51[Diary entry: 18 November 1789] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 18th. Took a walk in the forenoon, & called upon Mr. Jay on business but he was not within. On my return paid Mr. Vaughan Senr. a visit—informal. Sent a Commission as District Judge of So. Carolina to the Honble. William Drayton of that State. Samuel Vaughan (1720–1802), formerly a London merchant, had been living in Philadelphia since 1783 where, with his son John, he was conducting...
52[Diary entry: 19 November 1789] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 19th. The following Company dined here today—viz.—Mrs. Adams (Lady to the Vice President) Colo. Smith & Lady & Miss Smith Mrs. Adams’s Niece—Govr. Clinton and Lady & Miss Cornelia Clinton and Majr. Butlar, his Lady and two Daughters. Gov. George Clinton’s wife, whom he had married in 1770, was Cornelia Tappen Clinton, a connection of the prominent Wynkoop family of Ulster County, N.Y....
53[Diary entry: 20 November 1789] (Washington Papers)
Friday 20th. The Visitors of Gentn. and Ladies to Mrs. Washington this evening were numerous & respectable.
54[Diary entry: 21 November 1789] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 21st. Received in the Afternoon the Report from the Commissioners appointed to Treat with the Southern Indians. Gave it one reading & shall bestow another and more attentive one on it. See entry for 16 Nov. 1789 .
55[Diary entry: 22 November 1789] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 22d. Went to St. Pauls Chappel in the forenoon—heard a charity Sermon for the benefit of the Orphans School of this City. Had a good deal of conversation in the Evening with the above Commissioners on the more minute part of their transactions at the Treaty with the Creek Indians and their opinion with respect to the real views of Mr. McGillivry—The principles of whose conduct they...
56[Diary entry: 23 November 1789] (Washington Papers)
Monday 23d. Rid five or Six miles between Breakfast & dinner. Called upon Mr. Vanberkel & Mrs. Adams. Franco Petrus Van Berckel had succeeded his father as minister to the United States from the Netherlands in Aug. 1788 and presented his credentials in May 1789 (Van Berckel to Jay, 11 May 1789, letter of credence, 1 Aug. 1788, DNA:PCC , Item 126). He was generally popular in New York, although...
57[Diary entry: 24 November 1789] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 24th. A good deal of Company at the Levee to day. Went to the Play in the Evening. Sent Tickets to the following Ladies and Gentlemn. & invited them to Seats in my Box viz.—Mrs. Adams (Lady of the Vice-President) Genl. Schuyler & Lady, Mr. King & Lady, Majr. Butler and Lady, Colo. Hamilton & Lady Mrs. Green—all of whom accepted and came except Mrs. Butler who was indisposed. The play...
58[Diary entry: 25 November 1789] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 25th. Exercised on Horse-back between Breakfast & dinner—in which returning I called upon Mr. Jay and Genl. Knox on business and made informal visits to the Govr., Mr. Izard, Genl. Schuyler, and Mrs. Dalton. The following Company dined with me. viz. Doctr. Johnson & Lady and daughter (Mrs. Neely)—Mr. Izard & Lady & Son—Mr. Smith (So. Carolina) & Lady—Mr. Kean & Lady and the Chief...
59[Diary entry: 26 November 1789] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 26th. Being the day appointed for a thanksgiving I went to St. Pauls Chapel though it was most inclement and stormy—but few people at Church. On 25 Sept. 1789 the House of Representatives resolved that the president should recommend a day of thanksgiving and prayer to the people of the United States acknowledging divine favor and especially the “opportunity peaceably to establish a...
60[Diary entry: 27 November 1789] (Washington Papers)
Friday 27th. Not many Visitors this evening to Mrs. Washington.
61[Diary entry: 28 November 1789] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 28th. Exercised on Horseback.
62[Diary entry: 29 November 1789] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 29th. Went to St. Pauls Chapel in the forenoon.
63[Diary entry: 30 November 1789] (Washington Papers)
Monday 30th. Went to the Play in the Evening and presented Tickets to the following persons—viz.—Doctr. Johnson and Lady—Mr. Dalton & Lady—The Chief Justice of the United States and Lady—Secretary of War & Lady—Baron de Steuben and Mrs. Green. On 30 Nov. 1789 the Old American Company gave a benefit performance of Cymon and Sylvia , an “Opera or Dramatic Romance,” at the John Street Theatre (...
64[December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday Decr. 1st. A pretty full Levee to day—among the Visitors was the Vice President and all the Senators in Town. Exercised on Horseback betwn. 10 and 12. Read the Papers relative to our Affairs with the Emperer of Morocco and sent them to Mr. Jay to prepare answers to them. Presumably GW is referring to papers submitted by Jay 1 Dec. concerning United States relations with the emperor of...
