201From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 5 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I would take the liberty of addressing a few lines to Your Excellency, respecting such of the Officers and privates of Blands and Baylors Regiments of Dragoons and of Harrisons Artillery, as belong to the state of Virginia. Their situation is really disagreable and discouraging; and it is perhaps the more so, from its being now almost if not intirely singular. It is said, that under the idea...
202From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 2 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Notes are sufficiently descriptive to comprehend the two objects fully; but it is necessary to remark, that if the first line begins at a point on Hunting Creek, the fourth line cannot, in any part touch (Though it will include) the Town of Alexandria; because Huntg Creek is below the boundaries of the Town. And, if it could be so ordered as for the first line to avoid touching...
203From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 28 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s favor of the 13th reached me this day. I have ever been of opinion, that the reduction of the post of Detroit would be the only certain mean of giving peace and security to the whole Western Frontier, and I have constantly kept my Eye upon that object; but such has been the reduced state of our Continental Force, and such the low ebb of our Funds, more especially of late,...
204From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 5 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 1st instant, came to my hands yesterday. I regret the indisposition of General Knox; but hope, as there is yet time for consideration of those matters I referred to the heads of the Departments, no inconvenience will result from the delay, occasioned thereby; unless it should continue much longer. At George Town, I met mister Randolph; & by a Letter just received from mister...
205From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 13 February 1789 (Washington Papers)
Having found that there is a vessel on the point of sailing from Alexandria for Havre de Grace I would not forego so good an opportunity of addressing a letter to you; although nothing very material has occurred since the date of my last, which was transmitted by Mr Gouverneur Morris. As you will doubtless have seen in the Gazettes the Measures taken by the different States for carrying the...
206From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 26 September 1785 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your favors of the 10th & 17th of July which were committed to the care of Mr Houdon; but I have not yet had the pleasure to see that Gentleman. His Instruments and materials (Doctr Franklin informs me) not being arrived at Havre when they Sailed, he was obliged to leave them; & is now employed in providing others at Philadelphia, with which he will proceed to...
207From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 10 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
On the 4th Instant I had the Honor to receive Your Letter of the 19th of June. Your Excellency will permit me to offer you my sincere congratulations upon your appointment to the Government of Virginia. I thank you much for the accounts Your Excellency had been pleased to transmit me of the successes of Cols. Clarke & Shelby. They are important and interesting—and do great honor to the...
208From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 29 March 1784 (Washington Papers)
It was not in my power to answer your favor of the 15th by the last post for the reason then assigned. I wish I may be able to do it to your satisfaction now, as I again am obliged to pay attention to other Company (the Governor being gone). My opinion coincides perfectly with yours respecting the practicability of an easy, & short communication between the waters of the Ohio & Potomack, of...
209From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 9 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with Your Excellency’s severals Letters of the 3d 10th and 19th Novembr with their Inclosures; at the time of their receipt, the Army was preparing for Winter Quarters, and a multiplicity of business prevented my acknowledging them until this moment. I pray you now, to be assured, I was extremely obliged, by your particular attention, in making those communications,...
210Memorandum for Thomas Jefferson, 27 August 1791 (Washington Papers)
Will circumstances render a postponement of the Sale of Lots in the Federal City advisable? If not Where ought they to be made Will it in that case, or even without it, be necessary or prudent to attempt to borrow money to carry on the difft works in the City? Whether ought the building of a bridge over the Eastern branch to be attempted—the Canal set about—and Mr Peter’s proposion with...
211From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 26 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
On the 13th Instant I had the honor to receive your Excellency’s Letter of the 28th Ulto with a Copy of the Resolution of the Assembly to which it refers. The proceeding is founded in a generous & just liberality with respect to the Officers & Soldiers who had not been provided for by the Act alluded to—and will I hope at least have a happy operation in alleviating their distresses which were...
212From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 8 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellencys favors of the 22d 25th and 26th ulto. We have already had reports that the Enemy left Portsmouth precipitately a few days after landing. I shall be happy to hear it confirmed, as well as the cause to which their hurry is attributed—that of the appearance of a French or Spanish Fleet upon the Coast of Carolina. Should this account be premature, and...
213From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 6 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
When I inform you, that your letter of the 19th Ulto went to Philadelphia and returned to this place, before it was received by me; it will be admitted, I am persuaded, as an apology for my not having acknowledged the receipt of it sooner. If I had entertained any suspicions before, that the queries which have been published in Bache’s Paper proceeded from you, the assurances you have given of...
