1Enclosure: Extract from GW’s Will, 1794 (Washington Papers)
It has always been a source of serious reflection, and of sincere regret with me, to see the youth of these United States sent to foreign countries for the purpose of education (perhaps, before their minds are formed, or they have any correct ideas of the blessings of the country they leave)—Where, besides contracting habits of dissipation and extravagance—principles unfriendly to republican...
2From George Washington to William Pearce, 1 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
I am thus far (55 miles from Philadelphia) on my way to Carlisle agreably to what I wrote you on sunday last. As I am not much accustomed to the management of Buck Wheat—and think I have heard you declare the Same—the purpose of my writing to you now, is to inform you that this Crop on the whole road I have travelled, is cut down (although I should have thought it much too green) and remains...
3From George Washington to William Pearce, 3 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
If this letter should reach your hands, it will be delivered by Mr Weston, who with his lady may take a ride from Alexandria to Mount Vernon. Should this happen, I request you will make their visit as agreeable as your situation will enable you to do. I am Your friend &ca ALS (photocopy), reproduced in Historical Review of Berks County , vol. III, no. 2 (January 1938). GW probably was...
4From George Washington to Carlisle, Pa., Citizens, 6 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
I thank you sincerely for your affectionate address. I feel as I ought, what is personal to me, and I cannot but be particularly pleased with the enlightened and pa⟨trioti⟩c attachment which is manifested ⟨towa⟩rds our happy constitution and the laws. When we look round and behold the universally acknowledged prosperity which blesses every part of the United States facts no less unequivocal...
5From George Washington to John Clark, 6 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 27th ulto was put into my hands in the moment I was leaving the City of Philadelphia, and I have had neither leizure or opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of it since, till now. I thank you for your polite offer of attending me to the field, but my going thither, or returning to the Seat of Government in time for the meeting of Congress, depends upon circumstances not...
6From George Washington to William Pearce, 6 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you a few lines from Reading the first instant—and the only design of writing to you now is, to inform you that I clearly see that it will not be in my power to visit Mount Vernon before the meeting of Congress, and of course not ’till the Spring. I mention this matter that you may not, whenever the situation of your business will permit you to be absent, delay your journey to the...
7From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 6 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your private letter of the 3d instt; accompanying the public dispatches, was received yesterday; & I rejoice exceedingly that the apprehensions on acct of the yellow fever have vanished. It would have given great alarm to all those in this Camp who left families in the City, if Mrs Washington had retired from it; & on the other hand it would have been a source of continual uneasiness to me in...
8From George Washington to Martha Washington, c.6 Oct. 1794 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Martha Washington, c.6 Oct. 1794. On 8 Oct., Edmund Randolph wrote GW: “I was honored by your private letter of the 6th instant, about half an hour ago; and immediately delivered to Mrs Washington the one, addressed to her.”
9From George Washington to Anthony Walton White, 6 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
The President of the U. States requests the pleasure of Genl Whites and Aids company to dine tomorrow at Mr Pollock’s tavern at 3 o’Clock. D , NjP : Von Hemert Autograph Collection. Anthony Walton White of New Jersey was serving as a brigadier general of cavalry during the Whiskey Insurrection campaign. James Pollock (d. 1800) kept a tavern at the southwest corner of High and Pitt streets in...
10From George Washington to Daniel Morgan, 8 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
In the moment I was leaving the City of Philadelphia for this place, your letter of the 24th ulto was put into my hands. Although I regret the occasion which has called you into the field, I rejoice to hear you are there; and because it is probable I may meet you at Fort Cumberland, whither I shall proceed, so soon as I see the Troops at this rendezvous in condition to advance. At that place,...
11From George Washington to Henry Knox, 9 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 6th came to hand last night. It would have given me pleasure to have had you with me & advantages might have resulted from it on my present tour, if your return, in time, would have allowed it. It is now too late, as we shall be in the Act of crossing the mountains, or I shall be on my return to Phila. (according to circumstances & the information I shall receive) at the...
12From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 9 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday at 11 Oclock your dispatches of the 7th were delivered to me in less than 23 hours from the rect of them by the Express in Philadelphia. Little, of moment, has occurred since mine of the 6th. A meeting of the Committee of 60, at Parkinson’s ferry the 2d instt have resolved that if the signature of the submission, be not universal, it is not so much owing to any existing disposition...
13From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 11 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
When I wrote to you yesterday, I did not expect to be in this village at this hour. But finding it difficult to get even part of the Troops off, that were ordered to March yesterday, I resolved to see the residue in motion to day before I left this place, myself. This dilatoriness does not proceed from any disinclination in the Troops themselves, to proceed; but for want of arrangement, and...
