9351From George Washington to Maria I of Portugal, 17 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Desirous of continuing a friendly and useful intercourse between the subjects of your Majesty and the Citizens of these States, and the proofs of our good will and consideration towards your Majesty, I have named John Quincy Adams, one of our distinguished citizens, Minister Plenipotentiary for the United States of America near your Majesty. He knows the interests we take, and shall ever take,...
9352To 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...
9353From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 17 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I nominate the following Persons to fill the Offices annexed to their respective names. Morgan Brown of the State of Tennessee, to be Collector for the District of Tennessee, and Inspector of the Revenue for the Port of Palmyra. John McNairy of the State of Tennessee to be Judge for the United States in the District of Tennessee. Thomas Gray of the State of Tennessee, to be Attorney for the...
9354From George Washington to Matthias Slough, 18 February 1797 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to Matthias Slough, 18 Feb. 1797 . Slough wrote GW on 22 Feb. : “Your Highly & most Esteemed favour of the 18th Currant Duely reached me” ( Papers, Retirement Series W. W. Abbot et al., eds. The Papers of George Washington, Retirement Series . 4 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1998–99. 1:4 –5).
9355From George Washington to John Jay, 19 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 8th instant from Albany, was duly received; but not before arrangements for many nominations (amongst which that for the Naval Office in New York was one) had been made. From the character of Mr Remson, I have a very good opinion of his abilities and worth; but as his name was not among those which had been handed to me for this office, and as there seemed to be a concurrent...
9356To 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...
9357From George Washington to John Adams, 20 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for giving me the perusal of the enclosed. The sentiments do honor to the head & heart of the writer; and if my wishes would be of any avail, they shd go to you in a strong hope , that you will not withhold merited promotion from Mr Jno. Adams because he is your son. For without intending to compliment the father or the mother, or to censure any others, I give it as my decided...
9358From George Washington to James Anderson, 20 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 14th enclosing the weekly Reports, was received on Saturday last. The opinion you have formed of the Overseers, under your superintendance, is, I dare say, very correct; and if the Negros will not do their duty by fair means, they must be compelled to do it; so far therefore from taking the latter amiss, that I consider it as a part of your duty. It has always been my aim to...
9359From George Washington to Charles IV of Spain, 20 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have chosen David Humphreys, one of our distinguished citizens, to reside near your Majesty in quality of Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America. From a knowledge of his fidelity, probity and good conduct, I have entire confidence that he will render himself acceptable to your Majesty that he will study to preserve and strengthen the harmony and good understanding so...
9360From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 20 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Reasons which I have frequently assigned, have prevented me from acknowledging sooner, the receipt of your letter of the 3d instant; relatively to the memorial of Mr Davidson. Indeed I have so often expressed my unwillingness to depart from the engraved plan in every instance where it could be avoided, that I had hoped no repetition of this sort would have been made to you, by any of the...
9361To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 20 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
We had the honor of your favor of the 15th Instant—Your Ideas respecting the capitol are those which have been the prevailing ones with us for some time—No step has been omitted to put things in a state for advancing that building, as far as possible during the present Season; and we expect it to progress 30 additional feet, at least, by December next —You would see by our last Letters to you,...
9362To 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...
9363To George Washington from Caleb Prew Bennett, 21 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
The Petition of Caleb P. Bennett late of the State of Delaware. Humbly sheweth That by the Death of the late Major George Bush, the Office of Collector of the Customs for the District of Delaware hath become vacant: Your Petitioner having served his Country in a military capacity during the late revolution in the Delaware Regiment, in which he entered in the Year 1776 at the Age of sixteen...
9364To George Washington from the Board of Agriculture (Great Britain), 21 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
That the thanks of this Board be given, to His Excellency George Washington, for his obliging Communications respecting Manures and Vegetation. DS , DLC:GW . GW replied to Sinclair on 15 July 1797 (see Papers, Retirement Series W. W. Abbot et al., eds. The Papers of George Washington, Retirement Series . 4 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1998–99. 1:250–52 ). The “Communications” most likely refer...
9365To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 21 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
We had the honor of receiving yours of the 17th Inst. by last mail —The ideas expressed in your former Letter, were perfectly understood, as you will see, by our answer of yesterday[.] We wish a Bill to incorporate the Commissioners, may be passed by Congress —It will obviate many inconveniencies, & place the property of the United-States in a more eligible situation than heretofore—We had...
9366To George Washington from James Anderson, 22 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I was duely favored with Yours of 13th And the seeds which I delivered to the Gardener —I am sincerely happy in finding You approve my various Schemes—And as to the Distillery—will make it appear at least a 50 pCt trade have bought about 100 Barlls Corn at 20/. Another 100 will do untill late in the Fall When more will come in. And the ⟨Tailings⟩ will do for some time to Mix with the Corn....
9367To George Washington from George Washington Parke Custis, 22 February 1797 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from George Washington Parke Custis, 22 Feb. 1797 . GW wrote Custis on 27 Feb. and acknowledged his “letter of the 22d inst.”
