1To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 21 December 1751 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society The Experiments Mr. Kennersley has exhibited here, have been greatly pleasing to all sorts of people, that have seen them; and I hope by the time he returns to Philadelphia, his Tour this way will turn to good account. His Experiments are very curious, and I think, prove most effectually your doctrine of Electricity: that it is a real Element annexed to,...
2To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 2 March 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have received your favour of the 24th. January past, inclosing an Extract from your Letter to Mr. Collinson and Dr. Colden’s Letter to yourself, which I have read with a great deal of pleasure, and am much obliged to you for. Your Extract confirms a correction Mr. Kinnersley made a few days ago of a mistake I was under respecting the polarity given to...
3To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 16 March 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society According to promise in my last, I now return you Dr. Colden’s Letter, for communicating which I am greatly obliged to you. The Dr. dissenting from you, is of opinion, that Sea Clouds are less electrified than Land Clouds, and gives the reasons of his opinion “That Salt, tho’ an Electric per se, is never raised in Sea-vapours, therefore Sea-Clouds are...
4To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 8 June 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have read the first Chapter of Dr. Colden’s piece on Gravitation which you was so good as to inclose in yours of the 14th. Ult. and endeavoured to understand it, but with as little Success as yourself. I have ventured notwithstanding to make in the margin a few remarks on several passages, which detach’d from the rest I tho’t I understood; but it is...
5To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, [March 1753?] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in Sparks, Works , VI , 161 n. By the post I received your favor, enclosing several printed letters relating to the transit of Mercury over the sun. A gentleman here, who is provided with the proper instruments, and well skilled in astronomy, intends to make the necessary observations; to whom, as well as to several others, I shall communicate said letters....
6To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 12 November 1753 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I received your Favour of the 18th Ult. accompanied with Dr. Brownrigg’s Treatise on Salt which I shall comunicate to the Gentlemen you mention. According to your desire I send you our Law for regulating the Trade with the Indians. Our Indians formerly (as yours now) made great Complaints of the Abuses they suffer’d from private Traders, which induced the...
7To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 27 January 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) Your collection of philosophical papers I have perused with a great deal of pleasure. I take notice that several letters of mine to you make a part of it, which gave me an additional pleasure, as it places me in some respect in a situation I should always be glad personally to be in, near my friend Franklin. There are several things in the...
8To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 20 September 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am much obliged for yesterday’s Communications. You’ll permit me to adopt a request of Father Beccaria. “Si alia habeas [Scripta praesertim Franklini] quae a me desiderari posse putes (quid autem esse potest Franklinianarum Rerum quod non planè depeream?) quaeque verecundè peti abs me posse arbitrere, ut mittas etiam atque etiam efflagito.” I congratulate...
9To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 18 January 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I am very glad to hear you got home Safe with your Daughter and Mr. Foxcroft without any further accident; and hope your arm has recovered it’s former Strength. I here enclose, open for your perusal, a Letter to Mr. Canton on the Subject I spoke to you about. If any thing should occur to you to improve the Telescope further than what is noticed...
10To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 2 July 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Massachusetts Historical Society Your last favor informed me that you had sent my Letter to Mr. Canton inclosed in one of your own per the Packet: for which I am much obliged. When I last saw Mr. Winthrop, I inquired of him after Æpinus: he told me he sent it to Mr. Stiles of Newport, who would convey it to you. I thank you for your Pamphlet relative to the Massacre of the...
11To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 12 November 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; ALS (fragment): American Philosophical Society I observe by the last Papers that your Assembly have again appointed you one of their Agents in Great Britain: which without doubt, is much to the mortification of the party, whose spleen has been lately gratified by your not being returned a member of the present assembly. I am very glad the...
12To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 2 January 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I take this opportunity by my Son to express my own Pleasure, and the general Satisfaction at your appointment as Agent for the House of Representatives. The Council have recommended to their Agent Mr. Bollan to consult and cooperate with you for the best interest of the Province: which as it has distinguished itself in the great cause of American Liberty...
13To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 5 November 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society I thank you for the Copy of the Instructions from the Committee of Plantations to Mr. Randolph inclosed in the last Letter [dated Feby. 5. 1771] with which you honoured me. His Answer to the Enquiries he was directed to make (if to be had) and compared with the present State of this Province, would probably shew in the Articles enumerated the...
