1To James Madison from Thomas Digges, 27 November 1815 (Madison Papers)
I hope my valued and highly esteemd Friends Mrs. and Mr Madison will not attribute my long absence & a seeming withdrawing from Them, to any want of respect regard or affection, but place it to the true causes—ie that of the eventful incidents during the autumn & fall of 1814, which occupied my whole mind and vocations, (adding thereto the weight of age: 76, with Sickness, Rhuematics & achs...
2To James Madison from Thomas Digges, 30 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
In haste & almost fatigued to death I set down to address a line to You while my nephew Dr F. and a Gentn., whom you know, are taking a mouthful of refreshmt by one of whom you will I hope soon get this. You can more easily immagine than I can describe my own troubles & vexations, and the deep anxieties I have felt for you & Mrs. M since Wedy. last the 24th Int. nr the Capitol. Since which I...
3To James Madison from Thomas Digges, 9 February 1812 (Madison Papers)
Mr Digges’s Compliments & best regards to Mr Madison. He has been a miserable victim to confinement for the last fortnight or He would have waited on Mrs. & Mr Madison: But rubs , at the age too of 68, are the intermediate tributes that we are forced to pay, in some shape or other, to our wretched nature, ’till we pay the last great one of all. I cannot complete a white thorn Hedge at my lower...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Digges, 13 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
A long confinement to home with a Bileous & attack, & the approaching end of a sister , has prevented me the pleasure of paying my respects to You & receiving those civilities & attentions for which I am very much Your Debtor. I wishd very much to have accompanied the bearer Wm. Mordaunt Esqr to the City today, and to have gratified Him in a wish of personally introducing Him to You; But it is...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Digges, 28 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The Bearer is Mr Wm Byrne an ornamental stucco worker & Plasterer whose good Conduct, sobriety, and rectitude I think I can answer for, having known Him as a respectable Tradesman in Ireland as well as in the City. If you have not engagd one for Monticello, I make no doubt but He will ansr. your purpose and be full as reasonable in Charges, & perhaps moreso, than others of His trade...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Digges, 17 November 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very unwilling to trespass upon your time, but as my nephew Billy Carroll (a Clk. in the Auditors office) is going hence to the City and will wait upon you with this, I am inducd to solicit your reading the inclosd letter from Mr. Pinckney to me, and informing me whether you ever Rcd. the box and paper mentiond in His Lettr. The Box containd some very fine specimens of Coins, medals, &...
7Enclosure I: Thomas Digges to Thomas Pinckney, 13 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I was favourd by Your reply to my Communications from Birmingham relative to the coinage of Dollars &ca. &ca. (which I still am apprehensive are meant to be passd in the United States) I have not had an occasion to intrude upon You, nor as yet been able to get as far as London from the requisite attention it behoovd me to pay to some moveing Farming Families and the getting forward a...
8Enclosure II: Thomas Digges’s Memorandums on Counterfeiting, 12 August [1793] (Jefferson Papers)
At Mr Bages Mill—Elford nr. Lichfield mondy. 12th of Augt. [1793] With Mr. B., his Foreman and 3 workmen. In Feby. last, near the end of Feby., a Man applyd at the mill to get a Ream or two of paper made, of so common a sort that Mr. B. sayd it might be bought in any shop; But on very strong solicitations the men was orderd to get ready the stuf for it the next morning. He then said nothing of...
9Enclosure III: Thomas Digges’s Memorandum on Counterfeiting, 12 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
This was the Sort of Paper chosen by the Man who wishd to get the water Mark (nearly as below) made in the paper—(see Memorandum ). The paper is about 22 Incs. by 20—call’d cartrige Cap The following is the size and shape of the letter as given me by one of the Men at Mr. Robt. Bage’s Mill in his presence NEW JERSEY He told them the paper was to have nine different water marks on each sheet....
10To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Digges, 10 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I send You this Letter in a Book of Medals and Coins (as numberd and markd) which were done at Mr. Boultons mint at Soho near this place. Some of the trash of half pence which are in local tho’ current circulation in and about the Towns to which they appertain, are added to fill up the book; And as I know You have made the American Mint and Coinage much Your study, they may serve as assistant...
