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...
11To George Washington from Anonymous, 18 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
Although my name will not be, to this paper many where you preside know me personally, I have been under your command when you were surrounded with eminent Danger. I lost every thing by the American War, nor, did I ever join the enemies of America in thought, word, or deed. I am banished from my native country like many others; because I cannot pay my debts; If I had the gold which I exchanged...
12To George Washington from Anonymous, 3 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
Beware. Be upon your guard. You have cherished in your Bosom a Serpent, and he is now endeavouring to sting you death. Under the Mark of a Democrat, he thinks he conceals his ambition which is unbounded. His vanity makes him believe that he will certainly be your Successor. But he can not wait with patience untill it shall please God to take you from this world. He wishes to precipitate his...
13To George Washington from Anonymous, 20 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
Your knowledge of the world makes it hardly necessary for me to remind you how difficult it is to dislodge a cunning bad man when he has once got possession of the heart of a great & good one. The strongest evidence of this fact is derived from the history of Princes. Be not offended at my mentioning Tiberius. There is no similitude between your characters. He, a brutal Tyrant. You possessed,...
14To George Washington from Anonymous, March 1792 (Washington Papers)
I know you to be good—and you are great, independent of public opinion—I mean intrinsically great, if you were not possessed of that opinion. But you are possessed of it, and stand higher, beyond all comparison in the estimation of persons of every description than any man. The virtuous part of the community who have for years put everything to hazard to obtain a Government, likely to insure...
15To George Washington from Anonymous, 30 April 1792 (Washington Papers)
Amid’st the more important objects which call your Philanthophy into action on a general scale, may not an individual intrude with his embarrassments stated. I have found it in vain to complain to trees, and to pour out where there is either a want of sentiment or ability, is equally fruitless: therefore I have resolved (perhaps improperly) to apply where there is both ability and benevolence;...
16To George Washington from Anonymous, 1793 (Washington Papers)
permettez moi, mr le président qu’après avoir lu un voyage fait dans votre heureuse république en 1788 je vous fasse part de l’effusion de mon Coeur et des réfléxions quil m’a fait faire. Je Suis ravi, enchanté de la beauté, de la bonté de votre gouvernement et Ce qui me Comble C’est que je vois dans l’avenir, Si vous Continuez t’jours de meme Ce que j’espere, réaliser Ce réve enchanteur de...
17To George Washington from Anonymous, 3 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
I HAVE just seen your P roclamation , written with your usual propriety and delicacy. But I do not accord with your idea, that “the duty and interest of the United States require, that they should with sincerity and good faith, adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial towards the belligerent powers,” leagued against France. It is not their duty, because, though bound by no express...
18To George Washington from Anonymous, 20 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
un malheureux Homme Ce trouvent dans une mauvais etat, prie a monsr le President Washington, de vouloir lui assistér avec 60. dolls.; d’quelle bonté, Cet malheureux Homme sera toujour dans la Reconoissance, & Remerciment de un bon Ami de l’humanité Comme Monsr le Precident Washington. Si Cet malheureux Homme mérite la Grace de Monsr le president Washington, Il Lui priê de lui envoier Cette...
19To George Washington from Anonymous, 11 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
The purport of this Epistle will I presume apologize for the liberty I take in addressing you. By the accounts we receive from Philadelphia we are inform’d that a dreadful disease rages there which proves fatal to most people, & that the Contagion probably will spread to other parts of the Country; an Idea has occurr’d to me that this Malady may be obviated, & I therefore think it my duty to...
20To George Washington from Anonymous, 9 September 1794 (Washington Papers)
The fear of this not reaching your hands induced the form of the superscription. The motive of my assuming the liberty to address you, is from my often having read with the utmost concern that several of the back settlers have been scalped &C. by the savage Indians; and of the very ineffectual means taken to prevent a repetition of their barbarities by the Small force sent against them, which...
21To John Adams from Anonymous, 1797 (Adams Papers)
You can appreciate the value of facts, without reference to the person from whom they are derivted. Circumstances Not be controulled, render this the only method of communication, consistent with the writer’s view of propriety— Mr. Tracy a member of the Senate, from Connecticut, is intriguing to obtain the appointment now held buy Gov. St. Claire; ‘Tis fitting, Sir, that you should know, that...
22To John Adams from Anonymous, 3 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
We take the liberty through necessity of troubling you with this anonymous Letter which we send with good intention, for we are the persons who endeavored to communicate to Genl Washington by two special messengers one of whom miscaried in a Vessel he sailed in from New Orleans which was lost on her Voyage; and the other was Mr. J––n who we suppose made his Virbal Report: The substance of...
23To John Adams from Anonymous, 3 May 1797 (Adams Papers)
We take the liberty through necessity of troubling you with this anonymous letter, which we send with good intention; for we are the Persons who endeavoured to communicate to General Washington by two Special Messengers one of whom miscaried in a Vessel he sailed in from New Orleans which was lost on her Voyage. And the other who was Mr S——n who we suppose hath made his Virbal Report: the...
24To John Adams from Anonymous, 15 June 1797 (Adams Papers)
We are a private Committe held at the Natchez on the 13th of June 1797 and beg leave to report as follows. !st That no Attention is or hath been paid by the Spaniards to the Treaty subsisting between America and Spain as they refuse to Evacuate any of the posts included in the Treaty, but contrariwise are repairing Rebuilding and fortifying such Posts. 2d The People of the Natchez do solicit...
25To John Adams from Anonymous, August 1798 (Adams Papers)
It will not be denied that permitting as we did by treaty, one of the belligerent powers to alter at pleasure the destination of our Vessels not loaded with contraband Articles, nor destined for ports either blockaded or besieged, was a departure from the duties that neutrality imposes. In like manner perhaps might be considered the loaning of money to either of the powers engaged in War....
26To John Adams from Anonymous, 30 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
From a desire of seeing every department of the federal Govt filled by respectable characters I am induced to make an observation or two on the pretensions of the persons who I have heard are candidates for the naval office of this port, vacant by the recent death of the late excellent Mr Russell—Mr. Nath. Folsom, & Capt Geo Turner, I have heard are desirous of obtaining it— From enquiry Sir...
27To John Adams from Anonymous, December 1798 (Adams Papers)
It can not have escaped your observation that the Secretary of State has qualities that may be the means of involving this nation in war. He is irascible and resentful. His correspondence is in a Style not conciliating but insulting. His published instructions to Pinkney were not as from a civilised nation, suaviter in modo, they were of the most caustic quality. With the Spanish minister he...
28To John Adams from Anonymous, 17 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
It is generally consdred in this City that you are a party-man; Which is the most Base and Horrid character a man in Your station of Life possibly can possess. Certain it is that every person has some Bad qualities; and in persons that hold s any office of State are certainly and allways sounded by the citizens of the states. Some consider you as (and you are most generally Considerd as) more...
29To John Adams from Anonymous, 17 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am desired to inform you that thier at present Laws which give you too great power and cause great discontents amongst the citizens of the United states, There is several thousand of the citzens who are ditirmened to have those Laws repealed or undergo the perils of a civil war; to conquer or die; we have frequent corespondance with those patriots in Northampton whom we are to join as soon...
30To John Adams from Anonymous, 23 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have frequently warned Americans against reposing any confidence in the friendship of any European Nation: and have recommended to them to rely for Safety and Justice, only upon God and the Sword.—Many of my friends have thought this Opinion erroneous, and my Jealousies illfounded; but a circumstance has occurred which convinces some that I have not been widely mistaken, and I trust that all...