1From John Adams to Alexander White, 6 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 26 July & rejoice in your relation of a plentiful harvest in Virginia. The continual bounties of providence will I hope in time, soften the hard hearts of some of the enthusiastic Democrats & reconcile them to a government, which protects them in the cultivation and enjoyment of their crops, as well as their liberties & lives. Please to present my kind thanks...
2From George Washington to James Nourse and Alexander White, 30 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
By a Letter from Genl Lee of the 30th Ulto, which came to hand the 26th Instant, he seems to be anxious about the state of his Farm & Affairs and requests me “to recommend the care of them to you & Mr White.” I have taken the earliest Opportunity to inform you of his desires on these subjects, and have no doubt but you will render him every service in your power. I am happy to acquaint you,...
3From George Washington to Alexander White, 14 July 1785 (Washington Papers)
Mr Fraunces’s letters to you & to me, the last of which I also enclose for your perusal, are so expressive of his wants as to render it unnecessary for me to add ought, on the occasion of them. He has been considered (tho’ confined within the british lines) as a friend to our cause: It is said he was remarkably attentive to our prisoners in the City of New York; supporting them, as far as his...
4From George Washington to Alexander White, 23 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
The advantages which result from a state of peace & amity (preserved upon respectable conditions) with all nations—and particularly when applied to our Country, yet in its infancy, are too striking to need elucidation; & such as must be obvious to the least accurate enquiry into the subject. To secure these advantages to the United States, it was thought expedient to pursue a friendly &...
5From George Washington to Alexander White, 28 April 1795 (Washington Papers)
Mr Carroll, one of the Commissioners of the Federal City, from age, and the infirm State of his health; is desirous of quitting the employment —Permit me to ask if it would be agreeable to you to supply his place? The present Salary is 1600 dollars per annum. To discharge the duties properly, a residence in the City and close attention to the multifarious duties which occur in the execution of...
6From George Washington to Alexander White, 17 May 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 11th instt came to hand by the Post of yesterday. With pleasure I received your acceptance of the office of Commissioner of the federal city. The commission will be forwarded to you from the Department of State, and the sooner you can enter upon the duties of the trust, the more convenient and agreeable it will be. With the candor, which I am sure will be agreeable to you, I...
7From George Washington to Alexander White, 15 June 1795 (Washington Papers)
After an unqualified acceptance of the Office of Commissioner of the Federal City, and a lapse of time at an important season for business, it would be uncandid not to say that I feel pain at your hesitating now, to enter upon the duties of that office. I had not heard before the receipt of your letter, that you had resumed the practice of the law; nor did I suppose that you could, with your...
8From George Washington to Alexander White, 9 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
Your two Letters of the 31 ulto have been recd —one by the post—the other by Mr Hadfield: and expecting that this will find you in the federal City, I shall, being much engaged at this time, refer you to my official letters to the board—as well on the proposed application for a Loan to the Legislature of Maryland—as on the case of Mr Hadfield—a private letter of mine of the 4 inst., followed...
9From George Washington to Alexander White, 5 June 1796 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Your Letter of the 25th Ultimo from Martinsburgh, did, as you expected, come to my hands on the 3d instant; but not untill the Mail of that day was dispatched, consequently the Post of tomorrow will be the first, by which I can reply to the contents of it. I wish, very much indeed , that you could make it convenient, and agreeable to yourself, family & business; to remain in the City...
10From George Washington to Alexander White, 11 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 8th has been duly received, and I now write, more for the purpose of acknowledging the receipt of it, than from any sentiment I have to communicate relative to the Public buildings in the Federal City. You are perfectly acquainted with my sentiments on that subject already, and if not, they may be comprised in a few words—thus—every effort should be made to obtain the...
11From George Washington to Alexander White, 1 March 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 20th Ulto was received yesterday. For the information it has given, I thank you; although it is not of the most pleasing sort. Some parts of it indeed, has surprized me not a little, but neither the surprise or the cause of it, shall be communicated to any other. My sentiments, relatively to the Memorial, you are already possessed of, and therefore I shall add nothing more on...
12From George Washington to Alexander White, 25 March 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your favors of the 10th and 14th Instant have been duly received, & for the information contained therein I feel grateful. Rarely going from home, I have nothing in the way of News to offer you in return. It has always been my opinion, and so I have expressed it, that the Proprietors of the City of Washington (with some exceptions) are, by their jealousies, & the modes they pursue to promote...
