1To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Church, 19 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Before I enter upon the particular motives of this address, permit me, Sir! to mention a circumstance, or two, which, if you shou’d recollect, may possibly apologize for the Liberty which I have taken, upon the grounds of some small pretensions to the honor of a former short acquaintance. In the Autumn of 1771, I took a Tour through the Island of Gt....
2To John Adams from Edward Church, 14 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
Notwithstanding the deep wound which one branch of our fishery had rec’d by an act of the british parliament, We were not without hope, while we had a free and an uninterrupted Commerce with the Mediterranean, and it’s neighbouring ports, that we might still be able not only to employ, but increase the number of our fishermen, and from our local advantages, it is not an extravagant Idea to...
3To George Washington from Edward Church, 11 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I am one of that unfortunate number whom the late revolution has precipitated from a state of decent competence, and reduced to the necessity of joining the class of your most humble and needy petitioners; but it is not to be expected that the most fortunate revolutions can be favorable to the interest of every individual, I therefore presume not to complain, or to found any pretensions to...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 27 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Bordeaux, 27 July 1791 . After a long and tedious passage he arrived on the 1st and would have proceeded to Bilbao but for extreme illness of one of his daughters. He has been told he might not be allowed to function there as consul, and so has written to “the American Minister at … Madrid” for advice. As it is impracticable and expensive to move a large family from place to place, he will...
5To George Washington from Edward Church, 12 August 1791 (Washington Papers)
Impressed with the warmest gratitude for the honor of being remembered by you in the nomination of Consuls, and no less grateful for the singular favor thereby conferred on myself and family; more particularly in your having proposed an healthful pleasant Country for our residence, which at the same time held out the most flattering prospects of other advantages from the valuable and important...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 12 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Bordeaux, 12 Aug. 1791 . Being greatly alarmed by what he learned on arrival, he expressed his fears in his of the 27th, sent by brig Hetty , Captn. Drinker, for Philadelphia.—This day his fears confirmed by letter from Carmichael, a copy of which he encloses. He is thereby arrested at the threshold, unable to advance or retreat. He cannot in any sense hold TJ responsible, but appeals to him...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 16 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Bordeaux, 16 Dec. 1791 . Although he has only considered the matter for two days, he feels impelled by rapidly changing conditions in France to suggest the propriety and expediency “of improving this critical opportunity, to make the present substitute for money, now circulating in France under the denomination of Assignats , an instrument in the hands of his Excellency the President of the...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 1 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Bordeaux, 1 Jan. 1792 . He recurs to the proposal made in his last letter for repaying the American debt to France. It is now possible to purchase assignats with bills of exchange on London or Amsterdam at the rate of 6d. to 6 ½d. per livre, the livre currently being valued at 10d. sterling in America. These assignats are receivable into the public treasury at par and therefore would be...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 13 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
By a letter rec’d early in January last from my esteemed friend Mr. Wingate , dated 15th November, I was informed of the arrival of my letters to his Excellency the President of the United States, and to your Honor, upon the subject of the disagreeable situation in which my appointment to Bilboa had unfortunately placed me and my family. I can easily conceive that the more important publick...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Church, 16 May 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Words cannot express my astonishment and distress at the tenour of your letter of 13th. March, which I this day received, the idea of demerit hinted at in your letter as a probable cause of precluding my pretensions, made me forget, for a moment, all the difficulties and troubles into which my appointment to Bilboa, had unhappily plunged me and my family, though intended, I am well convinced,...