1From George Washington to David Forman, 21 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
Acknowledging the receipt of your letters of the 3rd and 18th instant, I desire to assure you that I have not been inattentive to your communications. In order that the most prudential steps might be taken on the subject, to which your letters related, they were laid before the Chief-Justice of the United States, who thought that a reference of them to the Executive of this State was the most...
2From George Washington to David Forman, 25 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have just now, received your favor of the 23d instant. It gives me pain to find a Request from you, which I am unable to gratify. But my Duty obliges me to inform you, that the Request is of such a Nature, as I have never complied with, in any one Instance; nor do I think, that, while under our present Circumstances, it will ever permit me to grant a similar one. If the Introduction of...
3From George Washington to David Forman, 3 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your favors of the 21st Septemr and 24th and 26 October came regularly to hand—as they only contain intelligence of the movements of the enemy’s Fleet, and required no particular answer, I did not think it worth while to give the Chain of Expresses the trouble of riding the whole way back to you. Your letter of the 26th of Sept ember , directed by favor of Count de Breuille, never reached my...
4From George Washington to David Forman, 9 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowlege the Receipt of your two last Favors of the 3d & 7th instant—the last came to Hand about after 10 oClock this morng. I have only to request your watchfull attention to the movements of the fleet—and also your Endeavours to obtain any particular account from N. York since the arrival of the last Packet from England, that may fall within your power. I am sir Your most humble...
5From George Washington to David Forman, 3 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favors of the 28th ulto and 1st Inst. your accounts of the embarkation of the Foreign Troops correspond exactly with others immediately from New York—I had not before heard of their sailing—I hope no accident will befall your emissaries. General Carleton sent me out the proceeding of the Court Martial upon Lippencut, by which he was acquitted, on proving to the satisfaction of...
6From George Washington to David Forman, 28 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favored with your Letter of the 25th. I am much obliged by the intelligence you have forwarded—The List you enclosed appears to have the marks of authenticity—should you find there is any alteration in the state of the Enemy’s shipping, or should you obtain any other important information I shall expect to hear from you by an early conveyance. in the Mean time I am with great...
7From George Washington to David Forman, 25 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your Letter of the 18th: and am much obliged by the readiness & zeal you manifest in your Endeavours to obtain the Intelligence I wish to receive from New York. It is really very extraordinary that no British fleet has yet appeared on our Coasts, in pursuit of the french squadron, which is now safely arrived in Boston Harbour. Your Chain of Expresses may extend to...
8From George Washington to David Forman, 10 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
The season being now come, when the Frequent arrival of Ships & perhaps Squadrons may be expected on the American Coast; and it being highly necessary that I should be constantly & perfectly informed of the state of the Enemy’s Naval Force in these Seas, and particularly at New York; I must again request you will take upon yourself the management of this very interesting & important business:...
9From George Washington to David Forman, 7 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 5th Inst. has just come to hand. Exclusive of the objection I have, to the establishment of a precedent, for granting Passports to Citizens, without the interference of the Civil Authority of the States to which they belong, I think, the circumstance of my deviating from a fixed Rule, might in the present instance, be an occasion of suspicion to the Enemy & frustrate the ends...
10From George Washington to David Forman, 25 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I received last Evening your favor of the 23d and thank you for the information contained in it. As I have made it an invariable practice not to give permission for any Citizens to go within the Enemy’s Lines on private business; without liberty is first obtained from the Executive of the State to which they belong, I must refer the Persons mentioned in your Letter to the Civil Authority for...