11To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Digges, 6 April 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
I stand in need of Your forgiveness for intruding myself upon You, but I hope that my motive for so doing (an ardent desire to promote manufactures in America) will in some measure appologize for me. A Vessel sailing this day from hence from Boston, and the opportunity of inclosing this Lettr to Mr Tho’ Russel of that place (who I am sure will forward it safe) induces me to write to You on the...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Digges, 28 April 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you on the 24th. Ins. and am sorry to put you to the trouble of reading a second long Letter nearly upon the same Subject. It is of such importance to the Manufactures of our Country as to insure me your forgiveness. The Artist Mr. Wm. Pearce, mentiond in my former Letter and whose works you will have described at the end of this Letter, has finally determind to go for America with his...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Digges, 12 May 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
A Cotton manufactory having been lately set up in Virginia, not only patronizd by the State but encouragd by some of the leading Gentlemen in it, some artists from England as well as this Country are wishing to get to it; And altho I have been a little hurt since my arrival in Ireland through my endeavours to get some useful mechanicks to my home near Alexandria, (two or three of whom are now...
14To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 23 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Since the sailing of Adml Barrington there has been much surprise and speculation as to His destination, and an express just arrivd from Plymouth announces that a few days ago and not many leagues off Brest one of His look out frigates the Artois Cap McBride fell in with an outward Bound India Fleet of 4 line of Battle ships (two armed en flute) and about 20 sail of Transports, four of which...
15To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 16 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Since my last there has been no material occurrence but what will be announced in the Papers save the arrival in Scotland of two vessels one from N York the 5 mar and the other from Chas Town the 24th Feby. the letters by the latter is not yet out nor is there any particular accots given out but those of the old kind that the Garrison were chearful healthy and in no fears &ca. &ca. Those...
16To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 9 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have not yet been able to see Mr L, he having left Town just before my return to it and not having got back till yesterday. Without my urging to Lord S–ne the propriety of immediately speaking to Mr L on the matter of my message to You and for releasing him from every tye here, I found His Lordship had concluded to make his approaches to that quarter, for most assuredly it is the right one,...
17To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 2 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I wrote You from Ostend the 27th Ulo and stated what I had done with Dr. F. I arrivd here the last mail day but too late to look about me and to write so fully as I could have wishd. I found the intire kick up of the great ones to make much noise and to give universal pleasure. As the Parliament is not setting no fixd measure of the new people is yet talkd of and the reports are various and...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 22[–26] March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 290–3. I left England a few days back, and until my conversation and some consultations with Mr. Adams on a matter which will be mentioned to you by him, and more particularly explained in this letter, my determination was to have seen you, as well on that...
19To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 26 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I got here this day and am nearly about the hour to Embark. I find I passd Mr Laurens Jnr at Rotterdam, as some questions were askd in the Hotel Where I put up for a person answering my description, from one who was at another Hotel who did not leave His name, but answered the description of Mr Laurens. I stopt at the Hotel Angleterre at the Hague and found that P. Wentworth had gone from...
20To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 20 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I am just arrivd here from London, and instead of personally waiting upon You I make so free as to send a messenger with this and its inclosure together with a few late News Papers. I have a matter of publick moment to mention to You; As well as to speak to a private affair of consequence to myself which will I think lead me in a very few days to Dr. F at Paris. My present purpose is to beg...
21To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 8 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
It has been some Weeks since I have heard from you and indeed near a month since I wrote myself. You may easily suppose the cause, and that I had nothing material to communicate. In a former letter you mentiond to me your willingness to help Captains M——y or C——m to some pecuniary aid should they need it. The long confinement of these brave and unfortunate men makes every small donation...
22To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 11 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
My long silence has not been owing to any want of regard or attention to you, but has been solely occasiond by the imprudence and folly of some young men, whose conduct has produced a general hunt after Amns., the stoppage of letters, seizure of baggage &c. &c.—and it seems as if it would never have an end. The last who went from here Mr. W arren may have explaind in part what has happend. I...
23To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 23 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am without any of your favours for some time. Not a word of news to write about that concerns your country. We English yet think that the Mynheers will trukle to, and we are even so idle as to suppose Russia will be with us. Four mails are due from Holland, and we are extreemly anxious for the Answer to our memorial. If it is possible to get it before it comes out in the foreign news papers,...
24To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 9 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
London 9 January 1781. RC Adams Papers . printed : Digges, Letters Letters of Thomas Attwood Digges , ed. Robert H. Elias and Eugene D. Finch, Columbia, S.C., 1982. , p. 348–349. This letter, written “Tuesday night late,” quoted verbatim an account of the French attack of 6 Jan. on the Island of Jersey that appeared in the London Gazette Extraordinary of Tuesday, 9 Jan., but see also a report...