13From George Washington to Alexander White, 12 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 8th instant, with a plan of the Squares in the vicinity of the Capital, came to me on the 10th; and for the trouble you have been at in designating such lots as you think would answer my purpose, I feel much obliged. From what you have said, and from the recollection I have of the ground, I give a decided preference to lot No. 16 in square 634; but the price I fear (upwards...
14From George Washington to Alexander White, 8 December 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of yesterday I received this morning. Altho’ the Legislature of Maryland has taken up the business of the Potomack Company upon different ground, than on that which was adopted at the last General meeting of the Stockholders, and less advantageous for them if they could have carried their mode into effect; yet, as my primary wish, is to see the work completed, I rejoice that the...
15From James Madison to Alexander White, 24 August 1789 (Madison Papers)
The week past has been devoted to the subject of amendments. All that remains is a formal vote on a fair transcript which will be taken this morning; and without debate I hope as each of the propositions has been agreed to by two thirds of the House. The substance of the report of the Committee of eleven has not been much varied. It became an unavoidable sacrifice to a few who knew their...
16From James Madison to Alexander White, 2 March 1794 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 2 March 1794. Acknowledged in White to JM, 30 Mar. 1794 . Probably reports on legislation pending in Congress, including the bill for a naval force against the Algerine corsairs.
17From James Madison to Alexander White, 17 March 1794 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 17 March 1794. Acknowledged in White to JM, 30 Mar. 1794 . Asks for White’s opinion on proposals for an embargo; reports on Theodore Sedgwick’s plan for a military buildup.
18From James Madison to Alexander White, 14 April 1794 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your two favors of Mar. 31. & Apl. 7. The motion of Clarke to suspend the imports from G. B. & Ireland till redress be obtained on the spoliations & the treaty has been the subject of much debate and is not yet decided. It is generally supposed that a considerable majority of the House are in favor of it. It is a subject however on which opinions may be much influenced by...
19From James Madison to Alexander White, 21 April 1794 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 21 April 1794. Acknowledged in White to JM, 26 Apr. and 5 May 1794 . Discusses constitutional objections to Chief Justice John Jay’s appointment as envoy extraordinary to Great Britain. Reports that public opinion in England continues to support the war against France.
20From James Madison to Alexander White, 12 May 1794 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 12 May 1794. Acknowledged in White to JM, 19 May 1794 . Discusses tax legislation pending in Congress.
21From James Madison to Alexander White, 2 February 1795 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 2 February 1795. Acknowledged in White to JM, 14 Feb. 1795 . Apparently discusses news reports of Jay’s negotiations with Great Britain, the prospects for peace in Europe, and legislation pending in Congress.
22From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander White, 19 April 1769 (Jefferson Papers)
Your messenger being about to return before I have an opportunity of conferring with Mr. Blair on the subject of your caveats, I must undertake an answer to your letter tho’ deprived of his assistance. As to the small survey of 220 acres, we need be at no other trouble or expence about it, Mrs. Wood and James Wood not proposing to defend it, and Harrison (as I understand) laying no claim to...
23From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander White, 10 September 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
So many persons have of late found an interest or a passion gratified by imputing to me sayings and writings which I never said or wrote, or by endeavoring to draw me into newspapers to harrass me personally, that I have found it necessary for my quiet and my other pursuits to leave them in full possession of the field, and not to take the trouble of contradicting them even in private...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander White, 12 September 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of the 10th. I mentioned that I had the original survey of a road from George town to Stevensburg. Since that I have had time to copy it on a reduced scale, and to forward the copy by a conveyance which will reach you perhaps as soon as that letter. You will be pleased to observe that the roads which pass directly from George town towards Norman’s ford on the Rappahanock, traverse...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander White, 14 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Not yet sufficiently possessed of the state of proceedings respecting the city, I am afraid of taking up an erroneous idea. I have in the inclosed draught of a resolution expressed my idea of what is wanting to be done at this time that you may see if I view it, according to the fact, & correct me if otherwise. it differs from yours principally in leaving out the part respecting making the...
26Enclosure: Draft of a Resolution for the City of Washington, 14 April 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas sundry lots and fractions of lots for building have been laid out on the ground of the city of Washington which are not yet described by lines on the plan of the city, particularly within certain squares or spaces left open in the sd plan, and the water-lines on the said plan are not exactly conformable with those lines as they exist actually on the ground: Resolved that it is...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Alexander White, 5 July 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
In your present situation it will probably be practicable for you to furnish me with tolerably exact information relative to the ice-caves in your neighborhood, as I imagine there must be persons in Winchester who can say whether the ice exists there through the summer, whether it is generated in summer &c. I will thank you to communicate to me such information as you can readily get. I expect...