1To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Thomson, 14 May 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society This is the third Letter I have lately wrote you. With the two last, one dated the 5th: the other the 16th: of April I sent you a Copy of two Conferences between Teedyuscung and this Government. Whether they are gone in the Man of War in which Lord Loudon went, or whether they are kept to go in the Packet I cant say. We are told here that his Lordship is much...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Thomson, 10 December 1758 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in [Charles Thomson], An Enquiry into the Causes of the Alienation of the Delaware and Shawanese Indians from the British Interest , … (London, 1759), pp. 172–82. Lawrence Wroth first identified Thomson as the author of this letter, Pemberton as the author of that which follows next, and Franklin as the recipient of both, on the strength of a statement in...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Thomson, 18 December 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Urgency of my business which called me another way deprived me of the pleasure of waiting on you to Chester. However my best Prayers and wishes attend you, and I hope e’er now you are safe in London. The first Day of my Journey I travelled about 32 Miles up the Lancaster Road and lodged at the 19th. Tavern. This Road tis true is much frequented and on...
4To Benjamin Franklin from “A Merchant in Philadelphia” [Charles Thomson], 19 June 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from The London Chronicle , August 17–20, 1765; AL (fragment): American Philosophical Society That this letter was addressed to Franklin and that he was responsible for its printing in London seem virtually certain: the surviving leaf of the manuscript is found among his papers, and two editorial emendations, now almost indecipherable, appear to be in his hand. Identification of the...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Thomson, 24 September 1765 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in London Chronicle , November 14–16, 1765. Yes, my friend, I grant that “Idleness and Pride tax with a heavier hand than Kings and Parliaments,” “and that frugality and industry will go a great way towards endemnifying us.” But the misfortune is, the very thing that renders industry necessary cuts the sinews of it. With industry and frugality the subjects...
LS : American Philosophical Society Enclosed are two bills of exchange, which we have the pleasure of sending you by order and for account of the Directors of the Philadelphia library company. The one is for £50 Sterling drawn by James and Drinker on Neate and Pigou. The other is Willing & Morris’ draught on John Mayne for £100 Sterling; both at 30 days sight and both payable to yourself. Out...
7To Benjamin Franklin from [Charles Thomson], 6 November 1768 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress The rebirth of the American Philosophical Society, more than two decades after its death in infancy, was a complicated process. Charles Thomson’s letter may have been Franklin’s first notification that the process was under way, and is certainly the first that is extant. Although Thompson deals with a quite different organization, it was one of the two that a...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Thomson and Thomas Mifflin, 3 May 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Minutes of the Library Company of Philadelphia Since we had the Pleasure of writing to you an Union has taken place between the principal Librarys in Town. In Consequence of which the Directors have ordered a Review of the Books. And as it is not yet fully known what we have or what we want, The Directors have ordered us to write and request the Favour of you, if you have not laid out...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Thomson, 26 November 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , March 1–3, 1770 As Capt. Sparks sails sooner than was expected, the Committee of Merchants here have not time to write to you, they have therefore desired me to enclose you a copy of their letter to the Committee of Merchants in London. As the Parliament will no doubt at their meeting take under consideration the affairs of America, it is necessary you should...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Thomson, 26 October 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress This day the congress broke up, the papers are not all got ready, but will be sent to you by the next opportunity. As a vessel sails to Morrow Morning early I am ordered to forward to you the petition to the King. I have the pleasure to inform you that at the last session of Assembly you are continued Agent for this province, of which you will no doubt receive a...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Thomson, 1 November 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I have the honour to forward to you, the Address to the King and an Address to the people of Great Britain and these colonies. I was in hopes by this opportunity to have sent you the Journal of the proceedings of the congress which is in the press. I hope administration will see and be convinced that it is not a little faction, but the whole body of American...
12To George Washington from Charles Thomson, 11 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The president being necessarily engaged with his family, I have the honour to inform you that your letter of the 10th was duly received & laid before Congress, and to transmit you a resolution of Congress passed this day. I am Sir Your obedient humble Servant ALS , DLC:GW . Thomson wrote and signed the enclosed copy of this resolution below his ALS on the same manuscript page. Dated “In...
13To George Washington from Charles Thomson, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The president being still necessarily engaged with his family I have the honour to inform you that your letter of yesterday was recd & laid before Congress. I enclose you sundry resolutions passed this day and am Sr Your obedient humble Serv. ALS , DLC:GW . Included among the enclosed resolutions, which Thomson began writing below the ALS and continued writing on two following manuscript...
14To George Washington from Charles Thomson, 21 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Having lately met with an Ordinance of the king of France, passed last December, for establishing the corps of engineers I made a hasty translation of it, from which I apprehend some useful hints may be taken for establishing such a corps in this country. And as I know of no better hands into which it may be put for this purpose, I have taken the liberty to send you a copy. You are doubtless...
15To George Washington from Charles Thomson, 31 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
As Mr Hancock took leave of Congress on Wednesday and yesterday set out on his way home to Boston, I have the honour to forward to you Copies of two letters this day received from general Gates and most heartily to congratulate you on the signal success with which providence has been pleased to bless our Arms. Col. Wilkinson who brought the dispatches has not had time to sort and arrange his...
