401From George Washington to John Hancock, 22 February 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellencys letter of the 10th inst. enclosing a Resolve of the Senate & House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and sundry documents relative to the Eastern boundary of the United States. Previous to the receipt of your Excellency’s letter I had laid this subject before the Senate of the United States for their consideration, with such...
402From George Washington to John Hancock, 28 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of July 20. came safely to hand, together with the Memorial of Monsieur de Latombe of the 7th of June and the Resolve of the legislature of Massachusetts of the 24th of the same month. on considering the nature of the difficulties which have occurred in the execution of the Consular convention, they appeared to be such as could not be removed but by a legislative act. when these...
403From George Washington to John Hancock, 17 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
It would have afforded me the greatest pleasure, had I been able to have extended my late visit to Newport as far as Boston, but the important operations, which may be expected to the southward, made it necessary for me to return as soon as possible to the North River, that I might be more immediately in the way of receiving intelligence, and communicating any, which might be essential to the...
404From George Washington to John Hancock, 7 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will oblige me by having the inclosed delivered to Major General Howe should he be in Boston, or forwarding it to him should he be in the neighbourhood or in New Hampshire—The letter is of consequence, and I therefore hope you will excuse the liberty I have taken in addressing it to your particular care. I have the honor to be with very sincere Regard Yr Excellency’s Most obt...
405From George Washington to John Hancock, 25 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The great demand we shall have for powder in the proposed operations of the campaign constrains me to request a loan of this article, of the States who are possessed of it, to supply the deficiency of the Continental magazine. I therefore, Sir, earnestly request as great a loan of powder of the State of Massachusetts as can possibly be spared, and that the State would take most speedy and...
406From George Washington to John Hancock, 2 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
The proposed operations of the campaign will occasion such a demand for heavy cannon and military stores, as to exceed the number and quantity of those articles immediately in possession of the Continent. This insufficiency obliges me to apply to such of the neighbouring States as can afford us any assistance, with a full confidence that the importance of the object, and the apparent...
407From George Washington to John Hancock, 4 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
One thousand Militia in addition to four hundred Troops having been deemed necessary to the security of the fleet, in the harbour of Newport, after the departure of the land Forces, I am to request Your Excellency to give orders for Five hundred from the State of Massachusetts to repair to Rhode Island as soon as they shall be demanded by His Excellency the Count de Rochambeau—The State of...
408From George Washington to John Hancock, 15 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I flatter myself that proper Measures have been before this Time taken to procure the number of Men for Continental and Militia service, required by my Letter of the 24th May from Weathersfield. For the Calculation which I then made of the Aid of Militia which would be necessary to support the Operations which we have in View, I included sixteen hundred from Pennsylvania, but that State having...
409From George Washington to John Hancock, 25 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I find I shall be under the necessity of drawing down all the Continental Troops which are at present upon the Northern frontiers, and as there is very great reason to apprehend an incursion of the Enemy from Canada, I shall be obligd to keep a respectable force of Militia in that quarter, in addition to the State Troops of New York; I have therefore taken the liberty to order the quotas from...
410From George Washington to John Hancock, 8 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have not been honored with an answer to my several letters of the 24th and 25th of May and of the 2d 4th 15. and 25th of last Month, and am of course unable to form any certain estimate of what may be expected in consequence of my requisitions—this puts me in rather an awkard situation, as I can not give His Excellency Count Rochambeau, who has formed a junction with me, that official...
411From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
General Heath, in a letter of the 4th inst. informs me that the state have about 52 Pipes of Teneriffe Wine, which they are willing if it will answer as well to send forward to the army in lieu of Rum—as he thought it more than probable that he would have left Boston before my answer could arrive, he desired me to make it to your Excellency—wine cannot be distributed to the soldier insttead of...
412From George Washington to John Hancock, 30 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the Honor to address your Excellency under the 25th June last—requestg that you would be pleased to order 600, of the Militia of your State, which I Supposed to be raising under a former Requisition, to be sent to Albany for the Protection of the Northern & Western Frontier of the State of N. york—to this Letter (as indeed to several others of much earlier Date) I have not had the...
413From George Washington to John Hancock, 3 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I this day receiv’d a Letter from the Count Rochambeau, a copy of which is inclos’d, respecting the Militia from the State of Massachusetts, that were some time since requested for the Rhode Island Department; as they have not arrived agreeable to my expectations, I have to request your Excellency to forward them with the utmost dispatch, as it is of the greatest importance that that post is...
414From George Washington to John Hancock, 4 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I find myself arrived at that period, at which I hoped to have seen the Batallions of the several States compleated to their Establishment, in conformity to the requisition of Congress of the 19th Decr last. The inclosed returns of Recruits, which I have caused to be made up to the 1st Instant, will shew how totally short of my expectation the exertions of the States, have fallen—from your...
415From George Washington to John Hancock, 8 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
As the plan of Campaign must depend entirely on the means that are put into my hands, of which I have scarcely a conjectural knowledge at this time—and, on the force of the Enemy at their different Posts—I shall be obliged to your Excellency (as the communication between Boston & Hallifax is open to Flags, which frequently pass) for the most accurate account which you can obtain, covertly, of...
416From George Washington to John Hancock, 10 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will permit me to introduce to your particular Notice & Attention M. Genl D. Choissny, who will have the Honor to present this Letter. As an Officer old in Command, & eminent for his Services, he has the Honor to be placed at the Head of the Troops destined for the Expedition proposed by the Marquis de Vaudreuil against Penobscot, provided that Enterprize should be attempted....
