156801To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 14 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am Honored with your Letters of the 15th & 29th Ultimo The Genl Assembly of this State convened at this place the 8th Instant the Latter of yours came to hand on the 10th and was Laid before them The Deficiencies in our Regimts will meet the attention it’s Importance demands Expediency and Necessity require Early and vigorous meas[ur]es Should be adopted to compleat them to their full...
156802To John Jay from James De Lancey, 14 January 1778 (Jay Papers)
I rec d . your kind Letter of the 2 d . Inst. with 100 Dollars from M r. Sam l . Broome which with the many other Obligations I am under to you will never be forgot as I have had a plentifull supply of money from home returned it M r. Broome— The Gentlemen of the Army particularly Gen l. Parsons & some of the Inhabitants of this place have been very Civle to me. the Gen l. has made application...
156803Session of Virginia Council of State, 14 January 1778 (Madison Papers)
The eleventh article of Virginia’s Form of Government ( Hening, Statutes William Waller Hening, ed., The Statutes at Large; being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619 (13 vols.; Richmond and Philadelphia, 1819–23). , IX, 116) provided for a Privy Council, or Council of State, of eight members to be chosen by the legislature....
156804II. Bill for Settling Titles to Unpatented Lands, [14 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas the various and vague claims to unpattented Lands under the former Government, covering the greater part of the Country on the Western Waters, may produce tedious and infinite Litigation and disputes, and in the mean time Purchasers would be discouraged from taking up Lands upon the Terms lately prescribed by Law, whereby the Fund to be raised in Aid of the Taxes for discharging the...
156805To John Adams from James Lovell, 13 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
First and foremost, become a reconciling advocate for me with your dear lovely Portia, who, from the most rational tender attachment to you, is as angry with me as her judiciously patriotic Spirit will allow, upon a foundation which I hope you have been acquainted with, long e’er this day. This hint must pass for an acknowledgement of the receipt of her letter of Decr. 19th. and for all the...
156806Franklin and Silas Deane to [Ferdinand Grand], 13 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society We desire you would continue to honor Mr. Williams Draughts to the Amount of two hundred thousand Livres in Addition to the Five hundred thousand for which a Credit was before given him. We have the Honor to Remain with much Esteem Sir Your most Obedient &c. &c. This note was BF ’s and Deane’s reaction to Lee’s letter above, Jan. 10. Their colleague, they...
156807To Benjamin Franklin from Ralph Izard, 13 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Izard’s Compliments to Dr. Franklin, and returns him the Newspapers he was so obliging as to send him. Mr. Izard encloses the Gazette Extraordinary, which gives an account of the evacuation of Mud Island, and Red Bank. Howe’s Letter gives us reason to expect news of very great importance soon. Addressed: A Monsr. / Monsr. le Dr. Franklin / a / Passy...
156808To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, [13 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I presume you have seen the London Gazette Extraordinary of Friday last, saying that Mud Island and red Bank were evacuated. Howe says a forward movement against the Enemy would immediately take place which he hopes would be successful. From this we are to conclude that Howe himself conceives that all his movements before were retrograde . His last date...
156809To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Cullet de Pugieu, 13 January 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Lyons, January 13, 1778, in French: I write to ask how I go about getting to America. I was born near Lyons and educated there. My father left seven children at his death; my eldest brother inherited everything, as is the local custom, and I was left with a pittance. After an unsuccessful venture into commerce here I got a financial post with the...
156810General Orders, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Honorable the Congress having been pleased to call Coll Pickering to a seat at the Board of War, have appointed Coll Scammell, Adjutant General in his Room who is to be obeyed and respected as such. At a General Court Martial of which Coll Swift was President, held 5th instant Captn Powell of 3rd Virginia Regiment charged with “insulting Lieutt Davis when on his guard and arresting him...
156811To George Washington from Major John Clark, Jr., 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your kind letter of recommendation, I had the honor to deliver to His Excellency the President, who laid it before congress in my absence. since which, they have appointed me an Auditor with Mr Clarkson to settle & adjust the accounts of the main Army—whether I am equal to the task assigned me, or not, I cannot presume to say; but shou’d I accept The appointment, I flatter myself under your...
156812To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to inform your Excellency of the situation of John & Baker Hendricks & John Meeker who it is said have forfited their lives, by a law of this State, in consequence of their being employed by me and others, to bring inteligence from the enemy while at New york and Staten Island, according to your Excellencys direction. The fidelity of those persons I am well convinced of, and the...
