George Washington: A Collection

by George Washington, W. B. Allen (Editor)

Overview

George Washington speaks for himself on behalf of liberty and the emerging American republic in this handsome book, the only one-volume compilation in print of his vast writings.

While Washington is recognized as a military leader and the great symbolic figure of the early republic, many fail to appreciate the full measure of his contributions to the country. In these selections, his political ideas and juEAments stand out with remarkable clarity. His writings are replete with sustained, thoughtful commentary and keen political insight.

This volume includes correspondence, all of his presidential addresses, various public proclamations, his last will and testament, and the most comprehensive recompilation of the “discarded first inaugural” ever printed.

W. B. Allen is Professor of Political Philosophy and Director of the Program in Public Policy and Administration at Michigan State University.

Please note: This title is available as an ebook for purchase on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781614871408
Publisher:	Liberty Fund, Incorporated
Publication date:	08/26/1988
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	743
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

Table of Contents

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xvii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xix
EDITOR’S NOTE xxi
CHRONOLOGY xxiv PROLOGUE 2
1 TO RICHARD HENRY LEE 5
2 THE RULES OF CIVILITY AND DECENT BEHAVIOR IN COMPANY AND CONVERSATION 6 CHAPTER ONE
The Rules of Bravery and Liberty 1756–1775 15
3 ADDRESS TO HIS COMMAND, AUGUST 1756 19
4 TO GOVERNOR ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, APRIL 9, 1756 20
5 TO FRANCIS DANDRIDGE, SEPTEMBER 20, 1765 21
6 TO GEORGE MASON, APRIL 5, 1769 23
7 TO THOMAS JOHNSON, JULY 20, 1770 26
8 TO GEORGE WILLIAM FAIRFAX, JUNE 10, 1774 29
9 TO BRYAN FAIRFAX, JULY 4, 1774 33
10 TO BRYAN FAIRFAX, JULY 20, 1774 35
11 TO BRYAN FAIRFAX, AUGUST 24, 1774 38
12 TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, JUNE 16, 1775 40
13 TO MRS. MARTHA WASHINGTON, JUNE 18, 1775 40
14 GENERAL ORDERS, JULY 4, 1775 42
15 TO LIEUTENANT GENERAL THOMAS GAGE, AUGUST 11, 1775 44
16 TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE ISLAND OF BERMUDA, SEPTEMBER 6, 1775 45
17 TO THE INHABITANTS OF CANADA (undated) 46 CHAPTER TWO
Tyranny: The Scourge of Liberty 1775–1777 49
18 TO JOSEPH REED, DECEMBER 15, 1775 53
19 GENERAL ORDERS, JANUARY 1, 1776 55
20 TO JOSEPH REED, JANUARY 14, 1776 57
21 TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, FEBRUARY 9, 1776 62
22 TO JOSEPH REED, FEBRUARY 10, 1776 65
23 TO JOHN AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON, MAY 31, 1776 69
24 GENERAL ORDERS, JULY 2, 1776 70
25 GENERAL ORDERS, JULY 9, 1776 72
26 TO THE OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATORS, AUGUST 8, 1776 74
