17661[Diary entry: 2 September 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday—2d. Rode to Mr. Bartrams & other places in the Country and dined & drank Tea at Mr. Grays.
17662To James Madison from Gerard Banks, 28 October 1785 (Madison Papers)
Prompted by the good of my Country, I hope will sufficiently apologize for my addressing you on some matters of very great importance to our Country. Government at present is certainly in a very confused and unhinged situation, and no doubt calls for the deliberate efforts of a wise Legislature, which I hope is the case at this day. Yet Sir Your knowledge of mankind and things in general must...
17663[Diary entry: 25 September 1784] (Washington Papers)
25th. Having obtained the foregoing information, and being indeed some what discouraged from the acct. given of the passage of the Cheat river through the Laurel hill and also from attempting to return by the way of the Dunkers bottom, as the path it is said is very blind, & exceedingly grown up with briers, I resolved to try the other rout, along the New road to Sandy Creek; & thence by...
17664New York Assembly. Remarks on Report Concerning Citizens of New York who Loaned Money in Hartford during the American … (Hamilton Papers)
New York, February 13, 1787. Hamilton spoke on the report of a “committee on the petition of those citizens of this state who have loaned their money during the late war, in Hartford, praying this state to take those monies on loan, and put them on the footing of other citizens, who loaned their money at the continental loan-office in this state.” Hamilton, according to the newspaper account...
17665Abigail Adams to Cotton Tufts, 21 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
Captain Lyde arrived a week ago, and yesterday, he and mr Jenks dinned with us. By the latter we received your kind favour of December and Janry. I had just closed a Letter to you, which I have sent by way of Newyork, and requested mr King to Frank for you; the comunication directly to Boston is like to become much less frequent, than formerly, and the more it lessens, the better it will be...
1766617th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Andrews preach’d for us; this forenoon he was lengthy in his prayer upon the late misfortunes in the several families. In his Sermon he likewise touched upon the subject, in recommending to us, so to number our days, that we might apply our hearts unto wisdom. I past the evening with Townsend. There fell a considerable quantity of rain, in the course of the last night, and of this day. And...
17667To James Madison from Alexander White, 16 August 1788 (Madison Papers)
I retired to this place to obtain a little rest, but find so great a proportion of the Company came for diversion, that my Views are nearly frustrated. A rainy Day has afforded me an opportunity of giving you the trouble of opening this, the trouble of reading it will depend on yourself after observing the Signature. I have frequently been honored with your conversation from which I conceive I...
17668From John Jay to George Mason Jr., 9 August 1787 (Jay Papers)
It gave me great Pleasure to recieve your friendly Letter of the 23rd last Month. As your Father and Brother passed only a few Days here, I had not so much of their Company as I wished: the Business of the Convention would not permit your Father to be longer absent from Philadelphia, and your Brother returned there with him. Your History my dear Sir has I find some pleasing Pages in it; and...
17669From James Madison to George Washington, 5 March 1789 (Madison Papers)
On our journey hither we have fallen in with the Bearer of the Electoral Votes of Georgia. They are unanimous as to the President and are all thrown away on individuals of the State as to the Vice President. The Representatives were not chosen when the Gentleman set out, but the election was to take place in a day or two after. General Matthews, he tells us will be one, Mr. Baldwin another, &...
17670From Alexander Hamilton to ——— Townsend, [27 December 1785] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, December 27, 1785. ] Instructs Townsend on how to proceed with the execution of a conveyance. AL , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. This letter concerns the settlement of the estate of Noah Townsend, a resident of Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York. The “Mr. Townsend” to whom it is addressed was either William Townsend or Micajah Townsend, two of Noah Townsend’s four executors....
17671The American Commissioners to Sidi Haj Tahar Ben Abdulhaq Fennish, 27 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
To His Excellency, Sidi Hadg Jaher Ben Abdelhack Fennish, in the service of His Majesty the Emperor of Morocco— We have received, with high satisfaction the Letter, which Your Excellency, by the Command of His Majesty the Emperor of Morocco did us the honor to write Us, on the 1 st. day of the blessed month Ramaden 1200 and transmitted to us by the Honourable Thomas Barclay Esquire, who was...
17672From Thomas Jefferson to John Mason, 24 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
It has not been possible for me sooner to do myself the honour of answering your favor of Oct. 25. The ministry have agreed to receive all the cargoes of our oil already on their way, till a further arrangement can be finally settled: and I have great reason to hope we shall obtain a re-establishment of the arret of Dec. 29. as to our whale oils; in which case, the English being excluded, we...
