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Front Page  Titles (by Subject) TO THOMAS JEFFERSON. - The Writings of George Washington, vol. X (1782-1785)
TO THOMAS JEFFERSON. - George Washington, The Writings of George Washington, vol. X (1782-1785) [1891]Edition used:The Writings of George Washington, collected and edited by Worthington Chauncey Ford (New York and London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1890). Vol. X (1782-1785).
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- To Major-general Greene.
- The Writings of George Washington.
- 1782.
- To Brigadier-general Hazen.
- To Lieutenant-colonel John Laurens.
- To Lieutenant-general James Robertson. 1
- To James Mchenry.
- To the Secretary At War.
- To Major-general Greene.
- Circular Letter to the States.
- To John P. Posey.
- To the President of Congress.
- To the Marquis De Vaudreuil.
- To Sir Guy Carleton.
- To Robert Morris.
- To the Chevalier De Chastellux. [extract.]
- To the Secretary At War.
- To the Count De Rochambeau.
- To Colonel Lewis Nicola.
- To the Secretary At War.
- To Brigadier-general Hazen.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Colonel Elias Dayton.
- To Major-general Knox. Instructions.
- To Major-general Lincoln.
- To the Secretary At War.
- To Archibald Cary.
- To Sir Guy Carleton.
- To Robert Morris.
- To James Mchenry.
- To Joseph Reed.
- To the Secretary At War.
- To Thomas Paine.
- To Robert R. Livingston.
- To John Dickinson, President of Delaware.
- To Robert Morris.
- To Lieutenant-colonel Tench Tilghman.
- To Major-general Greene.
- To the President of Congress.
- To James Duane, In Congress.
- To Major-general Greene.
- To the Secretary At War. 1
- To Lieutenant-colonel John Laurens.
- To James Mchenry.
- To James Mchenry.
- To Major-general Greene.
- To Governor Clinton.
- To the Marquis De Lafayette.
- To John P. Posey.
- To the Marquis De Vaudreuil.
- To Doctor William Gordon. 1
- To Captain Charles Asgill. 1
- To Lund Washington.
- To the Chevalier De Chastellux. [extract.]
- To the Secretary At War.
- To Lund Washington.
- To the Count De Rochambeau.
- To Count De Vergennes.
- To the Secretary At War.
- To Major Benjamin Tallmadge.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Count De Rochambeau.
- To Joseph Jones, In Congress.
- To Major-general Knox. Instructions.
- To Bartholomew Dandridge.
- To the Secretary At War.
- To Major-general Greene.
- To Sir Guy Carleton.
- To James Mchenry.
- To Robert Morris.
- To Joseph Reed.
- To Thomas Paine.
- To Tench Tilghman.
- To Robert R. Livingston.
- To Robert Morris.
- To Bushrod Washington. 1
- To Major-general Greene.
- To John Augustine Washington,
- To James Duane, In Congress.
- To the Secretary At War. 1
- To Samuel Ogden.
- To Major Thomas Lansdale.
- To James Mchenry.
- To Elias Boudinot, President of Congress. 1
- To Governor Clinton.
- To the Marquis De Lafayette.
- To Major-general Greene.
- To Joseph Jones, In Congress.
- To Doctor William Gordon. 1
- To Captain Charles Asgill. 1
- To Lund Washington.
- To Lund Washington.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Lund Washington.
- To Benjamin Harrison.
- To Count De Vergennes.
- To Major Benjamin Tallmadge.
- To Alexander Hamilton, In Congress. 1
- To Count De Rochambeau.
- To Joseph Jones, In Congress.
- To Robert Morris.
- To Bartholomew Dandridge.
- To the President of Congress.
- Address to the Officers. 1
- To Major-general Greene.
- 1783.
- To Robert Morris.
- To Joseph Jones, In Congress.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Tench Tilghman.
- To Joseph Jones, In Congress.
- To Bushrod Washington. 1
- To the President of Congress.
- To John Augustine Washington,
- To Lund Washington.
- To Robert R. Livingston.
- To Governor Benjamin Harrison.
