61From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 4 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Spanish Minister, Mr de Yrujo, spent two days with me, and is just gone. I caused it to be intimated to him, that as I should be absent from the Seat of the Government until the middle, or latter end of August, that I was ready to receive his letter of credence at this place. He answered (as I understood it) that his credentials were with his Baggage, on its passage to Philadelphia; and...
62From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 1 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 27th ulto is received. I am sorry Mr De Witt, from the competency of his abilities to discharge the duties of the Office of Surveyor General, declines accepting it. Colo. Tinsley’s recommendations, go more to the respectability of his character, than to his scientific knowledge. The first is essential, but not sufficient without the other. I will obtain the best information...
63From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 29 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Did Mr Liston furnish the letter you asked of him, in favor of Cap: Talbots agency, to the West Indies? Has any representation been made to him, independent of that application, consequent of the evidence you have recd of the Impressment of our Seamen? When I left Philadelphia, it was expected, & from Mr & Mrs Liston themselves, that they were to follow us in ten days; and allowing a...
64From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 27 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Post of friday—to Alexandria—brought me your dispatches of the 22d instant. Mr Adets answer to your communication, relatively to the Capture of the Ship Mount Vernon, leaves the matter as undecided as before; and his reserve may, it is to be feared, be considered as a collateral evidence of the truth of the information I handed to you in my last, and contributes to shew the necessity of...
65From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 24 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
The information contained in a letter of which the enclosed is a correct copy, (with the reservation only of names, agreeably to the request of the writer) may serve as a comment upon the conduct of the Owner of the Privateer Flying Fish; and as a developement also of the intentions of the French government so far as it relates to the Commerce of the United States with Great Britain. The...
66From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 10 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Pickering will attend to the Suggestion of Mr McHenry, & then return the letter, directed to Colo. T. Blount back, as requested. If there are any authorities which can be consulted on the remonstrance of Mr Vear, it might be well to have recourse to them. The opinion I gave was from what I conceive to be consistent with propriety and us⟨ mutilated ⟩ but, though I have no reason to...
67From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 9 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Instructions for Mr King, herewith returned, appear to me to be proper. To them, however, I think might be added a desire that he should attempt to remove any doubts which may arise in the construction of the [ ] article relative to our Trade ⟨with⟩ the East Indies; and to get relieved if it be practicable from the restrictions on our Vessels going from thence with their Cargoes to China....
68From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 6 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have given your Letter of instructions to our Minister at the Court of London, attentive consideration, and approve them; unless the last clause but one, should give rise to the negotiation of an article which may not accord with the result of a motion which is pending in the House of Representatives (introduced, if my memory serves me, by Mr Smith, of Baltimore)—of which, however, I have...
69Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., to Timothy Pickering, 13 February 1796 (Washington Papers)
Resolved, that The President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before this House, the Treaty mentioned in his communications to both Houses of Congress, at the opening of the present Session, as having been negotiated with certain Indian Nations northwest of the river Ohio. By the President’s order B. Dandridge respectfully transmits to the Secy of State the above copy of a...
70Enclosure: Robert Brooke to Timothy Pickering, 16 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor of enclosing to you, a letter from the Vice Consul of the French Republic (resident at Norfolk) complaining of improper purchases making in this State, by the British Consul and his agents; and calling on the Executive of Virginia for their interference to prevent the injury which those operations threaten to the interest of the French Nation. If the Subjects of the...
71Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., to Timothy Pickering, 23 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
By The President’s direction B. Dandridge respectfully transmits to the Secy of State a Memorial of sundry merchants of New York—The President requests the Secretary to return an answer to the Letter from the Committee, which accompanied the Memorial, informing them that the most pointed & strong remonstrances have been made against the Conduct of which they complain. B.D. also encloses a...
72From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 11 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
I learn with concern that the statements from the War department referred to in my speech to Congress, are not yet handed in, & that some Members are ascribing delay of business to the want of information which has been promised, & which they have been expecting. I request that they may be presented without delay. I am always yrs &c. Copy, MHi : Pickering Papers; ADfS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW ....
73From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 20 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
In my communications to Congress at the opening of the ensuing Session, I shall refer to the department of War for information on the following subjects. A statement of our present Military force—terms of its enlistment —and the disposition thereof—generally. A statement of the fortifications, and defences of the several harbours, agreeably to acts of Congress passed for that purpose. The...
74From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 26 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
Not doubting but that the statements, contained in the enclosed letter to Mr Pinckney, are grounded on facts, it appears to me to be as proper as it is spirited. Transcript, MHi : Pickering Papers. The transcript was certified as “A true copy” by Octavius Pickering, 22 Feb. 1866. The transcript of Pickering’s docket reads in part: “Approves the letter to Mr Pinckney of Oct. [22] relative to...
75From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 12 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 2d & 5th instant came to my hands on thursday last, but it was not in my power, conveniently to acknowledge the receipt of them by the succeeding Post. It is a very singular occurrence that Mr Pinckney should make use of a cypher to which there is no counterpart, or key in the Office of State! A kind of fatality seems to have pursued this negociation and in short all our...
