1782/09/17

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Consents to stopping work on the magazine and instead having the men work on the barracks. "I shall inform the Secretary at War, who seemed to have the completion of the Magazine much at heart, of the reasons which have hindered us from proceeding." Approves Knox's nomination of "Commissaries &c of Military stores." Written at "Head Quarters." Docketed in Knox's hand.

GLC02437.09380

February 28, 1785

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Washington encloses letters "under flying Seals" to the Count de Rochambeau and the Marquis de Chastellux "introductory of Mr. Swan." Also includes certificates for Lieutenants Seaver and Henley (no documents included). Discusses suspending a building project in Alexandria, Virginia as his fiances were "not equal to the undertaking." Also discusses the use of stone versus oyster shell lime. Refers to laws passed by the Virginia and Maryland Assemblies regarding the improvement of navigation on the states' rivers. Virginia also passed an act to vest 100 shares in Washington and his heirs;…

GLC02437.09405

February 29, 1792

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the case of General St. Clair (possibly Arthur St. Clair), noting that he wishes to answer St. Clair's letters with a reply that can be published. Comments that saying neither too much nor too little with be difficult concerning St. Claire's case.

GLC02437.09425

1795/12/02

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: recommending a man to work on canal locks

President Washington recommends an Englishman named Myers, whom he had interviewed.

GLC02794.040

1796/11/16

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: misplaced Bank shares, Washington Custis' dislike of school

Written while serving as President. Apologizes for misplacing Bank of Columbia certificates, which he has found. Mentions business of Mr. [William?] Dandridge, and Washington Custis' difficulties adjusting to Princeton College. "Maria" is Anna Maria, the daughter of George Augustine Washington.

GLC02794.042

1792/08/20

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Trumbull re: American prisoners in Algiers

Written as President to Trumbull, Speaker of the House of Representatives, concerning the petition of American prisoners in Algiers which Trumbull forwarded.

GLC02793.001

1793/01/20

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Lee re: his reluctance in accepting a second term

Written as President to Lee, Governor of Virginia, who has congratulated Washington for his re-election. The president writes "to say I feel pleasure from the prospect of commencing another tour of duty, would be a departure from truth" and continues that it has been "my fixed determination to return to the walks of private life, at the end of my term." He concludes with news of acquaintances and his nephew, and sends with Mrs. Washington his best wishes for the new year.

GLC02793.002

1795/02/15

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Jameson re: the Dismal Swamp Land Co. and profits from slave labor

Responding to Jameson's call for $80 (on behalf of his deceased uncle), Washington writes that he had hoped to see profits from the company since the elder Jameson had the money in his own hands. He notes in passing that the profits would have been "expected to arise from the labor of the slaves...." Washington also mentions the Potomac Canal Company and the timber owned by the Dismal Swamp Company.

GLC02793.003

1795/08/20

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Adams re: career prospects of John Q. Adams, the Jay Treaty

Written as President to his Vice President. Washington writes that young Adams should not think of retiring because his fair prospects may bring him to the head of the diplomatic corps. Washington also mentions the protests in Boston and elsewhere against Jay's Treaty. He calls "these meetings in opposition to the constituted authority... useless, as they are at all times improper and dangerous." J. Q. Adams eventually served in St. Petersburg.

GLC02793.004

1796/07/22

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriot Washington Parks, his niece, re: congratulations on her marriage

Written as President, offering his congratulations and suggestions for "a prudent deportment" towards her husband, including "the accomodation of your views to his circumstances." Also advocating frugality, he adds "always keep the old adage in remembrance - 'Take your measure according to your cloth' and do not... endulge yourself either in dress, or mode of living that will be productive of embarrassmen[t]." He concludes by noting the amount of company present at Mount Vernon and their best wishes for her marriage. Harriot Washington Parks (1776-1822) was the daughter of GW's brother…

GLC02793.005

1797/01/22

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Anderson re: instructions for management of Mount Vernon

Written as President. Washington goes into considerable detail regarding farming, especially innovations (a new red clover). He also mentions building a new road and the drought of the previous fall.

