. Smith of the same corps; and a letter of the 27th ulto from Lieutenant Smith, asking to be removed to Norfolk, under pretence that Baltimore disagrees with his health, and declaring, “if he is not...
28To 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...
29To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 17 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your note of this morning, and now inclose the draught of the message to accompany the Georgia acct and Govr Blount’s communications. In half an hour (unless you would choose to see me sooner) I will wait upon you at your room; and am, most respectfully your obt servt Copies are prepared for the Senate, as well as the House. ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . GW’s note has...
30To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 20 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
General Knox has handed me the inclosed communications from General Wilkinson, deeming them proper to be seen by you. He desires me afterwards to return them. General Knox’s letter of the 4th of last December to General Wilkinson accompanies the communications of the latter, to render them intelligible. I am most respectfully sir, your obt servant ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Pickering...