27 TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, SEPTEMBER 24, 1776 75
28 TO LUND WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 30, 1776 82
29 PROCLAMATION, JANUARY 25, 1777 84
30 TO AN UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT, FEBRUARY 14, 1777 85
31 TO PRESIDENT JAMES WARREN, MAY 23, 1777 86
32 TO MAJOR GENERAL PHILIP SCHUYLER, JULY 22, 1777 88 CHAPTER THREE
The Passions of Men and the Principles of Action 1778–1780 91
33 GENERAL ORDERS, MARCH 1, 1778 95
34 TO JOHN BANISTER, APRIL 21, 1778 98
35 TO JOHN AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON, JULY 4, 1778 104
36 TO COMTE D’ESTAING, SEPTEMBER 11, 1778 106
37 TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, OCTOBER 4, 1778 111
38 TO HENRY LAURENS, NOVEMBER 14, 1778 113
39 TO BENJAMIN HARRISON, DECEMBER 18, 1778 116
40 TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, MARCH 15, 1779 120
41 TO THOMAS NELSON, MARCH 15, 1779 123
42 TO GEORGE MASON, MARCH 27, 1779 124
43 TO JAMES WARREN, MARCH 31, 1779 126
44 TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, MAY 8, 1779 129
45 SPEECH TO THE DELAWARE CHIEFS, MAY 12, 1779 131
46 CIRCULAR TO THE STATES, MAY 22, 1779 133
47 TO JOHN JAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1779 135
48 A CONFERENCE BETWEEN CHEVALIER DE LA LUZERNE AND GENERAL WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 16, 1779 138
49 TO EDMUND PENDLETON, NOVEMBER 1, 1779 142
50 TO JOSEPH JONES, MAY 14, 1780 144
51 TO PRESIDENT JOSEPH REED, MAY 28, 1780 146
52 TO PRESIDENT JOSEPH REED, JULY 4, 1780 150
53 TO JOSEPH JONES, AUGUST 13, 1780 152
54 CIRCULAR TO THE STATES, AUGUST 27, 1780 154
55 TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, OCTOBER 11, 1780 156
56 CIRCULAR TO THE STATES, OCTOBER 18, 1780 164 CHAPTER FOUR
Trials and Triumph 1780–1781 171
57 TO GEORGE MASON, OCTOBER 22, 1780 175
58 TO WILLIAM FITZHUGH, OCTOBER 22, 1780 176
59 TO JAMES DUANE, DECEMBER 26, 1780 177
60 CIRCULAR TO THE NEW ENGLAND STATES, JANUARY 5, 1781 180
61 TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN LAURENS, JANUARY 15, 1781 182
62 GENERAL ORDERS, JANUARY 30, 1781 186
63 TO JOHN SULLIVAN, FEBRUARY 4, 1781 188
64 TO JOHN PARKE CUSTIS, FEBRUARY 28, 1781 190
65 TO LUND WASHINGTON, APRIL 30, 1781 192
66 TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, OCTOBER 19, 1781 194
67 GENERAL ORDERS, OCTOBER 20, 1781 195 CHAPTER FIVE
Washington’s Knowledge of Himself and His Army 1782–1783 199
68 TO COLONEL LEWIS NICOLA, MAY 22, 1782 203
69 TO THE SECRETARY AT WAR, OCTOBER 2, 1782 204
70 TO JOSEPH JONES, DECEMBER 14, 1782 206
71 TO MAJOR GENERAL NATHANAEL GREENE, FEBRUARY 6, 1783 207
72 GENERAL ORDERS, FEBRUARY 15, 1783 209
73 TO GOVERNOR BENJAMIN HARRISON, MARCH 4, 1783 210
74 TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, MARCH 4, 1783 211
75 TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, MARCH 12, 1783 214
76 TO JOSEPH JONES, MARCH 12, 1783 215
77 SPEECH TO THE OFFICERS OF THE ARMY, MARCH 15, 1783 217