156813To George Washington from Elbridge Gerry, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have waited some time, in Expectation of informing You with the Sense of Congress on the several Subjects mentioned in your agreable Favour of the 25th Decr; but am not yet fully able to answer my Purpose. a Committee is appointed from Congress & the Board of War, who in Concert with your Excellency have full Powers to form & execute a Plan for reducing the Number of Batalions now in the...
156814To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will be handed to your Excellency by Mr Francis, a french Merchant belonging to the House from which we have received our ample Supply of Ordnance, Ordnance Stores, Fire Arms &c. He is come over to secure his Remittances, and will I am confident receive that respect from our Countrymen that his assistance afforded at a time of need justly merit. Part of the Cannon and Stores which arrived...
156815From George Washington to Major General Robert Howe, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving your favs. of the 2d and 3d of Novemr by Genl McIntosh who arrived very opportunely to take the command of the North Carolina Brigade, which had wanted a Brigadier very much since the Fall of Genl Nash. The account you give of the numbers of Indians in the Southern Tribes far exceeds any thing that I had an Idea of, and it therefore behoves us the more to...
156816To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Schall make use in this particular instance of the liberty you gave me of telling freely every idea of mine which could strike me as not being useless to a better order of things. There were two gentlemen, same rank, same duty to perform, and same neglect of it who have been arrested the same day by me—as I went in the night around the piquets I found them in fault, and I gave an account of...
156817To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel La Radière, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
A council called for fixing the place to be fortifyed on Hudson’s River has decided Last night that west point is the best place—this post is on the west Shore of the Nort River over against fort Constution Six mile Higher than fort Montgomery 8 mile below New Windsor. we will bar the River with a chain. this Council was called at my request. I have read before these gentlemen a Memorial...
156818From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will be deliver’d to you by the Chevalier de Mauduit du Plessis, who was among the first French Officers that joined the Army of the United States—the gallant Conduct of this young Gentleman at Brandywine, German Town, and his distinguished Services at Fort Mercer, where he united the Offices of Engineer and Commandant of Artillery, entitle him to the particular notice of Congress—he made...
156819To George Washington from William Livingston, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Upon frequent Complaints that Capt. Kennedy’s Residence at his Farm was injurious to the State, & occasioned great Clamours from the People in This Neighbourhood, the Council ordered his Attendance on the Board—they at the same time desired a Gentleman near the Spot, to procure what Affidavits he could respecting Captn Kennedy’s Conduct—He sent us by return of the Express three Affidavits with...
156820To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 27th Ulto, and am happy to find that Your Excellency is Convinced, my Conduct has not been such as Represented by Col: Drake—I have ever paid the Utmost attention to the Protection of the Inhabitants; and am Vain enough to think, that they Conceive the Army to be as good Neighbours, as Col: Drake. General Parsons has not Yet Return’d, Tho is soon expected; and till...
156821From George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since writing to you this morning on the subject of the prize Brig Symetry, the Regulations of the Feild Officers of the division for conducting the Sale and disposing of the Cargo was laid before me with a letter from the Regimental Surgeons and Mates to Docr Cochran. These Gentlemen feel themselves so much hurt by the discrimination made by these Regulations between them and the Officers of...
156822VII. Draft of a Resolution concerning Money Bills, [before 13 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
That bills relating solely to the raising or disposing of public money in any way whatever are not amendable by the Senate. That in other bills if some clauses or sentences relate to the raising or disposing of public money, and others relate to other subjects, the said clauses or sentences so relating to the raising or disposing of public money are not amendable by the Senate; but such other...
156823Bill for Sequestering British Property, [13 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
Whereas divers persons, subjects of Great Britain, had, during our connection with that Kingdom, acquired estates real and personal within this Commonwealth and had also become entitled to debts to a considerable amount, and some of them had commenced suits for the recovery of such debts before the present troubles had interrupted the administration of Justice, which suits were at that time...
156824Draft of a Resolution concerning Money Due British Subjects, [ca. 13 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
And whereas his Britannic majesty did on the day of 1775 undertake by the strength of his fleets to shut up the several ports and havens of the American states and to intercept all commerce between the said states and other parts of the world, to which proceeding the British parliament had previously given their sanction by an act entitled an act whereby the monies belonging to the subjects of...
156825Bill for Dividing the Counties of Augusta and Botetourt, [16 December 1777–12 January 1778] (Jefferson Papers)
[Whereas] it is represented to this present Session of Assembly by the Inhabitants of Augusta and Botetourt Counties that they labour under great Inconveniencies by Reason of the great Extent of the said Counties and Parishes Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly that from and after the first Day of February next the said County and Parish of Augusta shall be divided by a Line...