16Charles Thomson to Colonel William Grayson, Lieutenant Colonels Robert Hanson Harrison and Alexander Hamilton, and Elias … (Hamilton Papers)
Whereas Congress concur in opinion with General Washington that there are some Ambiguities characterizing the Measures taken by Genl. Howe respecting General Lee, which justify alarming surmises, notwithstanding all that has passed to the contrary. Resolved That General Washington be informed that it is the intention of Congress that it should be a preliminary in the proposed Cartel for a...
17To George Washington from Charles Thomson, 10 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Charles Thomson, 10 Dec. 1778. On 18 Dec., GW wrote Thomson : “I had the honor to receive your favor of the 10th Instant.”
18To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Thomson, 28 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I have the honor to inform you that Congress have this day elected his excellency Samuel Huntington esqr. their president. I am Sr Your humble Servant Endorsed: Cha Thompson Sept. 28. 1780 notifying the election of Mr Huntington as President of Congress.
19To George Washington from Charles Thomson, 28 Sept. 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Charles Thomson, 28 Sept. 1779. On 7 Oct., GW wrote to Thomson: “I have been honored with yours of the 28th Ulto.”
20To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Thomson, 20 November 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of transmitting you a duplicate of an Act of Congress passed the 16th of March 1779, the Utility of which is apparent: And as it may be proper and necessary that you should be informed of the several acts and proceedings of Congress I have herewith sent you a copy of their Journal from the 1st of January last and shall continue to send you from time to time their weekly...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Thomson, 1 February 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Secretary’s Office, 1 Feb. 1780 . Encloses the journals of Congress to complete the state’s set to 1 Jan. 1780, hereafter to be printed in monthly pamphlets regularly sent, and requests a reply to his letter of 20 Nov. 1779, the request therein not being made “by idle curiosity but a desire of promoting public Utility and the cause of America.” RC ( MdAA : Red Books); 1 p.; in a clerk’s hand,...
22Enclosure: Resolution of Congress of 31 May, 31 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
Resolved That the Establishment of the Salaries of the Honorable John Adams and his Secretary Mr. Dana be transmitted to the Minister Plenipotentiary of these States at the Court of Versailles and that He be directed to pay their Draughts to the Amount of their respective Salaries till Congress shall take further Order for that Purpose. Extract from the minutes RC ( Adams Papers ); addressed:...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Thomson, 20 June 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] 20 June 1780 . Circular letter to the state executives quoting Congress’ resolutions of 2 May 1780 respecting the issuance of commissions to private vessels of war. Such commissions are hereafter to be obtained by application to the Board of Admiralty. FC ( DLC : PCC , No. 18A); 2 p. For text of resolutions of 2 May, see JCC Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 ,...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Thomson, 28 July 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] 28 July 1780 . Circular letter to the state executives enclosing a resolve of Congress of 27 July declaring that commissions for private armed vessels are hereafter to issue from the office of the secretary of Congress. Also enclosed are blank commissions to be filled out and substituted for those now in effect; bonds for them, as soon as executed, are to be transmitted to the...
25Instructions from Congress to John Jay, 4 October 1780 (Jay Papers)
Instructions to the Honorable John Jay Minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America at the Court of Madrid agreed to unanimously in Congress Oct r . 4 th . 1780 That the said Minister adhere to his former instructions respecting the right of the United States of America to the free navigation of the river Mississippi into and from the sea, which right if an express acknowledgment...
26Motion of Virginia Delegates in Congress, 7 October 1780 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 78, IX, 503). In Charles Thomson’s hand. Resolved, That Charles Fleming and Forster Webb Esquires be and hereby are appointed Commissioners on the part of the United States either of them to indorse the bills that shall be emitted by the State of Virginia pursuant to the resolution of Congress of the 18th March last Preceding this word in the printed journal is the phrase,...
I have received your letter of the 27 May and the duplicate with the prints for which I am much obliged and will embrace the first opportunity of transmitting one set of the prints agreeably to your request to general Schuyler. I have been anxious with respect to your being regularly informed of what is passing here. Many things have happened of which you ought to be acquainted. I perceive the...
28Additional Instructions Respecting a Peace Treaty with Great Britain, 18 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the letters of 23 and 24 March last from the honble. John Adams minister plenipotentiary for negotiating a treaty of Peace and a treaty of commerce with the king of G Britain and thereupon Resolved That the said minister be informed it is clearly the Opinion of Congress that a short truce would be highly dangerous to these United...
29John Adams’ Authorization to Accept Bills of Exchange Drawn on Henry Laurens, 28 October 1780 (Adams Papers)
Resolved, That the Honble. John Adams be and hereby is authorised and instructed to accept the bills of Exchange drawn on the Honble. Henry Lawrens in pursuance of the resolution of Congress of the 6th. instant in the same manner as he is authorised and instructed to accept those heretofore drawn on Mr. Lawrens according to the resolution of November 23d. 1779, and in case of the absence of...
30Plan for a Treaty of Amity and Commerce, 29 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
Plan of a treaty of amity and commerce between the United States of America and the United Provinces of the low Countries. The parties being willing to fix in a permanent and equitable manner the rules to be observed in the commerce they desire to establish between their respective countries have judged that the said end cannot be better obtained than by taking the most perfect equality and...