61From George Washington to Gabriel Peterson Van Horne, 31 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The particular care which you have taken in furnishing horses to bring Mrs Washington from Virginia to this place—and more especially the very polite attention which you were so good as to pay her personally through the most dangerous and difficult part of the journey, has made a grateful impression upon her—and she desires you will please to accept of her warmest acknowledgments and best...
62To George Washington from Oliver Bowen, April 1789 (Washington Papers)
It is not, I presume, unusal or improper for persons to offer themselves as candidates for publick appointments. Under this impression, I take the liberty of mentioning to your Excellency, that I shall be happy to contribute my services in some office of the revenue department for the town and port of Savannh in the State of Georgia. From my long residince in that State, and from a diversified...
63To George Washington from Alexander Furnival, 1 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Representation of Alexander Furnival, Most respectfully Sheweth, That having served the State of Maryland as an Officer in their Artillery almost during the War, and on every occasion Testified his attachment to his Country & the glorious cause of liberty from the earliest period of the late contest, he is induced with every sentiment of respect and veneration to represent to your...
64From George Washington to the Ladies of Trenton, 21 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
General Washington cannot leave this place without expressing his acknowledgments, to the Matrons and Young Ladies who received him in so novel & grateful a manner at the Triumphal Arch in Trenton, for the exquisite sensation he experienced in that affecting moment. The astonishing contrast between his former and actual situation at the same spot—The elegant taste with which it was adorned for...
65To George Washington from Charles Pettit, 24 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Having at length obtained a Settlement of the Accounts of the extensive public Trust in which I was connected with General Greene, so as to ascertain a Balance in our favour, I can with the greater Freedom offer my future Services to the United States, if there should be any Department in which they can be usefully employed. While the moderate Share of Property, which I derived from Industry...
66To George Washington from Daniel Brodhead, 4 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
I most sincerely congratulate you upon your election to the most dignified station in the nation, and I pray God to continue your services to your Country for many years. As you will soon be involved in a multiplicity of Business, I take the liberty to beg the favor of such Testimonial of my Services in the late army, as you may think me entitled to. I have with reluctance made this...
67To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 6 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
I do most sincerely & affectionately congratulate my Country, on the unanimous election of your Excellency to the Presidency of the united States. The importance of this transaction, is so great in my estimation that I consider it, under Providence, as the key-Stone to our political Fabrick. It is from this Consideration alone, that I can rejoyce with you Sir, as a private Friend, on your...
68To George Washington from David Salisbury Franks, 12 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Early in the Year 1774, I settled in Montreal with a small Capital and a considerable Credit as a Merchant & was successful in Business. In the Spring of 1775 I suffered a short tho rigorous imprisonment on Account of my attachment to the Cause of America. As soon as the Troops under General Montgomery took Possession of Montreal I did everything in my Power to promote their Success, & at one...
69To George Washington from Ebenezer Hazard, 7 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
It is really with Reluctance that I add my name to the List of those who are Candidates for Offices, and by their Importunity encrease the weight of your Burthens: nor did I intend to do it: for, enjoying already the Office of Postmaster General, and conscious of no Cause of Removal, I thought it unnecessary; but having been lately informed that I have a Competitor, and fearing lest your...
70From George Washington to the United States Senate, 11 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
A Convention between his most Christian Majesty and the United States for the purposes of determining and fixing the functions and prerogatives of their respective Consuls, Vice Consuls, Agents and Commissaries, was signed by their respective Plenipotentiaries on the 29th of July 1784. It appearing to the late Congress that certain alterations in that Convention ought to be made, they...
71To George Washington from Hugh Williamson, 8 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
It does not appear from any Information in my Hands that Col: Jos: Martin has at this Time any public Commission under which he may be authorised to treat with the Indians. On the 20th of June last he was appointed by Congress Agent for the Cherokees having been previously nominated by Mr Brown of Virginia. That appointment was for six months from the Time he took on himself the Duties of the...
72To George Washington from Carter Braxton, 15 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
Altho your appointment to the Presidentship of America under the new Government be not yet formally notified, yet it amounts to a certainty that the fact is so, and will be anounced as soon as a sufficient number of Members are convened for the purpose of forming a Congress. Permit me then with great sincerity to salute you on the occasion & particularly to congratulate my Country & all...
73To George Washington from the Cherokee Chiefs, 19 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
At a Great Talk held by the Warriors and Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation Assembled in Council at the Great and beloved town of Chota, the 19th day of May 1789 addressed to his Excellency the President of the United States. Great Brother: The Great Being above has directed our hearts to listen to the talks of peace, and sorry that ever any misunderstanding arose between us and our white brothers...
74To George Washington from the Committee of Congress, 17 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Committee appointed in consequence of the Resolutions of both Houses of Congress, and which accompany this Note most respectfully communicate their appointment to the President of the United States, with a request that he will please to have it signified to them when they shall attend, with a Barge which has been prepared for that purpose, to receive him at Elizabeth Town or at such other...
75To George Washington from Benjamin Pitfield, 19 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Petition of Benjamin Pitfield, of the City of Philadelphia, humbly Sheweth. That your Excellencies Petitioner hath been very unfortunate in Trade for some Years past, and by a series of unavoidable Losses, is now reduced to a State of Indigence, and not Able to Support his Family; unless he can Obtain some Assistance, he therefore is Emboldened to Apply to your Excellencies well known...
