Proposals. That two Battallions of Marines be raised consisting of one Collonell, two Lt. Collonells, two Majors &c. (officers as usual in other Regiments) that they consist of five hundred Privates each Battalion, exclusive of Officers. That particular Care be taken that no Persons be appointed to office or inlisted into Said Battalions but such as have actually Served in the Merchant Service...
2IV. John Hancock to George Washington, 2 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
It gives me the most sensible Pleasure to convey to you, by Order of Congress, the only Tribute, which a free People will ever consent to Pay; the Tribute of Thanks and Gratitude to their Friends and Benefactors. The disinterested and patriotic Principles which led you to the Field, have also led you to Glory: and it affords no little Consolation to your Countrymen to reflect, that, as a...
3John Jay to the American Commissioners, 5 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Your favors of the 2d. 8th: and 10 June last have been recd. and Copies transmitted to the Committee. The subject of them certainly merits their Attention, and I hope your Advice will be litterally complied with. As I have not now the Honor of a Seat in Congress, having been called to an office which will confine me in this State, any Information I can...
On the 20th. August last I had the Pleasure of recieving and communicating to Congress your Favors of the 3d. and 4th. of that month. Be pleased to accept my Congratulations on your safe Return to your Family and Country. Yours of the 27 Feby. and 1st. March last came to Hand about ten Days ago. An Expectation of having Commands from Congress to transmit, induced me to delay writing ’till now....
5To John Adams from John Jay, 26 April 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have at Length had the Pleasure of recieving your very friendly Letter of the 22d. Feby. last. It has been very long on the Road. Accept my Thanks for your kind Congratulations; and permit me to assure you that I sincerely rejoice in your having safely reached the Place of your Destination on a Business which declares the Confidence of America, and for an Object, in the Attainment of which,...
6From John Jay to John Adams, 26 April 1780 (Jay Papers)
I have at Length had the Pleasure of recieving your very friendly Letter of the 22 d . Feb y last— It has been very long on the Road. Accept my Thanks for your kind Congratulations; and permit me to assure you that I sincerely rejoice in your having safely reached the Place of your Destination on a Business which declares the Confidence of America, and for an Object, in the Attainment of...
7To John Adams from John Jay, 4 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
There is a Destinction between Ceremony and Attention which is not always observed tho often useful. I Of the latter former I hope there will be little of V between us, of the latter much. Public as well as personal Considerations dictate this Conduct, on my Part, and I am happy to find by your favor of the 15 Inst. Ultimo, that you approve it in the same Light mean not to be punctilious. The...
8From John Jay to John Adams, 4 June 1780 (Jay Papers)
There is a Distinction between Ceremony & Attention which is not always observed tho often useful. I Of the latter ^ former ^ I hope there will be little ^ of it ^ between us; of the latter much. public as well as personal Considerations, dictate this Conduct on my Part, and I am happy to find by your favor of the 15 Inst. ^ Ult ^ , that you
9To John Adams from John Jay, 17 July 1780 (Adams Papers)
On the 4 June last I had the Pleasure of writing you a Letter acknowledging the Reciept of yours of the 15 May—since which none of your Favors have reached me. I have just been reading the Capitulation of Charles Town. I suspect they wanted Provisions. The Reputation of the Garrison will suffer till the Reasons of their Conduct are explained. I wish a good one may be in their Power. They are...
10From John Jay to John Adams, 17 July 1780 (Jay Papers)
On the 4 June last I had the Pleasure of writing you a Letter acknowleging the Reciept of yours of the 15 May —since which none of your Favors have reached me. I have just been reading the Capitulation of Charles Town. I suspect they wanted Provisions. The Reputation of the Garrison will suffer till the Reasons of their Conduct are explained. I wish a good one may be in their Power. They are...
11To John Adams from John Jay, 24 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
Since my last to you before you left Paris, I have been favored with no Letters from you except a few Lines sent me by Mr. Montgomery of Alicante, recommending that Gentleman as friendly to our Country. The enclosed is a Copy of an Act of Congress adopting the Regu lations proposed by the Empress of Russia, and of which I was desired to transmit Copies to you and Doctr. Franklin. Agreable to...
12From John Jay to John Adams, 24 February 1781 (Jay Papers)
Since my last to you before you left Paris, I have been favored with no Letters from you except a few Lines sent me by M r Montgomery of Alicante, recommending that Gentleman as friendly to our Country. The enclosed is a Copy of an Act of Congress adopting the Regulations proposed by the Empress of Russia, and of which I was desired to transmit Copies to you and Doct r . Franklin— Agreable to...
13To John Adams from John Jay, 15 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
The two last posts brought me your Favors of the 26 and 28th. Ult. It really gives me great Satisfaction at Length to see a prospect of a regular Correspondence between us. The Failure of my former attempts had almost discouraged me, tho’ from the frequent miscarriage of Letters to and from me, I had Reason to impute your Silence more to that than to any other Cause. I have not recd. a...
14From John Jay to John Adams, 15 December 1781 (Jay Papers)
The two last posts brought me your Favors of the 26 & 28 th . Ult. It really gives me great Satisfaction at Length to see a prospect of a regular Correspondence between us. The failure of my former attempts had almost discouraged me, tho’ from the frequent miscarriages of Letters to and from me, I had Reason to impute your Silence more to that than to any other Cause. I have not rec d . a...
15To John Adams from John Jay, 18 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I had the Pleasure of recg your favor of the 28 ult. a few Days ago. I congratulate You sincerely on the accession of Friesland and the flattering Prospect there is that the Example of that Province will be followed by that of Holland and the others. It would give me great Satisfaction to be able to transmit you In telligence equally agreable, but that is not the Case. Prudence forbids me to...
