40111To James Madison from Samuel A. Otis, 16 March 1789 (Madison Papers)
It is a duty I owe myself to give you a summary of my pretensions to the public favor; & relying upon your candour shall make no apology for the trouble. In the begining of the opposition to British despotism my family & connexions took such a decided part, that I was held a prisoner by General Gage for some time after my fellow citizens were liberated. As soon as I could escape I chearfully...
40112To Benjamin Franklin from Barbeu-Dubourg, 1 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai l’honneur de souhaiter le bonsoir a Monsieur franklin et de le prevenir que le diner projetté pour demain chez M Le Pot d’Auteuil ne peut pas avoir lieu, et qu’on lui proposera de le remettre a vendredi. Mais c’est une affaire a traiter jeudi chez M Grand Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur franklin / A Passy The affair was the French loan BF was trying...
40113To Thomas Jefferson from William Short, 23 January 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Jefferson. Jan. 23.—an abridgt. of that of Dec. 27. (see above)—except such parts are marked thus ( ).—The present sent by dup.—contains one for my brother—shall continue writing from time to time—(send on the 1st.—the letter of Mr. P[…] &)— FC ( DLC : Short Papers); entirely in Short’s hand; part of an epistolary record of his letters to TJ and others from 26 Dec. 1797 to 9 Oct. 1798;...
40114Robert Mills to Thomas Jefferson, 16 June 1820 (Jefferson Papers)
May I be permitted to present myself to your remembrance,—and in the first place enquire respectfully after your health?—It is now some years since I had the pleasure of seeing you, but have frequently had the satisfaction of hearing of your welfare— The activity of your valuable life displays itself in the great work you are now engaged in, to found a seat of learning in the center of your...
40115To Benjamin Franklin from Rodolphe-Ferdinand Grand, [29 November 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Dans Lincertitude Si Monsieur Franklin a Connoissance d’un arrest du Conseil concernant La Caisse dEscompte Mr Grand a Lhonneur de lui en Envoyer un Exemplaire, Il y verra que les anciens actionaires ont le droit de participer pour ¼ dans les nouvelles actions & que par Consequent Monsieur franklin ayant 40 actions anciennes peut en demander 10 nouvelles...
40116To James Madison from John Bingham, 5 May 1812 (Madison Papers)
Although not personally acquainted with you, yet permit me to take the liberty of giving you my sentiments, and addressing you with a few lines on the appointment of the officers of this City for having been Born and Brought up in it, am well acquainted with the Politicts of the diferent Characters of any consequence in it, having takin so decided a part in favour of my country. Since the year...
40117From James Madison to Henry Wheaton, 29 January 1821 (Madison Papers)
J. Madison presents his respects to Mr. Wheaton, with thanks for the copy of his “Anniversary Discourse,” which is well calculated to attract attention to a subject deeply interesting to the U.S. by the views under which it is presented, and the lights thrown on it by his valuable researches & investigations. RC ( NNPM ). Henry Wheaton (1785–1848) was a graduate of the College of Rhode Island...
40118To Thomas Jefferson from John Adams, 23 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Last night, I received your Favour of the 17. If both Governments are possessed of the Contéents of my letter of the 7th. by opening it in the Post Office, much good may those Contéents do them. They both know they have deserved it. I hope it will convince them of their Error, and induce them to adopt more liberal Principles toward Us. I am for answering their Utmost Generosity with equal and...
40119From Thomas Jefferson to William Brown, 4 April 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Mar. 21. came to hand on the 24th. and as it proposed a different statement from mine of the 17th. and I was too much engaged to open the papers on that subject, I have not been able to take it up till now. The interval of the war has been usually settled at 8. years. You state it at 3. months less. This trifle is not worth notice, and besides is lessened by an error of a month...
40120Thomas Jefferson to Lewis Brown, 11 March 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Feb. 25. never got to my hands till last night. the purchase of the horse from you by mr Darnell was on my account, and the debt as much acknoleged as if a bond had been given. I had desired my merchant in Richmond , as soon as he could sell my flour from the Poplar Forest (which got down but lately) to remit a sum of money to mr Goodman , sufficient to pay your’s and other...
40121To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, 8 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Ayant entendu dire, Monsieur, que vous preniez un hotel à Paris et par conséquent un Suisse; Le nommé Abbeg m’a demandé une Lettre pour Se presenter à vous, et vous offrir Ses Services, dans Le cas où ce bruit Serait fondé. Il m’a été recommandé par Mr Le Noir, et est parent de son propre Suisse dont il est très content; cela Serait d’un bon augure pour...
40122Lewis Leroy to Thomas Jefferson, 18 February 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
un Malheureux pere de famille peut être inconnuës de Vous, acablées des mauxs Les plus douloureux, ose prendre La Liberté de vous faire part de ses Malheurs; en Prenant cette Liberté, il croit Vous offrir en Justification Votre Bénévolence, Votre renommée Comme Bon Pere, et celuy d’un Peuple qui à étté honoré de Vous avoir Possedés comme Leurs Premier Magistrat et qui Vous posséde toujours...
40123To Thomas Jefferson from John Vaughan, 30 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Trifling information may be of use until more authenic information comes to hand—I therefore take the liberty of Stating that the information published as upon the authority of Mr Williams at London, of expressions of Mr Munro & Mr Pinckney on 5 Sepr.—was from Mr Samuel Potter of the house of Potter & Page of this place one of our largest Importers—to whom it was all important to endeavor to...
