31From George Washington to Edward Rutledge, 5 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I cannot fail of being much pleased with the friendly part you take in every thing which concerns me; and particularly with the just scale on which you estimate this last great sacrafice which I consider myself ⟨as having⟩ made for the good of my Country. ⟨When I ha⟩d judged⟨, u⟩pon the best appreciation I was ab⟨le to form⟩ of the circumstances which related ⟨to my-⟩self, ⟨that⟩ it was my...
32To George Washington from Lydia Watkins, 5 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
permit me among the multitude who rejoice at your appointment, to Congratulate you as president of the United States of America, and to assure your Excellency that I enjoy an heartfelt Satisfaction at any event tending to promote your happiness or exaltation. May I hope you have some recollection of one who had the honor of being known to you some years back at Paramus New Jersey? I have...
33To 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...
34To George Washington from Christian Febiger, 6 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Fully sensible of the very delicate & troublesome Situation, in which you are placd, the disagreeable Sensations you are every moment subjected to by numerous Applications from every Quarter. I had determind (as my Bussiness in New York is entirely of a private Nature) not to trouble your Excellency at present; Butt my Friends have advisd me to the contrary. Permitt me therefore to intrude for...
35To George Washington from Louis de Pontière, 6 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ I am very uncertain whether this letter will reach you or not, I have nevertheless, taken the liberty to write to you, exposing my situation which becomes more & more deplorable—while I had friends & Relations I asked of them whatever was necessary for me during the American war, & since my return to France while the hope the interest of my Captaincy would be paid I have been received...
36To George Washington from William Powell, 6 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your Memorialist convinced of the necessity of Appointing Officers of Honesty, Industry, and Abilities, under the present Constitution for the Collection of the Revenues in all the United States—Begs leave to Offer his Services, as Weighmaster & Gauger or Surveyor, for the District of said New Haven not doubting but his character & abilities will be found adequate to the appointment The...
37From George Washington to Abraham Baldwin, 7 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your letter of the 30th of April, containing the resignation of your seat at the general Board of Commissioners for finally adjusting all accounts between the United States and the individual States; and shall cause it to be filed in the proper office as soon as the necessary arrangemt of departments shall have been made. I am, with great esteem, Sir, Your most Obedt Servt...
38To George Washington from John Churchman, 7 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The memorial of John Churchman Respectfully represents That in the Beginning of the Year 1787, he has published & sent to different parts of America and Europe, a Scheme for determining the Longitude from a combined observation of the latitude & variation of the magnetic needle, that the principles on which it is founded have been approved by some of the most learned mathematicians of the age,...
39To 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...
40From George Washington to William Shippen, 7 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The new and busy scenes in which I have been occupied since I received your favor of the 6th of last month, containing an extract of a letter from your son, will plead my excuse for not having acknowledged the receipt of it at an earlier day. I have now to express my satisfaction for this mark of your attention, and to thank you for the interest you take in the honor which has lately been done...
41To 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...
42From George Washington to the United States House of Representatives, 8 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your very affectionate Address produces emotions which I know not how to express. I feel that my past endeavours in the Service of Country are far overpaid by its goodness: and I fear much that my future ones may not fulfil your kind anticipation. All that I can promise is, that they will be invariably directed by an honest and an ardent zeal. Of this resource my heart assures me. For all...
43To 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...
44To George Washington from Mary Wooster, 8 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Permit me to address your Excellency on a subject which perhaps may be thought improper for a Woman, but I rely on my particular unfortunate situation and the candor of your Excellency for my justification⟨.⟩ My Son having been excedingly unfortunate during the course of the last War by the loss of his pay⟨,⟩ receiving his debts in Continental Money, by being plunder’d to a very considerable...
45From 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...
46From George Washington to Nathaniel Gorham, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 10th of march, and must beg you to be assured that your good wishes and kind gratulations were very pleasing to me, and have my warmest acknowledgments. I shall feel a degree of confidence in the execution of my office in proportion to the assurances of support which I receive from respectable and worthy Characters in every part of the Union. I beleive I need...
47From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am taking the earliest occasion of acknowledging the receipt of the letter, which you did me the favor to address to me by Mr Allen; and to thank you for your kind congratulations on my appointment to the Presidency of the United States. Mrs Washington is not here, but is expected in the course of this month; on her arrival I shall not fail of executing the friendly Commission of Mrs Hancock...
