1Virginia and Pennsylvania Delegates in Congress to the Inhabitants West of Laurel Hill, 25 July 1775 (Jefferson Papers)
It gives us much concern to find that disturbances have arisen and still continue among you concerning the boundaries of our colonies. In the character in which we now address you, it is unnecessary to enquire into the origin of those unhappy disputes, and it would be improper for us to express our approbation or censure on either side: But as representatives of two of the colonies united,...
2The Board of War to George Washington, 21 June 1776 (Adams Papers)
The Congress having thought proper to appoint us to the Board of War and Ordinance, we do ourselves the Honour to transmit you the foregoing Extracts from their Proceedings establishing a War Office for the more speedy and effectual Dispatch of military Business. You will percieve, on Perusal of the Extracts, that it will be necessary for you forthwith to furnish the Board with an exact State...
3Franklin and James Wilson to Jasper Yeates, 4 July 1776: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania <Philadelphia, July 4, 1776: The Congress has appointed you a commissioner of Indian affairs in the middle department, and asked us so to inform you. A conference will be held at Pittsburgh on July 20, which Congress hopes you will attend. Although this may be inconvenient, we know that your regard for the public will outweigh any consideration of your...
4Franklin and James Wilson to John Montgomery, 5 July 1776: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Chicago Historical Society <The letter, dated Philadelphia, July 5, 1776 is identical in wording with that to Jasper Yeates above, July 4, 1776.> A signer of the letter from the Carlisle committee above, Jan. 26.
5To George Washington from James Wilson, 18 January 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from James Wilson, 18 Jan. 1777. In 1906 the American Book-Prices Current recorded the sale of Wilson’s autograph letter to GW with this description: “Carlisle, Jan. 18, 1777, to Gen. Washington. Recommending Col. [Ephraim] Blaine as a suitable person to prepare magazines of provisions in Pennsylvania” (ibid., vol. 12 [1906], 773). The letter was sold again in 1910 and 1941...
6To 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.”
7To John Adams from James Wilson, 20 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your Inclination to oblige will excuse the Trouble, which I intend to give you. I was nominated by Mr. Gerard to be Advocate General for the French Nation in the United States, subject to the Ratification of the King. If his Majesty shall be pleased to honour me with his Commission, I have requested that two hundred Pounds Sterling may be appropriated for the Purchase of Books; and have taken...
8II. Arguments by James Wilson and William Samuel Johnson before the Court of Commissioners, [14–23 December 1782] (Jefferson Papers)
We have the pleasure to meet your honors upon a very important Contest. You are now to decide a territorial controversy, which with other nations would have been decided by the sword. This being a court of the first impression in any part of the Globe and the present subject of litigation being of considerable value, I hope the honorable Court will pardon the tedious discussion I am now to...
9Constitutional Convention. Second of a Motion by James Wilson and Remarks Thereon, 4 June 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, June 4, 1787. James Wilson on this date made a motion, which Hamilton seconded, that a motion by Elbridge Gerry stating “that the National Executive shall have a right to negative any Legislative act which shall not be afterwards passed by parts of each branch of the national Legislature” be replaced by a provision “so as to give the Executive an absolute negative on the laws....
10To George Washington from James Wilson, 11 March 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from James Wilson, 11 Mar. 1788. On 4 April GW thanked Wilson for his “favr of the 11 Ulto.”