1January 1790 (Washington Papers)
Friday first. The Vice-President, the Governor—the Senators, Members of the House of Representatives in Town—Foreign public characters and all the respectable Citizens came between the hours of 12 & 3 Oclock to pay the complimts. of the Season to me—and in the Afternoon a great number of Gentlemen & Ladies visited Mrs. Washington on the same occasion. Abigail Adams noted that New Year’s Day...
2[Diary entry: 1 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Friday first. The Vice-President, the Governor—the Senators, Members of the House of Representatives in Town—Foreign public characters and all the respectable Citizens came between the hours of 12 & 3 Oclock to pay the complimts. of the Season to me—and in the Afternoon a great number of Gentlemen & Ladies visited Mrs. Washington on the same occasion. Abigail Adams noted that New Year’s Day...
3[Diary entry: 2 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 2d. Exercised in the Carriage with Mrs. Washington. Read the report of the Secretary of the Treasury respecting the State of his Department & proposed plans of Finance. Drank Tea at the Chief Justice’s of the U. States. report of the secretary of the treasury : In Sept. 1789 the House of Representatives, considering “an adequate provision for the support of the public credit, as a...
4[Diary entry: 3 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 3d. Went to St. Pauls Chapel.
5[Diary entry: 4 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Monday 4th. Informed the President of the Senate, and Speaker the Ho. of Representatives that I had some Oral communications to make to Congress when each House had a Quoram, and desired to be informed thereof—and of the time & place they would receive them. Walked round the Battery in the afternoon. Received a Report from the Secretary at War respecting the State of the Frontiers and Indian...
6[Diary entry: 5 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 5th. Several Members of Congress called in the forenoon to pay their respects on their arrival in Town but though a respectable Levee at the usual hour, three Oclock the Visitors were not numerous.
7[Diary entry: 6 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 6th. Sat from half after 8 oclock till 10 for the Portrait Painter, Mr. Savage, to finish the Picture of me which he had begun for the University of Cambridge. In the Afternoon walked round the Battery. Miss Anne Brown stayed here on a visit to Mrs. Washington to a family dinner. mr. savage : See entry for 21 Dec. 1789 .
8[Diary entry: 7 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 7th. About One Oclock recd. a Committee from both Houses of Congress informing me that each had made a House and would be ready at any time I should appoint to receive the Communications I had to make in the Senate Chamber. Named to morrow 11 oclock for this purpose. The following Gentlemen dined here—viz.—Messrs. Langdon, Wingate, Strong and Few of the Senate—The Speaker, Genl....
9[Diary entry: 8 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Friday 8th. According to appointment, at 11 Oclock I set out for the City Hall in my Coach—preceeded by Colonel Humphreys and Majr. Jackson in Uniform (on my two White Horses) & followed by Mesr. Lear & Nelson in my Chariot & Mr. Lewis on Horse back following them. In their rear was the Chief Justice of the United States & Secretaries of the Treasury and War Departments in their respective...
10[Diary entry: 9 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 9th. Exercised with Mrs. Washington and the Children in the Coach the 14 Miles round. In the Afternoon walked round the Battery. For the fourteen miles round, see entry for 12 Dec. 1789 .
11[Diary entry: 10 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 10th. Went to St. Pauls Chapel in the forenoon. Wrote private letters in the Afternoon for the Southern Mail.
12[Diary entry: 11 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Monday 11th. Sent my Instructions to the Commissioners (appointed to Negotiate a Treaty with the Creek Indians) with the report of their proceedings, to the Senate by the Secretary at War previous to their being laid before them and the other House in their Legislative Capacities. Also communicated to both Houses, transcripts of the adoption & ratification of the New Constitution by the State...
13[Diary entry: 12 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 12th. Exercised on Horse-back between 10 and 12, the riding bad. Previous to this, I sent written Messages to both Houses of Congress informing them, that the Secretary at War would lay before them a full & complete Statement of the business as it respected the Negotiation with the Creek Indians—My Instructions to, and the Commissioners report of their proceedings with those People....
14[Diary entry: 13 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 13th. After duly considering on the place for receiving the address of the House of Representatives, I concluded, that it would be best to do it at my own House—first, because it seems most consistent with usage & custom—2d. because there is no 3d. place in the Fedl. Hall ( prepared ) to which I could call them, & to go into either of the Chambers appropriated to the Senate or...
