101From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 11 October 1750 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society I have learnt by different hands, that Dr. Mitchel continues in a bad State of Health, which I suppose obliges him to drop his Correspondencies. ’Tis a Loss to us all. Messrs. Bertram and Evans did not go their intended Journey to Lake Erie, but are both safe at home. Mr. Weiser is just return’d from Onondago, and gives a melancholly Account of the declining...
102From David Humphreys to William Stephens Smith, 27 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief who has just gone to Poughkeepsie, has left it in charge with me to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 25th and to inform you that he has no objections to your coming to the Army for the purposes you Mention; at which time your friends will be very happy to see you at Head Quarters—Mrs Washington (who desires me to present her Complts to you) has often...
103To Thomas Jefferson from Jonathan Thompson, 9 September 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your letter of the 30 th ultimo, with two Invoices enclosed, for the Marble by the Ship Caroline from Leghorn. The Invoices are returned herewith agreeably to your request. The marks do not agree with the Invoices & bill of lading received. I have entered the Marble and paid the duly thereon copies of the entries are enclosed, & have shipped the same on board the Sloop Eliza Allen,...
104From George Washington to the Continental Navy Board, 12 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 10th and am only sorry that I did not sooner know my request of sinking the Frigates had been complied with. The delay of the Resolve of Congress, from the time you first applied for their advice, was what led me into a mistake, and I am obliged to you for the genteel manner in which you excuse me. I am perfectly satisfied with the measures which you have taken to...
105From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with yours of the 4th inclosing sundry Resolves of Congress from the 29th March to the 5th instant. I am extremely glad to see the Resolve for the immediate removal of Military Stores from Baltimore and Annapolis, for altho’ I do not imagine that the Enemy intend an expedition of any great Consequence in Chesapeak Bay, yet while the Stores lay at the above places, they were...
106John Quincy Adams to Louisa Catherine Adams, 9 June 1804 (Adams Papers)
I have now received your favour of the 29 th: of last month, enclosing a letter from your Mamma, for M r: Murdoch, which I shall take care to forward, by the first vessel that will go from Boston to England.— You had been so long without an attack of the spasms, that I had flattered my self, they had taken their final leave— I grieve to hear of their return— Perhaps it may only be in...
107Presidential Proclamation, 1 September 1814 (Madison Papers)
Whereas the enemy by a sudden incursion have succeeded in invading the capital of the nation, defended at the moment by troops less numerous than their own, and almost entirely of the militia: during their possession of which, though for a single day only, they wantonly destroyed the public edifices having no relation in their structure to operations of war, nor used at the time for military...
108To James Madison from John Armstrong, 12 November 1804 (Madison Papers)
I arrived in this city on the 29th. ulto, and found here M[e]ssrs Livingston and Munroe; the one, on the point of setting out for Italy; the other, about to prosecute his journey to Spain. On an intimation from Mr Livingston of my arrival, I had an immediate interview with Mr Talleyrand, and, in a day or two, received from him a notice, that “the next diplomatic audience had been assigned for...
109[Diary entry: 14 February 1760] (Washington Papers)
14. Ditto Ditto Do. Do. but cloudy.
110From Alexander Hamilton to Daniel Jackson, 3 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Capt Pierson The Sy of War informs me that he has ordered Pierson Green of C. Henry’s company, on a certificate of Doctor Gillaspy, to be discharged the service You will inform C. Henry accordingly ( Df , in the handwriting of Thomas Y. How, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
111[Diary entry: 10 April 1748] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 10th. We took our farewell of the Branch & travelld over Hills and Mountains to 1 Coddys on Great Cacapehon about 40 Miles. James Caudy (Coddy) owned some 98 acres of land in Frederick County. On 19 Mar. 1752 GW noted that “Pursuant to a Warrant from the Proprietors Office I have Surveyed for James Caudy of Great Cacapehon a certain tract of waste & ungranted Land on the So. Fork of...
112To James Madison from John Walker, 18 June 1789 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 18 June 1789. Calendared in the lists probably kept by Peter Force (DLC: Madison Miscellany). The two-page letter was offered for sale in the Stan. V. Henkels Catalogue No. 694 (1892), which listed items from the McGuire collection of JM’s papers.
113Thomas Jefferson to Bernard Peyton, 14 August 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter addressed to mr Dearborne I inclose this which covers the one to mr Gray which Jefferson told me would be acceptable to you.— about 20. years ago, mr Stewart of Boston drew my portrait, for which I then paid him 100.D. about 12. or 15. years ago he desired me to set for him again saying he did not like the former portrait & would rather draw another for me. I sat for him, and...
