361To George Washington from William Stoy, 19 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
If your Excellency will condescend to read the following it will do you no harm: if not I can’t be hurt by it. Congress have miscarried in an expedition against the Indians, the original, the absolutely rightful and under god the primitive owners of the land. their territories have been ceded to North America: by whom? by great Brittain. What right and title had Great Brittain to their land?...
362To George Washington from James Mercer, 20 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
The Necessity of the Case will I hope be a sufficient appollogy for my addressing your Excellency on the following Subject. You Sir may recollect that Ld Dunmore in Novr 1774 purchased of you & Colo. Tayloe Trustees for the Creditors of George Mercer, under a decretal order of the General Court, certain Slaves to the value of 436£ Va. Currency on twelve months Credit—for which (circumstanced...
363To George Washington from John Brown Cutting, 22 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to inclose to You a few stanzas which several persons, eminent in polite literature—and who have moreover the honor of a more intimate acquaintance with you than myself—affirm to be neither inelegant unjust nor unworthy of the subject on the occasion. I rejoice in this opportunity of testifying the fervency of that attachment and patriotic homage with which I am, your very...
364From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 22 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed meets my approbation. Did Walker accord willingly, or reluctantly? The Plan I think, ought to appear as the Work of L’Enfont. The one prepared for engraving not doing so, is, I presume, one cause of his dissatisfaction. If he consents to act upon the conditions proposed, and can point out any radical defects, or others to amend which will be a gratification to him—not improper in...
365Edmund Randolph to Tobias Lear, 22 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, 22 Feb. 1792. “The visit of respect, which is due to-day, it was my most earnest intention to have paid. For I connect with it a personal attachment, not dependent on any official relation. But I am unfortunately deprived of this gratification by the continuance of the disorder, which I mentioned to you in my note of yesterday. Permit me, therefore, to request you to communicate...
366To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 23 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
Treasury Department, Philadelphia, 23 Feb. 1792. Submits a contract made by the superintendent of the New Castle Island lighthouse in New Hampshire with Titus Salter for supplying, keeping, lighting, and superintending the occasional repairs of that building and humbly opines that it is not disadvantageous to the United States, as its terms are the same as those in the last agreement for the...
367To George Washington from James Iredell, 23 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of the letter you did the Judges of the Supreme Court the honour to write to them on the 3d April 1790, I presume it is not only proper for a single Judge, but his express duty when he deems it of importance to the public service, to state any particular circumstances that occur to him in the course of his personal experience which occasion unexpected difficulties or...
368To George Washington from George Clinton, 24 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
Confidential Sir New York, 24th February 1792 It is reported here that Colo. Smith either has or intends to resign the Office of Supervisor of the Excise for this District; Under this Impression and a Conviction that from the Nature of that Office there is none that it is more necessary should be filled with a Man of Discretion, Integrity and weight in the Community I begg leave to mention for...
369From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 24 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
The President desires Mr Jefferson will give the enclosed Papers an attentive perusal, & return them to him as soon as he has done it; that Colo. Hamilton may have an opportunity of doing it also. At 10 ’oclock tomorrow the P——will speak with the heads of departments upon the subject of them and requests their attendance accordingly. AL , DLC : Thomas Jefferson Papers. Jefferson endorsed this...
370From George Washington to Henry Knox, 25 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have given the enclosed draught of a letter to Captn Brandt a careful perusal. Such additions as are made with a pencil may be advisable—but, after you have given them an attentive consideration, they may stand or fall as you shall think best. Yours &ca ALS , PHi : Society Collection; Df , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW
371To George Washington from James McCallmont, 25 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
Disappointed in my first application for Office, I hope your Excellency will excuse a second direction of my wishes to it, tho’ they are not pointed to any one in particular; and as there are some claims, Individuals may have ’on Government, which may be considered operating as secondary motives in the disposal of them, I would beg leave, in order to state mine, to be indulged in giving a few...
372From George Washington to David Shepherd, 25 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for the information which you have given me in your letter of the 30th of Decr respecting the intention of the Tomlinsons and others to dispute my title to a tract of land called the Round Bottom. I wish these persons, and any others who may be disposed to dispute my title to that land, to be informed in the most explicit and pointed manner, that it is my fixed determination to...
373From George Washington to Ruben Slaughter, 25 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for the information given me in your letter of the 21st of November last, of your claiming 200 Acres of the land within the limits of my Survey on the Great Kanhawa; as it gives me an opportunity of letting you know my fixed determination to defend my title to all that land within the lines of my patent, and to warn you in the most pointed manner not to make any Settlements...