- To Samuel Ogden.
- To Major Thomas Lansdale.
- To the Marquis De Lafayette.
- To Elias Boudinot, President of Congress. 1
- To the Chevalier De La Luzerne.
- To Major-general Greene.
- To Robert R. Livingston.
- To Joseph Jones, In Congress.
- To Colonel Bland.
- To Alexander Hamilton, In Congress.
- To Lund Washington.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Theodorick Bland.
- To Benjamin Harrison.
- To Theodorick Bland.
- To Alexander Hamilton, In Congress. 1
- To Robert Morris.
- To Alexander Hamilton.
- To the President of Congress.
- To the Marquis De Lafayette.
- Address to the Officers. 1
- To Sir Guy Carleton.
- To Alexander Hamilton, In Congress.
- To Joseph Jones, In Congress.
- To the President of Congress.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Joseph Jones, In Congress.
- To Sir Guy Carleton.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Alexander Hamilton.
- To Lund Washington.
- To Robert R. Livingston.
- To Tench Tilghman.
- To Governor Benjamin Harrison.
- To the President of Congress.
- To the Marquis De Lafayette.
- Substance of the Conference Between Gen. Washington and Sir Guy Carleton, At an Interview At Orangetown, 6th May, 1783.
- To Sir Guy Carleton.
- To the Chevalier De La Luzerne.
- To Major-general Putnam.
- To Robert R. Livingston.
- To Robert Morris.
- To Colonel Bland.
- To Major-general Heath.
- To Alexander Hamilton, In Congress.
- Circular Letter Addressed to the Governors of All the States On Disbanding the Army.
- To Theodorick Bland.
- To Theodorick Bland.
- To Alexander Hamilton.
- To the Marquis De Lafayette.
- To Lund Washington. [extract.]
- To the President of Congress.
- To Sir Guy Carleton.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Alexander Hamilton, In Congress.
- To Dr. William Gordon.
- To the President of Congress.
- To M. Marbois.
- To Sir Guy Carleton.
- To Alexander Hamilton.
- To George William Fairfax.
- To Baron Steuben. Instructions.
- To Tench Tilghman.
- To the President of Congress.
- To the President of Congress.
- Substance of the Conference Between Gen. Washington and Sir Guy Carleton, At an Interview At Orangetown, 6th May, 1783.
- To the President of Congress. 1
- To Sir Guy Carleton.
- To Robert Stewart.
- To Major-general Putnam.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Robert Morris.
- Address to the President and Members of Congress. 1
- To Major-general Heath.
- To Lieutenant-colonel William S. Smith.
- To Mrs. Richard Stockton. 2
- Circular Letter Addressed to the Governors of All the States On Disbanding the Army.
- To James Duane, In Congress.
- Observations Upon a Peace Establishment.
- To Lund Washington. [extract.]
- To the President of Congress.
- To Governor Clinton.
- To Lund Washington.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Major-general Knox.
- To Dr. William Gordon.
- To Samuel Huntington, Chairman.
- To M. Marbois.
- To the Chevalier De Chastellux.
- To Major-general Knox.
- To George William Fairfax.
- To Baron Steuben. Instructions.
- To Major-general Knox.
- To the President of Congress.
- Farewell Orders to the Armies of the United States.
- To the President of Congress. 1
- To the President of Congress.
- To Sir Guy Carleton.
- To Robert Stewart.
- To James Mchenry.
- To the President of Congress.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Baron Steuben.
- Address to the President and Members of Congress. 1
- General Washington’s Address to Congress On Resigning His Commission. 1
- To Lieutenant-colonel William S. Smith.
- To Mrs. Richard Stockton. 2
- To James Duane, In Congress.
- Observations Upon a Peace Establishment.
- To Governor Clinton.
- To Lund Washington.
- To Major-general Knox.
- To Samuel Huntington, Chairman.
- To the Chevalier De Chastellux.
- To Major-general Knox.
- To Major-general Knox.
- Farewell Orders to the Armies of the United States.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Sir Guy Carleton.
- To James Mchenry.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Baron Steuben.
