1From George Washington to James McHenry, 2 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
This letter will be presented to you by Mr Elliot, the son of a meritorious Officer in the Revolutionary War. He has equitable (if not legal) claim to Land. I have advised him to shew you the nature of it. If it is within your power to serve him, I am sure you will. If not, you can advise him as to the course best to be taken. Always, & sincerely, I am Your Affectionate Humble Servant ALS...
2From George Washington to John Mason, 2 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
I am just informed by the President of the Potomac Company, that the application to the Maryland Assembly on behalf of that Company, for aid to complete their works, has met with much delay, and even at this time, is uncertain in its event—a circumstance which I learn with no small regret. Understanding also, from the same source, that some persons have expressed a doubt whether I still...
3From George Washington to Arthur St. Clair, 4 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Mr Edward Tiffin solicits an appointment in the Territory North West of the Ohio, The fairness of His Charactor in private and publick life, together with a knowledge of Law resulting from close application for a considerable time, will I hope, justify the liberty I now take in recommending Him to Your attention; regarding with due attention the delicacy, as well as importance of the character...
4To George Washington from Louis La Colombe, 5 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
The letters by the John from Hambg having been saved & I have at length recd mine by them, I have had news of all my Esteem’d friends who were confined in the austrian Bastilles. I am happy sir, to have the honor of forwarding to you the enclosed letter from our mutual Friend Genl De Lafayette whose greatest happiness I’m well assured, was to avail himself the pleasure to write you on the...
5From George Washington to George Washington Parke Custis, 7 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
System in all things should be aimed at; for in execution, it renders every thing more easy. If now & then, of a morning before breakfast, you are inclined, by way of change, to go out with a Gun, I shall not object to it; provided you return by the hour we usually set down to that meal. From breakfast, until about an hour before Dinner (allowed for dressing, & preparing for it, that you may...
6From George Washington to Gustavus Scott, 8 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 21st Ulto from Annapolis, has given me the pleasure of knowing that the State of Maryland continues to act like itself, in granting a loan to carry on the Public buildings in the Federal City. Another object of equal importance to it—the Navigation of Potomac—lays claim to its attention, and I hope will meet with equal success. By a notification in the Gazettes, I perceive a...
7To George Washington from Jesse Simms, 8 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
It is with pain that I am oblidged to make the present application being a thing that I have never done before, but Some very heavy Losses and particular the Detention of my Brig the Virginia not being able to get up on account of the Ice as She has just Returnd from the West Indies, and the Proceeds of her Cargo I Cannot turn into Cash—therfore Shall Consider it as a particular favour if you...
8To George Washington from Alexander White, 8 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Since the conversation with which you honored me at Mount Vernon the subject of the Federal Buildings as connected with my conduct has never been mentioned—Our affairs being at a crisis I thought the measure then in contemplation might be considered as deserting my Post —Before the Presidents return to Phil[adelphi]a we wrote to him requesting a power to borrow $150,000, and sent a Copy of the...
9To George Washington from John Dunn, 9 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
The charming Poem which accompanies this was committed to my care near four weeks ago by Mrs Morton for the purpose of being forwarded to you. By delays on the Road I have unfortunately retarded your Perusal of a Poem dictated by Taste and Genius and displaying like its author an exalted Veneration for you—In transmitting it thus late I thought it necessary to mark explicitly that the Delay is...
10From George Washington to Alexander Spotswood, 9 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Confidential Dear Sir Mount Vernon 9th Jany 1798 The attention which the Papers you transmitted, required I should give them; and the form which my land assumes by connecting the two tracts together, evinces most clearly, the necessity there is of my becoming possessed of Andrew Wodrows 300 acre tract, which is surrounded thereby, if attainable. If you can, therefore, be instrumental in making...
11From George Washington to Alexander Spotswood, 9 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
A few days ago, Mr Herbert handed me your letter of the 30th ulto with the Papers to which it refers; and for the trouble you have had in that business, I offer you, and General Posey also—when you have an opportunity of presenting them—my best thanks, for the parts you have respectively acted therein. Having perused the Papers attentively; and, fortunately, having by me, the original Patents...
12To George Washington from Bushrod Washington, 9 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have at length procured from the Auditors office a rough Statement of Yr Taxes in Kanawa for the 6 years mentioned in Aldersons order, by which you will discover that they differ £1.11.7 from the amount there stated. But as the difference is trifling, and the Auditor may very probably have made a mistake in the calculation (for he did it in a hurry) it would probably be better to pay it,...
13From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, Jr., 10 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 22d Ulto came duly to hand. As Mr Burwell is disinclined to part with his Cook, & Colo. Finnie’s is too much incumbered with a family, I must make the best shift I can with those I have; and indeed, with a housekeeper that understands that business, I believe it is best that I should do so. As you kindly offered to become the purchaser of Corn for me, in case I should need...
14From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 10 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
By leaving the enclosed letter to Mr Kitt (who was my household Steward in Philadelphia) open for your perusal, it supercedes the necessity of my saying more on the subject than to beg your attention to, and aid in the measure which is requested therein. Mr Kitt lives, I believe, at the United States Bank, and if not, Mr Wolcot, I am persuaded can inform you of the place of his residence. Pray...
15Certificate of Proxy, 10 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Know all men by these presents that I Eleanor Parke Custis of Fairfax County, State of Virginia, do hereby constitute and appoint George Washington of County and State aforesaid, to be my substitute & Proxy; for me, & in my name and behalf, to vote at the next annual Election for nine Directors of the Bank of Alexandria, as fully as I might, or could do, were I personally present. Given under...