14To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 6 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society I am much obliged to you for introducing me to the acquaintance of General Lee. He came hither from the Southward about a month ago, when I had the pleasure of receiving by him your agreable Letter of July 28. 1773. The character you give of him is very just, and what compleats it is, that he is a hearty Friend of America. This may be no...
15To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 11 May 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from James Bowdoin, 11 May 1776. GW refers in his letter to Bowdoin of 10 June to “your Letter of the 11th Ulto.”
16To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 29 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Declaration is this Moment Sent to me by the Sheriff, which I thought necessary to be comunicated to your Excellency. The Ship Peggy mentioned in it was taken by two of the Continent Cruizers & sent into Marblehead. The Passengers on board, who fled from Boston last March, came to Town this Morning, And are now in Goal here: who I understand have been, or will be, examined by Genl...
17To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 30 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
At the time your Excellency’s Letter was received, requesting the Aid of this Government in procuring a body of the Eastern Indians for the Service of the United States, it happened very fortunately, that a Number of them were here, as Delegates from the St John’s & Mickmac Tribes in Nova Scotia. They came on a visit to you, in consequence of yr Letter to them, which they produced: and soon...
18To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 19 August 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I recd. per Mr. Gerry a Packet from you containing a Russian Book on Comets, and Vattel’s Droit des Gens. The former agreable to your desire I have sent to Mr. Oliver at Salem together with your Billet. The latter when I have looked over it I shall send to the President of Harvard College as a Present to the Library from you. Dr. Cooper shewed me...
19To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 2 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Boston, 2 February 1777 . “The Council being much crowded with public business could not write to you by this Opportunity but as I apprehended it proper your Excy should be made acquainted with the Contents of their Letter to Congress of the 30th Ulto I have enclosed it for your Perusal: After which You will please to forward it by the Express which brings it to you.” ADfS , M-Ar : Revolution...
20To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 2 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
The interesting intelligence of your Letter occasioned my sending it to Council as soon as I received it. In Consequence of it, and of other corroborating information, the General Court by a resolve of the 30th. Ultimo have ordered a draft to be made the 15th. Instant to complete the raising a number of able bodied men, equal to a seventh part of the male Inhabitants within the State from 16...
21To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 23 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Mr Robt Temple, at whose request this is written, waits on your Excy to procure the favour of your assistance in the Settlement of his Account against the united States. He would be glad also to be favoured with your permission to go to Ireland, where he has friends and connections, and where he can employ himself to the advantage of his family in the farming way. He found his Farm at...
22To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 7 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I thank your Excellency for the Letter you caused to be Sent to me Some time ago. As it came from England I think it proper to mention to you, that it was from Mr Stewart, who married Mrs Bowdoin’s Sister, and beside family-matters contains nothing but a wish for the re-istablishment of peace between Britain & America. The Gentleman, who waits on you with this Letter, is John Temple Esqr....
23To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 3 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
It is a happy circumstance for my Friend Robt Temple Esqr. that he will meet with your Excy at Phila. to which place he is now going for the purpose of Settling his Account against the United States. He thinks yr Excy well acquainted with the benefit derived to the American Army from the Wood &c. with which they were Supplied from his Farm at Charlestown and the great damage he Sustained in...
24To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 6 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
A new Constitution of Government being generally apprehended necessary for this State, a majority of the Towns, on recommendation of the Assembly, Some months ago appointed Delegates for the purpose of forming one: And they have lately in convention agreed upon one, which is to be laid before the people at large for their Consideration. They ordered a number of copies to be printed, two or...
25To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 1 May 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It gave me great pleasure to hear by the Marquis de la Fayette, who arrived here three days ago that you continued to enjoy a perfect State of health. The Snows of seventy winters seem to have had no other effect on your constitution than to whiten your locks. It is for the credit of philosophy, when its adepts can so well guard against the attendants of...
26To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 29 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday at 5 o’Clock p.m. I received your Excellency’s Letter of the 15th with the enclosed for Majr Genl Heath. As it was of importance he Should have it as soon as may be, I immediately went with it to Roxbury, and delivered it to him. I told him I would assist him in enquiring for information relative to the particulars mentioned in your Letter: And if I should obtain any worth notice, I...
