173019th. (Adams Papers)
The air is very temperate, in Comparison to that of yesterday. The river, was froze over in such a manner, that it was almost sufficient to bear a man’s Weight: but it is now so different, that Mr. Peabody, came over this Evening in a boat: the closing of this River, is always a sudden affair. Mr. Duncan, and Mr. Payson, were here, in the Evening; and Mr. Ben Willis, a youth, about 17 years,...
17302[Diary entry: 17 January 1789] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 17th. Thermometer at 30 in the Morning—36 at Noon and 32 at Night. Wind Southerly in the Morning & forenoon with great appearances of Snow—Afternoon clear with the Wind at No. West. Rid to the Plantations in the Neck and at Muddy hole.
17303[Diary entry: 1 November 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 1st. Mercury at 38 in the Morning—41 at Noon and 41 at Night. Cloudy all the forenoon, with a light sprinkle of rain—Wind at No. West, & afternoon clear. Rid to all the Plantations, & to the Ditchers. Found, in the Neck that the People had begun to take up the Irish Potatoes, and during the rain had been cleaning rye & thrashing out the Pease and yesterday, & part of this day, were...
1730423d. (Adams Papers)
The weather has look’d snowy, for several days past, but has remained, in Statu quo, till this evening; Which is pretty stormy. I am not fond of seeing this Robe; there is something so dreary so gloomy, to me, in looking, all around, to see a dull lifeless sameness, every where, that the first appearance of snow, is quite disagreeable to me. James Thomson, “The Seasons: Winter,” lines 232–233...
17305[Diary entry: 26 April 1786] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 26th. Left Hanover Court Ho[use] about Sun rise; breakfasted at Norvals tavern and reached Richmond about Noon. Put up at Formicalo’s Tavern, where by invitation, I dined with the Judges of the General Court. Morning cloudy & not much wind, but between 8 and 10 Oclk. it came out fresh from the No. Wt.; and died away again about Noon. Meeting with Mr. Thos. Newton of Norfolk, he...
1730616th. (Adams Papers)
Charles came to Cambridge last Monday in order to move into our new Chamber. My Cousin and myself came from Braintree at about 9 o’clock, and arrived here just at Commons time. I found the Chamber all in Confusion, and it will be so probably all the rest of this Week, for Lowell and Bigelow, who lived in it last year were two of the greatest slovens in their Class. The studies must both be...
17307[Diary entry: 31 December 1788] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 31st. Thermometer at 50 in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. Cloudy in the Morning, with the Wind at No. Wt. Clear afterwards but not very cold. Rid to the Ferry & Frenchs and to Dogue run and Muddy hole Plann. At the two first all hands were about the Corn and dreadfully wet & disagreeable this work and proves however improper and injurious it is to have this business on hand so...
17308Slave Trade and Slaveholders’ Rights, [17 June] 1788 (Madison Papers)
The importation of slaves until 1808, guaranteed by Article I, Section 9, was attacked by Mason as “a fatal section, which has created more dangers than any other.” Mason said “this infamous traffic” would continue, but those who already owned slaves had “no security for the property of that kind” ( Robertson, Virginia Debates David Robertson, Debates and Other Proceedings of the Convention of...
1730930th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Shaw preach’d in the forenoon from Proverbs I. 5. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels. A great deal was said about neglect in attending public worship on the Sunday. I rather doubt whether it be a matter of so much consequence as was supposed. It is however very proper for a minister to remind his People of their...
1731022d. (Adams Papers)
Mr. A. received in the morning a Card from Dr. Franklin informing him that a person who came in the Packet had called upon him last evening: and told him he had a pacquet for my father addressed at the Hague. My father immediately went to Dr. Franklin’s, and from thence to the Hôtel d’Orleans, where he found two gentlemen who came in the Packet. Mr. Jervais, an American, and Mr. Lefevre, a...
