1From John Adams to David Humphreys, 8 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
I received with Pleasure, your kind Letter of Yesterday, and although I cannot absolutely disapprove of your proposed Return to America in the Spring for the Reasons you Suggested in Conversation, yet I feel a sensible Reluctance at the Thought of loosing your Assistance, and Still wish you may find it convenient to Stay at least till the Expiration of your Commission. I believe, and I hope,...
2From John Adams to David Humphreys, 1 December 1802 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of Aug. 28 from Boston has remained through a multiplicity of agricultural occupations unacknowledged to this hour and notwithstanding the lively sensibility it excited both in Mrs. Adams & myself, we sincerely regretted that we were not to have the pleasure of receiving you and Mrs Humphreys at Quincy as we had hoped & expected. If in the course of your affairs you should again...
3From John Adams to David Humphreys, 10 May 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for introducing to me Mr Francis Coffin and Mr Sumner, the Brother and Brother in law of that Lady who did me the honour to drink a Glass of Wine with me at your house. I have given the Gentlemen, all the Information I had, which in truth was very little. They gave me much more. Dearborne’s Enterprize against York and Niagara: but they had not the hand Bill and could not give...
4George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel David Humphreys, 24 November 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Totowa, New Jersey ] November 24, 1780 . Announces relinquishment of projected attack. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Humphreys was an aide-de-camp to Washington.
5From Alexander Hamilton to David Humphreys, 14 August 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is a letter to Messrs. Wilhem and Jan Willinck and Nicholas and J Van Staphorst and Hubbard Merchants Amsterdam, by which, as you will perceive I have directed them to honor your drafts upon them immediately for the sum of One thousand seven hundred and fifty Spanish Milled Dollars and annually for the sum of two thousand two hundred and fifty like dollars to be computed from the...
6Enclosure: Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and Nicholas Hubbard to David Humphreys, [28 … (Hamilton Papers)
In reply to your very esteemed favor of 20 Septbr:, which reached us only last Post, we beg your reference to the inclosed Copy of a Letter we addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States under date of 23 of said Month, as containing all the information in our Power to give on the subject of your Enquiry. Should the present Rumours of Peace, produce that desireable effect,...
7XII. George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel David Humphreys, 22 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
You are immediately to proceed to West Point & communicate the business committed to you, in confidence to Majr Genl Heath, & to no other person whatsoever —from thence you will repair to the Detachmt at the White Plains, on friday next, taking Measures to prevent their leaving that place, before you get to them. And in the course of the succeeding Night you may inform the Commanding Officer,...
8XVIII. George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel David Humphreys, 24 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
Some intelligence having been received from New York unfavourable to the project I had in contemplation, I have relinquished it and am to desire the detachment under General Stark will discontinue its cooperation and take such measures as are necessary for its security and for making the forage originally intended. I am with great regard Yr Obedient servant. Df , in Alexander Hamilton’s...
9From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel David Humphreys, 23 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
You will take command of such of the Detachments of Water Guards, now on the River, as you may think necessary; and with them attempt to surprize & bring off, Genl Knyphausen from Morris’s House on York Island, or Sir Henry Clinton from Kennedys House in the City; if from the Tide, Weather, & other Circumstances you shall judge the Enterprize to be practicable. In the execution of it, you will...
10From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel David Humphreys, 15 February 1781 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : to Lt. Col. David Humphreys, 15 Feb. 1781. On 21 Feb., Humphreys acknowledged receipt of GW’s “favour of the 15th.”
11From George Washington to David Humphreys, 14 January 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your letter of the 6th—Be assured that there are few things which would give me more pleasure than opportunities of evincing to you the sincerity of my friendship, & disposition to render you services at any time when it may be in my power. Although all recommendations from me to Congress must now be considered as coming from a private character, yet I enter very...
12From George Washington to David Humphreys, 2 June 1784 (Washington Papers)
I very sincerely congratulate you on your late appointment—It is honorable, & I dare say must be agreeable. I did not hear of it until I arrived at Annapolis, where I remained but one day, & that occasioned by the detention of my Carrige & horses on the Eastern shore. Genl Knox not reaching that place before I left it—your letter of the 18th, only got to my hands on Sunday last, by the Post. I...
13From George Washington to David Humphreys, 25 November 1784 (Washington Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive two letters from you since your arrival in France, and cannot let the Marquis de la Fayette depart without an acknowledgement of them, altho’ his doing it is Sudden, & I at the same time am surrounded with Company. When I have a little more leizure (if that ever should be) I will give you all the occurrences of this quarter that have come under my view &...
14From George Washington to David Humphreys, 25 July 1785 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you I have received your letters of the 15th of Jany and (I believe) that of the 15th of Novr; & thank you for them both —It always gives me pleasure to hear from you; and I should think, if amusements would spare you, business could not so much absorb your time as to prevent your writing to me more frequently; especially as there is a regular & safe conveyance once a month,...
15From George Washington to David Humphreys, 1 September 1785 (Washington Papers)
In the latter part of July I wrote to you very fully, since which I have received your favor of May. As nothing has occurred since that period worthy of observation, except that the Indians, supposed to be instigated thereto by the B—— are getting more & more our of humour, this letter will be shorter than I usually write to you. I find by your last that your time has been more occupied by...
16From George Washington to David Humphreys, 30 October 1785 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of the 1st of September I have received your favor of the 17th of July, which was brought to this Country by Mr Houdon; to whom, tho I had no Agency in the matter, I feel great obligation for quitting France, & the pressing calls of the Great Ones to make a Bust of me, from the life. I am not less indebted to the favourable opinion of those who you say are anxious to perpetuate...
