1Enclosure: 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...
2Enclosure: Matthew Clarkson to Timothy Pickering, 23 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
I think it may be concluded that the state of the mortal sickness is become more favorable, this appears from the decrease of funerals in the City generally, and at the Hospital at Bush-Hill It is not possible to ascertain, with any degree of precission the degree in which it has abated. The general appearance is pleasing, the Physicians have fewer applications from new patients, the...
3Bartholomew 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...
4Bartholomew 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...
5From 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...
6Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., to Timothy Pickering, 22 January 1795 (Washington Papers)
By The President’s order Bw Dandridge has the honor of transmitting to the Secy of War the copy of a Resolution of the House of Representatives of the 21st Inst: & to desire the Secretary to furnish the statement therein requested by the House. ADf , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . On 21 Jan. the House resolved “that the President of the United States be requested to direct the proper officer to lay...
7From Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., to Timothy Pickering, 11 April 1795 (Washington Papers)
By the Presidents order Bw Dandridge respectfully returns to The Secy of War the letter of Mr Monvel signifying his wish to resign his Commission, & informs the Secretary that the President knows no alternative but to accept it. Bw D. also transmits herewith a letter & enclosures from Gov: Mifflin to the President, upon the subject of which The President desires the Secretary to report to him...
8From Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., to Timothy Pickering, 21 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
By the Presidents order B. Dandridge respectfully returns to The Secy of War the Report &c. of Colo. Rochefontaine respecting the situation on the Potomac proper for an Arsenal; and informs The Secretary that as soon as he is possessed of every information which can be had from Colo. R. on this subject, the President will be glad to have a conversation with him concerng it. ADf , DLC:GW ; LB ,...
9From Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., to Timothy Pickering, 23 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
By order of the President Bw Dandridge respectfully encloses herewith to the Secretary of War, some papers which have been laid before the President by the Quakers of Philadelphia & which are intended to be sent to the hostile Indians. The President sees no objection to their being communicated to the Indians agreeably to the wish of the Quakers. The President leaves it with The Secy to...
10From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 19 November 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
In the Estimate laid before Congress at their last Sessions, I included as an Anticipation of the late Superintendant of Finance the Amount of a draft issued by him in your favor on the late Receiver of Taxes for the State of New York for Fifty thousand Dollars no part of which appears to have been paid. The circumstances attending this Anticipation not being sufficiently known by the...
11From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, [21 July 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I communicated your letter to Mr. Jay & now give you our joint sense. Considering the nature of the transaction and what must necessarily have been presumed to be the intent, & that the authority is on a public subject & between two nations, we think that a decision by two out of three commissioners must be sufficient. We know nothing but an immediate personal interest in property which may be...
12From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 23 August 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, August 23, 1791. On August 26, 1791, Pickering wrote to Hamilton : “I have received … your letter of the 23d instant.” Letter not found. ] Pickering had been appointed Postmaster General on August 12, 1791.
13From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 21 September 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Some time since Mr. McCormick spoke to me about the case of his Kinsman Mr. Pitcairn whom Mr. Monroe had prevented from exercising the functions of Consul. I can, in justice, inform you that this Gentleman is well considered in our City and that his political principles have been understood to be very friendly to the French Revolution; nor have we any doubt that his sentiments towards our own...
14From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, [10 February 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
If I recollect right, Chancellor Livingston while Secy for foreign Affairs reported a censure upon Our Commissioners who made the peace with G Britain for not obeying their instructions with regard to France. Will you favour me in confidence with the real state of this business? I was at the time a member of Congress. It was immediately on the arrival of the provisional articles. I trust my...
15From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, [23 January 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I remember that very early in the day & prior to any act of Great Britain the French passed a decree violating with regard to all the neutral powers the principle of free ships free goods & I think making provisions liable to seizure. This decree was afterwards rescinded as to America—then again revived & then again revoked. I want copies of these decrees for a particular purpose useful to the...
16From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 2 January 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department , January 2, 1795. This letter is essentially the same as that which Hamilton wrote to Edmund Randolph on the same date. Copy, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford. On January 2, 1795, Pickering succeeded Henry Knox as Secretary of War ( Executive Journal , I Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate (Washington, 1828), I. , 168–69). For the differences between...
17From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 12 March 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received the communication which you made to me with respect to a a part of the contingent expences of the general post office, and on comparing the sum you mention with the charges for similar objects, which have been necessarily sustained in this department, and in the public service in general I cannot perceive any thing in the arrangement you propose, but what appears consistent...
18From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, [10 May 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed is a letter which I will thank you to hand to its destination. While I have my pen in my hand, give me leave to mention a particular subject to you. Mr. Pinckney, it is said, desires to return to the U States. In this case a successor will be wanted. If we had power to make a man for the purpose, we could not imagine a fitter than Mr. King . He is tired of the Senate & I fear will...
19From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, [6 February 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I duly received your letter of the 23 of Jany with its inclosure, for which I am much obliged to you. I have read it with great pleasure. It is a substantial satisfactory paper will do good in this Country & as to France I presume events will govern there. Is it not proper to call upon the Merchants to furnish your Department with statements & proofs of the spoliations which we have suffered...