114From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 12 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress I duly received the Letters your Excellency did me the honor of writing to me the 24 of Octr., and the 3d of December past, respecting the Arrest of our Arms & Ammunition by the sieur Puchelberg, accompany’d by Copies of the Letters of M. Le Marquis de Castries and M. Chardon, and a Paper of the said...
115From Thomas Jefferson to Jacob Engelbrecht, 25 February 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
The kindness of the motive which led to the request of your letter of the 14 th inst. and which would give some value to an article from me, renders compliance a duty of gratitude. knowing nothing more moral, more sublime more worthy of your preservation than David’s description of the good man, in his 15 th psalm, I will here transcribe it, from Brady and Tate’s version. Lord, who’s the happy...
116To James Madison from Philip Mazzei, [7 December] 1780 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Water stains have entirely eliminated the last four lines of this letter and largely blotted out what appears to have been the first eight lines. [Questa serv?]irà di supp[lemento alla pr?]ecedente d[el 30 del passato?] unicamente [un’aneddoto che potrebbe causare una revoluzione?] della Regina [d’Ungheria] della guerra [al me questo?] ultimo [L’Imperatore è tutto...
117Official Instructions for Thomas Barclay, 13 May 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
You are appointed by the President of the United States to go to the Court of Morocco for the purpose of obtaining from the new Emperor a recognition of our Treaty with his father. As it is thought best that you should go in some definite character, that of Consul has been adopted, and you consequently receive a Commission as Consul for the United States in the dominions of the Emperor of...
118Lucy F. Smith to Thomas Jefferson, 23 May 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
In consequence of the long and earnest desire of my son Walter , to enter the Navy, and the advice of his friends seconding his views, I have consented to gratify him— Presuming on the friendship which subsisted between yourself and his father, Meriwether Jones , I will take the liberty of requesting your assistance in procuring him a Midshipmans warrant—his friends are respectable and...
119To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes, 19 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress J’ai reçu, M, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’h. de mécrire le 15. de ce mois. Comme La distribution de celle du Congrès qui y étoit jointe, ne presente aucun inconvenient, je l’ay addressée à M le Noir, pour qu’il y mette Son permis. J’ay prié en même tems ce magistrat d’en faire le renvoy à la personne que...
120From Thomas Jefferson to John Mercer, 10 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Knowing that your former studies & views were directed to the profession of the law, but uninformed whether it is your intention to enter again into that line, I have thought it my duty to avail the public of your services in it, should it meet your own intentions. one of the places of a judge of the Superior court of Orleans will be vacant by the resignation of Mr. Prevost who continues only...
A Committee of the Citizens of Albany, in behalf of themselves and Constituents, beg leave to pay their respects to you, in your passage thro this City on your tour of Official duty With the dignified feelings of Independant Republicans, we experience real pleasure in acknowledging our obligations to you, for the various services you have rendered, this your Native State as well as the States...
122[To Thomas Jefferson from John Banister, Jr., 6 August 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Pons, 6 Aug. 1786 . Entered in SJL as received 12 Aug. 1786. Not found; but see TJ to John Banister, 14 Aug. 1786. ]
123Memorandum on Chatham’s Plan of Conciliation, [on or after 1 February 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress On January 29 Chatham left with Franklin the conciliatory plan that he introduced as a bill in the House of Lords three days later, and the American studied and copied it. At the end of his copy is the following memorandum on the rejection of the bill. The above Plan was offered by the Earl of Chatham to the House of Lords, on Wednesday Feb. 1. 1775, under the Title of...
124William Wirt to Thomas Jefferson, 9 August 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I have perused, with equal pleasure and conviction, your view of the question touching the batture at New Orleans : the copy is now returned. With such aid, I think it must be the fault of your counsel if they leave any room for candor to doubt or even for sophistry to cavil, with any hope of success. I had noted a few slight omissions which it will be necessary to supply in order to clear the...
125To George Washington from James McHenry, 10 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
I am extremely obliged to you for your letter of the 8th and received the exposition of your motives as a fresh mark of that confidence with which you have so often favored me. I should indeed, if I know myself, be the last person in the United States, who on a public account would wish you to feel any other; and as it respects your personal fame, I beleive the first to regret their being...
