11To Thomas Jefferson from John Brown Cutting, 15 September 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
By some accident the inclosed did not get into the post office timely enough on friday evening to be forwarded. I have not heard of any more recent arrivals from America. The Legislature of New York have chosen General Schuyler and Mr. Rufus King to represent them in the senate of Congress. The appointment of the latter to so high an office is the most signal instance of disregard to local...
12To Thomas Jefferson from John Brown Cutting, 18 September 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Owing to the tardiness of the penny post man I did not receive your letter of the tenth timely enough to answer it on tuesday evening. I mistook the papers you had the goodness to send me for copies, and supposing the originals were of record with you, did not forget, but omitted to return them to you in Paris. I now inclose them to you with many apologies for an omission that has cost you a...
13To Thomas Jefferson from John Brown Cutting, 22 September 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Notwithstanding I understood from Mr. Paine that you intend quitting Paris tomorrow to embark either at L’Orient or Havre, trusting to the chances of an unforseen impediment, I address this letter to You as if I were certain it woud reach you near Paris. I have long had it in contemplation to intreat your sentiments on the improvements that ought to be aimed at by our country in the manner of...
14To Thomas Jefferson from John Brown Cutting, 30 September 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 24th. with the inclosures has just reach’d me. The letter shall be forwarded to Charlestown immediately. Mr. Trumbull who had the goodness to communicate your letter to him of a prior date on the subject of taking your passage in some vessel bound from hence to the Chesapeak, having accorded with me in opinion that from the aspect of that letter there was very little probability...
15John Brown Cutting to William Short, 3 November 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am just returned from Bath where I have been ever since I parted with Mr. Jefferson at Cowes. Perhaps it may not have been notified to you that the Claremont Capt. Colley and the vessel in which Mr. Trumbull sailed for New York proceeded down the channel on the morning of the 23d with a fine wind. This I learn by a letter from our Friend Trumbull who wrote to me by the pilot, when he quitted...
16III. Extract from the Speech of Edmund Burke, [9 February 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
The french have proved themselves the ablest architects of ruin that ever existed in the world. In one summer they have done their business for us as rivals in a way more destructive than twenty Ramillies or Blenheims. In this very short space of time they have completely pulled down to the ground their monarchy: their church; their nobility; their law; their revenue; their army; their navy;...
17II. John Brown Cutting to Thomas Jefferson, 20 March 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
A relapse soon after I took leave of You at Cowes has compel’d me to waste the whole winter in Europe: the greater part of it I have pass’d at Bath. It is now probable that I shall not embark for New York before June, when Mr. Rutledge and myself will be companions of the voyage, so that I may receive any commands that you may wish me to execute here for You by the May Packet. Mr. Rutledge has...
18To Thomas Jefferson from John Brown Cutting, 20 March 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just spoken with a gentleman who promises to put a line for me in the letter bag of Capt. Woolsey when he arrives at Gravesend. I embrace the opportunity of inclosing a newspaper or two, additional to those I have already inclosed. The accounts from Brussels of the riot do seem likely to be true from the intemperate violence of the priests and other agents of the aristocracy, who with...
19To George Washington from John Brown Cutting, 1 May 1790 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to inclose you an english newspaper wherein is inserted the copy of a treaty between the king of Prussia and the sublime Porte. This copy I am informed by a foreigner of veracity who perused the original at the house of the imperial minister, is a genuine translation. The terms of it are such that a war between the respective parties to it in conjunction with the kings of...
20To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 3 June 1790 (Adams Papers)
I inclosed You a few days ago a parcel of printed papers some of which I conceived might contain interesting intelligence especially if the dispute between Britain & Spain shoud terminate in hostilities, as in such an event the government of the United States woud at least be involved in discussions of considerable importance to our country with one or both of those nations. Among the rest you...
21To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 14 June 1790 (Adams Papers)
By a vessel that sails for Boston tomorrow I inclose You the british king’s speech on the adjournment prior to the late dissolution of parliament—for which dissolution the next day a royal proclamation issued. From the tenor of this speech a general european war is expected. Meanwhile the most extensive naval armaments are preparing in the ports adjacent to all the great dockyards of this...