20From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, [13 May 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The offer of your service as successor to Mr. Duer reached me in due time. I can with truth assure you, that you were one of a very small number who held a competition in my judgment and that had personal considerations alone influenced me, I could with difficulty have preferred another. Reasons of a peculiar nature, however, have determined my choice towards Mr. Tench Coxe, who to great...
21From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 19 January 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I have recd. your letter of this day. The estimate of the sum requisite for the Jersey Militia greatly exceeds what I had supposed to be necessary. There are two dangers attending so considerable advances on account without adequate data to guide—One that a good deal more money may be issued from the Treasury than is necessary with the inconvenience of a difficult & perhaps dilatory after...
22[From Alexander Hamilton to William Bradford, Timothy Pickering, Edmund Randolph, and Oliver Wolcott, Junior], [28 July … (Hamilton Papers)
Hamilton, History John C. Hamilton, Life of Alexander Hamilton, a History of the Republic of the United States of America (Boston, 1879). , VI, 243. John Church Hamilton states that H wrote to members of George Washington’s cabinet on this date. No further evidence of this correspondence, however, has been found.
23From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 26 December 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Cutting has given to me a perusal of his papers, respecting his agency in revealing our seamen from British impress. He wished my opinion professionally respecting the validity of his claim, which I declined to give, because it would contradict certain maxims I have prescribed to myself with regard to public questions pending while I was part of the administration. But there are reasons...
24From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 9 January 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to transmit to you, a Copy of a letter from the Commissioner of the Revenue to me, on the subject of Whiskey to be purchased for the use of the Army in the present year. It has been the custom heretofore, to receive the Whiskey at the Posts of Pittsburg, Whelen and Fort Washington—and as there are no places so convenient for the purpose, I would suggest the policy of...
25From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 20 January 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I have delayed placing the money required by your letter of the 8th. instant, in the Treasurers hands, upon the ground of the doubts intimated in my letter of yesterday concerning the New-Jersey troops. I observe that the first months pay roll is likely to be a bad criterion, as the Troops were successively much diminished before they left the field. I am ready however to do what to you on...
26From Alexander Hamilton to Timothy Pickering, 20 November 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I duly received your letter of the 17th. which needed no apology as it will always give me pleasure to comply with any wish of yours connected with the public service, or your personal satisfaction. Good men, in the idea of your appointment to the office of Secretary of State, will find many consolations for your removal from one in which your usefulness was well understood. I wish it was easy...
27From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 17 August 1795 (Jay Papers)
Accept my Thanks for your obliging Letter of the 14 th . Inst: — The friendly motives which induced You to communicate to me the Information contained in it, will be remembered. The Presidents Firmness on this Occasion adds new Honors to his Character, and confers new obligations on his Country. Of the Expediency of an address I am not perfectly satisfied, altho’ I think it would in many...
28From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 14 April 1796 (Jay Papers)
An Act of the Legislature of this State to prevent the bringing in and spreading of infectious Diseases in this State, authorizes the Governor to assign the Stations where vessels made subject to Quarantine shall come to Anchor and remain, until visited by the Health Officer and reported to be free from Infection. As difficulties and embarrassments of a delicate nature would arise in case it...
29From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 6 June 1796 (Jay Papers)
I was this Moment favored with your’s of the 4 Instant. under the last article any further arrangements which might become desireable or mutually beneficial may be made in an easy & convenient Manner— it enables the parties to bring into negociation any Propositions of that kind which they may think proper. You will observe that the 3 d article admits us to navigate in small vessels trading...
30From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 13 July 1795 (Jay Papers)
On the 6 th . I was favoured with yours of the 3 d of this month together with the papers mentioned to be inclosed with it. My information relative to the Indian affairs of this State being imperfect, it has not been in my power to answer your letter with sufficient accuracy at a more early day. Whether the Constitution of the United States warrants the Act of Congress of the 1. March 1793 and...
31From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 20 July 1796 (Jay Papers)
I had last Evening a Conversation with Col. Hamilton on the Subject of your Letter to him of the 16 th . Instant—a Copy of which was enclosed in yours to me of the same Date— He will I presume state to you particularly our opinions on the three Questions mentioned in it— It appears to me adviseable that, prior to the Nomination by either Party of a third Commissioner, M r Howell should...
32From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 14 October 1795 (Jay Papers)
I was Yesterday ^afternoon^ honored with yours of the 10 Inst. enclosing ^a^ copy of your Letter to Mess rs . Lewis and Rawle and ^of^ their opinion on the points stated in it.— Notwithstanding my Respect for the Talents & Candor of those Gen t . I do not ^yet I do not hesitate to say that^ the Cognizance and Powers given to the Commissioners designated in the 6 and 7 articles of the Treaty...