12611th. (Adams Papers)
This day completes my twentieth year: and yet I am good for nothing, and cannot even carry myself forward in the world: three long years I have yet to study in order to qualify myself for business: and then—oh! and then; how many more years, to plod along, mechanically, if I should live; before I shall really get into the world? Grant me patience ye powers! for I sicken, at the very idea: thus...
127To John Adams from Jeremy Belknap, 19 September 1789 (Adams Papers)
Your last favor of the 24 th July should not have been so long without a reply had I not supposed that your attention must be so employed by the great national business as to leave You no leisure for a Correspondence with me— Indeed had the Occasion been pressing I might have taken advantage of your very obliging offer, to propose Questions to you; but as another time would do as well for me I...
128General Orders, 24 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Qr Mr Genl, and the Chief Engineer, are to mark the grounds, to morrow, on which the Barracks, and Huts, are to be built this side Kingsbridge—They are to call upon the General, previous to their setting out upon this business, for directions. When the ground is marked out, the Quarter Master General is to cause the materials for building to be laid thereon as quick as possible. The...
129From Thomas Jefferson to James Brown, [13 November 1791] (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved your [… ] with the extracts of Mr. Short’s letter[s] [. . . .] might be advantageous to transfer his pap[er] […] impossible to ask the opinion of a perso[n] [. . . .] However, after having consulted with thos[e] […] made up an opinion on the subject. Th[…] [advan]tageous to have been an original subscriber to […] the commerce in that stock has now brought […] real value,...
130To George Washington from Jeremiah Olney, 10 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Field officer Commanding the advance post at Dobbs Ferry on the Hudson from 24th Augt to 8th Septr 1782, begs leave to Report, that he has (from time to time) Communicated to your Excellency every occurrence that has Come within the Sphere of his Observations—that he has nothing Further to Report that the State of the Garrison &c. &c., agreeable to the Inclos’d Reports—Save only that the...
131To James Madison from Lafayette, 13 November 1812 (Madison Papers)
While You are Honorably Engaged in patriotic Concerns for which my feelings Have not Ceased, during Six and thirty Years, to be truly American, I don’t Like to intrude on Your time With observations Relative to My private affairs. Yet the Correspondance is Now So Uncertain that I will not miss a Good opportunity to trouble you with a few Selfish Lines. I am much pleased to preface them with...
132From James Madison to James Monroe, 31 October 1823 (Madison Papers)
I this moment only receive your letter of the 17th. Mine by this mail renders nothing more necessary in answer to it. I understand Mr. Crawford is so far recovered that he hopes to be on the road for Washington in a few days. His weakness I presume will make his journey very slow. Sending this with some other letters by an extra messenger who will hardly reach the P. Office in time I add only...
133VIII. Secretary of State to the President, 18 March 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson is sorry to present a long letter to the President to be read at so busy a moment: but the view which it presents of our commercial matters in France is too interesting to be unknown to the President.—The circumstances presented to view in the 2d. page of the letter induce Th: J. to think it may be well to commit to Mr. Short and the M. de la Fayette to press our settlement with...
134To John Adams from United States House of Representatives, 2 March 1791 (Adams Papers)
The House of Representatives have passed the bill sent from the Senate for concurrence, entitled “An act concerning consuls and vice-consuls,” with amendments, in which amendments they desire the concurrence of the Senate. They have passed the bill, entitled “An act in addition to an act, entitled ’An act for establishing the salaries of the executive officers of government, with their...
135To James Madison from Thomas Strode, 11 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
Suffer me Sir to tender You my gratefull acknowledgments for the friendly attention You bestowd. on my application at the War-Office, a favour that no time shall erase from my Memory & that no improper action or Sentiment shall disgrace. I have ever held the Savage character of the Soldier of fortune or ambition in detestation & equally dispised the slothfull wretch who wishd. to be uselessly...
136To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Banks, 29 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By the hands of Mr. Paradise I have receivd a copy of the instructions for the Protection of Captn. Cooke which you circulated among the Armd Vessels of your Friends in N America. I perus’d the paper with the Greatest pleasure for having never doubted my self that the liberal & enlargd sentiments I had always admird in your mind remaind there in full...
137From Alexander Hamilton to Henry W. Ludlow [26 November 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
It is my intention that there shall be ten common Drums to a Regiment— There will then remain for the Band the two Chief Musicians and ten other Musicians— Each of the Chief Musicians may have an Octave flute or a hautboy—and there should be besides Four Clarinets Two bassoons Two French horns A Cymball A Double Drum— ( Df , in the handwriting of Ethan Brown, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress).
