11From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 2 April 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Antiquarian Society; copy: Public Record Office My last was of the 22d past, since which I have received none of your Favours. I mentioned that the Bill brought into Parliament for Punishing Boston, met with no Opposition. It did however meet with a little before it got through, some few of the Members speaking against it in the House of Commons, and more in the House of Lords....
12To George Washington from Edward Newenham, 8 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed was left behind by the Captain of Ship, who promised to take it along with the papers & Magazines, which I had the Honor to send you last February. This goes by my Worthy Friend Mr Noble, who says he will have the Honor to deliver it personaly to you; he is a Neighbour of mine, & of a most respectable Character. God forbid that there should be a War between your Country & this; it...
13Thomas Barclay to the American Commissioners, 7 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
I wrote to you from Cadiz the 2 nd: of last month, a Copy of which goes under the cover of this and the original, with the papers mentioned therein, will I hope be very soon deliver’d to you by Colonel Franks.— On my arrival here I had the pleasure of receiving M r. Jefferson’s letter of the 26 Sep r. informing me that for the present any farther attempts to arrange matters with the Barbary...
14From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 25 September 1819 (Adams Papers)
The information in your last letter, of your return to your garden and your records has given me great pleasure. The records are very interesting, and your translation of them will be an honourable and a durable Monument to your Memory Your friend and my friend Mr Tyng has told you truely that I am “constantly employed” and may add, beyond my Strength of body or mind. Never in my whole life...
15From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 1 June 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My last to you was of the 1st. of May, since which I am favour’d with yours of the 13th. of February and 10th. March. We are oblig’d to you for deferring the propos’d Stamp Act. I hope, for Reasons heretofore mention’d, it will never take Place. We see in the Papers that an Act is pass’d for granting certain Duties on Goods in the British Colonies, &c. but...
16To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 3 May 1790 (Washington Papers)
a letter is received from Mr Dumas, begun Dec. 4 & ending Jan. 26. the only interesting passage is the following “I have the satisfaction to be able to testify that the American funds are in great favor with the monied men of this country. I have seen them sell from one to another the obligations of the Congress of the first loan at 100.¾ per cent; those of the last of 1788. at 99 to 100....
17From John Adams to Samuel Adams, 28 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
The Marquiss, who loves Us, will deliver You this. He will tell You every thing. Arbuthnot, Rodney and Walsingham are to be pitted against de la Motte Piquet, Guichen and Ternay in the West Indies. So that I hope, You will be pretty quiet. Prepare however to co-operate and rout them out of the Continent if possible. Above all let me beg of You to encourage Privateering. The French will be...
18Editorial Note (Adams Papers)
On 19 April the States General recognized the United States as independent and John Adams as its minister at The Hague. Four days later, to cement the relationship between the United States and a nation he hoped and expected would become an important trading partner, Adams presented a draft treaty of amity and commerce to their High Mightinesses. By 26 April the draft was translated into...
19The Busy-Body, No. 2, 11 February 1729 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The American Weekly Mercury , February 11, 1728/9. All Fools have still an Itching to deride; And fain would be upon the laughing Side. Pope. Monsieur Rochefocaut tells us somewhere in his Memoirs, that the Prince of Conde delighted much in Ridicule; and us’d frequently to shut himself up for Half a Day together in his Chamber with a Gentleman that was his Favourite, purposely...
20From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 31 December 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to enclose you a statement of the expenditure of the monies appropriated to our intercourse with foreign nations to be laid before the legislature according to the requisitions of the law . The account of the Secretary of state commences July 1. 1792. where that rendered at the last session ended; and is brought down to this time. In the two preceding years of this...
21Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, 17 March 1798 (Adams Papers)
A private opportunity offering by way of Hamburgh to write to you, I eagerly embrace it, and hope it may reach you safely notwithstanding the various Chances it may run. your arrival at Berlin was made known to us from your Letters to the secretary of state of Nov’ br the 10th and 17 th . no private Letter has yet been received, nor the publick Letter which you mention having written from...
22To George Washington from Walter Stewart, 26 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I find by this days Orders your Excellency has directed a Board to meet in Order to Examine the Shoes in Store, as the Clothier General Concieves Himself Injur’d by the report of Inspection. The Cause for such a reports being made; was from the Almost Universal Complaints of the Officers respecting the Shoes they have receiv’d for this Year, And the bad Appearance, & Short last of those then...
23To James Madison from Robert Taylor, 31 August 1812 (Madison Papers)
When I saw Genl. Moses Green last he requested me to write you and inform you that if there was a vacancy of a regimental command in the Army it would give him great pleasure to fill it if he could be thought worthy of it. He would sooner have made known his wishes had he known that there certainly would have been war, but holding the office of adjutant-general in the State, which yeilds some...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 9 October 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved, my dear friend and General, your letter of the 1 st from Philada, giving us the welcome assurance that you will visit the neighborhood which, during the march of our enemy near it, was covered by your shield from his robberies and ravages. in passing the line of your former march you will experience pleasing recollections of the good you have done. my neighbors too of our...