1731113th. (Adams Papers)
Went in the afternoon, with an Intention to visit Mr. Soughton, but stopping in at Mr. White’s, was told he, and his Lady were spending the afternoon at Judge Blodget’s: found Eliza, somewhat unwell. Mr. Sears, Mr. Burges, and Mr. Marquand, were at Mr. White’s all the evening; and Mr. Osgood and Mr. Duncan. Mr. Sears I take to be between 30 and 35 years old; has made an handsome fortune in the...
17312[Diary entry: 16 May 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 16th. Thermometer at 65 in the Morning— at Noon and 64 at Night. Morning lowering. About 10 Oclock it thickened and thundered and before eleven began to rain & continued showery till near two Oclock after wch. it ceased but towards [evening] it thickned & began to rain again—Wind for the most part Easterly but not strong. The rain of yesterday & what fell today appear to have wet the...
173136th. (Adams Papers)
This day the annual Dudleian Lecture was preach’d by Mr. Symmes of Andover; the subject was the validity of Presbyterian Ordination. There are four subjects which are alternately treated the first Wednesday in September. They are Natural Religion, Revealed Religion, The errors of the Romish Church, and that above mentioned. The founder was Mr. Dudley: who gave a Sum the annual interest of...
17314[Diary entry: 24 May 1788] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 24th. Thermometer at 65 in the Morning—77 at Noon And 76 at Night. Morning clear, with but little wind, & that at West. About One Oclock a cloud, with a pretty heavy shower of rain came up, & Wind at No. Wt. and cool. Rid to all the Plantations. At the Ferry & Frenchs—same work as yesterday—finished. Planting Corn. At Dogue run—Four plows began to Weed Corn, and at the same time to...
17315[Diary entry: 21 January 1789] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 21st. Thermometer at 42 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 42 at Night. Very heavy Morning, tho’ last night was very clear—more favourable afterwards but not perfectly clear. At home all day. Mr. Lund Washington dined here.
17316Notes on Debates, 21 March 1787 (Madison Papers)
The subject of yesterday Resumed. Mr. Yates was now satisfied with the Resolutions as they stood. The words, “constitutionally made” as applied to the Treaty seemed to him on consideration to qualify sufficiently the doctrine on which the Resolution was founded. The 1st. Resolution declaring the Treaty to have the force of a law & denying the Right of any State to contravene it was agreed to...
17317[Diary entry: 30 April 1786] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 30th. Set off about Sun rising from Mr. Fitzhughs—breakfasted at Dumfries and reached home to a late Dinner. Where I found 3 of Mr. Rawlins Men; two of whom (one a Mr. Tharpe, director of the work) had been since Sunday last; & had employed many hands in preparing Mortar & other materials for them. That the Fishing (especially at the home house wch. had been discontinued on acct. of the...
17318Settlement of Accounts with Virginia, [31 December] 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC ( LC : Madison Papers). In JM’s hand. Ink faded and some of the writing rendered illegible by water stains. JM’s docket appears to read, “Acct. & Recpts. [?] for 1783 as Delegate to Congs. Jan 84” 1783 Dr. Credt £ S D 1782 £ S D March 29. To cash recd. of Mr. Jones out of a sum recd. by him for } Decr. 31 By ballance settled 856
1731920th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Deane, of Falmouth preach’d here this day, in the forenoon from Matthew. XI. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls, and in the afternoon from Luke XVI. 31. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead. A whining sort of a Tone was...
17320[Diary entry: 19 October 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 19th. Thermometer at in the Morng. at Noon and at Night. Wind which had been at No. Wt. yesterday, & clear, had now shifted to the So. Et. and lowered till Night, when it began to rain; which it did more or less through the Night, the wind blowing fresh. Immediately after breakfast I set out for my return home—at which I arrived a little after Noon. And found my Brother Jno., his...