76To George Washington from Reuben Wilkinson, 30 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
Having had the honor of being annually appointed Collector of the Port of Savannah for two years by a very respectable majority of the Legislature of the State of Georgia— my desire of continuing in that situation induces me to trouble you on the subject of my reappointment; this trouble has been rendered necessary in as much as the Constitution of the United States has taken that power out of...
77To George Washington from Paul Richard Randall, May 1789 (Washington Papers)
It is with extreme diffidence I obtrude myself upon your notice in expressing an inclination to serve my country in some publick Employment. I have no meritorious claims to urge in support of my pretensions having had very little opportunity of manifesting a patriotick zeal. After receiving an education suitable to the bar, and being admitted to practise in this state, I made a small tour in...
78From George Washington to the German Lutherans of Philadelphia, April–May 1789 (Washington Papers)
While I request you to accept my thanks for your kind address, I must profess myself highly gratified by the sentiments of esteem and consideration contained in it. The approbation my past conduct has received from so worthy a body of citizens as that whose joy for my appointmt you announce, is a proof of the indulgence with which my future transactions will be judged by them. I could not...
79To George Washington from Moustier, 1 June 1789 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Moustier, 1 June 1789. On 2 June GW wrote to Moustier : “The sentiments expressed in your letter of yesterday . . . .” See GW to Moustier, 2 June 1789, n.1 .
80To George Washington from Pieter Johan van Berckel, 21 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to adress these few Lines to your Excellency in order to request that you will do me the honour of disposing of my house in New: Ark on your way to New York—The acceptance of this invitation will be the more agreable as it will furnish me with an opportunity to congratulate and assure your Excellency, that nobody more Sincerely rejoices in the prospect of american...
81Undelivered First Inaugural Address: Fragments, 30 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
In the fragments of the discarded inaugural address, page numbers without brackets appear on the fragment; those page numbers enclosed in brackets are conjectural. [1] We are this day assembled on a solemn and important occasion—[owned (1974) by Mr. Nathaniel E. Stein, New York] [1–3] not as a ceremony without meaning, but with a single reference to our dependence [recto, privately owned...
82To George Washington from Thomas Dawes, 25 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Having been lately introduced to your Excellency’s person, my constraint in making this application is in some measure diminished. I am requested by the friends of Mr James Greenleaf to mention him to your Excellency as a gentleman who would do honor to this his country in the character of resident or consul at the Hague. He is a native of Boston where he lived until about seven years past. He...
83To George Washington from Jonathan Burrall, 26 May 1789 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Jonathan Burrall, 26 May 1789. Burrall wrote to David Humphreys, 6 Aug. 1789: “I had the honor of addressing to the President of United States of the 26th of May last.”
84To George Washington from Levinus Clarkson, 6 April 1789 (Washington Papers)
Should your Excey find by a mature investigation of the subscriber character, during the late War, & Life past to merrit an office under the United States, for wc. information I refer your Excy to Govr Livingston Honr Wm Paterson, Ralph Izard, Pierce Butler, Robt Morris, Jno. Jay, Doctor Samuel Johnson, & Chancelor Livingston & other⟨s.⟩ It will afford relief to a numirous family who have...
85To George Washington from William Walton Morris, 12 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Department of Geographer General to the United States, having become Vacant by the death of Thomas Hutchins Esquire—I take the liberty of offering myself a Candidate for that office, under full impressions of the delicacy that necessarily attends a personal application. Your Excellency therefore will excuse my mentioning that I was an assistant to the late Geographer, and employed during...
86To George Washington from Richard Harrison, 8 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I some time ago through the Medium of my friend Coll Harrison, with diffidence took the liberty of offering my self for Employment under the Goverment to the administration of which your Excellency has been unanimously called. However disagreeable to speak of oneself I would now beg permission briefly to state the grounds on which I thus presumed. Although I was never honored with a direct or...
87To George Washington from De Grasse, 12 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
Since the Letter with which I have been honored from your Excellency, I have determined to ask leave of the Court to visit my estate, and to request permission of you to go & present my respects to you, and to beseech you by the friendship with which you have honored my father to have the goodness to give a proof of it to my family, who will preserve it with as much care as I shall seek to...
88From George Washington to James Bowdoin, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Since my arrival in this place I have been honored with your letters of the 18th of Feby and 24th of April. To meet the congratulations and assurances of support from those Characters whose opinions I revere, will be of no small service in enabling me to overcome the diffidence which I have in my own abilities, to execute properly the important and untried task which my Country has assigned...
89To George Washington from Thomas Duff, 13 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
With the greatest deference & submission I take the liberty to Address you though I am afraid in the midst of business of the greatest magnitude and importance. On your passage Sir, through the Delaware State, knowing that a number of Solicitations were made to you for Offices by sundry persons, I desisted my application at that time, but I hope your Excellency will excuse the liberty I take...
90Enclosure: From the Board of Treasury, 11 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
Officers immediately annexed to, or connected with the administration of the Board of Treasury, in paying and receiving public Monies, and passing accounts: and forms of doing business by such officers. The principal Officers under the first description are as follows. A Secretary—whose duty it is to aid the Board of Treasury in such matters, as they may judge requisite for the proper...