31721From George Washington to William Smith, 8 June 1788 (Washington Papers)
Captn Barney has just arrived here in the miniature Ship called the Federalist; and has done me the honour to offer that beautiful curiosity as a Present to me, on your part. I pray you, Gentlemen, to accept the warmest expressions of my sensibility for this specimen of American ingenuity : in which the exactitude of the proportions, the neatness of the workmanship, and the elegance of the...
31722From George Washington to John Jay, 5 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
It is with singular pleasure that I address you as Chief Justice of the supreme Court of the United States, for which office your Commission is here enclosed. In nominating you for the important station which you now fill, I not only acted in conformity to my best judgement; but, I trust, I did a grateful thing to the good citizens of these united States: and I have a full confidence that the...
31723To James Madison from Joseph Watson, 11 January 1813 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 January 1813, Washington. “Candour and the respect that I entertain for R. Attwater Esquire compel me to state unequivocally that were I not impressed with the idea that his merits are destined for a higher circle of action, the recommendation which I now present would have been withheld; Should my expectations in this respect not prove fallacious I would beg leave to mention that I shall...
31724To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 30 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have had a severe Fit of the Gout which has confined me six Weeks; but it is now going off, and I flatter myself that it has done me a great deal of Good. I have just received a Letter from Dr. Ezra Stiles, of which the inclosed is an extract. Please to communicate it to Mr. Searle, and then give it to M. Dumas if you judge it proper for Publication. I have also a large and particular...
31725From Thomas Jefferson to United States Senate, 1 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I nominate George Hodges of Massachusets, now Surveyor of the port of Salem, to be also Inspector of revenue for the same port. DNA : RG 46—Records of the U.S. Senate.
31726Abraham Livingston to the Commissioners, 20 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
I did myself the Pleasure to write you 10th and 22d June, to which please be referred; I therein acquainted you that the Honorable Commercial Committe of Congress had ordered several Vessels to this Port for Cargoes for France. The Officers and Mariners of the Ship Flammand absolutely refused to proceed to this Place from the Massachusetts State. The Mellish was destroyed by the Enemy at...
31727To Thomas Jefferson from Frederick Winslow Hatch, 26 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
My school being too small this session to permit any sufficient inducement for the continuance of Mr Hern in the establishment, he is about to leave Town with a view to a situation elsewhere. My engagements to Mr Hern pledge me for one half of the whole amount of tuition, which circumstance together with my almost sole dependance upon my school for the necessities of my family, compel me,...
31728From George Washington to Fairfax County Committee, 16 May 1775 (Washington Papers)
If I could have communicated any thing by the last Post certain and satisfactory, I should most assuredly have done it agreeable to my premise, but the only articles of Intelligence which came to my hands were containd in the Gazette, & went regularly to you—This is pretty much the case at present, and leaves me little to add as the Congress are again under the Tye of Secrecy in respect to...
31729[Diary entry: 30 April 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 30th. Mercury (by Mrs. W’s acct.) in the Morning at 68—at Noon 69 and at Night 62. Wind Northerly all day, & towards Night cold. Dined at General Spotswoods, and lodged at Mr. Jno. Baylors (New Market). Alexander Spotswood (1751–1818), son of John and Mary Dandridge Spotswood and grandson of the governor, lived at New Post, his home on the Rappahannock River in Spotsylvania County. He...
31730George Divers to Thomas Jefferson, [3 May 1820?] (Jefferson Papers)
my sea Kale plants are quite too small to transplant, they are however out of the way of the fly and if the worms dont destroy them I can Supply you with as many plants as will make a pretty good bed in the course of ten or twelve days; be pleas’d to offer M rs D s and my respects to M rs Randolph M rs Trist and the Young Ladies and accept assurances of my respect and esteem RC (
31731From Alexander Hamilton to John Lillie, 18 December 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your letter of the ninth inst. and shall not fail to be attentive to your desire. W— ( Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
31732Abigail Adams to John Adams, 14 February 1796 (Adams Papers)
I received by the last mail the Letters of two, so that I fare as you do, and the Stormy Weather last post Day prevented my getting Letters to Boston tho I had one ready. I cannot think the loss very great, for I have very little either interesting, or amuseing to entertain You with. yet you are pleasd to express so much pleasure at receiving them, Such as they are, that I ought not, and do...
31733To Alexander Hamilton from Henry Knox, 8 October 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Your exertions in my department during my absence will never be obliterated. I regret my long stay. If things shall be so serious as to require the President to go forward, I hope I may be indulged in joining him. I have not seen Mr. Jays dispatches. I am yours affectionately ALS , Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston. Knox had left Philadelphia for Maine in August because of adverse news...
31734Thomas Jefferson to Theodorus Bailey, 6 February 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 25. is recieved and I have to renew my thanks to you for the map accompanying it . these proofs of friendly remembrance give additional value to the subjects which convey them. the scenes too which compose the map are become highly interesting. our first entrance on them has been peculiarly inauspicious. our men are good; but force without conduct is easily baffled. the...
31735To Alexander Hamilton from Otho H. Williams, 29 December [1790] (Hamilton Papers)
The Brigantine Hope, No. 52, was registered in this district on the eleventh day of October last, at the instance of Mr. Stephen Zacharie the Owner. The Vessel was purchased for him at a foreign Port, where the laws of Congress was not sufficiently attended to and the form prescibed by the eleventh section of the law for Registering & clearing of Vessels &c was not observed. The Master...