173216th. (Adams Papers)
After dinner the Ladies went into Paris: I left them at the Place de Louis 15. and went to Mr. West’s lodgings: he had been out to Auteuil in the morning with Mr. Bowdoin, and had promised to meet me in the afternoon at his lodgings, but did not. I walk’d from 5. o’clock till 9 in the Palais Royal. Met M: de Gouvion there, and walk’d with him, about an hour and an half. He was much averse to...
17322[Diary entry: 6 June 1786] (Washington Papers)
Tuesday 6. Thermometer at 72 in the Morning—76 at Noon and 74 at Night. Thick Morning, and more or less cloudy all day, but no rain—but little Wind—that which was came from the No. Et.—rather more Easterly. Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Muddy hole, & Neck. At the first & last the people were setting and planting of Corn. The ferry people finished listing with the hoes their part of the...
17323[Diary entry: 14 June 1788] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 14th. Thermometer 66 in the Morning—69 at Noon and 68 at Night. Wind at No. E. and Showery all day. Hoeing and plowing balks in the New grd. at Mansn. Ho. with the People from Muddy hole & 2 plows from the Ferry, 3 from Frenchs, and 1 from Muddy hole. At Muddy hole threw a furrow to the Irish Potatoes (back of the one that first covered them). At the River Plantation, all hands were...
1732426th. (Adams Papers)
I went in the morning to the Sweedish Ambassador’s Hôtel to go with Mr. d’Asp, and see the Abbé Grenet, but I was too late and Mr. d’Asp was gone out, I went to see Mr. Jarvis: and afterwards Count d’Ouradou, at the hôtel de Nassau, Ruë de la Harpe. We agreed to go together to l’Orient. Went to see West, but did not find him at home. Walk’d in the Palais Royal, where I met Mr. Williamos; and...
17325[Diary entry: 20 May 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 20th. Thermometer at 56 in the Morning—60 at Noon and 59 at Night. Morning clear with the Wind at South West. About 8 oclock it began to thicken to the westward which increased with distant thunder. By ten o clock it was quite overcast and began to rain moderately & continued to do so without wind for more than two hours when it ceased & the Sun came out but was more [or] less cloudy...
1732610th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Porter the Minister of Roxbury, preach’d here; he is a pretty good Speaker. His discourse in the forenoon was from Revelations XI. 17th. We give thee thanks O, Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great Power, and hast reigned. And in the afternoon from John I. 45, 46. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him of...
17327[Diary entry: 9 November 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 9th. Thermometer at 64 in the Morning—66 at Noon and 66 at Night. A red, & watery Sun in the Morning, which about Noon was obscured, slow rain afterwds. Wind Southerly all day; and at Night appeared to be getting to the Westward. Mr. Griffith went away after Breakfast and Captn. Littlepage after Dinner. Having put in the heavy frame into my Ice House I began this day to Seal it with...
17328[Diary entry: 4 July 1788] (Washington Papers)
Friday 4th. Thermometer at 70 in the Morning—74 at Noon—And 74 at Night. A very heavy Morning with the Wind at South where it continued all day with sparse dripping rain at Intervals till One or two Oclock when the clouds broke; but another arising at dusk it rained hard for about 20 Minutes. Visited all the Plantations in the Morning, and all except that in the Neck in the afternoon. At the...
17329[Diary entry: 26 February 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 26th. Mercury at 33 in the Morning, 38 at Noon and 37 at Night. Wind at No. West all day and at times pretty fresh—more or less cloudy and in the evening lowering. The ground was hard froze this morning. Finished laying out my Serpentine Roads. Dug most of the holes where the trees by the side of them are to stand and planted some of the Maple which were dug yesterday and some of the...
17330[Diary entry: 23 October 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 23d. Thermometer at 50 in the Morng. 56 at Noon and 59 at Night. Fine & pleasant all day, with the Wind at South. No frost as was expected. My Brother, his wife Daughter and Son; Mr. Willm. Washington his wife & 4 Children; Mr. Bushrod Washington & wife; and Mr. Scott all went away after Breakfast. Mr. Jno. Bassett & Mr. Shaw came home in the forenoon and Mr. Fitzhugh of Chatham, Genl....