156826The American Commissioners to Gourlade, Bérard frères, & Monplaisir, 12 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society Mr. Beaumarchais shewed us your Letter of the 7th Inst. by which we find that you had not so much Confidence in the Commissioners as to deliver the Cargo of the Amphitrite to their Order untill your Disbursements on the two Frigates should be paid you. On our part tho’ we were greatly surprised at the Amount of those Disbursements as well as the prices of...
156827The Committee for Foreign Affairs to the American Commissioners, 12 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and transcript: National Archives Not having received any letters from you since the 26 of May we were severely chagrined yesterday upon the arrival of Capt. John Folgier, who, under the name of dispatches from the Commissioners at Paris, delivered only an enclosure of clean white paper with some familiar letters, none of which contained any political intelligence. You will see by the...
156828Intelligence from Brest, 12 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
D : National Archives This is the first in a long series of intelligence reports to Franklin or the commission. Most were forwarded to Congress and are now in the National Archives; the few that are not there are copies, the originals of which were either forwarded and subsequently lost or for some reason not sent. We handle all these reports in the same way as letters from commission-seekers....
156829General Orders, 12 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The detachments ordered to relieve Coll Morgan & to take post at the Gulph-Mill, are to be on the grand parade and ready to march at sunrise tomorrow morning with their provisions completed to next Wednesday inclusively. The Commissary General of Issues is to keep an exact account of the number of Cattle delivered to the Army that the number of hides may be thereby ascertained & duly accounted...
156830To George Washington from William Gordon, 12 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was a stranger to the subjects of the present letter when I wrote last week, or should have mentioned them considering their importance. Mr Hancock reports that your Excellency designs quitting the command of the army. I hope he has no good foundation for what he says. I should dread your doing it, did I believe it probable, for I apprehend the cause would suffer amazingly by it, & that the...
156831From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 12 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As I do not recollect with precision, whether any or what Resolutions have been made by Congress respecting Captures by the Army or Detachments of It, and not having all their proceedings with me, with which I have been honored from time to time, to assist my inquiries upon the subject, I must take the liberty to request, that they will determine and favor me with their decisions upon the...
156832To George Washington from William Livingston, 12 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am the more chagrined at the want of provisions, to which I am informed your Army is reduced, as I believe it is partly owing to the boundless Avarice of some of our Farmers, who would rather see us ingulphed in eternal Bondage, than sell their produce at a reasonable price. This however is now remedied by our late act for regulating the price of provisions, which wants nothing but vigorous...
156833From George Washington to Brigadier General James Potter, 12 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have duly receiv’d your favor of yesterday & Observe the Pernicious tendency which may arise from a Continuation of Intercourse between the City & Country—in order to prevent which, you are hereby instructed to take the most immediate & Coercive Measures—I should gladly Know, who the Officers are who act so directly contrary to my inclination, & express Commands, in granting passes for...
156834From George Washington to Benjamin Rush, 12 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 26th December. Soon after the Rect I had an opportunity of communicating the substance of it, and one from Govr Livingston on the same subject, to the Director General. It is to be regretted, that a department for which such ample provision has been made, and on which so much depends, should yet be inadequate to the ends proposed. If the present medical...
156835From George Washington to Brigadier General William Smallwood, 12 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 10th: My order to you to have the Baggage removed to this place was founded upon information that there was a much greater quantity than there turns out, but as it proves otherwise you were right in detaining it, till you represented the matter to me—I wish the Gentlemen who drew up and signed the representation had attended more closely to my letter. They would...
156836To George Washington from Major Benjamin Tallmadge, 12 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
At the Request of Colo. Sheldon, who sets out this morning for Fishkills to forward the accoutring those of his Regt in that Departmt, I write this—Am to inform that we want a considerable number of Horses to complete the Regt, to the procuring & disciplining of which we should be glad to attend, as soon as your Excellency’s pleasure can be known. I am, as Commanding Officer of the Regt in...
156837To Benjamin Franklin from Jean Gosuin, 11 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Depuis Long tems je suis tenté du plaisir de vous ecrire pour vous offrir mes services pour celui des etats unis, qui dans ces circonstances doivent avoir besoin d’armes, comme j’en suis certioré par une livrance que j’en ai fait a un de mes correspondans en hollande qui ne m’a pas cachè la distination de ces armes. Je serois meme encore dans le cas d’avoir...
156838To Benjamin Franklin from Courtney Melmoth, 11 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the Honour of the Inclosd from Dr. Dubourg to day: Both that Gentleman, and Mr. Jeaneux, are so very anxious for the favor of your inspecting some electrical Instruments &c., &c., that I should be very happy if you could fix any Day and hour for a meeting at the Hotel de Chevigny, and let me know it by Mr. Kendall the bearer by which means, I shall...