31736From John Quincy Adams to Abigail Smith Adams, 10 September 1814 (Adams Papers)
When I wrote you my last Letter, a press copy of which, is enclosed, I had little or no expectation that I should at this day still be here. The John Adams sailed from the Texel, with Mr Dallas on board, the 28th: of August, and has, I hope, by this time half-performed her passage—It is one of those singular incidents, which occur occasionally in real life, and which would be thought too...
31737Pardon for Richard Quince Haskins, 1 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States of America, To all who shall see these presents, Greeting:— Whereas Richard Quince Haskins, Scriviner, of the Town of Boston in the District of Massachusetts was convicted before the Circuit Court of the United States, for the said District, at its last June term, of certain misdemeanors in relation to the Post Office establishment of the United...
31738To Benjamin Franklin from Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital, 29 December 1760 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; abstract reprinted from Thomas G. Morton and Frank Woodbury, The History of the Pennsylvania Hospital 1751–1895 (Philadelphia, 1895), p. 43. “On December 29, 1760, a letter was written to Franklin for some necessary drugs and medicines, and he was also asked ‘to join with some others of our fellow citizens, now in London, in soliciting contributions on behalf of the Hospital from...
31739To George Washington from the Pennsylvania Council of Safety, 13 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
At the particular desire of General Mifflin we have undertaken to give you a detail of our public affairs as Major General Putnam is otherwise engaged in his very important department and General Mifflin about setting off on a Tour through the Counties to try his Influence with our Militia too Many of whom remain in a state of supineness and infatuation which is altogether unaccountable,...
31740To James Madison from James W. DePeyster and Company, 17 January 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
17 January 1805, New York. “A return of the power under cover of your Letter of the 11th. Instant has induced our Executeing a new one in favour of Doctor Saml L. Mitchell which we hope will prove sattisfactory, we certainly did not calculate on being so troublesome when we executed the first or it should not have been done. We merely proceeded according to Mercantile usages, not reflecting on...
31741To Thomas Jefferson from John Wayles Eppes, 14 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 12th. of May arrived here while Maria and myself were on a visit to my Sister Walker the first we have been able to make since her marriage—We were detained there 13. days by rain— As it will not be long before we shall meet—Lego & the arrangement proposed by you shall be the subject of conversation—The idea of occasioning personal inconvenience to you would induce me to...
31742Notes on Charges against Arthur St. Clair, [ca. 29 April 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
1. The Ordinance, in the paragraph respecting counties, speaks of laws adopted or made, which must refer both to the 1st. & 2d. stage of government; it then gives the Govr. power to lay out counties from time to time, reserving a right to the legislature thereafter to alter them. this may mean that the Govr. is always to lay out first, & the legislature thereafter to alter, or it may mean that...
31743Advertisement, 23 February 1786 (Washington Papers)
ROYAL GIFT. A JACK ASS of the first race in the kingdom of Spain, will cover mares and jennies (the asses[)] at Mount-Vernon the ensuing spring.—The first for ten, the latter for fifteen pounds the season. Royal Gift is four years old, is between 14 1–2 and 15 hands high, and will grow, it is said, till he is 20 or 25 years of age. He is very bony and stout made, of a dark colour, with light...
31744To George Washington from George Walton, 11 March 1789 (Washington Papers)
In execution of an act of the Legislature of this State, and in conformity to my own wishes, I do myself the honor to enclose a copy of the said act, together with copies of the several papers, on which it was founded, and to which it refers. It is needless for commentaries on transactions so extraordinary and flagitious: but I cannot forbear to observe, that, whilst proceedings of this kind...
31745From Thomas Jefferson to Delamotte and Others, 5 November 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof, Mr. Lear, proposing to establish himself in commerce in the new city of Washington, he now sets out to visit such parts of Europe as he supposes may furnish him either articles or connections in the mercantile line useful for his position. He is well known as the late Secretary of President Washington, and I can further assure you that he is a person of great understanding,...
31746From James Madison to James Monroe, 20 December 1822 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. from Mr. Lear engaged in settling the accounts of General Hull, a request of what I may recollect on the question, whether there was a stipulation or understanding, that the General was to receive his salary as Governour, as well as his military pay. I have simply answered that my memory does not furnish any evidence which ought to influence the decision of the question. As the...
31747Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 10 October 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Samuel Patteson. Addressed to “The Virginia Delegates in Congress.” The last post brought no letter from you. The Clerk of the Council informs me that whilst I was in Gloster you wrote for an account of the several sums of money that had been advanced by this State to the continent. the letter by some means or other has been mislaid. I have therefore...
31748[Diary entry: 23 January 1798] (Washington Papers)
23. Snow, just sufft. to cover the ground, fell in the Night. Wind at No. Wt. in the Morning & Mer. at 30—at Noon 25 & at night 20. Wind fresh all day. Mr. Howell Lewis came to Dinner. Howell Lewis (1771–1822), of Culpeper County, was the youngest child of Fielding and Betty Washington Lewis. In 1793 he served GW as an interim manager of Mount Vernon until GW found and hired William Pearce.
31749[Diary entry: 8 August 1795] (Washington Papers)
8. Same as yesterday with R[ain] af[ternoon].
31750To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 3 October 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In answer to your letter of the 1. October instant I inclose you copies of the Contracts for supplying the Troops in North Carolina for the present Year. You will find that they contain a provision for transportation. I cannot therefore think that the application has been made to the Contractor who certainly has received no instruction whatever from me. I suspect it has been to the person who...