17673To Alexander Hamilton from Matthew Visscher, 29 June 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
June 29, 1784. Sends information on judgments entered against Joshua de St. Croix and James Leonard. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
17674To George Washington from William Irvine, 6 October 1788 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to enclose a sketch of the waters of the Alleghany, which approach near to Lake Erie it is taken from an actual survey made by the persons who ran the line between the states of New York & Pennsylvania—These gentleman say that the main branch of the Alleghany falls in Pennsylvania and that there is only seven or eight miles land carriage between it and the heads of a...
17675To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 15 April 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Paine not setting off to Day, as I expected, gives me an Opportunity of sending another Phial of Essence L’Orient which has had the Advantage of standing all Night to depurate and is richer than that I gave Mr. Paine yesterday. Besides this, I put some Spirit of Wine in the Phial of yesterday, which I observe curdles and discolours the Essence. In this there is nothing but a little Volat....
17676The Federalist No. 54, [12 February 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
To the People of the State of New-York. THE next view which I shall take of the House of Representatives, relates to the apportionment of its members to the several States, which is to be determined by the same rule with that of direct taxes. It is not contended that the number of people in each State ought not to be the standard for regulating the proportion of those who are to represent the...
17677To Benjamin Franklin from Madame ——— Düeil, 6 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Les bonté dont Madame adelaide honnore ma familles mayant atire a versalles pour luy faire des remercimant jesperé profitté de Ce momant pour avoir lhonneur de vous faire ma Cours et vous demandé vos hordre [ordres] pour du vin de chanpangne ayant lieux desperé que vous avés esttes Contans de Celuy que jay heut lhonneur de vous fournir au moy daout quatre...
17678To Thomas Jefferson from Le Mesurier & Cie., 14 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
We have the honor to acquaint you that the Brig Jenny Captn. David Peoples arrived here with a Cargo of Two Hundred and Thirty five Hogsheads of Tobacco belonging to Messrs. Willing Morris & Swanwick of Philadelphia, which those gentlemen trusted would be sold to the Farmers General at the price which they had fixed for Tobaccos of the same quality; but after getting the quality ascertained by...
17679[Diary entry: 8 March 1787] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 8th. Mercury at 34 in the Morning—48 at Noon and 42 at Night. Grey Morning with some appearances of falling Weather—the wind however at No. West; about 9 Oclock it shifted to the No. East and blew raw and cold; before Noon it died away, and was very pleasant but towards evening it sprung up again at No. Et. and looked threatning again. Colo. Ball went away immediately after breakfast....
17680[Diary entry: 5 November 1787] (Washington Papers)
Monday 5th. Thermometer at 48 in the Morning—58 at Noon and 56 at Night. But little Wind, clear & pleasant all day. Mr. & Mrs. Powell remaining here I continued at home all day.
17681Virginia Delegates in Congress to Benjamin Harrison, 22 March 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
We inclose to your Excellency by the bearer Mr. McAlister an Exemplification of the deed of Cession executed according to the directions of the act of assembly transmitted us, and have the honor to be with very high respect Your Excellency’s Most obedt. & most humble servt. Text from facsimile in Amer. Art Assoc. Catalogue, Turner-Munn Sale, 21–22 Jan. 1926, Lot 271, where it is erroneously...
1768231st. (Adams Papers)
I amuse myself in reading Junius’s letters; which though the factious productions of a partizan, contain many excellent observations upon men and manners. We met this evening at Putnam’s. Thompson left us to go to Lecture! Below JQA ’s line-a-day entry for 31 July in D/JQA/13, he has written in Byrom’s shorthand method “year August 28th,” the significance of which is unknown to the editors,...
17683From Thomas Jefferson to Madame Necker, 24 January 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received, Madam, with a great deal of sensibility the letter of the 22d. instant, with which you were pleased to honor me, on the claims of Monsieur Klein against the United states; and immediately endeavored to inform myself of their foundation by an examination of the Journals of Congress. Congress consisting of many persons, can only speak by the organ of their records. If they have...
17684To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Harpur, [2 August 1786] (Hamilton Papers)
At the Request of Genl. Schuyler, We have made a Copy of all the Poll Lists of the Counties of Albany and Montgomery, which copy was to be left with you to be forwarded to him. The Secretary estimated the Expences with which the Genl. was acquain[t]ed previous to the undertaking. And you was to be good enough to disburse the sum—being £10—which be pleased to deliver to the Bearer on your...
17685From George Washington to John Eager Howard, 2 February 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored with your polite favor of the 23d Ulto enclosing you[r] Excellency’s proclamation of the Representatives and Electors returning by the State of Maryland. The whole number of Representatives being federal and the large majority by which they were chosen, is the most decisive proof that could be given of the attachment of the people of your State to the general...
