181To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 30 January 1797 (Adams Papers)
Nothing could give me greater pleasure than the opportunity I had of annexing my signature to the number of those which have destined you to the “forlorn hope” of the presidential chair, a post the most honorable in the gift of your country, & rendered particularly so at this time by the difficulties attending it. if my conduct in this instance has been erroneous, you must impute it to the...
182To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 19 February 1806 (Madison Papers)
It was with deep regret, on account of the public as well as of yourself, that I saw in the Gazettes, a statement of the painful accident you lately met with; but I flatter myself, the effects will be of short duration. The subject on which I shall now address you, confidentially, is the present state of our country; for which, even in the tranquil situation of rural & domestic employments, I...
183Elbridge Gerry to Samuel and John Adams, 21 – 22 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
I have been fully employed since Thursday Noon in obtaining some Knowledge of the State of the Army and conferring with the different Corps of Officers from the General to the Field officers, and have the pleasure to inform You that they appear to be in high Spirits for Action and agree in Sentiments that the Men’s as firm and determined as they wish them to be, having in View since the...
184To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 8 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
In your letter of december 15th, referring to General Marshall’s journal, You are pleased to observe, “that my seperate , & secret conferences with Talleyrand, & my advocating a stipulation for a loan, to be paid after the war, will do no good to me or to the public,” & that “Pinckney & Martial will attest to the correctness of this journal, & will be beleived .” My conferences with Mr....
185To James Madison from Elbridge Gerry, 10 September 1813 (Madison Papers)
I had the cordial satisfaction by our friend Mr Cutts of hearing, that your health was restored in so great a degree, as to enable you to mount a gay saddle horse, & to veiw your Plantation; also that your Lady & his were well. God be praised for all his mercies! I hope you will all enjoy, long enjoy, health & happiness. The arrival of a minister from Sweden is announced, & I presume will...
186To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 24 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a copy of Mr Pickerings letter to me of the 20th of June No 1, of an account of Stores said to have been purchased for the Sophia No 2, & of his statement of my account No 3; the latter of which, as I conceive, is unjust in several particulars. 1st Mr Pickering has considered my salary as terminating the 12th of may; stating, that it was “the day on which I received...
187To George Washington from Elbridge Gerry, 7 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Having lately seen an intercepted Letter of the 20th of November last, written by Mr Lovell, & published in Rivingtons Gazette, I wish to be indulged on making a few Observations on the Subject. When General Knox was here, he informed me, that the paragraph of the Letter which respected a person’s being “popular,” was supposed by some to refer to your Excellency; but the Date of the Letter...
188To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 25 April 1797 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with your letter of the 6th, which I took from the cover without breaking the seal. The secret shall not escape me; but, from the circumstance mentioned, I shall not be surprized to find, that it has transpired on it’s passage. If the tho’t of sending Mr. Jefferson proceeded from both parties, it wears the appearance of “a natural one”, otherwise, coming from so many of one party,...
189To Thomas Jefferson from Elbridge Gerry, 15 January 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
By Judge Lincoln, my dear Sir, I embrace a favorable opportunity of acknowledging your very friendly letter of the 26th of Janry. 1799; but permit me previously to give you some information in regard to this gentleman. Mr. Lincoln is an eminent lawyer in this State, & his professional talents, are accompanied with a humane & benevolent disposition, pure integrity, great liberality, & unsullied...
190Enclosure: Extract of a Letter from Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 22 July 1783 (Adams Papers)
After declaring that neither the Letter from Mr. Marbois nor the conversation respecting the Fishery, Boundaries, Royalists and recommending Moderation in our Demands, are of Weight sufficient to fix in his Mind an opinion, that the Court of France wishes to restrain us in obtaining any Degree of Advantage We could prevail on our Enemies to accord to, the Doctor goes on— “I ought not however...
191Report Relative to Assuming Civil Government, 10 December 1774 (Adams Papers)
Cambridge,10 December 1774. printed : Mass. Provincial Congress, Jours. William Lincoln, ed., The Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775, and of the Committee of Safety , Boston, 1838. , p. 73–74. This, the second report on this date of the Committee on the State of the Province, was framed in the form of three resolutions: that the adjournment on 29 October had...
192New England Delegates to George Washington, 2 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
As Congress have authorized your Excellency to send a proper Officer to take the Command in the northern Department; We take the Liberty to signifie to your Excellency that in our Opinion, no Man will be more likely; to restore, Harmony, Order and Discipline, and retrieve our Affairs in that Quarter, than Majr. Genll. Gates. He has on Experience acquired the Confidence, and stands high in the...
The Congress being Inform’d by a Letter from Genl. Washington, that two Thousand of the Continental Troops at Cambridge and Roxbury are deficient in Fire Arms, and that he has not been able to Purchase the Same from the Inhabitants or Obtain them from the Assemblies of the New England Colonies, have directed the General to make Returns to the Assemblies of the Numbers of men Inlisted from...
194To George Washington from a Committee of the Continental Congress, 6 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Representation made to your Excellency by a Board of General officers, touching the Inconveniences arising from the Mode in which regimental officers have drawn their Rations, having been committed to Us by Congress, We propose to report the inclosed Resolve, upon which We previously wish to have your Sentiments. We are not to consider the proposal for drawing more provissions than are...
The Undersigned, Agents of the State of New York on the one and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the other Part, having mutually agreed under the Direction of Congress that the Honorable Robert Hanson Harrison of the State of Maryland Esqr., the honorable John Rutledge of the State of South Carolina Esqr., the Honorable George Wythe, the honorable William Grayson, the honorable James...
196From John Adams to the Freeholders and Other Inhabitants of the Towns and Districts of Massachusetts Bay, 10 December … (Adams Papers)
Cambridge,10 December 1774. printed : Mass. Provincial Congress, Jours. William Lincoln, ed., The Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775, and of the Committee of Safety , Boston, 1838. , p. 69–72. Prepared by a committee appointed 12 October, originally composed of fifteen members: John Hancock, Joseph Hawley, Joseph Warren, Samuel Dexter, Artemas Ward, James...
197Massachusetts Delegates to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 21 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Gorham and Mr. Russel, Agents of the Town of Charlestown, have presented to Congress a Petition from the unfortunate Inhabitants of that Place, praying for a Compensation for their Losses. The Petition was drawn in very decent and handsome Terms, containing a lively Description of the Distresses to which the unhappy Petitioners are reduced, from a State of Ease and Affluence; and the...