65[Diary entry: 1 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday Decr. 1st. A pretty full Levee to day—among the Visitors was the Vice President and all the Senators in Town. Exercised on Horseback betwn. 10 and 12. Read the Papers relative to our Affairs with the Emperer of Morocco and sent them to Mr. Jay to prepare answers to them. Presumably GW is referring to papers submitted by Jay 1 Dec. concerning United States relations with the emperor of...
66[Diary entry: 2 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 2d. Exercised in the Post Chaise with Mrs. Washington. Visited on our return the Vice-President and family. Afterwards walked to Mr. Kings—Neither he nor his Lady were at home; or to be seen.
67[Diary entry: 3 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 3d. The following Gentlemen & Ladies dined here—viz.—Genl. Schuyler, his Lady & daughter (Mrs. Ranselaer)—Mr. Dalton and his Lady, the Secretary of the Treasury & his Lady—Genl. Knox and Lady & Mrs. Green—Baron de Steuben, Colo. Osgood (Postmaster Genl.) & the Treasurer Majr. Meridith. mrs. ranselaer : The Schuylers’s third daughter, Margaret (Peggy) Schuyler, was born in 1758. In...
68[Diary entry: 4 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Friday 4th. A great number of Visiters (Gentlemen & Ladies) this evening to Mrs. Washington. The Governor of New Jersey and the Speaker of the House of Assembly of that State presented an Address from the Legislature thereof and received an answer to it—after which they dined with me. The letter of congratulation to GW from the New Jersey legislature was signed, 1 Dec. 1789, by Gov. William...
69[Diary entry: 5 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 5th. Exercised on Horseback between 10 and 12 oclock. The Vice President & Lady and two Sons—Colo. Smith & Lady & his Sister, & Mrs. Adam’s Niece dined here. The two sons who accompanied the Adamses today were Charles Adams and Thomas Boylston Adams (1772–1832). William Stephens Smith had several sisters. The one who dined with GW today may have been Sarah Smith (1769–1828) who...
70[Diary entry: 6 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 6th. Went to St. Pauls Chapel in the Forenoon.
71[Diary entry: 7 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Monday 7th. Walked round the Battery in the afternoon.
72[Diary entry: 8 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 8th. Finished my Extracts from the Commissioners Report of their proceedings at the Treaty with the Creek Indians and from many other Papers respecting Indian matters and the Western Territory. A full Levee today. GW had received the report of the commissioners appointed to negotiate with the southern Indians on 21 Nov. (see entry for that day). His 18–page extract of material found in...
73[Diary entry: 9 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 9th. Walked round the Battery.
74[Diary entry: 10 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 10th. Exercised on Horseback—between 10 and 12 Oclock. The following Company dined here to day—viz.—Mrs. King and Mrs. Few—Mr. & Mrs. Harrison—Mr. & Mrs. Wolcot—Mr. Duer, his Lady and Miss Brown—Mr. Griffin & Lady and Lady Christiana and her daughter. Catherine Few was the wife of Sen. William Few of Georgia and the daughter of Comdr. James Nicholson. harrison : probably Richard...
75[Diary entry: 11 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Friday 11th. Being Rainy and bad no person except the Vice-President visited Mrs. Washington this evening.
76[Diary entry: 12 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 12th. Exercised in the Coach with Mrs. Washington and the two Children (Master & Miss Custis) between Breakfast & Dinner—went the 14 Miles round. the 14 miles round : A favorite excursion for New Yorkers was the ride around a portion of Manhattan Island, covering a distance of approximately 14 miles. Although the route varied somewhat, the path frequently taken led up the Bloomingdale...
77[Diary entry: 13 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 13th. Went to St. Pauls Chapel in the forenoon.
78[Diary entry: 14 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Monday 14th. Walked round the Battery in the afternoon.
79[Diary entry: 15 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 15th. Exercised on horseback about 10 Oclock. Called on the Secretary for the Department of War and gave him the heads of many Letters to be written to characters in the Western Country relative, chiefly, to Indian Affairs. Visitors at the Levee today were not very numerous, though respectable.
80[Diary entry: 16 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 16th. Dined with Mrs. Washington and all the family (except the two Children) at Governor Clintons—where also dined the Vice-President, his Lady Colo. & Mrs. Smith—The Mayor (Colo. Varick) and his Lady and old Mr. Van Berkel and his Daughter. Richard Varick (1753–1831) was born in Hackensack, N.J., and moved to New York City in 1775 to practice law. During the Revolution he was...
81[Diary entry: 17 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 17th. The following Company dined here—viz.—The Chief Justice of the U. States and his Lady; Mr. King, Colo. and Mrs. Lawrence—Mr. Gerry, Mr. Egbert Benson, Bishop Provost and Doctr. Lynn & his Lady. John Laurance (1750–1810) was United States congressman from New York. A native of England, he had settled in New York City in 1767, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1772....