17686To Thomas Jefferson from Lanchon Frères & Cie., 4 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
L’Orient, 4 July 1787 . Enclose a letter for TJ brought from Charlestown, S.C., by Capt. Jacobs of the Union . They and Richard Harrison of Alexandria were sorry to have missed TJ when he was in L’Orient; offer their services for themselves and their house at Le Havre, “Mangon La Forest & Compy‥‥ in receiving or Conveying packetts or any thing you may think proper from or to America.” RC ( MHi...
17687To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Barclay, 24 January 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of sending you a Copy of my letter to Mr. Osgood and Mr. Livingston, with my accounts Current which you will please to forward. The Originals go by the Packet from L’Orient. You will, I hope, Excuse my having mentioned your name. My meaning was, if you had occasion to write to them, I hoped you woud freely give your opinion of such of my Transactions as have fallen within...
17688To George Washington from James Swan, 5 June 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from James Swan, 5 June 1788. On 18 Aug. GW wrote Swan : “I have received your favor of the 5th of June from Havre de Grace.”
17689Friday Octr. 31st. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Mr. Vaughan’s: in the evening we went to the Drury Lane Theatre, where Isabella, or the Fatal marriage and the Irish Widow, were represented. Mrs. Siddons; supposed to be the first Tragick performer in Europe, play’d the part of Isabella. A young Lady, in the next Box to where we were, was so much affected by it as to be near fainting and was carried out. I am told that every Night...
17690[From Thomas Jefferson to John Moore, 1 February 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Annapolis, 1 Feb. 1784 . Entry in SJL reads: “Jno. Moore. Accounts at barracks to be settled with Turner in Richmond.” Not found.]
17691To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., 20 February 1786 (Washington Papers)
I pray you to excuse the Liberty I take in presenting you with a Funeral Sermon preached at the Interment of the late Govr Trumbull. If it does not appear with all that sentimental Elegance & purity which have distinguished the writings of some Gentlemen, yet I trust it will discover a degree of merit & Ingenuity, which will not discredit the reputation of a young preacher, or injure the...
17692Sunday September 7th. 1788. (Adams Papers)
The Marquis to Sainneville, commander of the french Squadron now in the harbour, and the Chevalier Maccarty de Martegues captain of the Achille, dined here to day. Several other officers were detained by the badness of the weather. In his line-a-day entry, JQA mentions “Meeting, forenoon” (D/JQA/13, Adams Papers, Microfilms , Reel No. 16).
17693To Thomas Jefferson from John Tyler, 20 May 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I receiv’d your Letter by the last Post and am much obliged to you for the printed paper which it enclosed. Our Assembly went into the consideration of the several matters therein contain’d and past some resolutions by way of Instructions to the Delegates in Congress from this State, which will be communicated by the Governor; also others on which Bills are order’d to be drawn, vesting your...
17694From John Adams to John Jay, 2 September 1785 (Adams Papers)
M r Temple is gone out as Consul General: whether he will be received or not in that Character, before a Treaty of Commerce is made, I know not. if he Should not and Should not be provided with Credentials as Minister he will probably wait for farther Instructions. I have not made any Proposition to the Ministry, as is customary, to Send a Minister Plenipotentiary to America, and I Shall not...
17695To Thomas Jefferson from Giovanni Fabbroni, 25 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Florence, 25 Mch. 1789 . Thanks TJ for having introduced him to Rutledge who, accompanied by Short, brought him a letter from TJ; Shippen was not with them. Regrets not having done more for them, but their stay was brief and they went “en droiture” straight to Leghorn without stopping at Pisa where the court was in residence and where Fabbroni could have presented them to “nôtre adorable...
17696[Diary entry: 22 February 1787] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 22d. Mercury at 30 in the morng.—55 at Noon and 48 at Night. Day pleasant, with the Wind at South till the evening when it began to lower. The Wind had shifted to the No. Et. & the Moon & Stars looked dim. Rid to Muddy hole Dogue run & Frenchs Plantation. At the first about a fence on the New ditch which was begun yesterday. At the second, the Plows having done all they could in the...
17697New York Ratifying Convention. Sixth Speech of July 19, [19 July 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Ham[ilton]—combats the propriety of the word “ expresly ” congress one to regulate trade—now they must do a thousand things—not expresly given—Virginia say not given — Gilbert Livingston MS Notes, MS Division, New York Public Library. See “New York Ratifying Convention. First Speech of July 19,” note 1 . H’s remarks were on the proposed explanatory amendment. It reads as follows: “That no...
17698To Thomas Jefferson from John Jay, 18 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was dated the 14th. of last Month, since which I have received and laid before Congress your several Letters of 12th. 22d. 23d. two of 27th. and one of 31st. May last, with the Papers enclosed with them. It has happened from various Circumstances, that several Reports on foreign Affairs still lay before Congress undecided upon. The want of an adequate Representation for long...
