1To George Washington from John Dandridge, 2 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter of the 26th Ultmo, yesterday, with the inclosures—I assure you, that I am sensible of the indulgence you have continually afforded to my Father’s Estate and of your present offer to extend it: But so sensible, also, am I, of the great difficulty in raising cash at present, and so anxious am I to adjust the claims against the Estate, that I shall take the price fixed on...
2To George Washington from Jacob Broom, 3 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
I congratulate you upon the success of that inestimable Constitution, which I had the honor to witness your weighty and influential support and approbation of; and it is with singular pleasure I stand informed, that you have the unanimous suffrages of the Electors, to fill the Chair of first President. I take the liberty to solicit Your Excellency for an appointment as Collector or receiver of...
3To George Washington from Beverley Randolph, 5 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letters contain the latest intelligence received from our southwestern frontier. I did myself the honour to inform you on the first of the present month, that the state of Virginia retained in service the troops employed in the defence of the counties of Washington, Montgomery and Russel. This force consists of fifty rangers and four Scouts which were directed to be raised in the...
4To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 5 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
In conformity to the intimation you were pleased to honor me with on evening last I have reflected on the etiquette proper to be observed by the President and now submit the ideas which have occurred to me on the subject. The public good requires as a primary object that the dignity of the office should be supported. Whatever is essential to this ought to be pursued though at the risk of...
5To George Washington from Count d’Estaing, 8 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
Le Pere de la Patrie l’est aussi de tous ceux qui ont fait des éfforts pour lui être utile. Votre Excellence la prouvé aux Marins françois en obtenant de la société de Cincinnatus qu’ils Seroient traittés comme les Officiers de L’armée de terre. il m’a fallu resister au désir de ceux des deux Services qui ont été particuliérement mes Camarades. J’ai Voullu n’adresser qu’une listte pour chaque...
6From George Washington to the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 29 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I return to you individually, and (through you) to your Society collectively in the United States my thanks for the demonstrations of affections, and the expressions of joy, offered in their behalf, on my late appointment. It shall still be my endeavor to manifest, by overt acts, the purity of my inclinations for promoting the happiness of mankind, as well as the sincerity of my desires to...
7From George Washington to John Dandridge, 11 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 2d Instt—and in replying to it, again assure you, with great sincerity, that whatever my own wants of money may be if you think more than £800 can (by waiting till times get a little better) be had for your Land in Gloucester County it will be perfectly agreeable to me to let the debt due to me from your fathers Estate remain on its present footing. For...
8To George Washington from William Hull, 16 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Amidst the general Joy and Congratulations of my fellow-Citizens on your Excellencys Appointment to the Presidency of the United States, permit me to express the mingled Emotions, which I feel, on the interesting occasion. While on the one hand, I am animated with Joy, that my Country has been blessed with so happy an Event, on the other I cant but feel a degree of anxiety that after so many...
9To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 13 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is Invoice of the Buckwheat shipped by the Sloop Charming Polly Capt. Ellwood who sails to morrow for Alexandria—The Captain has not yet Called for the Bill of Lading but it shall be sent by the Vessel with the Certificate to save Duties. I informed your Excellency that I had again been disappointed (as I had twice before after positive Engagements) of a part of the Buckwheat but as I...
10To George Washington from Anthony Wayne, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the honor of addressing your Excellency in April, by Genl Jackson, & have since that period been extremely gratified by hearing of your happy arrival at the seat of Government, & acceptance of the supreme Executive Authority of the United States—an event, that I am confident affords the sincerest pleasure to every true friend of America. I also observe that the Impost Act was in...
11To George Washington from Edward Church, 11 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am one of that unfortunate number whom the late revolution has precipitated from a state of decent competence, and reduced to the necessity of joining the class of your most humble and needy petitioners; but it is not to be expected that the most fortunate revolutions can be favorable to the interest of every individual, I therefore presume not to complain, or to found any pretensions to...
12To George Washington from Thomas McKean, 27 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have an ambition to take a share in Your Excellency’s administration, and know of no line in which I can render so good service as in the judicial department. Having expressed this, it will, I trust, not be deemed indelicate in me to give a short account of myself & my studies. I was born in Chester county in this State, and having been instructed for seven years in the latin and greek...
13To George Washington from John Beatty, 28 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
Having been honoured, by the State of New Jersey, in the appointment, to several public Employments, and which I am flattered by my Friends, as having discharged with Fidelity and attention; I am induced, thro their Solicitation, to offer myself as a Candidate for public favor, Under Your Excellys Administration and to Entreat you, to place my name on the List of Nomination, for the Collectors...
14From George Washington to John Campbell, 31 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have received your very polite letter of the 18th —and the obliging manner in which you have consented to dispose of your favorite horse to me deserves my warmest acknowledgments and best thanks. I am perfectly satisfied with the price (of thirty five guineas) and shall forward the money to you by Mr William Hunter junior of Alexandria, who says he shall set off for that place tomorrow. The...
15To George Washington from Richard Bache, 21 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to submit to Your Excellency’s consideration & patronage, the inclosed Memorial. As I propose shortly (if permitted) to pay my personal respects to Your Excellency at Newyork, I have only to add, that I have the honor to be, with the greatest Defference & respect Your Excellency’s Most Obedt & very Humbe Servant The Petition of Richard Bache respectfully sheweth That in the...