9368To George Washington from William Jackson, 22 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
With a sense of gratitude, which words can but feebly express, I transmit to you the just account of an obligation, infinitely endeared by the manner, in which it was conferred, and the delicacy with which it has been mentioned. Renewing to you the assurance of an inviolable attachment, I am Sir, Your much obliged, faithful, and affectionate Servant ALS , DLC:GW . A lawyer in Philadelphia,...
9369Address from the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati, 22 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Upon this auspicious day—and in contemplation of an approaching public event, the most affecting, which can ever occur to us, either as Men, as Citizens, or as your former fellow Soldiers, we desire to congratulate, and address you. As Men we offer to you the homage of a pure and heartfelt affection—As Citizens we express to you the gratitude, which results from a just sense of the highest...
9370From George Washington to John Armstrong, 23 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Believing that there may be times and occasions, on which my opinions of the anonymous letters and their author, as delivered to the army in 1783, may be turned to some personal and malignant purpose, I do hereby declare, that I did not, at the time of writing my address, regard you as the author of the said letters; and farther, that I have since had sufficient reason for believing, that the...
9371To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 23 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor to lay before the President of the United [States] three letters this day received from Mr J.Q. Adams. The note in French inclosed in his No. 88. is directed to the Committee for foreign affairs, to inform them that he was authorized to confer & prepare arrangements for ameliorations of the commercial treaty between the two republics, and desired to be...
9372From George Washington to Unknown, 25 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
The printed notification (enclosed) gives a general description of the lands held by the Subscriber on the Rivers Ohio & Kanhawa. For one more in detail, it is presumed the purchaser would choose to rely more on his own investigation, or on the report of an Agent, than on that of the Seller, and therefore it will not be attempted. The price has been rising, and at present is eight dollars pr...
9373From George Washington to James Anderson, 27 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 22d with the weekly reports, was received on the 25th. As its contents, is chiefly matter of information, it requires but little to be said in reply: and as the public business presses upon me at this juncture, and I shall (I hope) be at Mount Vernon ’ere long, I will suspend giving any opinion, or directions relative to the business entrusted to you, in this letter;...
9374To George Washington from Thomas Bourke, 27 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Considering that I have not the honor of being known to you, I fear I shall be justly charged with an unreasonable share of Confidence, in the liberty I take in troubling you with this letter. About the Middle of last month, Genl Gun & Colo. Tatnal Signified to me their wish of seeing me Appointed Surveyor of the Port of Savannah in the State of Georgia, where I reside, And Genl Gunn was good...
9375From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 27 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
As the curtain is about to close on the political scenes of my life; and consequently to terminate the agency I have had in the affairs of the Federal City; I will, as far as a very hurried situation will permit, take notice of such parts of your several letters as remain undecided on. Having already informed you, that a Bill is pending in Congress for incorporating the Commissioners of the...
9376To George Washington from the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 27 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 20th would have been sooner attended to, but the mails have lately come in, very irregularly, & always late at night —mr Davidson’s will be taken up as soon as we have a full board, which will be the last of this or beginning of next week —what mr Davidson alludes to in his memorial, where he says, deviations have been made since the publication of the engraved plan, we know...
9377From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 27 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 22d inst., as also one of the first, have been duly received. The affectionate sentiments contained in them, are highly pleasing to me. But that which affords a still higher gratification, is to hear that you are not only attentive to your studies, but pleased with them also. Hence, I draw the most agreeable presages, that you will reward my cares & anxieties to see you a...
9378To George Washington from David Green (alias Alexander Howard), 27 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I in behalf of a Numbers of prisoners at present Confined in the Goal of this City who have at Different Courts within a year past Received sentence of Confinement for Life to hard Labour and Solitude the Charges or Indictments are all one or two Excepted that of Forgery, Numbers for that of Uttering Bank Paper which was said to be Counterfeit and I believe from the Conversation I have had...
9379From George Washington to Allen McLane, 27 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you are Appointed with the Advice of the Senate of the United states Collector of the Customs for the District of Delaware. I have Selected you from a Convict[i]on that you will fill the Important Office with Honour to yourself and Advantage to your Country. And Sincerely wish you may find it your Intrest to Abandon your Other pursuites for the Support of your...
9380From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 27 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I nominate William Vans Murray of Maryland to be Minister Resident of the United States of America to the United Netherlands. Allan McLean of Delaware, to be Collector for the District of Delaware and Inspector of the Revenue for the Port of Wilmington. John Gibbons of Georgia, to be Surveyor for the Port of Savannah and Inspector of the Revenue for the same. LS , DNA : RG 46, entry 52; LB ,...
9381To George Washington from Jeremiah Wadsworth, 27 February 1797 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Jeremiah Wadsworth, 27 Feb. 1797 . GW wrote Wadsworth on 6 March : “Your favor of the 27th Ulto reached me in the forenoon” ( Papers, Retirement Series W. W. Abbot et al., eds. The Papers of George Washington, Retirement Series . 4 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1998–99. 1:17 ).
9382To George Washington from William Barton, 28 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
The near approach of the period of your leaving this city, suggests the propriety of my making a request, previous to Your departure, which I hope You will find no difficulty in granting—It is, Sir, that You will do me the favor of directing Your Secret[ar]y to return to me sundry Testimonials in my behalf, which I deposited in Your hands, soon after the Commencement of the Government. With a...