1733110th. (Adams Papers)
Mr. A: went to Versailles, to take leave, of the Court. Mr. Carnes came out. Was all day preparing for my departure, in the evening Mm. de la Fayette, with two of her Children, came out: and Mr. Jarvis and Mr. Randall. Burrill Carnes, a merchant at Nantes, appointed American agent there in 1786 by Thomas Barclay ( Jefferson, Papers The Papers of Thomas Jefferson , ed. Julian P. Boyd and...
17332XV. The Official French Text as Signed, 14 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Convention entre le Roi très-Chrétien et les Etats-Unis de l’Amérique à l’effet de déterminer et fixer les fonctions et prérogatives des Consuls et Vice-Consuls respectifs. Sa Majesté le Roi très-Chrétien et les Etats-Unis de l’Amérique s’étant accordés mutuellement par l’Art. XXIX du Traité d’Amitié et de Commerce conclu entr’eux, la liberté de tenir dans leurs Etats et ports respectifs, des...
17333[Diary entry: 10 June 1786] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 10th. Mercury at 66 in the Morning—72 at Noon and at Night. A heavy lowering Morning with the wind at East. At times the Sun appeared for a few momts. but generally the clouds were heavy with distant thunder in the So. Wt. quarter in the Afternoon tho’ no rain fell here. Rid to the Plantations at Muddy hole, Dogue run, and Ferry. Took the Mill in the way. Finished replanting Corn this...
173347th. (Adams Papers)
In the beginning of the evening I wrote a Letter to W. Cranch requesting of him an explanation, of something he wrote me, which was plain enough to alarm me exceedingly, but not sufficiently explicit to ascertain my suspicions. At eight o’clock I left the office, and went to Dr. Swett’s; where I found Little very agreeably situated. He had been writing part of a Letter to Freeman. I join’d...
17335Bill Extending the Alien Veterans’ Land Rights, 30 November 1784 (Madison Papers)
For extending the benefit of lands granted by the laws of this Commonwealth to Officers and Soldiers who have served during the late war to their representatives or devisees who may be aliens. Be it enacted that if any such alien representative or devisee shall on or before the day of or in case he or she be under the age of twenty one years within after having attained such age become a...
17336[Diary entry: 16 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 16th. Mercury at 26 in the morng.—27 at Noon and 33 at Night. Ground very hard froze & air Sharp from the No. West all day which prevented any movement of Earth. About 1 Oclock a Mr. Alexander Donald came here introduced by a letter from Govr. Henry. Alexander Donald was a Richmond merchant who often acted for Robert Morris in business matters. He had been for many years an intimate...
17337[Diary entry: 13 November 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 13th. Thermometer at 59 in the Morning—65 at Noon—65 at Night. Clear all day. Morning calm & very pleasant; but Windy afterwards from the No. West. Mr. Saml. Hanson and his wife, Mr. Thos. Hanson and their two sisters, & Mrs. Dulany wife to Waltr. Dulany, lately from England came to Dinner, & stayed all Night. Samuel Hanson of Samuel was married to Mary Key (Kay) Hanson, of New Jersey,...
17338[Diary entry: 24 June 1787] (Washington Papers)
Sunday—24th. Dined at Mr. Morris’s and spent the Evening at Mr. Meridiths in drinking Tea only.
17339II. Jefferson’s Memoranda Concerning the American, British, and French Fisheries, [ca. October 1788] (Jefferson Papers)
American Whale fishery. Vessels emploied in 1775 in the Whale fishery from Boston 48. Rhode island 45 Falmouth 8 Connecticut 3 Martha’s Vineyd. 6. New York 12 Dartmouth 55 Nantucket 132 60
17340Power to Regulate the State Militia, [23 August] 1787 (Madison Papers)
A grand committee had reported a militia plan delineating national and state militia responsibilities. Mr. Madison. The primary object is to secure an effectual discipline of the Militia. This will no more be done if left to the States separately than the requisitions have been hitherto paid by them. The States neglect their Militia now, and the more they are consolidated into one nation, the...