156839General Orders, 11 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
At a General Court Martial held 3rd instant in Lord Stirling’s division, whereof Lt Coll Brearly was President, John Rea Quarter-Master in 6th Pennsylvania Regiment charged with fraudulent Practices in said Regiment, ordering Lieutt Gibbons in the Provost, and behavior unbecoming the character of an Officer or a Gentlemen—was tried—and by the unanimous opinion of the Court was found guilty of...
156840From George Washington to Captain George Lewis, 11 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to find by your Letter to Mr Harrison that you still continue indisposed. If the state of your health requires leave of absence, I shall not object to your visiting your friends in Virginia to recover it. You will take this in your way as I shall want to see you before you go. I wish you to have every part, & parcel of my Baggage removed from New Town to this place. I do not know in...
156841To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 11 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
yesterday morning the enemy cam out with about 50 hors and 200 of there Greens, and took four men prisnirs at the Goley post —the last week I have Spent in Visiting the difrent posts I find there is a smart Tread Carrided on Between the Cuntry and the City Som officers have given general passes too there faverits to send there sarvant with what Nessecereys they please in to the City in...
156842To George Washington from Major General Riedesel, 11 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
Major Genl Gates having at the Request of his Excellcy Lieut. Genl Bourgoyne exchanged a certain Number of British Officers, Prisoners of War, for an equal Number of Officers of the Continental Army, and being further required to exchange a proportionable Number of german Officers, who were made Prisoners of War, said: “He cou’d not enter upon any exchange of the german Troops, without an...
156843To George Washington from James Wilson, 11 January 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from James Wilson, 11 Jan. 1778. GW wrote Wilson on 23 Jan. : “I have received your favor of the 11th Instant.”
156844Elizabeth Smith Shaw to Mary Smith Cranch, 10 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
I am very sorry I lost the Opportunity of conveying a Letter to Braintree by Mr. Thayer last week. We had company engaged to dine with us, expected Ladies to visit here in the PM and a very cold, short Day, when he called upon us. Otherwise I would have perswaded him to have tarried while I wrote a few Lines and thanked you for your very kind enquiries after Madam and her Spouse .—I have the...
156845John Thaxter to John Adams, 10 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
The morning after my arrival to this place, I waited on the President with your letter; upon reading of which, he informed me, that he did not think it in his power to give me the place which you so kindly sollicited for me, but assured me he would use his Endeavours to procure some place for me. I then waited upon General Roberdeau and the Massachusetts Delegates, who gave me the same...
156846The American Commissioners to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 10 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress We desire you would advance to Capt. Paul Jones, of the Ranger, five hundred Louidores, for which your draught upon us will be paid. We are Sir Your most Obedient Servants (Signed) Notation: From the American Commissioners Letter of Credit Passy January 10th 1778 recd. Passy January 10th. 1778 To cover wages and equipment for the Ranger: Morison, Jones , p. 124. Jones...
156847Arthur Lee to Franklin and Silas Deane, 10 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: National Archives; incomplete copies: National Archives, Harvard University Library When the conversation turned to day on giving Mr. Williams credit for 200,000 l.t. more on our Banker, as we were just parting there was not time to consider the subject so maturely as the largeness of the demand seems to me to require. But I presume it cannot be either proper or warrantable in us...
156848To Benjamin Franklin from Valltravers, 10 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am not surprized, if my Letters, of Septr. 21t. and 26th. from my Seat at Roccall, near Bienne in Switzerland; of Novr. 9th. from Berne and Decr. 4th. from Mannheim have hitherto remained unanswered. I could not inform Your Excellency, how to direct to me; having been continually moving from Switzerland to Mannheim and from Mannheim to this City. From...
156849General Orders, 10 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
The issuing Commissary is hereby authorized to furnish the Generals and other Officers of the Army with small proportionable Quantities of spirit upon their orders whenever it can be spared; of which he is to keep a regular Account and settle with them for it at a reasonable price. All the tin Cannisters that have been issued to the Troops are to be return’d forthwith to the Commissary of...
156850To George Washington from Major General Thomas Conway, 10 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I remain in a state of inaction untill such time as your Excellency Will think fitt to employ me. I understand that your aversion to me is owing to the Letter I Wrote to general Gates. I have made you a candid answer upon that subject, and such an answer as must satisfy you and every man of a Liberal Disposition. there is not a subaltern in europe but What will Write to his friends and...