17699To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Oswald, 8 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The inclosed Letter was sent to me yesterday by Lord Howe to be forwarded to you. And their Lordships of that Board having ordered a Copy of Capt Cooks Books of his last Voyage to be transmitted to you, they will be Sent in a Box by the Paris Diligence directed to the care of Monsr Pissot. Libraire, Quai des Augustines, to be delivered without expence. Mr...
17700[To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander McCaul, 28 April 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Glasgow, 28 Apr. 1786 . Recorded in SJL as received 9 May 1786. Not found. See reference to “A letter received since from the first character among the American merchants in Scotland,” in TJ to James Monroe, 10 May 1786.]
17701From Thomas Jefferson to John Jay, 9 January 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
My last of Dec. 31. acknowleged the receipt of yours of Oct. 12. as the present does those of Oct. 3d. 9th . and 27th. together with the resolution of Congress of Octob. 16. on the claim of Shweighauser. I will proceed in this business on the return of Mr. Barclay, who being fully acquainted with all the circumstances, will be enabled to give me that information the want of which might lead me...
17702From George Washington to Peters and Company, 16 September 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have some Spring Barley for sale, and if you incline to buy it, would be glad to know what you will give delivered at my landing; or if this is not convenient for you what your price at Baltimore is. It is raised from seed which Colo. Biddle of Philadelphia procured for me from a Mr Haynes a Brewer of that City; who had it (I am informed) from Rhode Island. It is, which I did not discover...
17703To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Harrison, 28 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will introduce to you Mr William Short, a Gentleman of my particular acquaintance, and a member of the Council of this State; you will find him the agreeable Gentleman, a man of considerable abilities, and in every respect worthy your civilities at [and] attentions, to which I most earnestly recommend him. He goes to France to join his intimate friend...
17704From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 8 December 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
In mine of Nov. 11. I acknoleged the receipt of yours of Aug. 20. Sep. 7. and 15. Since that, the one of Oct. 11. by the packet has come to hand as also that of July 3. by Mr. Short who came in the packet, was actually in N. York when you passed through it and had waited there several days in hopes of seeing you. I thank you very much for the relation of the proceedings of assembly. It is the...
17705To George Washington from Alexandre de Gubian, 13 June 1785 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of giving you an account of my Services, for to beg of Your Excellence to Grant me, what my Companions have obtain’d; Having been embarked aboard the King’s Ship, the Scipion, In the Army of Mr the Compte de Grasse, Whilst we were in the Chessapeak, That General gave me charge of the Correspondence, with the Camp, by the Back River, & I Continued in that Situation, all the...
17706From Thomas Jefferson to Cambray, 19 June 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The assembly of Carolina requiring that you should renew on oath an account of the paiments you have received, the oath is necessary. There is in this country some officer of justice in every town authorized to administer an oath and make out a proces verbal of [fact]. I know because I once had occasion to take depositions here, and an officer (whose appellation I forgot) administered the...
17707John Adams to Richard Cranch, 11 March 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am very much obliged to you, for your Friend Ship to my Brother Adams, and hope that his Conduct in his new office, will do no dishonour to his Appointment but he will stand in need sometimes of your Advice. Inclosed with this is a Book of my Friend Jefferson, which, you will entrust to none but faith full Friends. It is not yet to be published. We are at War with Morocco, Algiers, Tunis and...
17708From Thomas Jefferson to De Langeac, 10 October 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai l’honneur de vous prevenir de la resiliation que je fais du bail de la maison que j’occupe de vous, dès le seizieme jour d’Avril de l’année prochaine, selon le privilege qui m’a eté donné par l’acte de bail meme de le resilier à tel moment qu’il me conviendroit, en vous en avertissant 6. mois d’avance. Pour cet effet j’ai l’honneur de vous ecrire cette lettre, double, dont vous aurez la...
1770921st. (Adams Papers)
Upon Stacey’s invitation I went with him and Putnam, and two young lads by the name of Greenough, to Mr. Greenleaf’s; where we had something like a concert of music. The house was soon filled with people; it seemed as if there was nobody within five miles that had ever heard the sound of a violin before. Some of the young Ladies thought it would be pretty to join with their voices in the...
17710To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Hopkinson, 8 November 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I do not know how long it is since I wrote to you, but am sure it is much longer since I heard from you. I am in daily expectations of a Letter in answer to some of mine. I send you another Packet of News Papers and enclose the Leg of a strange Bird which has nothing curious in it but a fine small toothed Comb annexed to one of its Toes, and three very beautiful Feathers (of which I send two)...