14From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 16 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 11th instt were received this morning at my stage 15 miles short of this place. We arrived here in the forenoon of this day; and found a respectable force assembled from the states of Virginia and Maryland; and I am informed that about 1500 more (from the former state) either is, or will be at Frankfort, (ten miles on our left) this evening or tomorrow at farthest. Nothing...
15From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 18 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have directed Mr Dandridge to acknowledge the recet of your public dispatches of the 13. Inst., whilst I enclose those of our Envoy to you, which came under cover to me in a letter from him dated the 5. of August, with the following P.S.—“I shall enclose with this my dispatches to Mr Randolph. If the William Penn shou’d be stopped by a belligerent vessel, they will respect a letter directed...
16From George Washington to Henry Lee, 20 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
Being about to retur⟨n⟩ to the seat of Government, I cannot t⟨ake⟩ my departure without conveying thro⟨ugh⟩ you to the Army under your command, t⟨he⟩ very high sense I entertain of the enlightened and patriotic zeal for the Constitution and the Laws, which has led them ⟨so⟩ chearfully to quit their families and home⟨s⟩ and the comforts of private life, to undertake, and thus far to perform, a...
17From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 21 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
From Colo. Mentges’ inf⟨or⟩mation, there are detachments of Militia a considerable distance in the rear; composed in part, of those whose march was designe⟨d⟩ to be arrested. He adds, many of them are illy clad. This being the case, it appears to me, that an expence, without an equivalent advantage, would result from bringing them forward; and that the cloaths which they must draw to fit them...
18From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 26 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
A little advanced of this, yesterday afternoon, I met an Express with the letters herewith enclosed for you, with others for the Army; with which I have directed him to proceed. Thus far I have proceeded without accident to man, horse or Carriage, altho’ the latter has had wherewith to try its goodness; especially in ascending the North Mountain from Skinners by a wrong road; that is—by the...
19From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 31 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
By pushing through the rain (which fell more or less on Saturday, Sunday and Monday) I arrived in this City before noon on Tuesday; without encountering any accident on the road, or any thing so unpleasant as the badness of the ways, after the rains had softened the earth and made them susceptible of deep impression, of the Wheels. How you passed through the Glades after the various accounts...
20From George Washington to John Jay, 1–4 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
On tuesday last I returned from my tour to the westward; on monday, Congress, by adjournment, are to meet; and on the day following, Mr Bayard, according to his present expectation, is to leave this city for London. Thus circumstanced (having so little time between my return, and the opening of the Session, to examine papers, and to prepare my communications for the legislature) you will...
21From George Washington to William Pearce, 2 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have had neither leizure for, nor opportunity of, writing to you since I did it from Carlisle, ’till my return to this place; which happened on Tuesday last. In the meantime I have received your several letters of the 28th of Septr—and 5th 17th and 23d of last month. As the accident I met with in June last, prevented my riding about my farms when I was last at home, I should have been very...
22Testimonial for Jacob Baur, 4 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
I hereby testif.—that Jacob Baur has lived with me in this City, since christmas last past, in the quality of Valet de chambre and Butler. that he has discharged the duties of the above [trusts] with fidelity, promptness and sobriety; and that in all respects he has demeaned himself so as to merit my approbation. DS , DLC:GW . The scribe apparently wrote “wusts.”
23From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 5 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you, I have received your several letters of the 25th 26th and 29th of last month, & am glad to hear that the Troops continued to be in good health & spirits, notwithstanding the bad weather & the Roads; and that further indications of submission were likely to be manifested by the Insurgents. I have not received the rout of either column of the Army—nor a copy of the order...
24From George Washington to John Sinclair, 9 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
By Mr Bayard (a respectable young Gentleman of this City) who will have the honor of presenting this letter to you, I take the liberty of putting into your hands, a work, which only made its appearance a few days ago. “A view of the United States of America in a series of Papers”. I have not read it yet, and therefore shall say nothing for, or against the merits of it further than that the...
25From George Washington to Arthur Young, 9 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 2d of June, with the second edition of your travels; and two sets of the 19th 20th and 21st vols. of your Annals (one set of which I shall send to the Agricultural Society of this City) came to my hands a few days ago only. The letter alluded to therein, as being sent by some farmers—whom you had the goodness to recommend to me, has not yet been received; nor had I, before,...