82[Diary entry: 18 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Friday 18th. Read over, and digested my thoughts upon the subject of a National Militia, from the Plans of the Militia of Europe—those of the Secretary at War & the Baron de Steuben. In Aug. 1789 GW had pointed out to both houses of Congress the “national importance and necessity” of a “uniform and effective system for the Militia of the United States. . . . I am particularly anxious it should...
83[Diary entry: 19 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 19th. Committed the above thoughts to writing in order to send them to the Secretary for the Department of War to be worked into the form of a Bill with which to furnish the Committee of Congress which had been appointed to draught one.
84[Diary entry: 20 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 20th. Went to St. Pauls Chapel in the forenoon.
85[Diary entry: 21 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Monday 21st. Framed the above thoughts on the subject of a National Militia into the form of a Letter and sent it to the Secretary for the Department of War. Sat from ten to one Oclock for a Mr. Savage to draw my Portrait for the University of Cambridge in the State of Massachusetts at the request of the President and Governors of the said University. The portrait begun today by Edward Savage...
86[Diary entry: 22 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 22d. A pretty full & respectable Levee to day—at which several Members of Congress, newly arrived, attended.
87[Diary entry: 23 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 23d. Exercised in the Post-Chaise with Mrs. Washington to day. Sent the dispatches which came to me from the Assembly of Virginia and from the Representatives of several Counties therein respecting the State of the Frontiers and depredations of the Indians to the Secretary for the Department of War requesting his attendance tomorrow at 9 Oclock that I might converse more fully with...
88[Diary entry: 24 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 24th. The Secretary at War coming according to appointment, he was instructed, after conversing fully on the matter, what answers to return to the Executive of Virginia and to the Representatives of the Frontier Counties.
89[Diary entry: 25 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Friday 25th. Christmas day. Went to St. Pauls Chapel in the forenoon. The Visitors to Mrs. Washington this afternoon were not numerous but respectable.
90[Diary entry: 26 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 26th. Exercised on Horseback in the forenoon. Chief Justice Morris and the Mayor (Colo. Varick) and their Ladies, Judge Hobart, Colo. Cole, Majr. Gilman, Mrs. Brown, Secretary Otis, & Mr. Beckley dined here. Richard Morris (1730–1810) was elected chief justice of the New York Supreme Court in 1779. His wife was Sarah Ludlow Morris. John Sloss Hobart (1738–1805) of Fairfield, Conn.,...
91[Diary entry: 27 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 27th. At home all day—weather being bad.
92[Diary entry: 28 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Monday 28th. Set all the forenoon for Mr. Savage who was taking my Portrt.
93[Diary entry: 29 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 29th. Being very Snowing not a single person appeared at the Levee.
94[Diary entry: 30 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 30th. Exercised in a Carriage.
95[Diary entry: 31 December 1789] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 31st. Bad weather and close House. The Vice Presidt. & Lady, Colo. Smith & Lady Chanr. Livingston Lady & Sister—Baron Steuben Messrs. White, Gerry Patridge & Tucker of the Ho. of Representatives—dined here today. Robert R. Livingston (1746–1813) of New York, one of the Clermont branch of the powerful Livingston family, had been among the most active and influential members of the...
96January 1790 (Washington Papers)
Friday first. The Vice-President, the Governor—the Senators, Members of the House of Representatives in Town—Foreign public characters and all the respectable Citizens came between the hours of 12 & 3 Oclock to pay the complimts. of the Season to me—and in the Afternoon a great number of Gentlemen & Ladies visited Mrs. Washington on the same occasion. Abigail Adams noted that New Year’s Day...
97[Diary entry: 1 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Friday first. The Vice-President, the Governor—the Senators, Members of the House of Representatives in Town—Foreign public characters and all the respectable Citizens came between the hours of 12 & 3 Oclock to pay the complimts. of the Season to me—and in the Afternoon a great number of Gentlemen & Ladies visited Mrs. Washington on the same occasion. Abigail Adams noted that New Year’s Day...
98[Diary entry: 2 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 2d. Exercised in the Carriage with Mrs. Washington. Read the report of the Secretary of the Treasury respecting the State of his Department & proposed plans of Finance. Drank Tea at the Chief Justice’s of the U. States. report of the secretary of the treasury : In Sept. 1789 the House of Representatives, considering “an adequate provision for the support of the public credit, as a...
99[Diary entry: 3 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 3d. Went to St. Pauls Chapel.
100[Diary entry: 4 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Monday 4th. Informed the President of the Senate, and Speaker the Ho. of Representatives that I had some Oral communications to make to Congress when each House had a Quoram, and desired to be informed thereof—and of the time & place they would receive them. Walked round the Battery in the afternoon. Received a Report from the Secretary at War respecting the State of the Frontiers and Indian...