33From John Jay to Timothy Pickering, 31 January 1797 (Jay Papers)
Accept my Thanks for your obliging Favor of the 23 d . Instant, enclosing a Copy of your interesting Letter to M r . Pinckney, which is read here with great avidity and satisfaction— it enables our Citizens to form a correct Judgment of the Conduct Claims and Complaints of France, relative to this Country; and to appreciate the wisdom, abilities and virtue with which our Govern t is...
34From Thomas Jefferson to Timothy Pickering, 3 September 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Colo. Bell of Charlottesville called on me yesterday and informed me that he had recieved your appointment as postmaster at that station, which however he found himself obliged to decline accepting, on account of his frequent absences from home, rendered necessary by his commercial affairs. It was certainly impossible to have named a fitter person, if he would have undertaken it. In the event...
35From Thomas Jefferson to Timothy Pickering, 1 April 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Having from time to time through the winter and down to the present day received repeated information that the post rider between Richmond and Charlottesville, and consequently along the rest of that line, has been and continues extremely unpunctual, sometimes not going even as far as Charlottesville (only 75 miles of the route) for three weeks, and often missing a fortnight, I have thought it...
36From Thomas Jefferson to Timothy Pickering, 23 July [1794] (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved your favor of June 30. […] [the?] 16th. inst. and immediately attended to y[our?] […] will doubtless ere this have informed [you?] […] continue in the office, and as long [as?] […] will execute it with more punctuality, […] since the change of their rider, our letters […] [I a]m with sentiments of great respect […] your most […] PrC ( DLC ); right side entirely faded and illegible,...
37From Thomas Jefferson to Timothy Pickering, 28 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The President has desired me to confer with you on the proposition I made the other day of endeavoring to move the posts at the rate of 100 miles a day. It is believed to be practicable here because it is practised in every other country. The difference of expence alone appeared to produce doubts with you on the subject. If you have no engagement for dinner to day, and will do me the favor to...
38Tobias Lear to Timothy Pickering, 3 May 1792 (Washington Papers)
I enclose the translation of the letter which was transmitted to the Secretary of War by the Governor of New York—The translation was made yesterday in great haste, and if it should not be sufficiently clear, referrence had better be had to the original, in the possession of the Secy of War. The President wishes, in your conversation with Colo. Louis, that you would learn the precise time of...
39Enclosure: Charles Storer to Timothy Pickering, 4 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
Captain Ford & Lady arrived here yesterday: they left Niagara the 13th ulto & came by the way of Oswego. He gives me some information of things which took place after we left that country, and which, as they probably will be new to you, I herewith communicate them. He says that Talbot, Brant and Shehan had arrived at Niagara some days before he sailed: that they informed the Governor, that as...
40From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 20 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 12th & 13th instant, with their enclosures, were received by Mondays Mail, the 18th. The duplicate Commission for John Trumbull; the blank Commissions for the Revenue Officers; and the Patents passed by the Attorney General; are all signed & returned under cover with this letter. The want of funds to carry on Commerce with the Indian Tribes (agreeably to a late Act of...
41From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 1 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 26th and 27th Ulto were received by the Post on friday last. Forwarding without further direction, the Commission appointing Mr Davis Attorney for the District of Massachusetts in place of Mr Otis, after satisfactorily ascertaining those points which had occasioned the hesitation, was perfectly conformable to my intention. I rejoice to find by the account you have given of...
42From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 4 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
In the public letter which accompanies this you will receive such instructions for your conduct in your mission to the Seneca Tribe of Indians, as may without impropriety be communicated to them—Some others shall here be added more peculiarly proper for your own ear. It is particularly desireable that they be made to understand that all business between them and any part of the United States...
43From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 8 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
(Confidential) My letters to the Secretary of the Treasury of the 4th & 6th Instant, with the present enclosure, conveys fully the sentiments of the Attorney General with respect to the best mode of executing the Act “For the relief and Protection of American Seamen.” He has, since his opinion was transmitted in the above letter of the 6th, consulted two of our most eminent Lawyers, in these...
44From 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...
45From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 5 August 1796 (Washington Papers)
Private Your private letters of the 29th & 30th have been received. If Mr Churchmans account respecting the broken seal of Mr Monroes letter, to the Department of State be true, it bespeaks the man of candour, and does him credit; but I do not see why, when called upon, he should require time to consider whether he should relate the truth—or “give a certificate that might excite suspicions of...
46From 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...
47From 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...
48From 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...
49From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 19 October 1796 (Washington Papers)
The letter from Mr King to you, is herewith returned. In your dispatches to him, he ought to be instructed to remonstrate in strong terms against those arbitrary & oppressive Acts of the B: Ships of War & Privateers, of which we have so often complained to little effect; and to press for redress. The moment for doing these is favorable: self respect and justice to our Citizens (especially our...
50From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 14 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
The numerous & various reports which I have received from people who were not possessed of any accurate information with respect to the state of the malignant fever with which Philadelphia is so unfortunately afflicted, and my intention being to return thither, or to it’s neighbourhood about the first of next month, have induced me to ask this information from you—and I beg you will advise me...