17341H. G. Letter XII, 8 March 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
The seventh of the circumstances enumerated in proof of his Excellency’s enmity to the Union is, That he has continued his opposition to the new constitution even since its adoption by this state. There are two kinds of opposition, direct and indirect. The Governor must have been an idiot to have rendered himself chargeable with the first kind. It would have brought the resentment of the whole...
17342[Diary entry: 6 April 1785] (Washington Papers)
Wednesday 6th. Mercury at 47 in the Morning— at Noon and at Night. Clear, calm & pleasant in the Morning. Wind afterward springing up from the Eastward, it began to lower and before Night had much the appearance of rain. Sowed the semicircle North of the front gate with Holly berries sent me by my Brother John—three drills of them—the middle one of Berries which had been got about Christmas...
1734311th. (Adams Papers)
From the office this afternoon I went with Townsend to his lodgings, and there past a couple of hours; after which I went in to Mr. Tufts’s, spend the remainder of the evening, and supp’d there. I found Mr. I. Smith there, and conversed with him upon the subject of the late disturbances at college. He hinted to me, that one of my brothers, had been much irritated, and that he was suspected of...
17344[Diary entry: 3 December 1785] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 3d. Thermometer at 50 in the Morning—56 at Noon and 61 at Night. The day very pleasant until the afternoon, when it began to lower. The Wind in the morning was Westerly, & in the Evening Easterly but not much of it. Employed all day at my writing Table on business of the Potomack Company. Brot. 2 Hounds fm. Colo. McCarty. George Washington & wife went up to Abingdon after Breakfast....
17345[Diary entry: 14 July 1787] (Washington Papers)
Saturday 14th. Dined at the Cold Spring Club and went to the Play in the Afternoon.
1734629th. (Adams Papers)
I attended at meeting and heard Mr. Wibird. The weather was rather dull and somewhat sultry. I am still undetermined whether to return this week to Newbury-Port, or wait till after Commencement: I believe however I shall determine upon the latter.
1734714. (Adams Papers)
Fete de S: Cloud. Diné entre là et Auteuil. M: T——r parti. An annual festival held on the grounds of the royal palace of St. Cloud ( Journal de Paris , 4 Sept. 1785). John Thaxter left for Philadelphia, carrying with him the Definitive Treaty with Great Britain, and the original Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the Netherlands, the latter signed at The Hague on 8 Oct. 1782 ( JA to Benjamin...
17348[Diary entry: 20 March 1785] (Washington Papers)
Sunday 20th. Mercury at 39 in the Morning—42 at Noon and 40 at Night. Morning lowering. About Noon the Sun came out and the Weather looked promising but in the afternoon it clouded & threatned, and sometime after dark began a mixture of Snow and rain. Wind was at East, and So. East all day—sometimes pretty fresh but for the most part of it moderate. Major Jenefir came here to dinner and my...
17349February [1787] (Washington Papers)
[Thursday 1st.] Mercury at 32 in the Morning—46 at Noon and 46 at Night. Wind (tho’ not much of it) variable and weather lowering but with changeable appearances. Mr. Fendall, Colo. Lee & his Lady, & Miss Lee went away after breakfast. I rid to the Ferry & French’s Plantations. At the first the women were cleaning up field No. 1 below the Hill. Friday 2d. Mercury at 30 in the Morning—36 at...
17350Constitutional Convention. Motion that Representation in the National Legislature Ought to be Proportioned to the Number … (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, May 30, 1787. The Convention having before it a proposition by Edmund Randolph that “the rights of suffrage in the National Legislature ought to be proportioned to the quotas of contribution, or to the number of free inhabitants, as the one or the other rule may seem best in different cases,” Hamilton “moved to alter the resolution so as to read ‘that the rights of suffrage in...