76From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 7 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your communications of the 2d Inst. have been duly received. General Wayne will, I hope & expect, leave the Garrisons in his advanced Posts sufficiently respectable. In the present uncertainty of what may be the final result of the treaty with Great Britain, and from the intimations of Captn Brant, we ought not in my opinion to œconomise at too Great a hazard; nor build too much in the present...
77From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 5 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
This is merely intended to let you know that, your two letters, the one official, the other private, of the 30th ulto have both been received. If the Authors of such resolutions as are forwarded to me, relative to the Treaty with G. Britain mean well they will be benefited by such sentiments as you have communicated to Judge Walton: for nothing short of profound ignorance, or consummate...
78From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 2 October 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 25th, and two of the 28th Ulto have been duly received—one of them accompanied with a copy of the Treaty with the Western Indians—which I shall retain until my arrival in Philadelphia—presuming, if no accident happens, that the original will be with you as soon as the copy could were I to send it by the mail of tomorrow. In one of your letters of the 28th the proceedings of...
79From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 28 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
Two letters from you, dated the 21st instant, and one of the 23d, came to Alexandria by the Post on Friday. I will immediately set on foot an enquiry relative to the prospect of obtaining the lands sufficient for an Arsenal at the confluence of the Rivers Potomac & Shenandoah. From what I have heard of this site, and partly from what I know of it, it must be the most eligable spot on the whole...
80From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 27 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your private letter of the 21st instant, did not reach me until yesterday. A late letter of mine to you, will have fixed the Directorship of the Mint upon Mr Boudinot —The application therefore of Majr Jackson, however fit he may have been for the Office, is too late. But besides the reasons assigned in your letter against such an appointment at present, I should have preferred a character...
81From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 23 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
Two letters from you, dated the 18th instant, were received yesterday. For the reasons you have assigned, I think it best that Mr Boudinot should fill the Directorship of the Mint; and request he may be informed so. At the same time, urge him to come forward, if for no other purpose than to arrange matters with the present occupant—and derive from him all the insight into the business his...
82From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 18 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 11th with two others from you dated the 14th instant, were received yesterday. The summary of the dispatches from Governor Blount, was more agreeable to me than complete transcripts of his letter with the enclosures; and the same practice where information only is intended, may govern in other cases. I am very glad to find that the Creeks are so well disposed for peace with...
83From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 16 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
If, when this reaches your hands, there should be no contract or other obligation existing on behalf of the U.S. for the purchase of land on the Potomac, intended for the public Arsenal—I should wish all further negociation in this business to be suspended until proper inquiries can be made and information obtained respecting the property at the junction of the Potomac and Shanandoah Rivers in...
84From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 16 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
Monday’s Mail brought me both your letters dated the 11th instant —The one containing an extract from Majr Craig’s letter, relative to the conclusion of the treaty with the North western Tribes of Indians, was very acceptable. and I pray you to dispatch Seagrove, & impress strongly upon him the necessity, & the earnest desire of, the government that he would, without delay, effect if it can be...
85From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 11 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
The extreme badness of the Roads prevented my arrival at this place until nine oclock this morning, of course too late for the Mail of this day—Monday therefore being next Post day, which will occasion a delay of three days—and this probably the loss of a passage to Europe of one of the setts of Letters, herewith enclosed, I have thought it best to return them by Express; and have accordingly...
86From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 9 September 1795 (Washington Papers)
I had no time yesterday morning to look into the gazettes; nor did I know until the evening, that the French frigate Medusa had slipped her Cables & put to Sea on the 31st ulto; and was followed in a few hours by the Africa. This circumstance, be the result what it may, I regret exceedingly; & because the effect of the order as it relates to the British will be the same as if the Africa had...
87From George Washington to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., and Timothy Pickering, 12–18 August 1795 (Washington Papers)
At what time should Mr F——ts letter be made known to Mr R——? What will be the best mode of doing it? In presence of the Secs & A: Genl. If the explanations given by the latter, are not satisfactory, whether, besides removal, are any other measures proper to be taken? & what? Would an application to Mr A—— to see the paragraphs in Nos. 3 & 6, alluded to in F——ts letter, be proper? These might...
88From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 31 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 27th instant was received by the last Post to Alexandria. I thank you for the information contained in it; as I shall for any further communication of the sentiments of the people respecting the treaty, which you may be able to obtain, and think worthy of transmission: for, as it is an interesting subject, on which mens minds are a good deal occupied, I should like, as far...
89From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 27 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
On Saturday morning I received your letter of the 21st instt; with its enclosures. The Post of tomorrow from Alexandria is the first by which I could answer it. If the meeting of the Commissioners, appointed to treat with the Onondagoes, Cayugas and Oneida Indians took place at Albany on the 15th instant, as was expected by the extract of Genl Schuylers letter to the Governor of New York; any...
90From Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., to Timothy Pickering, 14 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
By the President’s order B. Dandridge respectfully returns to The Secretary of War the several papers respecting the site on the Potomac most proper for establishing an arsenal; and informs the Secretary that after an attentive consideration of said papers & viewing all circumstances The President is of opinion that the site on Conogocheague is the most advantageous & proper, & requests that...