1Anonymous: Musings near a Cool Spring, 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Library Company of Philadelphia Unsigned and undated, these verses have been copied into a Scrap Volume compiled by Pierre Eugène du Simitière. The latest event specifically mentioned is the building of Fort Allen in January 1756 (above, VI, 362–7), and the absence of any direct mention of Franklin’s English mission implies a date earlier than the summer of 1757 and presumably even...
2To George Washington from an Anonymous French Officer, 1 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
Fort-Dauphin [Saint-Domingue], 1 April 1776 . Offers his services to GW. He says that he served in Germany during the last war as a lieutenant in the Royal Grenadiers and was dismissed three years after the peace. He came to Saint-Domingue to advance himself but has not been able to obtain a company. He does not sign his name for fear that this letter might be intercepted and injure him at the...
3To George Washington from an Anonymous Citizen, 4 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
4 August 1776 . “My House is forcibly entered & posessed by officers and Soldiers without my Consent, to the number of 60 or 70. . . . From A barrack, my House is now become A mere Hospital Noise & Disturbance day and night, reign in every part—The two Halls below are occupied by the rude hand of Insolence the Doors nailed, & I am at last reduced to such narrow limits that the next...
4To George Washington from an Anonymous New Jersey Farmer, 7 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
As I have past your Quarters Several times Lately I saw With Concern A number of Peirsons Great Enemies to Your Excellency (as A general) and their Country Pleas therefore to take Great Care of the Name of Ogden, (Particularly that family) and their Connection Peter McKee &c. Depend on What I write here to be fact I know them Well. Abought 5 Days Ago one Wm Stewart an assistant of these fals...
5Instructions for Maneuvers at West Point, 17 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
The regiments will immediately recieve ten cartridges pr man. At 7 o’clock precisely the regiments will be on the grand parade formed in battalion according to the plan laid down in the regulations: the light Infantry companies at twenty paces distance on the right of each regiment. The first part of the manouvre will be performed by motion only without firing. 1st Four discharges by platoons...
6To George Washington from Anonymous, 7 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
This letter, which begs of your Excellency the favour of a perusal begins with a confission of a fault, even while in the verry Commission of it; for indeed I confess, I do not think myself entitled to the freedom I now venture to take; but what will not a Man hazard when hope rouses him from despair! Alas how often has my honest avarice of the approbation of the good and worthy, been ready to...
7“Extempore! On hearing that the Honorable John Jay, Esq. had landed at New-York”, 2 October 1784 (Jay Papers)
* Earl of Sandwich . Printed: The Independent Gazetteer (Philadelphia), 2 October 1784; The Political Intelligencer and New-Jersey Advertiser (New Brunswick, N.J.), 12 Oct. 1784. On Deane’s defection, see “Silas Deane: A Worrisome Correspondent” (editorial note), JJSP , 2 Elizabeth M. Nuxoll et al., eds., The Selected Papers of John Jay, Volume 2, 1780–82 (Charlottesville, Va., 2012) : 243–46....
8From —— to Madame d’Enville, 8 September 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Ma belle soeur, madame la Duchesse, vient de me mander que son jardinier attendroit le moment où vous seriez à Chaillot pour vous montrer en detail tout ce qui est dans son jardin. La maîtresse de la maison croit vous faire sa cour en ne paroissant pas. Elle m’assure que toutes les personnes que vous voudrez envoyer chez elle seront reçeues à toutes les heures. Recevez avec bonté les...
9To George Washington from Anonymous, 13 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
I should never have presumed to address a letter to your Excellency and least of all an anonymous one, were it not for the delicate and responsible situation in which your power of nominating and appointing to office places you and likewise for the necessity consequent thereupon of your being acquainted with the character and abilities of various candidates. A Collector we are told is shortly...
10To George Washington from Anonymous, 9 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
The first request of General Washington is that he will burn this line after reading it, as it comes from a man who on his own account (unconnected with those who have the strongest ties on him) would not trouble any mortal with the request of a favor: therefore in case your more important duties obliges you to spurn at my intrusion, let it become impossible for any person by my hand writing...