78 TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, MARCH 18, 1783 221 CHAPTER SIX
Washington’s Knowledge of His Countrymen 1783 225
79 TO JOSEPH JONES, MARCH 18, 1783 227
80 TO MAJOR GENERAL NATHANAEL GREENE, MARCH 31, 1783 229
81 TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, MARCH 31, 1783 229
82 TO THEODORICK BLAND, APRIL 4, 1783 231
83 TO MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE, APRIL 5, 1783 233
84 GENERAL ORDERS, APRIL 18, 1783 236
85 TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL TENCH TILGHMAN, APRIL 24, 1783 238
86 CIRCULAR TO THE STATES, JUNE 14, 1783 239 CHAPTER SEVEN
The General Resigns 1783 251
87 TO JOHN AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON, JUNE 15, 1783 255
88 TO REVEREND WILLIAM GORDON, JULY 8, 1783 257
89 TO JAMES DUANE, SEPTEMBER 7, 1783 260
90 FAREWELL ORDERS TO THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, NOVEMBER 2, 1783 266
91 TO THE MINISTERS, ELDERS, DEACONS, AND MEMBERS OF THE REFORMED GERMAN CONGREGATION OF NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 27, 1783 270
92 TO THE MERCHANTS OF PHILADELPHIA, DECEMBER 9, 1783 271
93 ADDRESS TO CONGRESS ON RESIGNING HIS COMMISSION, DECEMBER 23, 1783 272 CHAPTER EIGHT
The Citizen Stirs 1784–1786 275
94 TO JONATHAN TRUMBULL, JR., JANUARY 5, 1784 277
95 TO GOVERNOR BENJAMIN HARRISON, JANUARY 18, 1784 278
96 TO MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE, FEBRUARY 1, 1784 280
97 TO DR. JAMES CRAIK, MARCH 25, 1784 282
98 TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, MARCH 29, 1784 283
99 TO JAMES MADISON, JUNE 12, 1784 286
100 TO GOVERNOR BENJAMIN HARRISON, OCTOBER 10, 1784 287
101 TO THOMAS JOHNSON, OCTOBER 15, 1784 294
102 TO BENJAMIN HARRISON, JANUARY 22, 1785 295
103 TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, FEBRUARY 8, 1785 297
104 TO WILLIAM GRAYSON, JUNE 22, 1785 300
105 TO DAVID HUMPHREYS, JULY 25, 1785 301
106 TO MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE, JULY 25, 1785 304
107 TO EDMUND RANDOLPH, JULY 30, 1785 308
108 TO JAMES McHENRY, AUGUST 22, 1785 309
109 TO GEORGE MASON, OCTOBER 3, 1785 311
110 TO JAMES WARREN, OCTOBER 7, 1785 312
111 TO JAMES MADISON, NOVEMBER 30, 1785 314
112 TO HENRY LEE, APRIL 5, 1786 316
113 TO ROBERT MORRIS, APRIL 12, 1786 318
114 TO MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE, MAY 10, 1786 319
115 TO THE SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MAY 18, 1786 323
116 TO MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE, AUGUST 15, 1786 324 CHAPTER NINE
Making a Constitution 1786–1788 329
117 TO JOHN JAY, AUGUST 15, 1786 333
118 TO BUSHROD WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 30, 1786 335
119 TO HENRY LEE, OCTOBER 31, 1786 337
120 TO JAMES MADISON, NOVEMBER 5, 1786 339
121 TO BUSHROD WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 15, 1786 341
122 TO JAMES MADISON, NOVEMBER 18, 1786 343
123 TO JAMES MADISON, DECEMBER 16, 1786 344