16To George Washington from Abraham Hardenbergh, 22 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Petition of Abraham Hardenbergh late an Officer in the first New York Regiment in the Army of the United states Sheweth That he is advised that the Office of Geographer to the United states has become vacant by the death of Captain Hutchins—That Your petitioner has been employed as one of the Commissioners to ascertain the Line of Jurisdiction between the State of New York and the...
17To George Washington from Henry Knox, 2 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday the house of representatives completed their number, and chose Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania Speaker and Mr Beckley of Virginia Clerk. The senate are still deficient one member. Mr Read of Delaware has been expected daily but he has not yet arrived. Mr Thomson will sett off to announce to the President the unanimous choice of the people of the United states as soon as...
18To George Washington from Samuel Hanson, 3 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honour to forward to you a Package, enclosing some Cloth & Buttons, which was put under my care by Genl Knox. When I left N. York (which was this day week) there were wanting, to make a House, two Senators & four Delegates. Mr Ellmer & Mr Gale left Brunswick the same day I came from N. York. On Monday I was informed at Wilmington that Mr Read had set out that day, to go to...
19To George Washington from the United States House of Representatives, 5 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Representatives of the people of the United States present their congratulations on the event by which your fellow citizens have attested the pre-eminence of your merit. You have long held the first place in their esteem: you have often received tokens of their affection. You now possess the only proof that remained of their gratitude for your services, of their reverence for your wisdom,...
20From George Washington to John Jay, 8 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
Although, in the present unsettled state of the Executive Departments under the Government of the Union, I do not conceive it expedient to call upon you for information officially; yet I have supposed that some informal communications from the Office of Secretary for Foreign Affairs might neither be improper or unprofitable. For finding myself, at this moment, less occupied with the duties of...
21To George Washington from Peter Baynton, 6 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Petition of Peter Baynton most respectfully sheweth That your Petitioner was appointed in the Year 1776, Comptroller of the General Post Office by Richard Bache Esquire Post Master General, in whom was vested the Appointment of all the Offices of that Department & your Petitioner continued to execute the Duties of his Office with the Approbation of his Patron and to the Satisfaction of the...
22From George Washington to George Walton, 29 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have received by Colonel Gunn your honors letters of the 11th and 15th of March, and the enclosures therein contained respecting the conduct of Joseph Martin Esqr. late agent of the United States to the Cherokee and Chickasaw nations of Indians. It appears by the Resolve of Congress of the 19th of June 1788 that the said Joseph Martin was appointed an agent for the Cherokee nation of Indians...
23From George Washington to Daniel Brodhead, 12 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 4th instant came duly to hand—It would be an arduous, if not an impracticable, task for me to travel over the ground of services rendered by all the Officers of the American Army (for no line of determination, when the business was once begun, could be drawn) in order to form certificates that would apply to every character, and do equal justice to merit on the one hand, and...
24To George Washington from the United States Senate, 16 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
We, the Senate of the United States, return you our sincere Thanks for your excellent Speech delivered to both Houses of Congress; congratulate you on the complete Organization of the federal Government, and felicitate ourselves and our fellow-Citizens on your Elevation to the Office of President: an Office highly important by the Powers constitutionally annexed to it, and extremely honorable...
25To George Washington from Samuel Caldwell, 14 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Petition of Samuel Caldwell of the City of Philadelphia most Respectfully Sheweth. That your Petitioner in the month of March One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty eight, on the demise of the late Tonnage Officer—who was also by Law Secretary to the Board of Wardens for the Port of Philadelphia, was appointed by his Excellency the President and the Honble the Supreme Executive Council of...
26To George Washington from John Campbell, 18 May 1789 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Campbell, 18 May 1789. On 31 May GW wrote to Campbell : “I have received your very polite letter of the 18th.”
27From George Washington to James Madison, 11 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed were communicated to me, as you will perceive, to make a confidential use of—upon receipt of the first letter, I expressed a desire to be informed (if there was nothing improper in it) through what channel the report came, and what reliance could be placed in the authenticity of it—This gave rise to the second letter —As you are upon business which requires every information of...
28To George Washington from James Milligan, 27 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
It is with much diffidence and hesitation, that, I presume to address your Excellency at a period, when business and applications must croud upon your time and patience; But urged by some of my friends, and relying on Your Excellency’s well known goodness, I am encouraged, with all possible deference and respect, briefly to put you in mind of an old and, I hope, not an unworthy Servant of the...
29To George Washington from George Walker, 28 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
No Doubt but you will be surprised to Receve a Letter of this sort from a stranger. The more so when you perseve the Author to be a soldier, but hope my Sittuation will Pleade an excuse. To be short, I’m a Discharged Soldier from the Ohio, that I Receved sevon months ago; without, one Farthing, almost Naked, altho I had a Years Clothing Due, and a Journey of six hundred miles to New-York. I...
30From George Washington to Lambert, 31 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 26th —and must inform you, that however desireous I may be to releive the wants of those who have served this country in a military or civil line—Yet the multiplicity of these applications would put it beyond the reach of my private fortune to gratify them—and as I receive no emoluments for my public services—and the expences which I have necessarily incurred...