25John Adams to Abigail Adams, 8 July 1777 (Adams Papers)
Yours of June 23d. have received. I believe there is no Danger of an Invasion your Way, but the Designs of the Enemy are uncertain and their Motions a little misterious. Before this Letter is sealed, which will not be till Sunday next, I hope I shall be able to inform you better. I rejoice at your fine Season, and still more at my Brother Cranches Attention to Husbandry. Am very glad he bought...
26Thomas Jefferson to William Huntington, 2[4?] July 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jeffe r son asks the favor of mr H u ntington to dine with hi m on Sunday ensuing. RC ( DNDAR ); dateline at foot of text; damaged at crease. Not recorded in SJL . William Huntington (b. ca. 1794), merchant, educator, and Episcopal lay preacher, was a native of Connecticut who moved to
27To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 8 May 1796 (Hamilton Papers)
Your note of the 5th. instant accompanying the information given to you by G.—— M.—— on the 4th. of March, came safe on friday. The letter he refers to, as having been written to me, is not yet received; but others from Mr. Monroe of similar complexion, and almost of as imperious a tone from that government, have got to hand. That justice & policy should dictate the measures with which we are...
28From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 5 November 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Col. Bentley, in his letter of the twentieth of October, strongly recommends Reuben Beale and Samuel Simmons as Cadets in his regiment, and I would advise that they be immediately appointed— With perfect respect I am ( Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
29[Diary entry: 15 August 1767] (Washington Papers)
15. Finishd sowing the 39 Inch Cut of Corn in the Neck with 44½ Bushl. Wheat. Finishd sowing that half of Muddy hole Corn field with Wheat round the Barn Bushel.
30Thomas Jefferson to Peter Minor, 18 November 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 10 th came to my hands the last night only, and I hasten to reply to it, being anxious to change my position from that of an obstacle, to a promoter of the object of the Directors . if I know myself, I wish nothing unjust, and I am more certain that the Directors do not, because they have no personal interest to blind them. if we have not the same opinions, it is because we...
31From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 6 September 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am Sorry to give you the trouble of this Commission: but I fear it will not be effectually done but by you—and therefore let me beg the favour of you to send for M r de La Blancherie and withdraw my Subscription to the Society of whose affairs he has the direction, and put a stop to his sending me the Nouvelles de la Republique des Lettres et Des Arts.— he persuaded me at the Hague to...
32To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur S. Brockenbrough, 18 November 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
In settling some business with M r Garrett to day I find (for the first time I have known it) $200— paid to M r Giacomo Raggi which is that am t more than he should have recieved—- In your statement (to M r Garrett) of M r Appletons acc t May 8 h 1822. You state it thus Proceeds of former remittance $1239 .00 to be paid to Giacomo Raggi 200
33To John Jay from Robert Morris, 19 October 1781 (Jay Papers)
I believe Kitty Livingston has availed herself of this good Conveyance by Matthew Ridley Esq r . to write you very fully & of course she will have told you all the news both Domestick & Political— M rs . Morris has also written to M rs Jay & no doubt assures her of that Esteem & affection in which she holds both her and you. I need not tell you how Sincerely I join her in those Sentiments. You...
34To George Washington from Moses Gill, 15 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
The Barer, Capt: John Whitney, is a Gentleman who Served in the late Continental Army with Good Reputation; is now out of Business, and wishes to be imploy’d in Some Service under your Excellency Control—He is a Gentleman with Whom I have an Acquantence, and is a Person of Good Sence; the utmost Confidence may with Safety be Placed in his Conduct and engagements. I am with the highest...
35To Thomas Jefferson from James McGurk, 10 October 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I Beg lave once more to adress yaur Exilency as the Onley and last means that I have for my life in my Latir to you By Mr. wodward I mentioned that Judge keltey and Cranch was willing to have my life Saved But Since there has Been a politicle partey that has Ecused Me with faulls Storeys in the washinton feaderelist I Bleive That Induced the Judges to not Concent to my Pardon I Bleive the...
3627th. (Adams Papers)
No reciting this morning. I was employed all day in studying mathematics, which are the most pleasing to me, of any of our studies. Spent, a couple of hours at Bridge’s chamber after dinner. Rain in the Evening.
37From Thomas Jefferson to Orleans Territory Legislature, 28 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
To the Speaker & House of Representatives of the territory of Orleans The expressions by which the Representatives of the territory of Orleans, in their address of the 14th. of Nov. are pleased to convey their sense of my public conduct, are gratefully recieved by me, & placed among those testimonies which will constitute the happiness of my future life. the first reward we can recieve for...
38[Diary entry: 23 May 1797] (Washington Papers)
23. Wind Easterly & rather Cool.
39To George Washington from Alexander Addison, 11 July 1798 (Washington Papers)
I have this day paid to Col. Pickering (Mr Wolcott being absent) Seventeen hundred dollars to be given to you as part of the instalment due on Matthew Ritchie’s bond. I had reason to expect to be able to pay the whole while here and as Mrs Addison wrote me that since I left home your letter requiring the payment had been received I was peculiarly anxious for a compleat compliance. I have...
40To George Washington from Robert Cary & Co., 10 August 1762 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Robert Cary & Co., 10 Aug. 1762. On 26 April 1763 GW wrote to Robert Cary & Co. : “I have your favours of the 10th and 24th of August . . . now lying before me.”