124 TO GOVERNOR EDMUND RANDOLPH, DECEMBER 21, 1786 347
125 TO HENRY KNOX, DECEMBER 26, 1786 348
126 TO DAVID HUMPHREYS, DECEMBER 26, 1786 350
127 TO HENRY KNOX, FEBRUARY 3, 1787 354
128 TO HENRY KNOX, MARCH 8, 1787 356
129 TO THE SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MARCH 10, 1787 357
130 TO GOVERNOR EDMUND RANDOLPH, MARCH 28, 1787 359
131 TO JAMES MADISON, MARCH 31, 1787 360
132 TO HENRY KNOX, APRIL 2, 1787 363
133 SUMMARY OF LETTERS FROM JAY, KNOX, AND MADISON, SPRING 1787 365
134 TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, JULY 10, 1787 369
135 TO PATRICK HENRY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1787 370
136 TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, NOVEMBER 10, 1787 370
137 TO BUSHROD WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 10, 1787 371
138 TO DAVID STUART, NOVEMBER 30, 1787 374
139 TO JAMES MADISON, DECEMBER 7, 1787 376
140 TO GOVERNOR EDMUND RANDOLPH, JANUARY 8, 1788 378
141 TO JAMES MADISON, JANUARY 10, 1788 379
142 TO JAMES MADISON, FEBRUARY 5, 1788 380
143 TO MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE, FEBRUARY 7, 1788 382
144 TO JAMES MADISON, MARCH 2, 1788 385
145 TO JOHN ARMSTRONG, APRIL 25, 1788 386
146 TO MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE, APRIL 28, 1788 389
147 TO MARQUIS DE CHASTELLUX, APRIL 25 [– MAY 1], 1788 393
148 TO REVEREND FRANCIS ADRIAN VANDERKEMP, MAY 28, 1788 395
149 TO MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE, MAY 28, 1788 396
150 TO HENRY KNOX, JUNE 17, 1788 398
151 TO MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE, JUNE 19, 1788 400
152 TO BENJAMIN LINCOLN, JUNE 29, 1788 403 CHAPTER TEN
The Drama of Founding 1788–1789 405
153 TO THE SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, JULY 18, 1788 409
154 TO JONATHAN TRUMBULL, JULY 20, 1788 411
155 TO NOAH WEBSTER, ESQ., JULY 31, 1788 413
156 TO BENJAMIN LINCOLN, AUGUST 28, 1788 415
157 TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, AUGUST 28, 1788 416
158 TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, AUGUST 31, 1788 418
159 TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, OCTOBER 3, 1788 421
160 TO BENJAMIN LINCOLN, OCTOBER 26, 1788 423
161 TO MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE, JANUARY 29, 1789 427
162 TO BENJAMIN LINCOLN, JANUARY 31, 1789 429
163 TO FRANCIS HOPKINSON, FEBRUARY 5, 1789 430
164 TO GEORGE STEPTOE WASHINGTON, MARCH 23, 1789 431
165 TO JAMES MADISON, MARCH 30, 1789 434
166 TO THE MAYOR, CORPORATION, AND CITIZENS OF ALEXANDRIA, APRIL 16, 1789 436 CHAPTER ELEVEN
Presidential Addresses 1789–1796 439
167 FRAGMENTS OF THE DISCARDED FIRST INAUGURAL ADDRESS, APRIL 1789 445
168 THE FIRST INAUGURAL SPEECH, APRIL 30, 1789 460
169 FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE, JANUARY 8, 1790 467
170 SECOND ANNUAL MESSAGE, DECEMBER 8, 1790 470
171 THIRD ANNUAL MESSAGE, OCTOBER 25, 1791 474
172 FOURTH ANNUAL MESSAGE, NOVEMBER 6, 1792 480