214From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 10 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
The P. has given the enclosed letters an attentive reading & consideration, and has found nothing in them but what is just, and in the hands of a prudent user proper; but at the end of the words of the letter to Mr C. “this wrong” 2d page 10th line may it not be well to add—“yet with that prudence & circumspection which will not commit the Government to the necessity of proceeding to...
215From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 21 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure to receive duly your letter dated the 15th of Decr last; but I thought proper to delay answering or mentioning the contents of it, until after the arrival of Mr Madison, who I understood had been with you. He arrived yesterday, and I now take the earliest opportunity of mentioning to you the result of my reflections; and the expediency of your deciding, at as early a period...
216From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 25 November 1791 (Washington Papers)
As the meeting proposed to be held (at nine O’clock tomorrow morning) with the heads of the Great Departments) is to consider important subjects belonging (more immediately) to the Department of State—The President desires Mr Jefferson would commit the several points on which opinions will be asked to Paper, in the order they ought to be taken up. AL , DLC : Thomas Jefferson Papers; ADf , DNA...
217From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 23 August 1792 (Washington Papers)
(Private) My dear Sir, Mount Vernon Augt 23d 1792. Your letters of the 12th & 13th came duly to hand—as did that enclosing Mr Blodgets plan of a Capitol. The latter I forwarded to the Commissioners, and the enclosures of the two first are now returned to you. I believe we are never to hear from Mr Carmichael; nor of him but through the medium of a third person. His——I realy do not know with...
218From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 18 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor a few days ago, to receive Your Excellency’s Letter of the 2d Instant—and at the same time One from General Muhlenburg, inclosing the Return You had requested him to send me. I am exceedingly obliged to Your Excellency for your attention in this affair, and beg leave to refer You to the inclosed Copy of a Letter addressed to Major General Gates if He should be at Fredericksburg...
219From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 4 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
If the heads of Departments and the Attorney General, who have prepared the eight rules which you handed to me yesterday, are well satisfied that they are not repugnant to treaties, or to the Laws of Nations; and moreover, are the best we can adopt to maintain Neutrality; I not only give them my approbation, but desire they may be made known without delay for the information of all concerned....
220From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 10 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
On sunday Evening I had the honor to receive Your Excellency’s Letters of the 23d and 26th of last month. I am happy to find by the former and the Letter You were so obliging as to forward from Colo. Wood that the Convention troops are now comfortably supplied. I hope this will be the case and that the mode You have in contemplation to adopt will answer your expectations. Colo. Wood’s conduct...
221From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 1 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
Nothing in the enclosed letter superceding the necessity of Mr Ellicots proceeding to the work in hand—I would thank you, for requesting him, to set out on thursday; or as soon after as he can make it convenient: also for preparing such instructions as you may conceive it necessary for me to give him for ascertaining the points we wish to know; first, for the general view of things—& next for...
222From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 4 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 12th ulto, after travelling to Philadelphia and back again, was received by me, at this place, the 1st instant. The letter from Madame de Chastellux to me, is short—referring to the one she has written to you for particulars respecting herself & infant son. Her application to me is unquestionably misplaced, and to Congress it would certainly be unavailing, as the Chevalier...
223From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 1 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 15th of August, and am sorry that it is not in my power to give you any further information relative to the practicability of opening a communication between Lake Erie and the Ohio, than you are already possessed of. I have made frequent enquiries since the time of your writing to me on that subject while Congress were sitting at Annapolis, but could never...
224From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 29 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had not the honor till Th[r]ee days ago to receive Your Excellency’s Letters of the 4th Ulto & 2d Instant. With respect to your enquiry about sending Tobacco to New York & Long Island for the prisoners—it is not in my power to give You a decisive answer, but I am much inclined to think that it would not be permitted by the Enemy. I have heard by report that the matter has been mentioned, on...
225From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 20 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
The letters of Gouvr Morris give a gloomy picture of the Affairs of France. I fear with too much truth. If the order of Senate, dated the 7th of last May, is compleated, it must be with all Offices except the Judges. The Post Office (as a branch of Revenue) was annexed to the Treasury in the time of Mr Osgood—and when Colo. Pickering was appointed thereto, he was informed, as I find by my...
226From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 31 August 1788 (Washington Papers)
I was very much gratified by the receipt of your letter, dated the 3d of May. You have my best thanks for the political information contained in it, as well as for the satisfactory account of the Canal of Languedoc. It gives me pleasure to be made acquainted with the particulars of that stupendous work, tho’ I do not expect to derive any but speculative advantages from it. When America will be...
227From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 31 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
Having been so fortunate as to reconcile the contending interests of Georgetown and Carrollsburg, and to unite them in such an agreement as permits the public purposes to be carried into effect on an extensive and proper scale, I have the pleasure to transmit to you the enclosed proclamation, which after annexing your counter signature and the seal of the United States, you will cause to be...
