16 December 1778

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Alexander McDougall

Written by Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army to Major General McDougall as commander of the Hudson Highlands Department. Place written inferred from George Washington Papers, which place his headquarters at Gulph Mill, Pennsylvania that day. References McDougall's letter of 9 December 1778. Says Sir Henry Clinton's fruitless naval expedition up the Hudson in December 1778 was not worth the trouble. Mentions the necessity of shuffling several officers into different commands and hopes it does not cause too many problems. Approves of his choices and management thus far.…

GLC02795

22 July 1791

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Seeks an evaluation of Joseph Habersham, in order to find an appropriate federal appointment for him. Washington also asks advice on the law abilities of John Houstoun, for a possible appointment to Associate Judge for the Supreme Court. Marked confidential. Written as President to Secretary of War Knox.

GLC02857

7 September 1795

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Paine

President Washington thanks "Thos Paine - of Boston" (not the famous author of "Common Sense," who was in Paris until 1802) for a poem inscribed to him.

GLC02858

February 15, 1794

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Marked private. Washington as President to Knox as Secretary of War. John Jay, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and Rufus King, a Senator from New York, wrote a newspaper article they uncharacteristically signed with their own names decrying the actions of Edmond Charles Genet, the French Minister to America. Genet was trying to outfit privateers to support the French revolutionary government, and Washington refused to support this breach of neutrality. Genet threatened to go over Washington's head to the American public, which had given Genet a warm welcome. Jay and King published…

GLC02862

19 March 1791

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of David Rittenhouse commissioner for subscriptions of the Bank of United States]

Signed by George Washington as President, countersigned by Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State. Appoints Rittenhouse one of the commissioners to seek subscriptions for the first Bank of the United States. Seal on left side.

GLC02717

January 29, 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Apollos Morris

Politely refuses to forward a letter offering peace intermediation by Morris because British General William Howe still refuses to negotiate with Congress, "the only great representative Body of this Continent." With two drafts of Morris's reply, defending himself and explaining his intentions, on the verso and blank areas of the address leaf.

GLC03155

30 March 1795

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of David Humphreys Commissioner Plenipotentiary for Algiers treaty]

President George Washington's Commission of Humphreys to negotiate a treaty of amity and commerce with Tripoli. Countersigned by Sec. of State Edmund Randolph. Features paper seal, image visible on verso. Docket on verso reads "To the Most Illustrious the Bashaw, Lords and Governors, of the City and Kingdom of Tripoli."

GLC03196

20 June 1780

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to William Livingston

States he had already received the intelligence Livingston sent to him. Not aware if the fleet brought with it either troops or Henry Clinton. Notes "The Enemy remain in the same position upon the point." Signed as Commander in Chief of American Forces. Written three days before the Battle of Springfield.

GLC03343

[ 17 December 1781 ]

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Magistrates of Philadelphia re: his respect for civil authority & liberty

Washington writes that he feels pleased by their praise and notes how he has endeavored to avoid violating liberty and civil authority. Written six months before being approached by Lewis Nicola with a plan to make Washington the king of the United States.

GLC03344

22 July 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Stephen Moylan

Written by General Washington to Colonel Moylan as commander of the First Pennsylvania dragoons. References Moylan's letter of 21 July 1777. Encloses a letter he asks Moylan to forward to General David Forman (known by the nickname of " Black David" among the Jersey loyalists, owing to his excessive cruelty toward those who did not favor the Revolution). Wants Forman to tell him if the British fleet has gone out to sea. Wants Forman to send his dispatches to Moylan, who is supposed to forward them to Washington by express. Document has large losses of paper, although not to the text. Later…

GLC03353

24 December 1781

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris re: accepting invitation to Christmas dinner with Robert Morris

The date has been inferred. A very kind and generous letter, accepting the invitation to Christmas dinner with Mrs. Washington and his family.

GLC03267

17 August 1788

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Comte de Moustier re: possibilities of increased trade with France

Discusses tobacco, wool, etc. Washington comments on the good sense of trading with France, the "Maritime Genius of this Country", and his hope that the new national government may strengthen America's ties to France. Published in: Fitzpatrick, Writings of GW, 30: 43-47.