- General Washington’s Address to Congress On Resigning His Commission. 1
- 1784.
- To Jonathan Trumbull, Junior.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Benjamin Harrison, Governor of Virginia.
- To the Marquis De Lafayette.
- To Thomas Lewis. 1
- To Jonathan Trumbull, Junior.
- To Gilbert Simpson.
- Memorandum to John Lewis.
- To the President of Congress.
- To Benjamin Harrison, Governor of Virginia.
- To Major-general Knox.
- To the Marquis De Lafayette.
- To Dolphin Drew.
- To Thomas Lewis. 1
- To Captain Fielding Lewis.
- To John Witherspoon.
- To Gilbert Simpson.
- Memorandum to John Lewis.
- To Major-general Knox.
- To Edmund Randolph.
- To Dolphin Drew.
- To Captain Fielding Lewis.
- To Major-general Knox.
- To John Witherspoon.
- To Tench Tilghman.
- To Dr. James Craik.
- To Thomas Jefferson, In Congress.
- To Edmund Randolph.
- To Hugh Williamson, In Congress.
- To Major-general Knox.
- To Tench Tilghman.
- To the Marchioness De Lafayette.
- To Dr. James Craik.
- To Thomas Jefferson.
- To Thomas Jefferson, In Congress.
- To Governor Trumbull.
- To Rufus Putnam.
- To Hugh Williamson, In Congress.
- To James Madison.
- To Dr. James Craik.
- To Clement Biddle.
- To the Marchioness De Lafayette.
- To Jacob Read. 2
- To Thomas Jefferson.
- To Count De Rochambeau.
- To Governor Trumbull.
- Certificate to Mr. James Rumsey. 1
- To Benjamin Harrison, Governor of Virginia.
- To Rufus Putnam.
- To James Madison.
- To Dr. James Craik.
- To Clement Biddle.
- To Jacob Read. 2
- To Jacob Read.
- To Count De Rochambeau.
- To George Clinton, Governor of New York.
- Certificate to Mr. James Rumsey. 1
- To Benjamin Harrison, Governor of Virginia.
- To Richard Henry Lee, President of Congress. 2
- 1785.
- To Major-general Knox.
- To Jacob Read.
- To George Clinton, Governor of New York.
- To Benjamin Harrison.
- To Richard Henry Lee, President of Congress.
- To Richard Henry Lee, President of Congress. 2
- To Rev. William Gordon.
- To Major-general Knox.
- To Hugh Williamson, In Congress.
- To Richard Henry Lee.
- To Benjamin Harrison.
- To James Duane.
- To Richard Henry Lee, President of Congress.
- To Francis Hopkinson.
- To Rev. William Gordon.
- To Major-general Greene.
- To Hugh Williamson, In Congress.
- To Burwell Bassett.
- To Richard Henry Lee.
- To William Minor.
- To James Duane.
- To Tench Tilghman. 1
- To William Goddard.
- To Francis Hopkinson.
- To Major-general Knox.
- To Major-general Greene.
- To William Grayson.
- To Burwell Bassett.
- To Richard Henry Lee.
- To William Minor.
- To George William Fairfax.
- To Tench Tilghman. 1
- To William Goddard.
- To Major-general Knox.
- To David Humphreys.
- To William Grayson.
- To the Marquis De Lafayette.
- To Richard Henry Lee.
- To George William Fairfax.
- To Edmund Randolph.
- To Edmund Randolph.
- To David Humphreys.
- To Richard Henry Lee, President of Congress.
- To the Marquis De Lafayette.
- To James Mchenry, In Congress.
- To William Grayson, In Congress.
- To Edmund Randolph.
- To John De Neufville.
- To Edmund Randolph.
- To Edmund Randolph.
- To Richard Henry Lee, President of Congress.
- To Thomas Jefferson.
- To James Mchenry, In Congress.
- To George Mason.
- To William Grayson, In Congress.
- To John De Neufville.
- To Edmund Randolph.
- To Thomas Jefferson.
- To George Mason.
TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Mount Vernon, 26 September, 1785. Dear Sir,
I have had the honor to receive your favors of the 10th and 17th of July, which were committed to the care of M. Houdon; but I have not yet had the pleasure to see that gentleman. His instruments and materials, (Doctor Franklin informs me,) were sent down the Seine; but, not being arrived when the ship left Havre, he was obliged to leave them, and is now busied in supplying himself with others at Philadelphia, with which, when done, he will come on to this place. I shall take great pleasure in showing M. Houdon every civility and attention in my power during his stay in this country; for I feel myself under personal obligation to you and Dr. Franklin (as the State of Virginia has done me the honor to direct a statue to be erected to my memory) for having placed the execution in the hands of so eminent an artist, and so worthy a character.
I have the further pleasure to inform you and should have done it long since, had I not supposed that your information would have been more full and perfect from some of your friends in the Assembly, that a resolution of the Assembly authorized the Executive to appoint commissioners to explore and report the best communication between the waters of Elizabeth river and those of Albermarle;—that the commissioners have proceeded to the Survey—and have reported in favor of that which will pass thro’ Drummonds Pond to the Pasquotank. But what will be the result, I am unable to inform you—as I find by some of the principal characters of North Carolina (members of Congress) who have called here; that a considerable jealousy prevails, and a powerful opposition will be given to any water communication between the two States—lest it should draw their exports from them.
I am very happy to find, that your sentiments respecting the interest the Assembly was pleased to give me in the two navigations of the Potomac and James Rivers coincide with my own. I never for a moment entertained an idea of accepting it. The difficulty, which labored in my mind was how to refuse without giving offence. Ultimately I have it in contemplation to apply the profits arising from the tolls to some public use. In this, if I knew how, I would meet the wishes of the Assembly; but, if I am not able to come at these, my own inclination leads me to apply them to the establishment of two charity schools, one on each river, for the education and support of poor children, especially the descendants of those, who have fallen in defence of their country.
I can say nothing decisively respecting the western settlement of this State. The inhabitants of Kentucky have held several conventions, and have resolved to apply for a separation; but what may be the final issue of it, is not for me to inform you. Opinions, as far as they have come to my knowledge, are diverse. I have uniformly given it as mine, to meet them upon their own ground, draw the best line and best terms we can, and part good friends. After the next session of our Assembly, more may be learned and communicated; and, if you should not receive it through a better channel, I will have the honor to inform you.
I am sorry I cannot give you full information respecting Bushnell’s project for the destruction of ships. No interesting experiments having been made, and my memory being bad, I may in some measure be mistaken in what I am about to relate. Bushnell is a man of great mechanical powers, fertile of invention and master of execution. He came to me in 1776, recommended by Governor Trumbull and other respectable characters, who were converts to his plan. Although I wanted faith myself, I furnished him with money and other aids to carry his plan into execution. He labored for some time ineffectually; and, though the advocates of his scheme continued sanguine, he never did succeed. One accident or another always intervened. I then thought, and still think, that it was an effort of genius, but that too many things were necessary to be combined, to expect much from the issue against an enemy, who are always upon guard.
That he had a machine so contrived, as to carry him under water at any depth he chose, and for a considerable time and distance, with an appendix to it, charged with powder, which he could fasten to a ship, and give fire to in a given time sufficient for his returning, and by means thereof destroy it, are facts, I believe, which admit of little doubt. But then, where it was to operate against an enemy, it was no easy matter to get a person hardy enough to encounter the variety of dangers, to which he would be exposed; first, from the novelty; secondly, from the difficulty of conducting the machine, and governing it under water, on account of the current, &c.; and thirdly, the consequent uncertainty of hitting the object devoted to destruction, without rising frequently above water for fresh observation, which, when near the vessel, would expose the adventurer to a discovery and to almost certain death. To these causes I always ascribed the non-performance of his plan, as he wanted nothing that I could furnish to insure the success of it. This, to the best of my recollection, is a true state of the case; but Humphreys, if I mistake not, being one of his converts, will be able to give you a more perfect account of it than I have done. With perfect esteem and regard, I have the honor to be, &c.
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