16From John Jay to John Adams, 18 March 1782 (Jay Papers)
I had the Pleasure of rec g your Favor of the 28 Ult. a few days ago. I congratulate You sincerely on the accession of Friesland & the flattering Prospect there is that the Example of that Province will be followed by that of Holland & the others It would give me great Satisfaction to be able to transmit you some agreable ^ you ^ Intelligence from hence ^ equally agreable ^ but that is not the...
17To John Adams from John Jay, 15 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
Many weeks have elapsed since I recd. a Letter from our Country, but a Packet of News papers, which I think must have been sent from the office of the Secretary for foreign affairs, was brought to me by the last Post from Bilboa. They contain nothing very interesting. There is a Paragraph in one of them under the Boston Head which mentions the safe arrival of the Cicero Capt. Hill, and among...
18To John Adams from John Jay, 2 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your friendly Letter of the 8th. Ult. should not have remained so long unanswered, had I not been obliged by Sickness which lasted several Weeks to postpone writing to any of my Correspondents. Mrs. Jay has also been much indisposed—Indeed neither of us have been blessed with much Health since we left America. Your Negociations in Holland have been honorable to yourself as well as useful to...
19From John Jay to John Adams, 2 August 1782 (Jay Papers)
Your friendly Letter of the 8 th . Ult. should not have remained so long unanswered, had I not been obliged by Sickness which lasted several Weeks to postpone writing to any of my Correspondents. M rs . Jay has also been much indisposed— Indeed neither of us has been blessed with much Health since we left America— August Your Negociations in Holland have been honorable to yourself as well as...
20To John Adams from John Jay, 1 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
I am this moment informed of a safe opportunity of conveying you a Letter, and as such another may not soon offer, I must not omit it. My opinion coincides with yours as to the Impropriety of treating with our Enemies on any other than an equal footing. We have told mr Oswald so, and he has sent an Express to London to communicate it, and to require further Instructions. He has not yet recd....
21From John Jay to John Adams, 1 September 1782 (Jay Papers)
I am this Moment informed of a safe opportunity of conveying you a Letter, and as such another may not soon offer, I must not omit it. My opinion coincides with yours as to the Impropriety of treating with our Enemies on any other than an equal footing. We have told M r Oswald so, & he has sent an Express to London to communicate it, and to require further Instructions. He has not yet rec d ....
22From John Jay to John Adams, 28 September 1782 (Jay Papers)
M r Oswald rec d . Yesterday a Commission to treat of peace with the Commissioners of the United States of America — I have Reasons for wishing that you would say nothing of this till you see me, which I hope & pray may be soon—very soon— This is a short Letter, but notwithstanding its Brevity be assured that I am with great Esteem & Regard D r Sir Your most ob t . Serv t . Dft , NNC ( EJ :
23The American Peace Commissioners: Commission for William Temple Franklin, [1 October 1782] (Franklin Papers)
DS : Yale University Library; copies: Library of Congress (two), American Philosophical Society, Massachusetts Historical Society The present document, penned by William Temple Franklin on October 1, was most likely signed by Franklin the same day. It was eventually signed by all the peace commissioners, but not without hesitation (on the part of John Jay) and outright hostility (on the part...
24Preliminary Articles of Peace: Second Draft Treaty, [4–7 November 1782] (Franklin Papers)
D and copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; two D and copy: Public Record Office; transcript: National Archives As new American and British negotiators were converging on Paris, Franklin’s isolation in Passy posed certain inconveniences. John Adams arrived on October 26 but, as he initially refused to call on Franklin, the latter was evidently unaware of his arrival until Matthew Ridley...
25Draft Peace Treaty Agreed to by the American Peace Commissioners and Richard Oswald, 4 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
Articles agreed upon by and between Richard Oswald Esquire the Commissioner of His Britannic Majesty, for treating of Peace with the Commissioners of the United States of America, on behalf of His said Majesty, on the one part. And Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and John Adams, three of the Commissioners of the said States for treating of Peace with the Commissioner of His said Majesty, on their...
26The American Peace Commissioners to Henry Strachey, 6 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS and three copies: Public Record Office; copies: National Archives (three), Library of Congress (three), Massachusetts Historical Society, William L. Clements Library; transcript: National Archives We have been honoured with your Favor of the 5th. Instant, and as our Answer to a Letter We recieved from Mr. Oswald on the same subject contains our unanimous Sentiments respecting it, We take...
27The American Peace Commissioners to Richard Oswald, 7 November 1782 (Adams Papers)
In answer to the letter you did us the honor to write on the 4 th. ins t. we beg leave to repeat what we often said in Conversation, viz. that the Restoration of such of the Estates of Refugees, as have been confiscated, is impracticable; because they were confiscated by Laws of particular States, &, in many instances, have passed by legal titles through several hands— Besides, Sir, as this a...
28The American Peace Commissioners to Richard Oswald, 7 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS and three copies: Public Record Office; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress (three), Massachusetts Historical Society (three), National Archives, North Carolina State Division of Archives and History; press copy of copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives In answer to the letter you did us the honor to write...
We have received the Letter you did us the honor to write on the 25 th. Inst. Our Country has had early and repeated Proofs both of your Readiness and Abilities to do her Service. The Prospect of an inactive Campaign in America, induced us to adopt the Opinion, that you might be more useful here than there, especially in Case the Negotiation for Peace on the Part of France in England, should...
30Draft Article on Loyalists, [ca. 26 November 1782] (Adams Papers)
Congress will recommend to the Legislature of each of the thirteen States to appoint Commissioners to be under Oath to appraise at a just Value, at this Time the Estates that have been confiscated, and to make Provision, in a reasonable Time, not exceeding two Years for the a Compensation, to those of the Refugees who have not taken an active Part in the War against the United states, and of...