1To John Adams from Samuel Osgood, 23 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
Without apologizing for interrupting you a short Moment I have to inform you that Genl. Frye not receiving any Intelligence respecting himself, and being informed that Genl. Washington had received Word from the Honorable Congress that the Appointment of another Brigadier was suspended for the present, he left us about the 10th of Octr. unable to account for his not having any particular...
2To John Adams from Samuel Osgood, 4 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I have no other excuse for troubling you with another Letter but to inform you that my other ought to have been dated at Roxbury Camp Octr. 23d. pardon me the Neglect. Our worthy Generals have all been together this is the third Day. Tomorrow I hope will finish it marking as some are pleased to term it the black Sheep among the Officers and I suppose the white are to receive enlisting Orders...
3To John Adams from Samuel Osgood, 30 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge your Favors of the 14th and 15th Novr. and now Sir I think myself sufficiently happy since you have authorized me to write with Freedom and no advantage will be taken of my Simplicity. I flatter myself that the most triffling Intelligence from Camp if sometimes there is interspersed any Thing of Importance will not be disagreeable to you in your present Situation. Their...
4To John Adams from Samuel Osgood, 4 December 1775 (Adams Papers)
I fancy such an Army was scarcly ever collected together before. What a Contrast do my Eyes behold every Day: in Boston an Army of Slaves!—on this Side the Sons of the respectable Yeomanry of New England. At Home we are Lords of our own little but sufficient Estates. Some of the worthy Committee from the Honble. Continental Congress were very uneasy, the Soldier’s Pay being too high in their...
5To George Washington from Samuel Osgood and Oliver Phelps, 15 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
We are constrain’d from the present Situation of our Business, to trouble your Excellency with a Representation of our Prospects with Regard to forwarding future Supplies to the Army; & also the Plan this Commonwealth has laid for filling the Magazines with salt Provisions. The General Assembly upon receiving the Requisitions of Congress for Supplies for 1781 immidiately determined to comply...
6To John Adams from Samuel Osgood, 7 December 1783 (Adams Papers)
I should have done myself the Pleasure of writing to you before this Time; But since Joining Congress, we have been in an unsettled Posture.— little other Business has been done than that of determining a Place, or Places, for the future Residence of Congress.— The Discussion of these Questions bro’t into view many others, of great Importance.— The Decissions of Congress, you are undoubtedly...
7To John Adams from Samuel Osgood, [14 January 1784] (Adams Papers)
I had the Pleasure of seeing M r. Thaxter your late Private Secretary at Philadelphia.— Congress were then on their Way to this Place— He being anxious to return to Mass tts. it was not tho’t expedient for him to come on here, as he delivered his Dispatches to the President of Congress in Philadel a. & as it did not seem probable that Congress would be soon assembled at this Place.— This is...
8To John Adams from Samuel Osgood, 14 November 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have to acknowledge the Rec t. of your Favor, which I should have answered sooner, had any Thing within the Compass of my Knowledge occurred, of sufficient Consequence to inform you of.— The present Secretary for foreign Affairs, I have no Doubt, keeps you well informed of all the political Occurances here.— But in a Government, where expedients only keep up its Existence; it is impossible...
9To George Washington from Samuel Osgood, 5 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to inclose a Copy of an Advertisement which I propose to have published tomorrow, relative to Contracts for the conveyance of the Mail for one year to commence on the first Day of January next, at which time the present Contracts expire. It is not materially different from the Advertisement ⟨ illegible ⟩ By the ⟨ illegible ⟩ for the ⟨transportation illegible ⟩ the Post...
10To George Washington from Samuel Osgood, 16 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably the Advertisement of the 5th Ulto ⟨ illegible ⟩ proposals for Carrying the Mail for the Year 1790. I have received a ⟨ illegible ⟩ as stated in the enclosed Schedule, which I have now the Honor to ⟨lay⟩ before you—The time for receiving proposals expired last saturday. The following are the persons that appear to me to be entitled the carriage of the Mail: Joseph Barnard from...
11To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Osgood, 28 November 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, November 28, 1789. Acknowledges Hamilton’s letter of November 16, 1789. Sends a detailed report on the present condition of the Post Office Department with suggestions for improving its efficiency and increasing postal revenue. LC , RG 28, Records of the Postmaster General, Letter Books, 1789–1794, National Archives. Osgood was appointed Postmaster General on September 26, 1789....
12To George Washington from Samuel Osgood, 9 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
As the meeting of the Congress of the United States is near at hand, it becomes my Duty to state the situation of the Post Office, in order that if any defects shall be found in the present System, the Supreme Executive may make such representation of the same, as the importance of the business may require. I have employed as much of my time, as could be spared from the necessary and current...
13To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Osgood, 20 January 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
In obedience to the orders of the Supreme Executive, I have the honor of laying before you such remarks and observations as have occurred to me, in attending to the Department of the Post Office; many of these observations will be found to be of a general nature, and founded in opinion: for there are not documents in the office on which to found estimates that would afford satisfaction. The...
14To George Washington from Samuel Osgood, 29 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have examined the Documents in the General Post Office with Respect to the Arrival of the Mail at Richmond, & find but two Instances of Failure since the first of April last, to the first of July Instant, in delivering the Mail that goes South from this Place, to Richmond; excepting that it sometimes arrives half an Hour, & sometimes an Hour, after the Time fixed for its Arrival. On the 19th...
15To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Osgood, 11 October 1790 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your favor of the 7th. Instant; & as it appears to me very proper that the Dispatches which you mention should be forwarded to the several Loan Officers free of Postage, I have accordingly ordered the Postmaster at Philadelphia not to charge any on the same. I am Sir &ca. LC , RG 28, Letter Books, 1789–1794, National Archives. Letter not found. Robert Patton.
16To George Washington from Samuel Osgood, 16 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor of enclosing a Schedule containing a General View of the Contracts for the Conveyance of the Mail in the Year 1791; & also a Paper with Remarks on the Contracts for the present Year, & for the Year 1791, by which it will appear, that considerable Improvements have been made in the Arrangements for the next Year. Between Baltimore & New York; Philadelphia & Easton in...
17To George Washington from Samuel Osgood, 11 July 1791 (Washington Papers)
In the Execution of the Duties incumbent on the Postmaster General, I am sensible from Experience of the Propriety of his residing at the Seat of Government. From a Consideration of the Inconveniences that would result to me by a Removal to Philadelphia, I am induced to make a Resignation of the Office of Postmaster General with which you were pleased to honor me, and for which, I beg leave to...
18To James Madison from Samuel Osgood, 24 April 1801 (Madison Papers)
It is with Pleasure I take up my Pen to congratulate you on a Change in the politics of our common Country. A change, that has been so auspicious, as to promote to the first Office in our republican Government, the Man who has so richly merited the Confidence of his Country: who, regardless of the Torrents of Slander & Abuse, has so ably supported the genuine Principles of civil Liberty, as...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Osgood, 30 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me, Sir, to render you my sincere Thanks for the honor you did me in appointing me to the Office of Supervisor of the internal Revenue for the District of New York.—Being assured that the whole Office is soon to be abolished, and as I have been informed thro’ Mr. Dewitt Clinton that you entertain a favourable Opinion of my Integrity; I beg Leave to inform you that it will give me great...