27To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 31 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since the last Post, by Which I had the Honour of writing to you, I have seen a Gentleman well acquainted with Nova Scotia, and particularly with Halifax, whose account concerning them, I doubt not, may be depended on. It represents the State of things as they were in December last. Very fortunately I had Some business with him, which gave me a good opportunity of entering into Conversation...
28To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 26 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
By the Post I had the honour of your Letter of the 14th Instant, And am happy to find that the Plan &c. accompanying my last was in any degree Satisfactory, and may be of use. I hope the measures for procuring further intelligence will be effectual. The loss of Charlestown is unfortunate, and the more so if owing, as is said to be the Case, to a want of provisions. I wish it may be repaired...
29To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 17 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday arrived the frigate Alliance in forty days from L’Orient. She has on board 2000 Stands of Arms, a number of Cannon And a Quantity of powder for the united States. Your Excellency will give Such Orders concerning them as you think proper: but with respect to the Arms, if there be not an absolute necessity for all of them, the Council would be glad you would allow one thousand of them...
30To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 11 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of March last I have but lately received. It was Sent by the Post, I suppose from Newport. When the Gentleman you recom mend in it, Monsr. Petry, comes here, it will give me pleasure to make Boston agreable to him. I wish we could have had more of your assistance in compleating the plan of government. Some of the alterations made in it after you left us, were by no means for the...
31To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 11 January 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I had the honour of writing to you by Mr. Guild some months ago. He probably acquainted you, there was a Bill then depending in our Assembly for incorporating a philosophical Society. It has been compleated, and the Society formed, under the name of The American Academy of Arts & Sciences. They have had several...
32To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 23 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg leave to congratulate you on the return of peace, and the conspicuous part You had in bringing it about: especially as the terms of it are So advantageous to the united States. Though the late contending powers appear disposed to peace, we greatly wish the confirmation of it by the completion of the definitive treaty: wch. notwithstanding reports,...
33To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 10 August 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your removal from the Hague to London, in the character of Plenipotentiary, gives a general & great pleasure. The abilities so successfully exerted in the Treaty of Peace, will, if any thing can, procure a happy issue to the negociations for settling a commercial Treaty with Great Britain.— M r Higginson by this opportunity sends you a well written letter on the state & circumstances of our...
34To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 10 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I have lately understood that Congress have under consideration a report of their Minister for foreign affairs, relative to the appointment of Consuls in several parts of Europe; and that the appointment is to be made by the Ministers Plenipotentiary from the United States: the power of each Minister in this respect to be exercised within a certain district; and that your Excellency’s district...
35To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 23 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Proposals having been made by the Marquis de Lafayette for a Commercial Establishment between this Country and France; I beg Leave to recommend to your Excellency’s Patronage and good Offices Mr. Nathl. Barrett, the Gentleman to whose Care the Merchants here, Confiding in his Integrity and Judgment, have Committed the Negotiation. The Object, the admission of American Oil into France, for...
36To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 12 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
I am honored by your Excellency’s Letter of the 2 d. of Sept. by M r. Storer. The navigation Act of Massachusetts having been found to militate with the french treaty of commerce, & to exclude our fish from the Levant by excluding the subjects of the italian & other states coming with their Vessels for it, when our own in attempting to carry it to them would be intercepted by the Algerines, it...
37To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 10 April 1786 (Adams Papers)
I had the honour of writing to you in August last relative to the conduct of Captain Stanhope; and twice since on the subject of British Encroachments upon territory of the United States, adjoining the newly established Province of New Brunswick. I hope those Letters came to your hand. New complaints from our people in those parts have been received, particularly from the Inhabitants of Moose...
38To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 11 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
In addition to the papers I sometime ago sent you, relative to the encroachments made upon our Eastern boundary by our Neighbours of New Brunswick, I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency copies of other Letters & papers upon the same subject— By Mess rs. Smith & Bowles’s Deposition it appears, that the Province of New Brunswick is by its Charter bounded on the Western shore of...