17From George Washington to David Humphreys, 7 February 1785 (Washington Papers)
Editorial Note A letter written by George Washington on 7 Feb. 1785, and printed in John C. Fitzpatrick’s standard edition of Washington’s writings, was overlooked by the editor of the second volume in the Confederation Series of this edition of Washington’s Papers. It is printed here, at the end of 1785. In my last, by the Marquis de la Fayette, I gave you reason to believe that when I was...
18From George Washington to David Humphreys, 20 June 1786 (Washington Papers)
Your letter from New York (as did the preceeding one from London) came duly to hand, & claim my particular acknowledgments. On your return to America I sincerely congratulate you. I shall rejoice to see you at this place, & expecting it soon, shall add little at this time. The only design of this letter is to assure you, that you will have no occasion for Horses, for mine will always be at...
19From George Washington to David Humphreys, 1 September 1786 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed are all the documents Mr Lear could find respecting the confinement, & treatment under it, of Captain Asgill. For want of recurrence to them before I wrote to Mr Tilghman, I perceive that a bad memory had run me into an error in my narrative of the latter, in one particular. For it should seem by that, as if the loose and unguarded manner in which Captn Asgill was held, was sanctioned...
20From George Washington to David Humphreys, 22 October 1786 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 24th ulto came to my hands about the middle of this month. For the enclosures it containd I pray you to receive my warmest acknowledgements and thanks. The poem, tho’ I profess not to be a connoisseur in these kind of writings, appears pretty in my eye, and has sentiment and elegance which must, I think, render it pleasing to others. With respect to the circular letter, I see...
21From George Washington to David Humphreys, 26 December 1786 (Washington Papers)
I am much indebted to you for your several favors of the 1st 9th & 16th of November. The last came first. Mr Morse keeping in Mind the old proverb, was determined not to make more haste than good speed in prosecuting his journey to Georgia—so I got the two first but lately. For your publication respecting the confinement of Captn Asgill, I am exceedingly obliged to you. The manner of making it...
22From George Washington to David Humphreys, 23 January 1787 (Washington Papers)
Since I have heard of the robbery of the Mail at New Ark, on the 4th instt, I have been under great apprehension that a long & confidential letter which I wrote to you on the 26th Ulto was in it—My only hope is, a strange one you will say, that the inattention to, and practice of bringing back, instead of exchanging Mails, which frequently happens, and did actually happen about that time may...
23From George Washington to David Humphreys, 18 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Wadsworth has handed me your obliging and much esteemed favor of the 20th ulto for which I offer you my sincere thanks. The tranquil state, in which the people of this commonwealth are affords me nothing to offer you in return for the interesting communications in your letter of the above date the House of Delegates, in maryland, have adjourned in high dudgeon. As you are neare the...
24From George Washington to David Humphreys, 8 March 1787 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Wadsworth, as I informed you in my last, presented me your obliging favor of the 30th of January and the Post since has handed me the subsequent one of the 11th Ulto. My sentiments, respecting the inexpediency of my attending the proposed Convention of the States in Philadelphia remain the same as when I wrote you last, tho’ Congress I am informed are about to remove one of the...
25From George Washington to David Humphreys, 10 October 1787 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 28th Ult. came duly to hand, as did the other of June. With great pleasure I received the intimation of your spending the Winter under this roof. The invitation was not less sincere than the reception will be cordial. The convention shall be, that in all things you shall do as you please—I will do the same—No ceremony shall be observed—nor any restraint be imposed on any one....
26Remarks, 1787–1788 (Washington Papers)
It was rather the wish of my eldest brother (on whom the general concerns of the family devolved) that this shd take place & the matter was contemplated by him—My father died when I was only 10 years old. He was not appointed Adjutant General of the Militia of Virginia untill after his return from the expedition to Carthagena. Nor did he Command the Colonial troops on that occasion. these were...
27Egbert Benson to David Humphreys, 31 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
New York, 31 July 1789. Requests Humphreys to “mention to the President that all the Gentlemen from our State have agreed to suggest Mr John C. Ten Broeck as surveyor for Hudson and a majority of Us have agreed as to Jeremiah Lansing to be surveyor at Albany.” ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters. John C. Ten Broeck (1755–1835) served in New York regiments during the Revolution and was a...
28Bezaleel Howe to David Humphreys, 30 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
As Congress are making an Addition to their Military Establishment, I am induced to offer myself as a Candidate for an Appointment in the same—hopeing my past Services will claim Your influence with the President in my behalf I served in the late War almost Nine years which I hope will plead in my favor. I was a Captain in the Army, and since the Peace have been a Captain of Infantry in this...
29William W. Morris to David Humphreys, 20 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
I am directed by the Secretary of the Treasury, to request that you will inform him, whether any of the States, have transmitted to the President of the United States, Acts, ceding Territory for the erection of Light houses upon—If any, what particular States. I am Sir with Sentiments of the greatest respect your humble Servant LB , DLC:GW . For an identification of William Walton Morris, see...
30From George Washington to David Humphreys, 16 March 1791 (Washington Papers)
As this letter is wholly of a private nature I refer you to Mr Jefferson’s official communications for every thing relative to your appointment at the Court of Lisbon &ca—and shall confine myself to acknowledging your two letters—viz. one from London of October 31. and the other from Lisbon of November 30 1790—and to such general observations as may occur in the course of my writing. The...