374To George Washington from William Hunter, Jr., 26 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
Sensible, that the pressure of public business, you have to attend to, leaves little or no time for private, which makes me sorry to intrude, but hope on this occasion it will be forgiven, As it is only once more to mention Capt. Nicholas Hannah, whom you was so kind as name to Colo. Dark in Appointing the Officers of the Levies; He is now in Phila., and wishes to enter into the regular...
375From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 26 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have perused the enclosed answer to your letter, to Majr L’Enfant. Both are returned. A final decision thereupon must be had. I wish it to be taken upon the best ground, and with the best advice. Send it, I pray you, to Mr Madison who is better acquainted with the whole of this matter than any other. I wish also that the Attorney General may see, and become acquainted with the circumstances...
376From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 26 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
The P—— returns the enclosed Report to Mr J—— Boundary, and the Navigation of the Missisipi are clearly defined—The propositions respecting Commerce he presumes is equally so, but having little knowledge of this subject he trusts to the guards provided by Mr J——. The P—— has put one or two queries in the Margin of the Report merely for consideration. AL , DLC : Thomas Jefferson Papers. For...
377To George Washington from David Stuart, 26 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
It was my expectation at the last meeting of the Commissioners, that Mr Johnson would have seen you long ago, and laid before you many particulars which could not be done so satisfactorily by letter—As he was well prepared to have given you a comprehensive knowledge of the many untoward circumstances which have befallen us, I considered it as unnecessary in me to occupy your time. I am just...
378To George Washington from Henry Knox, 27 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, 27 Feb. 1792. Sends a letter and enclosures received from Lt. Col. James Wilkinson and indicates that other letters “worthy your perusal” will also soon be submitted to the president. ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . The enclosures have not been identified, but Tobias Lear returned them to Henry Knox on 28 Feb. 1792 ( DLC:GW ).
379To George Washington from Pierre L’Enfant, 27 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
having in my last letter to Mr Jefferson so fully Explained the Reasons, which urge me to decline all concern in the federal City under the present System as these reasons were the result of serious, impartial Consideration upon so important a Subject, I wish it understood that it still is my resolution —By the letter of Mr Jefferson to me in answer, I perceive that all my services are at an...
380From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 28 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
Would it be advisable to let L’Enfont alter the Plan if he will do it in a certn given time—and provided also we retain the means if any thing unfair is intended that we may not suff[er]. Ought any thing to be said in my letter to him respecting payment for his past Services. Should Mr Ellicot be again asked in strong & explicit terms if the Plan exhibited by him is conformable to the actual...
381From George Washington to Pierre L’Enfant, 28 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
Your final resolution being taken, I shall delay no longer to give my ideas to the Commissioners for carrying into effect the plan for the federal City. The continuance of your services (as I have often assured you) would have been pleasing to me, could they have been retained on terms compatible with the law. Every mode has been tried to accommodate your wishes on this principle, except...
382To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 28 February 1792 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edmund Randolph, 28 Feb. 1792. On 2 Mar. Tobias Lear wrote Randolph “that the President received the Attorney General’s letter of the 28th of february.” By the president’s command Tobias Lear wrote Edmund Randolph that GW was “of opinion that it would be inexpedient for a pardon to issue for a person against whom an indictment is depending for false swearing. The...
383To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 29 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of state has had under examination the Records of Proceedings in the Executive department of the Northwestern government from the 1st of Aug. to the 31st of December 1791—transmitted by the Secretary, and Reports to the President of the United States That finding nothing therein which calls for the attention or interference of the President, he has deposited them among the...
384From George Washington to Henry Knox, 29 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
That General St Clair may not think his letters (enclosed) to me, have been unattended to, or slighted, I wish such an answer as will do for publication may be prepared—conformably—to the Sentimts which seemed to be entertained of the matter when the subject was before us the other day. I am always Yrs P.S. To say neither too much, nor too little, in the answer will be a matter of some...
385From George Washington to James Mercer, 29 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
I take the earliest opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 20th instant, to shew you that I have not been inattentive to the contents of it. But I must delay giving a definitive answer to your request for using my name in the Suit which you propose to institute, until the return of your Brother, Colo. John Mercer, to this City, shall enable me to learn from him whether...
386To George Washington from Nicolas Pike, 29 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to request your Acceptance of a Medal struck in my presence by an ingenious & reputable Gentleman, who also made the Die, which branch he can execute with great facility & dispatch, & which he will warrant to stand until defaced by usage. He, at present, declines having his name made public; but should this Specimen of Ingenuity intitle him to the Notice of Congress, he would...
387To George Washington from Benjamin Wilson, 29 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday a general council of the militia Officers of this county was held in order to take into view the State of our frontiers most exposed to the incursions of the hostile indians. The protection granted by your state government, and what additional protection might be necessary in order to secure the inhabitants from the impendent danger of the savages who consequently is much elate with...