228From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 25 February 1785 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure to find by the public Gazettes that your passage to France had been short, and pleasant. I have no doubt but that your reception at the Court has been equally polite, & agreeable. I have the honor to inclose you the copy of an Act which passed the Assemblies of Virginia and Maryland at the close of their respective Sessions; about the first of last month. The circumstances...
229From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 26 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States transmits to the Secretary of State, to report thereon, a memorial of Monsr deletombe, Consul of France, to the Legislature of Massachusetts, respecting certain parts of the Consular Convention agreed upon by and between his most Christian Majesty and the President of the United States—together with a Resolution of that Legislature upon said memorial; and a...
230From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 15 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform Your Excellency confidentially that a French Fleet may in the course of a few Weeks be expected upon this Coast, and as it is uncertain what part of the land they may first make, Gentlemen are to be stationed at different points to give them Signals and to make them some necessary communications immediately upon their arrival. Major Galvan who will have the honor...
231From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 14 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with Your Excellency’s favor of the 22 of July and with its inclosure. With respect to appointing Officers for the Levies—Your Excellency I presume will have received before this, my Letters of the 18 & 22 Ulto, and by which You would find that I had arranged the matter, as far as the circumstances I was possessed of would admit, in consequence of your former application....
232Enclosure: Memorandum for Thomas Jefferson with Jefferson’s Answers and Notes, 27 August–8 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
Will circumstances render a postponement of the Sale of Lots in the Federal City advisable? If not not adviseable? [2.] Where ought they to be made left to be considered ultimately on the spot, the general opinion being only that the leading interests be accomodated. [3.] Will it in that case, or even without it, be necessary or prudent to attempt to borrow money to carry on the difft works in...
233From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 1 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
Is there no clue to Mr Morriss meaning respecting Monsr Merlino? The next paragraph of his letter is enigmatical to me, from the want of my recollecting perfectly the subjects alluded to. What are the orders given him which he will implicitly obey, and which were, according to his acct, received so very opportunely? Has not a letter of his of subsequent date to that laid before me yesterday,...
234From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 6–10 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with your Letter of the 17 of July, upon the case of Lt Governor Hamilton. This subject, on more mature consideration, appears to be involved in greater difficulty than I apprehended. When I first received the proceedings of the Council upon it, transmitted in Your Excellency’s Letter of the 19th of June, I had no doubt of the propriety of the treatment decreed against Mr...
235Enclosure: Major General William Phillips to Thomas Jefferson, 5 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received from Colonel Bland a Copy of the Letter you were pleased to write him in answer to my request for Lieutenant Governour Hamilton a british prisoner of war being allowed to make me a visit at this place. I have also read in a public print the resolution of a Council held at Williamsburg on the 16th of June 1779 with your orders in Consequence; this publick paper seems of such...
236From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 7 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
It appearing to me that the public business will require the Executive Officers to be together some time before the meeting of Congress, I have written to the Secretaries of the Treasury & War to meet me at Philadelphia or vicinity—say Germantown—by the first of November, and shd be glad to see you there at the same time. The Attorney General is advised of this also. In a letter from General...
237From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 11 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am exceedingly obliged by your Excellency’s favor of the 3d. It has indeed relieved me from much anxiety, as, from Genl Gates’s letter of the 20th Augt from Hillsborough, there was the greatest reason to apprehend that the whole of the Maryland line and the troops which made a stand with them had been cut off—The stroke, as it is, is severe; but the total loss of the regular troops, would...
238From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 21 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to communicate, to your Excellency, a circumstance which I hope will be followed by the most salutary consequences to the State of Virginia in particular, and which may ultimately have the happiest effect upon the interests of America in general. The Chevalier des Touche, commanding His most Christian Majestys Squadron in the harbour of Newport, finding himself enabled,...
239From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 30 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
It has so happened, that the letter which you did me the honor of writing to me the 14th of November last, did not come to my hands till the first of the present month; and at a time when I was about to set off for the Convention of the States, appointed to be holden in this City the 14th Instt. Consequently, it has not been in my power, at an earlier period, to reply to the important matters...
240From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 30 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
You will find by the enclosed letter from the Commissioners that Mr Hallet reports unfavorably of Doctor Thornton’s Plan “on the great points of practicability, time and expence:” and that I am referred “to Mr Blodget, Hoben, and Hallet, whose verbal information will be better than any we can give you"—on which to form ultimate Instructions. Mr Blodget I met at Baltimore in the moment I was...