15[Diary entry: 14 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 14th. At the hours appointed, the Senate & House of representatives presented their respective Addresses—The Members of both coming in Carriages and the latter with the Mace preceeding the Speaker. The Address of the Senate was presented by the Vice-President and that of the House by the Speaker thereof. The following Gentlemen dined here to day. viz. Messrs. Henry & Maclay of the...
16[Diary entry: 15 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Friday 15th. Snowing all day—but few Ladies and Gentlemen as visitors this Evening to Mrs. Washington.
17[Diary entry: 16 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 16th. Exercised in the Coach with Mrs. Washington & the two Children abt. 12 Oclock. Sent the Report of the Post Master Genl. relative to the necessary changes in that Office to the Secretary of the Treasury that it may be laid before Congress—or such parts thereof as may be necessary for their Information. The report of Postmaster General Samuel Osgood was probably a draft of...
18[Diary entry: 17 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 17th. At home all day—not well.
19[Diary entry: 18 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Monday 18th. Still indisposed with an Aching tooth, and swelled and inflamed Gum.
20[Diary entry: 19 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 19th. Not much company at the Levee to day—but the Visitors were respectable.
21[Diary entry: 20 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 20th. A Report from the Secretary at War, on the Subject of a National Militia altered agreeably to the ideas I had communicated to him was presented to me, in order to be laid before Congress. See entries for 18 and 19 Dec. 1789 . On 18 Jan. 1790 Knox submitted his completed report containing detailed plans and estimates of expenses for erecting a militia system “adequate to the...
22[Diary entry: 21 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 21st. The above report was accordingly transmitted to both houses of Congress by the Secretary at War in a written message from me. The following Gentlemen dined here—viz.—Messrs. Elsworth, Patterson, Elmer Bassett and Hawkins of the Senate and Messrs. Sherman, Cadwalader, Clymer, Hartley, Heister, Smith (Maryland) & Jackson of the House of Representatives and Major Meridith,...
23[Diary entry: 22 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Friday 22d. Exercised on Horse back in the forenoon. Called in my ride on the Baron de Polnitz, to see the operation of his (Winlaws) threshing Machine. The effect was—the Heads of the Wheat being seperated from the Straw, as much of the first was run through the Mill in 15 minutes as made half a bushel of clean Wheat. Allowing 8 working hours in the 24. this would yield 16 Bushels pr. day....
24[Diary entry: 23 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 23d. Went with Mrs. Washington in the Forenoon to see the Paintings of Mr. Jno. Trumbull.
25[Diary entry: 24 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 24th. Went to St. Pauls Chapel in the forenoon. Writing private letters in the afternoon.
26[Diary entry: 25 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Monday 25. A Mr. Francis Bailey—introduced by Messrs. Scott & Hartley of Pensylvania and Mr. White of Virginia offered a paper, in the nature of a Petition, setting forth a valuable discovery he had made of Marginal figures for Notes, Certificates, &ca. which could not by the ingenuity of Man be counterfeited—requesting I wd. appoint some person to hear and examine him on the Subject, that, if...
27[Diary entry: 26 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 26th. Exercised on Horse back in the forenoon. The Visitors at the Levee to day were numerous and respectable—among whom was the Vice-President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Read a letter handed to me by the Secretary of War, from a Colo. Danl. Smith of Miro Settlement in the State of No. Carolina in reply to one which was an answer to a letter recd. from the said...
28[Diary entry: 27 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 27th. Did business with the Secretaries of the Treasury & War—With the first respecting the appointment of Superintendants of the Light Houses, Buoys &ca. and for building one at Cape Henry—With the latter for nominating persons (named in a list submitted to me) for paying the Military Pensionrs. of the United States and the policy and advantages (which might be derived from the...
29[Diary entry: 28 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 28th. Sent a letter (with an Act of the Legislature of the State of Rhode Island, for calling a Convention of that State to decide on the Constitution of the Union) from Governor Collins, to both Houses of Congress—to do which, was requested by the Act, of the President. The following Gentlemen dined here—viz.—The Vice President the Secretary of the Treasury—Messrs. Schuyler, Morris,...
30[Diary entry: 29 January 1790] (Washington Papers)
Friday 29th. Exercised on horse back this forenn.; during my ride, Mr. Johnston, one of the Senators from No. Carolina who had just arrived came to pay his respects, as did Mr. Cushing, one of the Associate judges. The latter came again about 3 Oclock introduced by the Vice President. Received from the Governor of No. Carolina, an Act of the Legislature of that State, authorising the Senators...