GLC03273

25 May 1789

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Comte de Moustier re: rejecting his claim to deal directly with Washington

Written as President, to the French Minister to the US. Moustier wished to bypass the cabinet in negotiating a commercial treaty. Published in: Fitzpatrick, Writings of GW, 30: 333-35.

GLC03278

01 November 1790

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Comte de Moustier re: progress of US under constitution & hopes for France

Written as President. Published in: Fitzgerald, Writings of GW, 31: 141-42.

GLC03279

23 July 1785

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Fitzgerald

General Washington discusses legal matters regarding his disputed land holdings on the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, with his former aide-de-camp. Refers to a forthcoming survey of the Potomac River, necessary for a canal-building enterprise he sought to undertake as the first President of the Potomac Company. Expresses concern that he will be unable to simultaneously handle legal matters at both locations.

GLC03818

9 September 1786

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Francis Mercer

Washington replies to a letter from Mercer, noting that he would have replied sooner, but he had a fever. Expresses his plan to never enslaved another person again, and his wish that slavery be abolished by "slow, sure & imperceptible degrees." Discusses financial matters, mentioning a debt he owes Governor George Clinton of New York, which was supposed to have been repaid within twelve months of "the Peace" (1783). For what remains of the loan, Washington is paying seven percent interest. Mentions another, higher debt he owes to an unspecified individual, and that repayment of this…

GLC03705

29 December 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to New Hampshire re: asking for supplies, call to arms & poor state of army

Written in the hand of Robert Hanson Harrison. Washington appeals for clothing and supplies for his troops. Copies of this letter went to every state. Washington writes in part: "We had in Camp on the 23rd Instt. by a field report then taken, not less than 2898 men unfit for duty by reason of their being barefoot and otherwise naked." Fitzpatrick 10: 221-25 (based on the copy sent to Massachusetts).

GLC03706

3 March 1783

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William S[tephens] Smith

Written by General Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Smith as commander of the post at Dobbs Ferry, New York. Discusses the problems of trading with British-occupied New York City and the issue of states ignoring the "barrier between us and the enemy."

GLC03770

25 September 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Bryan Fairfax re: allowing Fairfax to visit to discuss British peace proposal

With a note in a different hand on the address leaf stating "containing a pas[s]port to travel to the camp." Washington also assures Fairfax of his friendship, despite "the difference in our political Sentiments...."

GLC03674

February 5, 1779

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Tallmadge

Notes that although the Culper spy ring [which he addresses as "he"] does not propose giving anymore information until the middle of March, he hopes if anything important comes up, he will be notified. Asks Tallmadge to communicate this. Samuel Culper was the code name for the spy network Tallmadge organized in New York City for Washington and in this letter, it is indicated as "C-- N.Y." Addressed to Tallmadge in the 2nd Regiment Light Dragoons, Durham, North Carolina. Severely foxed and discolored.

GLC03884

22 March 1784

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Francis Johnston

In response to a 23 February 1784 letter from the assistant treasurer of the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati, Washington returns certificates (not included), with his signature and seal, for three European members of the state society. As president of the organization, Washington advises Johnston that the certificates must be countersigned by the secretary general, Henry Knox.

GLC03885

03 October 1789

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel Huntington re: transmitting acts to organize the new government

Washington's letter also lists the acts and resolutions being transmitted, which are of an organizational nature.

GLC03886

8 November 1799

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Angry letter to an official regarding William Shepherd, who "acted a very disingenuous part" on a previous survey of Washington's land.

GLC04013

9 January 1787

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Daniel Carroll

Washington seeks to sell 1650 acres of land in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He is willing to sell for less than the going rate if the purchaser takes the entire tract, and outlines the payment plan he would expect.

GLC04043

20 June 1768

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Cary & Co.

Mentions enclosing invoices for goods (not included). Discusses tobacco sales. Criticizes English agents for selling tobacco at too low a price. States that, " ... I have lost (at least) four years out of five by Consignments having better prices offered in the Country than my Tobo. has sold for in England which is not only discouraging but almost sufficient to bring about a change in the System of my management." Laments that tobacco prices rose right after his tobacco was sold and informs that he knew this would happen, "That Tobo. would rise and sell almost as high as it ever had done…

GLC03933