26From George Washington to John Adams, 15 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have not been able to give the papers herewith enclosed more than a hasty reading; returning them, without delay, that you may offer the perusal of them to whomsoever you shall think proper. The picture drawn in them, of the Genevese, is realy interesting & affecting. The proposition of transplanting the members, entire, of the University of that place, to America, with the requisition of...
27From George Washington to William Pearce, 16 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
By the Post of yesterday I received your letter of the 11th instt, with the Reports of the three preceeding weeks; (except those of the Carpenters). I did not write to you last week, not having heard from you by the two Posts before. I am glad to hear that your Potatoes & Corn are likely to turn out well, & that the Wheat now in the ground looks promising. The last Crop of that article...
28From George Washington to William Pearce, 19 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed I send you thirteen hundred dollars; out of which I desire you will discharge and take in my bond, with a receipt thereon in full, from Mr Lund Washington. The letter to him is left open for your perusal and government in this business. The accounts therein are, for aught I know to the contrary, correct; but if any errors should be found in them, there can be no objection to the...
29From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 19 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
When we call to mind the gracious indulgence of Heaven, by which the American people became a nation; when we survey the general prosperity of our Country, and look forward to the riches, power and happiness, to which it seems destined; with the deepest regret do I announce to you that during your recess, some of the Citizens of the United States, have been found capable of an insurrection. It...
30From George Washington to Lund Washington, 19 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have sent money to Mr Pearce for the purpose of discharging & taking in my Bond. On my Books, kept in my absence from Mount Vernon by my de⟨ceas⟩ed nephew Geo. A. Washington, were articles charged to you as pr the acct No. 1 enclosed amounting to £⟨18.18.8⟩—The cash payments in discharge of the Bond are cont⟨ain⟩ed ⟨in⟩ the acct marked No. 2. On the first, as it was an open acct, no interest...
31From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 21 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
Gentlemen of the Senate, In the negotiation between the United States and his Catholic Majesty, I have received satisfactory proofs of attention and ability, exerted in behalf of the United States, to bring it to a happy and speedy issue. But it is probable that by complying with an intimation, made to the Secretary of State by the Commissioners of his Catholic Majesty, much further delay in...
32From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 21 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
I lay before Congress copies of a letter from the Governor of the State of New York, and of the exemplification of an act of the Legislature thereof, ratifying the amendment of the Constitution of the United States, proposed by the Senate and House of Representatives, at their last Session, respecting the judicial power. LS , DNA : RG 46, entry 33; LB , DLC:GW . For the enclosures, see George...
33From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 22 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
Among the occasions, which have been afforded, for expressing my sense of the zealous and stedfast cooperation of the Senate, in the maintenance of government; none has yet occurred, more forcibly demanding my unqualified acknowledgments, than the present. Next to the consciousness of upright intentions, it is the highest pleasure to be approved by the enlightened representatives of a free...
34From George Washington to William Pearce, 23 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 16th with the reports—except the Carpenters, which I have been without for several weeks—came to my hands yesterday. As I expected, so it happened, my letters to Colo. Willm Washington of Westmoreland, did not reach him until a few days ago. As you seem to be of the same opinion wch I entertained at first, namely, that from the easy and simple manners of Donaldson, he wd not...
35From George Washington to Alexander Spotswood, 23 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
It has not been in my power to acknowledge, with convenience, the receipt of your letter of the 14th Ulto until now; first, because it did not get to my hands until my return from the Westward; and 2dly, because my attention ever since, to the present moment, has been occupied in examining the various papers on which my communications to Congress were to be founded. I do not see how any one...
36From George Washington to William Augustine Washington, 23 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 12th instt came to my hands yesterday. As Congress are now in Session, and Gentlemen from all the states North of this are assembled, I will make particular enquiry into the characters of the different Seminaries & will let you know the result. In the meantime, inform me how far to the Eastward you would consent that your Sons should go; to come at the best schools. There...
37Enclosure: Statement of Men in the Army, 24 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
Statement of the non commissioned Officers and privates in the service of the United States specifying the places where they are and the periods which they have still to serve. Under General Wayne and at the posts on the lower parts of the Ohio 2643 Posts on the Upper parts of the Ohio, and on the march 398 South Western Territory 73 Georgia 146 Fortifications on the Sea Coast and at the...
38From George Washington to the Commissioners for the District of Columbia, 27 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed letter was put into my hands last night. The writer of it is a gentleman of character, & known I believe to some of you. Whether such a professional character as Mr Hatfield is described to be, is wanting for public purposes in the city, is with you to decide. I mean nothing more than to transmit the information wch the letter contains. In any event, the writer of, or the...