GLC02793.006

1796/09/20

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Pamphlet

Title: The President's address to the people... [farewell address -- proof copy]

The only separate book printing, by J. Ormrod and Conrad. With proof reader's notes and marks. Signature of Robert Meir on first page. Howes WI43, Sabin 101579

GLC02556

1796/03/07

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Document signed

Title: Treaty between the U.S. and the Dey & Regency of Algiers (c/s Timothy Pickering)

Signed as President and countersigned by Pickering as Secretary of State. English translation from the Arabic with clerical signatures for Vizier Hassan Bashan (the Dey of Algiers), Joseph Donaldson Jr. (American negotiator) and David Humphreys (American Minister to Portugal).

GLC02794.001

1793/09/01

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gouverneur Morris re: recommendation of Tobias Lear

Written as President to Morris, American Minister to France, recommending Lear: "[h]e is a person who possesses my entire friendship & confidence . . . ."

GLC02794.031

1779/12/15

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter

Title: to Gen. Alexander Spotswood re: horses & marriage, the French fleet [incomplete]

Incomplete, lacking signature and close. Washington jokingly remarks that he "will take the horse... as Men take their wives -- better for worse [sic]." Also mentions his disappointment over the lack of cooperation of the French fleet.

GLC02842

1779/04/21

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Col. Daniel Brodhead re: wish to chastise the western Indians and Iroquois

Washington notes that supplies, communications and other hazards make any operation difficult and orders Brodhead to make preparation for a joint expedition. Brodhead did pacify Indians along the Alleghany, 1779-1780.

GLC02867.02

1778/04/08

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Alexander McDougall re: plans for 1778 campaign, conditions in the army

Written as Commander in Chief. Also mentions his fears for a small pox outbreak in the army

GLC03104

1780/10/13

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Col. Daniel Brodhead re: court martials and war news

In addition to discussing the court martials of Capt Thomas Beal, Peter Davis and David Gamble, Washington also mentions his hopes to attack Detroit, thoughts on Virginia and his need for provisions. Written near Passaic Falls, New Jersey.

GLC02867.03

1780/09/06

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anthony Wayne re: perseverance in the "arduous but glorious struggle...."

Washington, responding to Wayne's letter of September 3 concerning someone's attempts to attack him before Washington, thanks him for his professions of friendship and reassures him of his own regard. Washington assures him that the "person to whom you allude" has "never mentioned a syllable to me in his life injurious to you..., nor... to any Gentn. of my family." Washington asks Wayne to "let all differences subside" and to "[l]et all be as a band of Brothers & rise superior to every injury whether real or imaginary and persevere in the arduous but glorious struggle in which we are…

GLC02872

1778/03/12

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to John Barry re: congratulating Barry for his "success" on the sea

Written as commander in chief.

GLC02907

1781/10/14

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: To: Thomas Nelson

Requesting clothes for troops-written 5 days before Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown.

GLC07956

1797/11/28

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clement Biddle re: selling his town coach, after retiring as president

Washington writes that he will sell his town coach "for whatever it will fetch."

GLC03903

1790/08/25

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Printed document signed

Title: [Land indenture for the sale of lands owned by Washington in New York, on the Mohawk River]

Partially printed document cosigned by George Clinton (Washington's real estate partner) and witnessed and signed by David Humphreys and Tobias Lear. Land sold by Washington and Clinton to David Risley of Whitestown, New York. Describes the lot sold.

GLC03904

1795/01/01

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Broadside

Title: Proclamation for day of Thanksgiving and prayer

Setting aside the nineteenth of February as a day of "Public Thanksgiving and Prayer." Compare to other Thanksgiving broadsides: Adams, GLC00270 and GLC01947.

GLC04862

1788/01/20

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Jay re: prospects for ratification of Constitution

Forwarding some enclosed letters to Europe (not included) and discussing ratification of the Constitution. Mentions decisions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, and Virginia in adopting the Constitution. Fitzpatrick publishes with some textual differences based on the Washington letterbook.

GLC04876