25To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 5 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Altho hostilities, and seemingly rigourous ones, have commencd between your Country and mine, I see no reason why our former freindships may not be kept up and you and I communicate by letter as we were used to do. I got your favor of the 18th. and hope eer this the two parcells of Books which were then missing have got to hand. There were Receipts taken for them but as I have not been able...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 29 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I communicated what you desird in a letter of Octor. 18th. to the friend who has of late been often the subject of my letters. His reply was abundance of thanks to you, desiring His best wishes & respects &ca &ca. I have been out of the line of communicating with Him since about the 25th of last month, but I often hear from him by message of a Friend....
27To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 26 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have had a sight of yours of the 15th, 17, and 18th Instant and am thankful for their inclosures. Whenever any publications worth notice, come to Your hands, send them in like manner and they will find immediate insertion here. The Courant being now the most generally read paper for early American intelligence, I constantly give the American papers to the publisher of that paper, and at any...
28To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 22 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I am thankful for your favor and its inclosure of the 15th Instant. I hope my parcells go regularly for I never omit to put them in the common conveyance. Let me know if the present rupture will make any alteration. When you write Mr. W.S.C. you are requested not to direct but only mark the letter thus X on the seal part, and put it under a Cover directed to Mr. Stockdale Bookseller Piccadilly...
29To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 12 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
All your favours to the 27 ultimo and particularly that with a disagreeable inclosure came safe to hand, and I should be glad to know the parcells I forward get safe. I have attended regularly to your order, and they go by every post. I have no news to relate to you. Were I to attempt to describe the present dispositions and folly of us Englishmen it would fill pages. The opinion that America...
30To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 8 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 17 with an inclosure to JT, as well as one of the 27th both got safe which was particularly satisfactory, as a friend who is now a fellow Citizen of yours and who left me about the 24th Ultimo may have before now explaind. He could explain to You every thing that I for the present wish explaind. Things are not worse, but insults and aggravation increase. Nothing can exceed the...
31To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 22 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I understood from seeing a letter lately from Paris there had appeard at a Dutch Bankers in that City sundry seconds of Bills for acceptance the first of which had been paid by regular indorsements to Vieve Babet and Co., Nantes, which seconds of Bills appeard to have been taken among Mr. L—s papers and forwarded to Paris unindorsd for acceptance. This causd some uneasiness at Paris; the Bills...
32To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 21 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Your suspicions relative to some Bills mentiond in Yr. last were well founded from the then appearances. I was satisfyd the Transaction was a fraudulent one till I had it cleard up by the only person who coud clear it up ie the friend of the man whose property they were. They were slipt into his hand at a first & watchd interview by our friend,...
33To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 17 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I acknowlegd the Receipt of yours the 28th Octo. and 7th Instant in my last letter of the 14th. Since that day no material move with regard to our friend; but I am in consultations now and then to fix upon some mode by a motion in Parliament to have him put on parole or releasd by Bail. By the inclosd letter you will discover as much as I have yet been able to discover of the writer who...
34To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 17 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote You by a frd the 14th Inst. which I suppose will reach you before or abot the same time with [ this ]. I mentiond the defection & going over of Genl Arnold to the British. For this noble action He has found many advocates here, & the ministry are mightily elated therewith; putting it upon defection in the American Army, strong discontents &ca...
35To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 14 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your favors of the 28th ultimo and 7th Instant came both to hand since mine of the 10th and I began from yesterday to forward the two news papers as directed. You need not apologise for any trouble given me of this sort, for I shall be always glad to serve You. The Books you request in both these last letters will be forwarded by a Ship to Amsterdam to sail in a few days; there are other...
36To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges: Two Letters, 13 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Bearer of this, Capn. Benjamin Joy, waits upon Your Excellency on a matter of Business which will be explaind by Himself to You. He is so well recommended and His attatchment & active services for the cause of His Country are so well known to me, that I cannot but back His solicitation to Your Excellency with my strongest wishes that...
37To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 10 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
Nothing material occurring, I did not write you on the last post day. Things were then in a train for other communications and I am in hopes to add something to this letter in the Evening before I seal it, from our friend. Mr. S ear les letter and some late ones from home via Nantes got to Him. Mr. L——ns treatment remaind with usual and unabated rigour till the 8th Instant. His Son and Mr....