39From George Washington to the U.S. House of Representatives, 29 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
I anticipated with confidence the concurrence of the House of Representatives in the regret produced by the insurrection. Every effort ought to be used to discountenance what has contributed to foment it, & thus discourage a repetition of like attempts. For notwithstanding the consolations which may be drawn from the issue of the event, it is far better that the artful approaches to such a...
40From George Washington to William Pearce, 30 November 1794 (Washington Papers)
As the experiment of grinding a hundred bushels of Wheat into flour, is found more profitable than to sell the like quantity in grain; I would have you proceed in the manufactury of what little I have made. and I desire the particulars of the experiment may be sent to me. and the Miller must be careful that he keeps up to it. or I may be deceived thereby. Caution Sally Green against dealing...
41From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 3 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
I transmit to you an official statement of the expenditure, to the 30th of September last, from the sums heretofore granted to defray the Contingent Expenses of Government, by Acts passed the 26th day of March 1790—and the 9th of June 1794. LS , DNA : RG 46, entry 33; copy, DNA : RG 233, entry 19, Journals; copy, DLC:GW . GW was referring to “An Act making appropriations for the support of...
42From George Washington to William Pearce, 7 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of 30th Ulto, with the weekly reports, came safely to hand. By mistake, the sum of £300 was omitted in the charges against my bond, to Mr Lund Washington; as you have discovered in the above letter. By my mode of settling the bonded account, he will be £7.10.8 in my debt—and by the mode he proposes, I shall be £51.12.11. in his debt. Which of these is the mode by which a Court of...
43From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 10 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
I nominate the following persons to fill the offices respectively annexed to their names, some of which became vacant during the recess of the Senate. Arthur St Clair, to be Governor in and over the Territory of the United States, northwest of the river Ohio. continued—the legal term of his former appointment having expired. Winthrop Sargent, to be Secretary in and over the Territory of the...
44From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 11 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
I transmit to you, for consideration, a Representation made to me by The Secretary of the Treasury, on the subject of constituting an Officer to be specially charged with the business of procuring certain public supplies. LS , DNA : RG 46, entry 33; copy, DNA : RG 233, Records of the House of Representatives, entry 19; copy, DLC:GW . See Alexander Hamilton’s third letter to GW of 2 December.
45From George Washington to Tobias Lear, 12 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 5th instt, and the Receipt for the second payment of the lots I purchased on the Eastern branch, in the Federal City, came duly to hand. You are perfectly at liberty to examine my Presses and Trunks at Mount Vernon for any papers I may have respecting the transactions of the Directors of the Potomack Compa., or any matters & things which may concern the navigation of that...
46From George Washington to Tobias Lear, 14 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
The day following the one on which I wrote to you last, your letter of the 10th instt was received. It is to be regretted, exceedingly, that delegated powers are, oftentimes, so little regarded; and that trusts of an important nature, the neglect of wch may be attended with serious consequences, should be suffered to sleep in the hands of those who ought to carry them into activity. such, from...
47From George Washington to William Pearce, 14 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 7th instt, enclosing the reports of the preceeding week, came duly to hand. I approve your idea of clearing up the wood between the fence and the road, and letting it lay over to another year; but quere, would it not be better, instead of cleaning the ground thoroughly , and exposing the earth to the rays of the summers sun, to have it well grubbed, & lye with all the brush...
48From George Washington to Edmund Randolph, 15 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
For the reasons mentioned to you the other day—viz.—the Virginia Assembly being in Session—and a plan being on foot for establishing a Seminary of learning upon an extensive scale in the Federal city —it would oblige me if you and Mr Madison would endeavor to mature the measures which will be proper for me to pursue in order to bring my designs into view, as soon as you can make it convenient...
49From George Washington to the U.S. Senate, 17 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
Gentlemen of the Senate, I nominate Charles Cochran of South Carolina, to be Marshal of and for the District of South Carolina; vice Daniel L. Huger, resigned. and Thomas Waters Griffith, of Maryland, to be Consul of the United States of America, for the port of Havre Marat, in France; and for such other places as shall be nearer to the said port than to the residence of any other Consul or...
50From George Washington to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, 17 December 1794 (Washington Papers)
I lay before Congress copies of the Journal of the proceedings in the Executive Department of the Government of the U. States, south of the river ohio, to the 1st of September 1794. Copy, DLC:GW ; copy DNA : RG 233, Entry 19, Journals. GW enclosed the journal of proceedings from 1 March to 1 Sept., for which, see Carter, Territorial Papers Clarence Edwin Carter et al., eds. The Territorial...