22To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 16 June 1790 (Adams Papers)
I write this note just to inclose you a couple of newspapers. Such is the variable & distracted state of affairs at present here and all over Europe that it is impossible to form an opinion one day that events of the next will not overturn. The cabinet of St Jame’s having involved this nation in the fortunes of Prussia—it is next to impossible that a general war shou’d not ensue. France has...
23To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 5 July 1790 (Adams Papers)
There are so many rumours concerning the present state of the dispute between Spain and Britain and so many individuals interested to misrepresent it that it is with much diffidence that I venture to offer you any opinion on that subject. The british parliament the members of which are now chiefly elected will not be assembled before the middle of august. Till then very little that can be...
24To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 17 July 1790 (Adams Papers)
I embrace the opportunity afforded me by a vessel that sails to day for Philadelphia to send you some newspapers and to tell You that the condition of the american seamen here claims the immediate attention of the Government of the United States. In the absence of any person invested with consular or ministerial authority from Congress—I cou’d not endure to see my fellow citizens first...
25I. John Browne Cutting to the Secretary of State, [17? July 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
The moment I had sealed the letter which I wrote you in such haste yesterday, I proceeded to the Admiralty with my pocket full of affidavits and memorials and smoothing my passage through the offices of the clerks by putting my hand into a smaller pocket (as all who are anxious for speedy success in any Admiralty-suit ought to do or they will repent the omission) I soon reached the upper...
26Enclosure I: John Browne Cutting to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, 10 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
To the Right Honble. the Lords Commissioners of the British Admiralty. The Memorial of John Brown Cutting respectfully sheweth. That your memorialist is a native and Citizen of the United States of America, and has been intreated by four of his fellow Citizens to represent that they are truly such, and to ask your orders for their discharge from onbound his Britannic Majesty’s ships the Edgar...
27To John Adams from John Brown Cutting, 11 August 1790 (Adams Papers)
If ever there was a time when the volunteer exertions of a citizen of America became a duty incumbent upon him in a foreign realm—that period has existed here. For many weeks past I have not been absent a single day from the Admiralty—sundays only excepted. It is not for me to say how efficacious in resisting individual oppression or national mischief this un-intermitting attention has proved....
28Enclosure III: John Browne Cutting to J. Hunt, [18 August 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
I entreat the favor of you to return by the bearer that memorial and those papers, which, on behalf of Purdie and other impressed American mariners, I put into your hand on the 10th instant. I vainly flattered myself so far as to expect the indulgence of being heard five minutes by the Earl of Chatham himself in their behalf; especially as one of them is a young man well known to persons of...
29Enclosure VIII: John Browne Cutting to Hugh Purdie, [17 September 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
This moment your two letters of the 15th. inst. are put into my hands. The proper steps for efectuating your immediate release are taken. I send you this line merely from the possibility that the Post may arrive an hour or two sooner than the order for your discharge. Say nothing, fear nothing. In less than twenty four hours a positive order for your liberation will arrive. Meanwhile I am...
30Enclosure IX: John Browne Cutting to Philip Stephens, [22 September 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Cutting’s compliments to Mr. Stephens, on whom he waits agreeably to appointment, to ask if any reply from the commander of the Crescent (concerning Hugh Purdie) has yet been given to the letter which Mr. Stephens was pleased to say he had written, and the purport of the answer to which, should be communicated to Mr. Cutting on tuesday morning. Mr. Cutting would also wish to be informed if...
31To George Washington from John Brown Cutting, 22 February 1792 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to inclose to You a few stanzas which several persons, eminent in polite literature—and who have moreover the honor of a more intimate acquaintance with you than myself—affirm to be neither inelegant unjust nor unworthy of the subject on the occasion. I rejoice in this opportunity of testifying the fervency of that attachment and patriotic homage with which I am, your very...
32To Thomas Jefferson from John Brown Cutting, 24 December 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
On friday evening last died Mr. Rumsay of Maryland. On the evening before while sitting with some members of the Society for encouraging british arts sciences and manufactures (who from the high opinion they entertain’d of his genius had frequently consulted him at their meetings) he complain’d of a sudden pain in his head, and resting it on his hand on the table in an instant became...