138Richard Barry to Thomas Jefferson, 11 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I have writen written to you about six weeks ago to inform you that I would want my money the 20th of March in which I earnestly solicted solicited as an answer by return of post and not hearing from you since am obligated to trouble you again I assure Sir If I had any other source to supply my wants at present I would not call on you at present your compliance will ever oblige— RC ( MHi
139From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 4 November 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to inform you, that a letter, of which a copy is enclosed, has come to my hands from the Loan officer of North Carolina, since the date of my last letter. On considering minutely the course of the business of the new Loans and the future operations of the Treasury, as they will affect the public stocks, it appeared necessary to the prevention of frauds by Counterfeiters and...
140From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 20 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the honor of addressing Congress this Morning by post, I received a Letter from Brigadier General Maxwell, requesting me to accept his resignation and assigning his reasons for the same. Having never acted on an application of this sort from an Officer of his rank, I beg leave to lay the matter before Congress & to transmit them a Copy of his Letter, by which they will be more...
141To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Yznardi, Sr., 17 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last respects, I have received a Letter from Mr. Hackley from Algexiras, in answer to my offers of assisting him & family, in which he does not mention a word of having instructions respecting the Union with me; as I took the liberty proposing last year to Your Excelly. I am fearfull it will not take place as he has united with Mr. Meade, who has lately forced me to attack him before...
142To James Madison from Joseph Pitcairn, 11 May 1801 (Madison Papers)
Since I had this honor on the 11th. April—several Changes have taken place, which I hope you may not find it improper that I state to You. Prusia has desired the Danes to leave Hamburg, which they are preparing to do. The Navigation of the Elbe is become free to all flags (English not excepted) in consequence of the British allowing the Greenland Shipping of Holstein to depart with passports &...
143To Thomas Jefferson from Bernard Peyton, 20 February 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Coffee and Corks went by a Waggon on tuesday last, to Charlottesville, care M r Raphael, the Wine is double cased, & ready for the first trusty Boat— MHi .
144From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 27 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 22d 23d and 24th instants. I cannot conceive what transports those can be that have come into Newport Harbour, except they are those from Hallifax. None have lately gone from New york—It will be very material to know with certainty from whence they came and whether they had any troops on board. If they are those from Hallifax, and empty, it gives weight to an...
145To George Washington from John Hancock, 21 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to transmit the enclosed Resolves, in Obedience to the Commands of Congress. They are so explicit, that I shall only request your Attention to them. You will percieve from the Vote of Congress, the Sense of that Body with Regard to the Necessity of furnishing the Troops for the new Army, as soon as possible; a Copy of which, I have forwarded to the respective States agreeably...
146From John Adams to Massachusetts Legislature, 26 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
The very respectful, affectionate, and obliging address, which has been presented to me by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, by your order, has awakened all my sensibility, and demands my most grateful acknowledgments. As the various testimonials of the approbation and affection of my fellow-citizens of Massachusetts, which have been indulged to me from...
147To George Washington from David Stuart, 5 November 1792 (Washington Papers)
I recieved your letter of the 21st ulmo a few days ago, but deferred answering it, ‘till I could again see Mr Bayly, & Mr [Daniel] Carroll of Duddington, my informants respecting Coll Mercer’s speech —Inclosed, I send you Mr Bayly’s certificate of what passed—Mr Carroll tho’ he agrees with Mr Bayly, that Coll Mercer expressed himself as stated, has I know not for what reasons declined sending...
148To John Adams from United States Congress, 25 March 1797 (Adams Papers)
Whereas the Constitution of the United States of America provides that the President may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both houses of Congress; and whereas an extraordinary occasion exists for convening Congress, and divers great and weighty matters claim their consideration, I have therefore thought it necessary to convene, and I do by these presents convene the Congress of the United...
149To George Washington from Benjamin Lincoln, 4 January 1789 (Washington Papers)
I mentioned in my last that our Senators were chosen—This common wealth has been divided into Eight districts each having a right to chuse one representative to the general Government. Each town was directed to return the name of two persons for electors of President & vice President from the two highest in each district the General court are to chuse one this will make Eight and two are to be...
150James Madison to David A. Hall, 8 August 1834 (Madison Papers)
Although your favour of March 28th accompanying the " History of the Bank " has been so long on hand, the continued inroads on my health, have not permitted me even yet to do more than glance at the Contents of the volume. From that I perceive that it comprizes information which must be extensively acceptable; particuarly to those engaged in political & historical researches. I sincerly wish...