48From George Washington to William Heath, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The numerous congratulations which I have received from Public Bodies & respectable individuals since my appointment to my present station, are truly grateful, as they hold forth the strongest assurances of support to the Government as well as a warm attachment to myself. It is from the good dispositions of the people at large—from the influence of respectable characters—and from the patriotic...
49From George Washington to Henry Knox, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed papers relative to a treaty with the Cherokee Indians were put into my hands: and as I understand that matters of this kind have hitherto been considered as belonging to the department of the Secretary of War to examine and report thereon, and knowing that you have others of a similar nature now in your hands, I would wish you to make a summary report on the whole as soon as may...
50To George Washington from Henry Knox, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt [of] Sundry papers relative to the cherokees indians —These shall be examined, together with those relative to the North western Indians and reported on to you as soon as may be. I have the honor to be with the highest respect Sir, your Obedient and Humble Servant LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . See GW’s letter of this date to Knox .
51To George Washington from Warner Lewis, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
As it does not appear to me to be certain that you have received a letter which I wrote you by the stage on the 11’th of March last, I now take the liberty of inclosing you a copy of it: and, that I may not again be troublesome to you on the same subject, I will request a line from you, by post, informing me of your being made acquainted with my having attended to your directions. With very...
52To George Washington from William Mumford, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Memorial of William Mumford, most Humbly and Respectfully Sheweth, That he officiated as Deputy Secretary of the State of Rhode Island & Providence Planatations, from the commencement to the close of the late War, which gave Independence to America; and a considerable part of that Time as Clerk to the Council of War and Deputy Intendant of Trade for the Port of Providence, that the two...
53From George Washington to the Citizens of New York City, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The affectionate address presented by the Magistrates and the general joy testified by the Citizens of New York, on my arrival in this Metropolis, have filled my mind with the mingled emotions of gratitude and satisfaction. In accepting the momentuous trust which has been spontaneously committed to me by a free people; it was not enough to have felt a consciousness of having acted in...
54From George Washington to Philip Schuyler, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday had the pleasure to receive your favor of the 2d instt—and must beg you to accept of my most grateful acknowledgments for your good wishes and kind gratulations upon my entrance on a new and arduous task. It is only from the assurances of support which I have received from the respectable & worthy characters in every part of the Union, that I am enabled to overcome the diffidence...
55From George Washington to John Adams, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States wishes to avail himself of your sentiments on the following points. 1st Whether a line of conduct, equally distant from an association with all kinds of company on the one hand and from a total seclusion from Society on the other, ought to be adopted by him? and, in that case, how is it to be done? 2d What will be the least exceptionable method of bringing...
56To George Washington from Isaac All, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
By the advice of my friends, I came to this place to Solicit an appointment in the Customs for the Port of Philadelphia, and was honoured with Letters to Several members of the Senate and house of representatives through whome it was thought my application might have been made. I have Since understood that would be improper which obliges me tho’ an entire stranger to the President to throw...
57To George Washington from John Berrien, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of informing you that I have come forward from Georgia to this place to Offer myself as a Candidate for the Office of Collector of the Customs for the State of Georgia. Haveing formerly held the Office of Collector for the Port of Savannah, with reputation, I trust that on the score of experience, my pretensions to the appointment which I now Solicit from you Sir, will at...
58To George Washington from Arthur Campbell, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Although I am not honored with a personal acquaintance; yet I can count myself among the number of your early and uniform admirers, and who can now rejoice in seeing the affairs of my Country administered successfully by your hand in preference to any other. I was among the first that embraced the principles of the American revolution, and was not merely an inactive wellwisher; what was then...
59From George Washington to John Campbell, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
If a white horse, which your Servant was on the day I travelled with you from Bladensburg to Baltimore, has recovered of his lameness, and you have no particular predilection for him, I should be glad, as he is so good a match for the one I had of Mr Prescott, if you would sell him to, or swap him with me. Mrs Washington, with a nephew of mine (Mr Lewis) will, I expect be in Bladensburg on the...
60To George Washington from Frederick Jay, 10 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
Several of my Friends have advised me to become a Candidate for the Office of Collector for this Port—I am persuaded that your Excellency is not unacquainted with the Part wch I took and the losses Sustained by me and the whole Family during the late War, which in Some measure (I do presume) recommends them to a Share of their Country’s favours—Should Your Exclcy think proper to Name me to...