39To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 22 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasure of your Letter of the 8th. February, and thank your Excellency for the information contained in it. The young Gentleman, who will do himself the honour of waiting upon you with this Letter, is Mr. Appleton, a Son of the Intendent of the United States loan office in this Town. He is in the mercantile line, and has conducted with reputation. The Father, a very worthy...
40To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 14 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
It must give the highest satisfaction to every friend of the Union, that the same Gentleman, who bore so distinguished, so capital a part, in emancipating the United States, is appointed a Delegate in the intended Convention, for perfecting their federal government. It is with great earnestness hoped, that the plan of Confederation, to which that respectable body may agree, will be well formed...
41To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 18 February 1789 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from James Bowdoin, 18 Feb. 1789. On 9 May GW wrote to Bowdoin : “Since my arrival in this place I have been honored with your letters of the 18th of Feby and 24th of April.”
42To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 30 May 1789 (Adams Papers)
The attachment of M r. Boid to the American Cause has, as you are Sensible, occasioned the forfeiture to the British Government of all his Lands upon the Schoodac: to which river they have extended their Province of New Brunswick.— The Papers that relate to his Case, as well as to that encroachment, were by order of Congress, as I have understood, transmitted to you, during your residence in...
43To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 17 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have the honour of enclosing to your Excellency a Letter I just now received from Wm Wetmore Esqr.—recommending Mr Samuel Waldo of Portland for the office of Comptroler (or by whatever name the Office may be called) in the Revenue Department in the Eastern Counties of this State. The Character he gives of Mr Waldo I believe to be a very just one, and for that reason beg leave to join in the...
44To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 10 August 1789 (Adams Papers)
As it is the duty of every good citizen to counteract, as far as he can, any measures that may operate injuriously to the Public, I am constrained to inform you of a plan, which if successful, will have that operation in the important department of the Administration of Justice in this Commonwealth. We have a perfect Confidence, and are therefore happy, in the Gentlemen, who now constitute our...
45To George Washington from James Bowdoin, 20 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
Letters of this kind would need apology, or rather would, in every view, be unwarrantable, if the writer had any reason for doubt concerning the character of the person recommended. But as I am sure no apology is needful on that score, I persuade my self your candour will induce you to think it unnecessary on any other. I have the honour of enclosing a Letter which I have lately received from...
46To John Adams from James Bowdoin, 24 March 1790 (Adams Papers)
The Gentleman, by whom this will be delivered to you, is Nathaniel Appleton esq r the Commissioner of the Loan Office for the State of Massachusetts. At the first institution of the Office in the Year 1776 he was appointed to it, and has been continued in it by the Several Boards of Treasury to the present time. Besides the approbation of those, to whom he was immediately accountable, his...
47To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 24 February 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Although I am personally unknown to you, it is not with the less pleasure, that I congratulate you upon the events of the late election, which introduce you to the chair of the United States. The contest has been an arduous one, & the triumph, which has succeeded it, I trust, will prove not less beneficial to our common country, than honourable to you. Be assured Sir, that neither my wishes,...
48To Thomas Jefferson from James Bowdoin, 23 November 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I should be insensible to the marked & distinguished notice, you have been pleased to take of me, in nominating me, as one of the foreign ministers of the united States, did I not avail myself of the earliest opportunity, to thank you for your condescension & politeness, in thus thinking of me.— Should it Sir, not meet the sanction of the Senate or should I, from ill-health, or other cause,...
49To James Madison from James Bowdoin, 19 December 1804 (Madison Papers)
I last Evening, recd. your polite Letter of the 10th. instant, accompanying the President’s Commission to me, as Minister plenipotentiary for the united States, at the Court of his Catholic Majesty: Whilst I feel gratitude to the President for this pub[l]ic mark of his confidence & favour, I am to thank you, Sir, for the polite manner, in which you have acquainted me with the appointment....
50To James Madison from James Bowdoin, 4 February 1805 (Madison Papers)
I had the honour duely to receive your Letter of the 1st. Ulto., & should have ’eer this acknowledged its rect., had I not have entertained the expectation of soon paying my respects to you at Washington. I had, for this purpose, made the necessary preparations, & expected, this day, to have set out upon the Journey. But I am compelled, very reluctantly, to acquaint you, that such has been the...