173 THE SECOND INAUGURAL SPEECH, MARCH 4, 1793 486
174 FIFTH ANNUAL MESSAGE, DECEMBER 3, 1793 486
175 SIXTH ANNUAL MESSAGE, NOVEMBER 19, 1794 492
176 SEVENTH ANNUAL MESSAGE, DECEMBER 8, 1795 499
177 EIGHTH ANNUAL MESSAGE, DECEMBER 7, 1796 505
178 FAREWELL ADDRESS, SEPTEMBER 19, 1796 512 CHAPTER TWELVE
Washington the President 1789–1791 529
179 TO JAMES MADISON, MAY 5, 1789 531
180 TO THE UNITED BAPTIST CHURCHES IN VIRGINIA, MAY 10, 1789 531
181 TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES, MAY 1789 533
182 TO THE ANNUAL MEETING OF QUAKERS, SEPTEMBER 1789 533
183 THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION, OCTOBER 3, 1789 534
184 SKETCH OF A PLAN OF AMERICAN FINANCE, OCTOBER 1789 535
185 TO CATHERINE MACAULAY GRAHAM, JANUARY 9, 1790 537
186 TO DAVID STUART, MARCH 28, 1790 539
187 TO DAVID STUART, JUNE 15, 1790 541
188 TO THE HEBREW CONGREGATIONS, JANUARY 1790 545
189 TO THE ROMAN CATHOLICS, MARCH 1790 546
190 TO THE HEBREW CONGREGATION IN NEWPORT, AUGUST 7, 1790 547
191 TO THE HEBREW CONGREGATIONS OF THE CITY OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA (undated) 549
192 TO THE CHIEFS AND COUNSELORS OF THE SENECA NATION, DECEMBER 29, 1790 550
193 TO MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE, JULY 28, 1791 553
194 TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, JULY 28, 1791 555
195 TO ARTHUR YOUNG, DECEMBER 5, 1791 558 CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Trials of Division 1792–1796 563
196 TO JAMES MADISON, MAY 20, 1792 567
197 TO MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE, JUNE 10, 1792 570
198 TO THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, JULY 29, 1792 572
199 TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, AUGUST 23, 1792 576
200 TO THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, AUGUST 26, 1792 579
201 TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AUGUST 26, 1792 581
202 PROCLAMATION, SEPTEMBER 15, 1792 583
203 TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, OCTOBER 18, 1792 584
204 PROCLAMATION, DECEMBER 12, 1792 585
205 PROCLAMATION OF NEUTRALITY, APRIL 22, 1793 585
206 TO GOVERNOR HENRY LEE, JULY 21, 1793 586
207 PROCLAMATION, MARCH 24, 1794 588
208 PROCLAMATION, AUGUST 7, 1794 589
209 TO GOVERNOR HENRY LEE, AUGUST 26, 1794 593
210 TO BURGESS BALL, SEPTEMBER 25, 1794 596
211 PROCLAMATION, SEPTEMBER 25, 1794 598
212 TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, OCTOBER 16, 1794 600
213 TO JOHN JAY, NOVEMBER 1794 602
214 TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, JANUARY 28, 1795 605
215 TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, MARCH 15, 1795 607
216 TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, JULY 3, 1795 609
217 TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, JULY 29, 1795 611
218 TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, OCTOBER 29, 1795 613
219 TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, DECEMBER 22, 1795 617
220 TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MARCH 30, 1796 622 CHAPTER FOURTEEN
A Work Completed 1796–1799 627
221 TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, MAY 8, 1796 629
222 TO THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY, MAY 15, 1796 632
223 TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, MAY 15, 1796 633
224 TO THOMAS PINCKNEY, MAY 22, 1796 636
225 TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, JUNE 26, 1796 637
226 TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, JULY 6, 1796 640
227 TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, AUGUST 25, 1796 643
228 TALK TO THE CHEROKEE NATION, AUGUST 29, 1796 645
229 TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, SEPTEMBER 1, 1796 649
230 TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, NOVEMBER 2, 1796 651
231 TO JONATHAN TRUMBULL, MARCH 3, 1797 654
232 TO MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE, DECEMBER 25, 1798 655
233 TO PATRICK HENRY, JANUARY 15, 1799 660 Epilogue 664 234 TO GOVERNOR JONATHAN TRUMBULL, AUGUST 30, 1799 665
235 LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT, JULY 9, 1799 667 INDEX OF RECIPIENTS 681
SUBJECT INDEX 683

Editorial Reviews

“Great reading but also more than that. It provides a privileged experience, that of reliving with the greatest of Americans his public career, through a judicious and well-annotated selection of his own writings.” —Forrest McDonald, University of Alabama

“Professor Allen is to be congratulated for bringing together in a single volume those writings that reflect Washington’s role in and contributions to the birth of our republic. Through his selections and organization, he reveals salient dimensions of Washington’s status as ‘father’ of our country often ignored by contemporary scholars. — George W. Carey, Georgetown University

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