9383From George Washington to George Clinton, 28 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 14th instt with a Postscript of the 24th came to my hands yesterday: and I hereby acknowledge the receipt of Mr Wilkes’s draught on the Cashier of the Bank of Pennsylvania for the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars on account of our joint concern in the lotts in Coxburgh—and which, as appears by the items of an account enclosed overpays my dividend of the receipts...
9384To George Washington from Cornplanter, 28 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Speech of the Cornplanter to General Washington. “ Father : I thank the great spirit for protecting us through the Various paths which we have trod since I was last at this place —As I am told you are about to retire from public business, I have come to pay my last address to you as the great Chief of the fifteen fires, and am happy to find that I have arriv’d here in time to address you once...
9385From George Washington to James McHenry, 28 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Let me entreat you to attend early this morning to a fit character as a Comsr to attend the proposed Treaty with the Indians, by Mr Morris; and on this head, and on the message proper to accompany the nomination, I wish you would advise with Colo. Pickering; who has had more to do in Indian Affairs than any other Officer now in the Government, and perhaps may more readily think of a proper...
9386From George Washington to the U.S. House of Representatives, 28 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
Having maturely considered the bill, to alter and amend an Act intitled an Act to ascertain and fix the military establishment of the United States, which was presented to me on the 22d day of this month I now return it to the house of Representatives, in which it originated, with my objections. First. If the bill passes into a law, the two companies of light dragoons will be from that moment...
9387To George Washington from James Anderson, 1 March 1797 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from James Anderson, 1 March 1797 . Anderson wrote GW on 8 March 1797 : “I wrote You on 1st” ( Papers, Retirement Series W. W. Abbot et al., eds. The Papers of George Washington, Retirement Series . 4 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1998–99. 1:20–23 ).
9388Circular to United States Senators, 1 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States to [ ] Senator for the State of [ ]. It appearing to me proper that the Senate of the United States should be convened on Saturday the fourth day of March instant; You are desired to attend in the Chamber of the Senate on that day at eleven OClock in the forenoon to receive any communications which the President of the United States may then have to lay...
9389To 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...
9390From George Washington to Henry Knox, 2 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
Amongst the last acts of my political life, and before I go hence into retirement, profound , will be the acknowledgment of your kind and affectionate letter from Boston—dated the 15th of January. From the friendship I have always borne you—and from the interest I have ever taken in whatever relates to your prosperity & happiness, I participated in the sorrows which I knew you must have felt...
9391From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 2 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
I nominate Joel Barlow of the State of Connecticut, to be Consul-General of the United States of America, for the City & Kingdom of Algiers. John Gavino to be Consul of the United States of America for the port of Gibraltar, in the room of James Simpson appointed Consul for Morocco. Frederick Folger of Maryland, to be Consul of the United States of America for the port & district of Aux-Cayes,...
9392From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 2 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
United States, 2 March 1797. GW makes appointments and promotions in the U.S. army and nominates a total of eight men, including two lieutenants in the light dragoons. One of those officers, James Vincent Ball, is appointed to replace John Posey who resigned as lieutenant in the light dragoons on 19 Oct 1795. GW also appoints a surgeon’s mate in the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers because...
9393From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 3 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
Three things relative to the City of Washington call for my decision, and this is the last day I have Powers to give any. The first respects the dispute with Mr Law, touching the conveyances of Lotts; the second, to my approbation of the Plans for the Executive Offices; and the third, to the Instrument you transmitted to me in your letter of the 31st of January. With regard to the first,...
9394Pardon for Benjamin Parkinson, 3 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
To all persons to whom these Presents shall come Greeting. Whereas Benjamin Parkinson of the County of Washington in the State of Pennsylvania gentleman, now stands indicted of High-Treason committed within the said State—And whereas it is represented to me by David Lenox Esquire late Marshall of the District of Pennsylvania and others, that the Conduct of the said Benjamin Parkinson during...
9395From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 3 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
At the conclusion of my public employments, I have thought it expedient to notice the publication of certain forged letters which first appeared in the year 1777, and were obtruded upon the public as mine. They are said by the editor to have been found in a small portmanteau that I had left in the care of my Mulatto servant named Billy, who, it is pretended, was taken prisoner at Fort Lee, in...
9396From George Washington to Hans Alexander Siegfried von Steuben, 3 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter dated the 1st of September last, inquiring for the fortune of your deceased Brother, Baron Steuben. A former application from some relation of the Baron led me to inquire how he disposed of his estate, and I found that the payment of debts and claims would absorb the greater part, and that the residue was given to some particular friends to whom he was attached, and who...
9397From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 3 March 1797 (Washington Papers)
I nominate Anthony Walton White of New-Jersey to be Surveyor for the Port of New Brunswick and Inspector of the Revenue for the same. LS , DNA : RG 46, entry 52; LB , DLC:GW . The Senate confirmed Anthony Walton White’s nomination on this date (see Senate Executive Journal Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America: From the commencement of the First, to...