40124To Alexander Hamilton from John Daves, 12 April 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
New Bern [ North Carolina ] April 12, 1794 . “I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th Ulto. enclosing a Copy of one from Mr. John Easton Surveyor of the Port of Beaufort, stating the seizure of Schooner Delight made by him on the 20th November last. As I never considered the Vessel liable to seizure under any law that I am acquainted with, was the reason I did not make known the...
40125From John Jay to George Washington, 6 October 1789 (Jay Papers)
When distinguished Discernment & Patriotism unite in selecting men for Stations of Trust and Dignity, they derive Honor not only from their offices, but from the Hand which confers them. With a mind and a Heart impressed with these Reflections and their correspondent Sensations, I assure you that the Sentiments expressed in your Letter of Yesterday, and implied by the commission it enclosed,...
40126To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 20 July 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I arrived here last Evening just in time to see the last of the Races, and to go to a brilliant Assembly. This is not the Business of my Journey, but it may not be amiss to mix a little. We sett of this afternoon, and shall not stop ’till we arrive at Glasgow, from thence we shall go to Edinburgh and come home through Yorkshire. That you may not think I am...
40127From Thomas Jefferson to Steuben, 7 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed Letter contains the first notification the Executive have received of the existence of any such cases as that of Lieut. Warm[an] therin stated. Exclusive of the justice of his claim, the express reserva[tion] by the board of Officers of the rights of all those in his situation, seems to place him on the footing on which he would have been, had his Commission been actually made out...
40128James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 25 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly rec d your favor of the 13 th . The general idea of disposing of the supernumerary Merino Rams for the public benefit had occurred to me. The mode you propose for the purpose seems well calculated for it. But as it will be most proper as you suggest, to let our views, be developed to the public, by the execution of them, there will be time for further consideration. When the Sheep...
40129To George Washington from Pastor Americanus, 17 March 1794 (Washington Papers)
The reason of my presuming to address you on the subject of the culture of Wool, is, because it is a matter on which the gradual abolition of our National Debt depend, i.e. upon industry and population of America, as the same is held forth in the following observations. That it is the real fact, I shall now undertake to prove: so always, and provided, That you will patronize the following...
40130From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Bouquet, 30 September 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: British Museum; draft: American Philosophical Society I have been so totally ocupied with the Sitting of the Assembly and other urgent Affairs, that I could not till now do my self the pleasure of writing to you, since the Receipt of your obliging Favours of Aug. 10. and 22. and a subsequent one relating to Broadstreet’s Peace, of which I think as you do. I thank you cordially for so...
40131[Diary entry: 11 June 1771] (Washington Papers)
11. At home in the forenoon. In the afternoon Rid by the Ferry Plantation to the Mill and back.
40132To George Washington from Richard Henry Lee, 26 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Richard Henry Lee, 26 July 1778. On 10 Aug., GW wrote Lee : “A few days ago I received your favor of the 26th Ulto.”
40133To Thomas Jefferson from Wyandot Chiefs, 16 August 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The Speech of the Chiefs of the Wiandots at Upper & Lower Sanduskies, to the President of the United States. Father Listen, Our Father will remember, that at the Greenville Treaty, a Reserve was made at the Lower Sandusky, at the foot of the Rappids, of two miles square of our land for the use of the Government. On this ground our Ancesters lived; And here a considerable number of Your...
40134To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 3 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I find many of the Soldiers belonging to the Battalions, that suffered the Most, in the late Action on Long Island much Dispirited, & often uttering Expressions that they have lost their Officers, lost their Blankets, & have no money, & the like, I could wish that your Excellency would just think of the matter, & if the Paymaster has Money in the Treasury, that they may be paid—I am confident...
40135Certificate from the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 5 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Philadelphia, 5 Sep. 1780 . Certifies that Congress has received authenticated copies of state legislative acts complying with its 18 Mch. 1780 resolutions on public finance from Maryland (12 June), New Jersey (9 June), New York (15 June), Massachusetts (5 May), and New Hampshire (29 Apr.), as well as a conditional act from Pennsylvania (1 June). MS ( Vi ); 2 p.; in James Madison’s hand,...
40136From George Washington to Henry Knox, 29 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
You are hereby appointed to the command of West point and its Dependencies—But as the Army will lay for some time upon Verplanks point, you will consider yourself as releived, ’till further orders, from the care of attending to that post—Stoney Point and Dobbs’s Ferry, which are part of the dependencies—except so far as relates to their being constantly supplied with the proper quantity of...
40137To James Madison from the Republican Citizens of York County, District of Maine, 10 September 1812 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 September 1812. A convention of “more than six hundred republican citizens,” members of the “solid yeomanry,” met on 10 Sept. “to consider and resolve on the momentous subjects of public affairs.” After attending church services and processing to the courthouse, the convention appointed a committee to prepare a report for consideration. The convention then unanimously approved the following...
40138To James Madison from James Monroe, 23 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
I intended to have written you at some length by this opportunity, but my engagements, of various kinds have put it out of my power. I send a triplicate of my last letter since which nothing interesting has occured, except my presentation to the court, or rather the King, which was attended by no remarkable circumstance. His deportment was civil & conciliating, as mine certainly was. The...
40139From James Madison to James Monroe, 16 April 1823 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 9th. did not come to hand till the evening before the last. From a communication just had with my nephew, I find that he is anxious not to lose the chance of the Secretariship to the Board under the Treaty, and seems to be encouraged in his hopes by his friend Col: Barbour. It will be agreeable to him therefore, if not objectionable, that his appt. to the other place you...
40140Fryday March 21st. (Adams Papers)
A fine Spring like Morning. The Birds of many Sorts, as sprightly and musical.