16From George Washington to Frederick Kitt, 10 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
We have never heard of Herculas our Cook since he left this; but little doubt remains in my mind of his having gone to Philadelphia, and may yet be found there, if proper measures were employed to discover (unsuspectedly, so as not to alarm him) where his haunts are. If you could accomplish this for me, it would render me an acceptable service as I neither have, nor can get a good Cook to...
17From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 10 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
When you send me the Auditors Account of the taxes due on my land in Kanhawa County, be so good as to forward, at the same time, Genel Lee’s Deed of conveyance to me, of two tracts of land in the State of Kentucky, one for two, and other 3000 acres. They were, I believe, included in one Deed of Bargain and Sale, and recorded in the General Court Office. It is the original Deed I ask for. We...
18From George Washington to Samuel Williams, 10 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 5th of Octr from Hamburgh has been received, giving me the first direct & certain account of the arrival of General Lafayette and family at that place; a circumstance highly pleasing to his friends in this country—to none more than myself; and for the prompt advice you have been so obliging as to give me of it, I pray you to accept my sincere thanks. Fortunate indeed was it...
19From George Washington to Alexander White, 11 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 8th has been duly received, and I now write, more for the purpose of acknowledging the receipt of it, than from any sentiment I have to communicate relative to the Public buildings in the Federal City. You are perfectly acquainted with my sentiments on that subject already, and if not, they may be comprised in a few words—thus—every effort should be made to obtain the...
20To George Washington from Tobias Lear, 12 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
I enclose the letter from Colo. F. Deakins which I mentioned to you yesterday. Any Commands you may have for Richmond I shall be happy to take. Altho’ I have not sanguine expectations of pecuniary aid from the Assembly of Virginia; yet a petition to permit the collection of Tolls is an object of too much importance to be neglected at this moment. I therefore feel it a duty incumbent on me to...
21From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 12 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Permit me to request your care of the enclosed letter to Mr Williams, our Consul at Hamburgh, in answer to a very polite & civil one informing me of the arrival of Genl Lafayette & family at that place. Allow me also to ask the favour of you to send me Colo. Monroe’s, & Mr Fauchet’s Pamphlets; and if you have leisure (not else) to let me know what the public sentiment respecting them, is. In...
22To George Washington from James Ross, 12 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
I did not arrive here untill the 6th Instant having been detained at home by the indisposition of Mrs Ross who is again happily restored to her usual health. The money paid to me by Colo. Shreve was exchanged for a Bill upon Colo. Hodgdon which has been Accepted & falls due to day. Colo. Barker has paid into the Bank of Pennsylvania five hundred Dollars which was placed to my credit instead of...
23To George Washington from Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 12 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
An apology is due for the long delay on my part in replying to your favour of Decr 17th—Mr Barker on the second application informed me that the 500 Dolls. had been placed in Bank to the Credit of Mr Ross, who was not in town—Mr Ross has just arrived & from him I have recd 1961 30/100 which I enclose in a draft on Alexandria—Mr Ross desires a rect. No dispatches have been recd from France the...
24To George Washington from Alexander Spotswood, 14 January 1798 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Alexander Spotswood, 14 Jan. 1798. On 11 Feb. GW wrote Spotswood : “Your letters of the 14th ulto & 6th instt have been duly received.”
25From George Washington to Francis Deakins, 15 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 28th of Decr with a P.S. of the 7th instt was delivered to me the 12th by Mr Lear, with ninety one dollars enclosed therein on A/c of Rent due from Mrs Beall, together with a statement of the A/c against her by Mr Veatch. I ought also, though late, & indeed to my shame for the delay, to acknowledge that your obliging letter of the 26th of Decr 1796 came safe to my hands; but...
26To George Washington from Frederick Kitt, 15 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your much esteemed Letter of the 10th Inst. the Pleasure it afforded me to see yours hand writing is greater than I can describe. Since your departure I have been making distant enquiries about Herculas but did not till about four weeks ago hear anything of him and that was only that ⟨he⟩ was in town neither do I yet know where he is, and that will be...
27To George Washington from Clement Biddle, 16 January 1798 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Clement Biddle, 16 Jan. 1798. On 29 Jan. GW wrote Biddle : “Your letter of the 16th has been received.”
28To George Washington from William Herbert, 18 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
In Consequence of what you was pleased to Mention to me last Monday, I Applied to those Gentlemen that I then spoke of to you, to State their proposals in Writing, for Supplying your Family With Such Articles as you Should from time to time Want. They have Accordingly done so, & I have now the pleasure of forwarding them to you —Those Gentlemen being all Respectable, I have nothing to add, but...
29From George Washington to Bushrod Washington, 19 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 8th instant came to hand opportunely, as Mr Augustus Woodward (in whose favour the Sheriff of Kanhawa had drawn for the taxes of my lands in that County) was here on his return from Philadelphia, and received the full amount of his draught. I am perfectly at a loss to know what is meant by the Auditors A/c as coming from “The Sheriff of Greenbrier who says he has returned a...
30From George Washington to Charles Williamson, 19 January 1798 (Washington Papers)
Mr Burwell, who will present this letter to you, having become, or is likely to become, a Proprietor of Lands in the Genessee country, and purposing to make a tour into it; has asked me for a letter of introduction to you, who is so well acquainted therewith, and so able to give him the information he wishes to possess. Although to do this is a liberty I am scarcely warranted to take, yet as...