417From George Washington to John Hancock, 10 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will be informed by B. Genl De Choisey, who does me the Honor to be the Bearer of this, that the Marquis De Vaudruiel, with a fleet of his most Christian Majesty’s Ships of War, may be soon expected in the Harbour of Boston. By a Correspondence which has passed between the Marquis & the Count de Rochambeau (a Copy of which I have been favored with by the latter) I am informed...
418From George Washington to John Hancock, 16 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
The present superiority of the British Fleet upon this Coast, naturally makes the Marquis de Vaudreuil apprehensive for the safety of that under his command in the Harbor of Boston. Should the enemy make an attempt upon him, a land force, superior to what he possesses, will be necessary for his defence, and for that he must depend upon the Militia in the neighbourhood of Boston. I am certain,...
419From George Washington to John Hancock, 8 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to transmit to your Excellency the Copy of a Letter I have just received from Sir Guy Carleton, informing me of his having given orders for the evacuation of Penobscott. Congress having come to no determination with respect to a Peace Establishment, and the few Troops remaining in Service being on a precarious footing liable to be discharged at every moment, are reasons,...
420From George Washington to John Hancock, 15 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
The very favorable opinion you are pleased to entertain of my public conduct, and the kind expressions of personal friendship you have had the goodness to repeat in your Letter of the 15th Ulto could not fail to receive my warmest acknowledgments; had not the higher Motives of esteem & attachment already rivitted my affections to you. Accipt my best thanks for the present testimony of your...
The enclosed Memorial was Yesterday given me by Mr Pell with a Request that I would transmit it to the Congress. He appears much hurt at being omitted in the Arrangement of officers intended for the Regiment lately ordered to be raised in this Colony; and I sincerely wish he had less Reason to think himself neglected. He is a fine, spirited, young Gentleman; of one or two and twenty, of an...
In Pursuance of a Resolution of your hon’ble House of the 17 th : June last we passed a Resolve to authorize the Commander in Chief to call out all or any Part of the ^ our ^ Militia whenever he might think it necessary Of this Resolve the Inclosure N o . 1 is a Copy— We have also taken into Consideration the Recommendation of the Congress relative to providing Cloathing for the Troops, and...
In my Negociations with M r . Gardoqui I experience certain difficulties which in my Opinion should be so managed, as that even the Existence of them should remain a Secret for the present. I take the Liberty therefore of submitting to the Consideration of Congress whether it might not be adviseable to appoint a Committee with power to instruct and direct me on every point and Subject relative...
424From Thomas Jefferson to John Hancock, 11 October 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 30th. together with the resolutions of Congress of the 26th. Ult. came safe to hand. It would argue great insensibility in me could I receive with indifference so confidential an appointment from your body. My thanks are a poor return for the partiality they have been pleased to entertain for me. No cares for my own person, nor yet for my private affairs would have induced...
425From Thomas Jefferson to John Hancock, 19 October 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
In a late conversation with Mr. T. Adams since his return from Congress I find, what indeed might have been well supposed that the state of the Continental finances was not the most flourishing. The establishment of banks in Europe for the purpose of maintaining our credit there, as well as here, and by that means of enlarging our supplies by way of loan may perhaps meet with the attention of...
426From Thomas Jefferson to John Hancock, 24 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The Representatives of the United States have been pleased to refer to me the representation from the General Court of Massachusetts on the subject of the Whale and Cod fisheries which had been transmitted by your Excellency, with an instruction to examine the matter thereof and report my opinion thereupon to the next Session of Congress. To prepare such a report as may convey to them the...
427George Washington to John Hancock, 28 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of July 20th. came safely to hand, together with the Memorial of Monsieur de Latombe of the 7th. of June, and the Resolve of the Legislature of Massachusetts of the 24th. of the same month. On considering the nature of the difficulties which have occurred in the execution of the Consular Convention, they appeared to be such as could not be removed but by a legislative Act. When...
428Enclosure: Peleg Coffin, Jr. and Others to John Hancock, 13 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Pursuant to a Resolution of the Legislature of Massachusetts passed the 17th Ultimo we have endeavoured to collect full and Authentic information respecting the Cod and Whale fisheries as heretofore, and now carried on in this Commonwealth. Your Excellency must be sensible that in executing the business assigned us we could derive no Aid from any Public office establish’d in this Government...
429X. Thomas Jefferson to John Hancock, 20 February 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
With many thanks for the papers and information you were pleased to have procured for me on the important subject of the fisheries, I do myself the honour of now inclosing you a copy of my report to the house of representatives. From the disposition I see prevailing in the principal mass of the Southern members to take measures which may secure to us the principal markets for the produce of...
430From Thomas Jefferson to John Hancock, 25 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof Mr. Ciracchi, a celebrated sculptor from Rome, proposing to go to Boston to explain the device of a monument which he wishes to erect for the United States, I take the liberty of introducing him to the notice of your Excellency, persuaded that it is desireable to you to have strangers, of particular merit, particularly made known to you. The things which he has done here...
431From Thomas Jefferson to John Hancock, 28 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Duplaine, Consul of France for Boston, will of course have presented you his Exequatur and would also of course receive from you those attentions which his office entitles him to. But Mr. Genet, minister from the same nation here, desirous that the affairs of the two nations should be conducted with that cordiality which animates the two nations, and which would be promoted by the personal...