38To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 10 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have seen Miss Georgiana & sympathisd with Her for the present appearance of the picture She sent you in June or July last being stopt somewhere between Ostend & Paris. It was carryd safely by my frd. Mr. Champion of Bristol and lodgd with Mr F Bowens at Ostend for forwardance to You; that Gentn. was then in the habits of sending parcells of Pamphlets...
39To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 3 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received your line with an inclosure the 24th. ultimo, wrote to the partys, and am now busey in putting forward four of the Horses requird by my new Correspondant. By the time limited, I hope to send Him a set that will compleat His Carriage. As 17 or 18 have been sent from me since the 6th of last mo., I hope a considerable part of them will answer and give a good temporary lift. A...
40To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 3 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I hope e’er this that the picture of your valuable friend, has reachd you. I have been very uneasy abot. it & wrote to Mr Bowens (who long ago acknowlegd the Rect of it in safety & that it shoud be forwarded) to clear up to you where the stoppage was occasiond. I am almost afraid to pay your valuable frd. a visit till I hear it is in safety for the...
41To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 31 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
We have not the least news from the Westward more than the publick papers will announce, but in hourly expectations of some from N York. Our grand fleet passd Plymo. the 27th. and these winds have probly put them on their intendd station for Cruizing. A small fleet has saild to N York—a frigate or so with 10 or a doz store Ships and Merchantmen, but no troops or any thing like any. Four Ships...
42To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, [31 October 1780] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office; copy: Library of Congress The rigorous Confinement of Mr L yet Continues. I did hope eer this there would have been some abatement in it. There is no telling upon what principle it is they confine Him a close Prisoner of State after so many precedents have been set. Sullivan, Sterling, Lee, Lovell, & many others. But why should we expect these folks to act upon any...
43To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, [on or before 27 October 1780] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy: Public Record Office, London I wrote you lately that Jones was not to be found here consequently the Bill irrecoverable from Him. He is at Am——m. playing his tricks so I understand. The person who accepted the Bill & acknowleges the acceptance, may be obligd by Law to pay what has been advancd on it. I hear our sick frd is better— His disorder...
44To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 27 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your last is of the 25 Sepr. Mr. W.S.C. lately got the annexd note —it is Sent for your government. No news but what you will read in the papers as soon as this Letter—A great portion of the people here are hurt and as much astonishd as You can be at the treatment Mr. L—— has met with—the rigour is no ways abated. This, with Lord Cornwallis’s military Executions and cool butchery of...
45To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 24 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The letter of Sepr. 18 with an inclosd Bill reachd me but a very few days ago, & I immedeately made the necessary enquirys about Mr Jones. This Genn. [Gentleman] is not in England but I hear He is coming this way, & is at present in Amsterdam, where (I suppose) he is playing similar tricks to those He has imposd upon You. The good old Doctor of whom I...
46To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 20 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
The close confinement of our friend and the denyal of all visits, the use of pen, ink and Paper, as well as all newspapers, still continues with unabated rigour. No person but His Son accompanyd by Mr. Manning has yet found way to Him, and these have been peremptorily refusd a second visit. It now appears that Government find him nothing but His furnishd appartments, Mr. L ordering his own...
47To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 17 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
It was not until the 14th Instant that any person Whatever was permitted to see Mr. Laurens in the Tower. On that day after repeated applications for admission, Mr. Manning, and Mr. Laurens Jur. (a youth of 16 or 18 who has been some years at Warrington school) was permitted to see Him. An order went signd from the 3 Secretarys of State Hillsborough, Stormont, and Germain, to the Govr. of the...
48To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 17 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy: Public Record Office, London It was not until the 14th. inst that any person whatever was permitted to see Mr Laurens in the Tower— Then after repeated applications for admission Mr. Manning and Mr L——ns’s Son, a Youth of 17 or 18 who has been some years at Warrington School, got admission to Him. A permit was given them, signd by the Lds....
49To John Adams from Thomas Digges, 10 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Since my letter of the 6th there has been no material incident relative to Mr. H. L——s Commitment; nor is the rigour of his confinement abated. No person whatever can speak to Him but in hearing and sight of the two attending Messengers. It is said the Secy. of States order will produce admittance to his room, but nothing else. Some of his torey relations, and a Mr. Manning a Merchant of the...
50To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 10 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Since I wrote you the 6th. Int. no alteration has taken place with regard to Mr Laurens confinement & treatment. No person whatever has been permitted to speak to Him, but it is said any person may who will apply for a Secy of States order to do so.— I hear of none of his friends who have made any attempts to do so; I suppose from thinking any stir made...