1Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 30 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas L. Savage and addressed to “The Honble. Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Your favor by Post came safe to hand, like you I have nothing new to communicate. Mr. Clarke has ship’d a quantity of Tobacco from this Country to N. York more than the first resolution of Congress amounted to, and without giving me any Information of his design, he says...
2Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 9 February 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Charles Hay. You will find by the inclosed that the Executive have had under their Consideration the Situation of the Continental Troops and the Staff Departments now in this State, which is so truly distressing both to them and us, that I want Words to give you a just Idea of it. The State you will know from my former letters and your own Sufferings...
3Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 6 April 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Charles Hay. My letters that you miss were sent to the Post Office, and I suppose must have been either mislaid or taken away by Some curious Tory, who will meet with but little gratification in reading them, as they containd nothing of consequence, indeed that Seems to be the Case on both Sides. When I came to the government I found the...
4Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 27 September 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Samuel Patteson. Addressed to “The Honorable Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Since I wrote to you yesterday I have seen the Attorney who tells me his performance respecting our claim to the western Country is ready for the inspection of the Committee and that as soon as it meets their approbation it will be transmitted to you. I am &. Q.v. On 1 June...
5Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 19 April 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. Addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” I received your favor by the last Post. It appears to me astonishing that Nathan should give you so much trouble, when he must know his Debt can be paid no where but at this Place[;] this his Agent has been told, and that there are no funds as yet establish’d for that Purpose; I shall...
6Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 29 March 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. Addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Your favor of the 18th. of March came safe to hand, by which I find our Prospects of Peace are greatly lessen’d since the perusal of Mr. Lawrence’s Letter it is however some consolation to me to know that the reports spread abroad by the Enemies of the French Alliance are on this as...
7Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 16 November 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas L. Savage and addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” I have your favor by the last post, and think with you that it is problematical whether the British quit Charles Town or not, tho’ on the 25th. of last Month they had made such advances towards it that hopes are to be entertain’d of their being embarked before the countermanding...
8Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 15 August 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Samuel Patteson. Addressed to “The Honorable Virginia Delegates in Congress.” I received your favor of the 1st. instant and shall most assuredly use every endeavor to apprehend any forgers of Morris’s notes that may be in this country and beg you to give me any information respecting them that may come out in the course of the examination of those...
9Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 12 April 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Charles Hay. It certainly would forward the recruiting service much to have cloths lodged with every person appointed to that business, but as it would be attended with great trouble and expence and perhaps some loss to send them into every County, I think it will be sufficient if an order can be obtained from the War Office permiting the Executive...
10Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 10 October 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Samuel Patteson. Addressed to “The Virginia Delegates in Congress.” The last post brought no letter from you. The Clerk of the Council informs me that whilst I was in Gloster you wrote for an account of the several sums of money that had been advanced by this State to the continent. the letter by some means or other has been mislaid. I have therefore...
11Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 12 July 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. Addressed to “The Virginia Delegates in Congress.” I had not the pleasure of your usual favor by the last post the reason of which I expect was explain’d by a proclamation of your President for the removal of Congress to Prince Town, a step that has given general Satisfaction here, indeed I think nothing could justify your staying...
12Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 9 May 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. Addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” I duly received your favor of the 29th. of last Month. In my last I requested you to let Mr. Thompson know I would send by this Post an Act of Assembly repealing the Cession of the Western Teretory. I then thought there had been one, but the Clerk of the Delegates informs me I was...
13Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 6 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Archibald Blair. Our Assembly has passd a Law for the seisure of Brittish Goods on Land but the Execution of it is suspended untill other States shall do the same I beg the favour of You when this happens to give me information that proper steps may be taken to enforce the Law here. your favor by the last post came to hand too late for the Assembly I...
14Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 28 August 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). Addressed to “The Honorable Virginia Delegates in Congress.” In the hand of Samuel Patteson. Many thanks to you for your kind concern for my health I was so extremely ill that the doctors advised my leaving the fogs of Richmond for some time as absolutely necessary for my recovery. I have received much benifit from the trip short as it was but am not quite...
15Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 11 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether, who had succeeded Charles Hay as assistant clerk of the Council of State on 7 May 1782. I have inclos’d for your perusal a letter to Mr Morris and one to the Chevalier, which you’l please to seal and deliver after reading, and use your endeavours to obviate any difficulties that may be started by the Minister if in your power. I am...
16Benjamin Harrison to the Virginia Delegates, 28 May 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 13th of this month did not come to hand till yesterday. The Contents of it were so interesting that I sent it immediately to the Assembly, to whom it was very acceptable. Nothing in a public way has lately given me more pleasure than the addition of Mr. Jefferson to the European Commissioners, for tho’ I have the same opinion of the other Gentlemen that you entertain, yet I...
17Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 31 May 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia Historical Society). In the hand of Archibald Blair but signed by Harrison. The cover, enveloping several enclosures, is missing. The verso of the present letter is docketed in an unknown hand, “Gov: Harrisons Letter May 31st. 1783.” The original text, clipped on the edges, is internally mutilated or has deteriorated. Obliterated words or letters are supplied, as shown in...
18Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 30 October 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). Addressed to “Delegates in Congress.” In the hand of the clerk Samuel Patteson. See Harrison to Delegates, 25 Oct. 1783 , ed. n. The two last posts brought no letters from you which I am really sorry for as a full account of the proceedings of Congress on the place of their permanent residence was expected. There are not yet a sufficient number of members to...
19Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 18 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. We are obliged to you for your communications of the 4th. Instant; I hope there can be no doubt of America’s complying strictly with her engagements to our Allies; there is none here every person that I converse with seems to think it our Interest as well as duty. Our Assembly is at last doing duty and from the complexion of the...
20Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 20 June 1783 (Madison Papers)
RC ( NA : PCC , No. 71, II, 365–67). In Harrison’s hand. Addressed to “The Honble: Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Docketed, “Letter 20 June 1783 Govr. B. Harrison of Virginia to Honble. delegates of that state on a claim of Edward Cowper July 3 1783 Referred to the Agent of marine to report.” The FC in the Virginia State Library varies from the original only in a few instances of punctuation...
21Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 4 January 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Lyttleton Savage, assistant clerk of the Council of State. Addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Your favors of the 17th. & 24th. of last Month came to hand by Post one of them was not franked, and of course Postage was demanded on it this was as usual but there were two other packets from General Washington and the Secretary of...
22Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 15 January 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Charles Hay. The inclosed resolution of the Assembly just came to hand directing no money to be paid or specifics delivered but by special order of Congress or the Financier General You will please therefore to put it in such a train that Congress may avail themselves of any supplies we may be able to furnish them. I am &c That is, specific...
23Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 23 March 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Charles Hay. A privateer belonging to this State has seized a flag in one of the Ports of North Carolina, and brought her into this Country, libelled and condemned her in our Court of Admiralty, which has given such offence to Govr Burke that he once intended to send an armed force to carry her back. I hope he has given over this rash design on a...
24Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 21 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. Addressed to “The Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Your favor of the 11th. Instant came to Hand by the Post, as did the missing Letter by the Post before which makes it probable that the delay proceeded from it’s not geting to the Post master before the Mail was closed. I enclose you a Paper sent to me by the Commissioners of our...
25Benjamin Harrison to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 25 October 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
I am much disappointed in not receiving a letter from you by the last post, as we are all anxious to know where Congress means to fix its permanent residence, reports say it is to be in the woods near Princeton or on the delaware a little below Trenton. I think it impossible that either can be true. If I should be mistaken it will fix this state in an opinion that there is a decided majority...
26Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 12 April 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. Addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Severe rheumatic Pains prevent my doing more than acknowledge the receipt of yours favor of the 1st. Instant and informing you that I shall lay it before the Assembly if you desire it but I really do not know what they can do more than is already done, the Treasurer is directed to Pay...
27Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 28 September 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In William Tatham’s hand and directed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Your favor by the last post with it’s enclosures came safe to hand. I thank you for the papers. their contents are very interesting I think they give us a prospect of peace, and hope your Communications from Paris will confirm them. I wish the Members of Congress could be properly impress’d...
28Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 7 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. Addressed to “The Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Your favors of the 21th. and 28th. of last Month came together by Post. we had some reason to expect from advices received here you would have been able to have inform’d us with certainty whether we were to have Peace or War for the next year, the Ultamatum of Great Britain has...
29Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 24 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas L. Savage. Addressed to “The Virginia Delegates in Congress.” I am much obliged to you for your favor by Express, part of the Speach had reached us before yours came to hand but it was so incorrect that it did not generally obtain Credit. Mr. Ross has a Letter from his Partner Mr. Edwards at Nantes of the 18th. of December advising him that...
30Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 7 June 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. Addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” I have rec’d. your favor by the last Post, and have no official Communications to make you. We are anxiously waiting for the definitive Treaty, some of our People can hardly persuade themselves that Peace is yet certain and our Merchants wish to Keep them in that Opinion. I beg the...
31Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 3 May 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether, assistant clerk of the Council of State. Addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” I duely received your favor of the 22d. of last Month, and anxiously wait for the News by the French Frigates, a report prevails here that Lord Shelburne has said in the House of Lords that as there is no Time fixed by the Treaty for the...
32Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 22 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. The plan laid for bringing over the Stores is most unaccountably frustrated by the Assembly. Our deficiency in arms and Ammunition is so truely alarming that I feel real distress, whenever I think of our situation. If you cannot get them brought over by our good friends the French they will probably remain where they are til the...
33Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 30 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In William Tatham’s hand and directed to “Virginia Delegates.” I recd. some time ago the Journals of Congress that you sent me but find they are not complete those of 79 being wanting be so good as to send them by the first Oppery. Some prisoners return’d from New York have enfused an Opinion into the Heads of our people that their Negros carried away by the Enemy...
34Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 21 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas L. Savage and addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Your favor of the 10th. Instant came safe such parts of it as were necessary for the Consideration of the Assembly have been laid before them and I hope will have a good effect. it has always been a surprise to me that R. Island should act as she has done, the necessity of a fund to...
35Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 4 May 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Charles Hay. Addressed to “The Virginia Delegates in Congress.” I am much obliged to you for your favor by the last post; the intelligence is agreable tho’ there is no immediate prospect of arriving at the wished for period; yet it will come in time. Who is fully informed of their being in an error, will open their eyes. We wish not to have the...
36Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 27 July 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of William Tatham, assistant clerk of the Virginia Council of State, and directed to “The Virginia Delegates in Congress.” A Mr. Linctot of the Illinois was appointed Indian Agent in that Country by Governor Jefferson on behalf of this State. It appears by his Accounts and some Letters of Colo. Broadheads who commanded at fort Pitt that he also acted in...
37Notes on Debates, 2 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS ( LC : Madison Papers). See Notes on Debates, 4 November 1782 , ed. n. JM preceded his entry for the present date with the words “No Congress untill.” See Notes on Debates, 28 November 1782 . The Secy of foreign affairs resigned his office assigning as a reason, the increase of business in his Office of Chancellor of N. Y. whereby it was become impossible for him to execute the duties of...
38Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 26 September 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Samuel Patteson. Addressed to “The Honorable the Virginia Delegates in Congress.” Your two favors of the 8th. and 13th. instant came to hand by the last post one of them has been detained in the post office which I suppose has also been the case with one of mine. General Irvine’s complaint of the Virginians crossing the Ohio reached me I suppose on...
39Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 9 August 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). Unsigned. Addressed to “The Honorable Virginia Delegates in Congress.” In the hand of Samuel Patteson, appointed temporarily “an Assistant Clerk” by Governor Harrison on 11 August and subsequently “approvd” for regular employment by the Council of State on an unspecified date ( JCSV H. R. McIlwaine et al ., eds., Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia (4...
40Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 29 June 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). Written by Thomas Meriwether. Addressed to “Virginia Delegates. Congress.” There was nothing in my Letter taken from the post that can be of any service to the Enemy nor any thing that can amuse the public[.] I confess to You the Buisness you mention in cypher in your last has turn’d out much as I expected it wou’d do. It has never been attended to here. the...
41Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 6 September 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In William Tatham’s hand and directed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” This just serves to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 27th ulto. We have as great a dearth of News or interesting occurrences as you have at Philadelphia. The taxes begin now to come in and I have my hopes you will be no more in the Hands of Usurers, I will take care to let the...
42Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 3 October 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). Addressed to “The Honorable Virginia Delegates in Congress.” In the hand of Samuel Patteson. Your favor of the 20th of last month came safe to hand. The determinations of the French and English respecting our trade is really alarming and in the end will prove ruinous to us if not counteracted by some spirited conduct on our part; I think the way is plain and easy...
43Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 8 August 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In William Tatham’s hand and directed to “The Virginia Delegates in Congress.” This dispatch is concerned mainly with an unnamed ship and a number of persons identified only by their surnames or places of residence. Although Governor Harrison leaves the impression that he or the delegates had mentioned the episode in their earlier correspondence, they apparently...
44Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 7 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas L. Savage and directed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” The financier has been misinform’d, his Agent never made any proposition to me to receive Tobacco on Account of the Continent. I heard that he offer’d to buy a Quantity of the Agent for Commutables and to pay for it in Notes payable four Months after date, which I look’d on as a...
45Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 1 March 1782 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Charles Hay. The resolutions of Congress you inclosed me respecting the beef to be provided by this State, for Genl Greene’s Army, is by no means as full as it ought to be, and cannot be complyed with, even if our Circumstances were much more flourishing than they are. I some time ago forwarded a resolution of our Assembly, forbidding any specific...
46Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 15 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of Thomas Meriwether. Addressed to “Virginia Delegates in Congress.” You will receive herewith an Authenticated Copy of the Certificate of Gen: Clarke and Col: Todd which was omitted by a Mistake of the Clerk when Nathans other Papers were forwarded to you. I hope they will get in Time to prevent his obtaining an Award in his favor which appears to me...
47Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 1 December 1781 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). Inclosed you have two Resolutions of the General Assembly of this St[ate] respecting the feeding of the British Prisoners now with us. The Resolutions ind[eed] only prohibit the Impress of Provisions, but I would recommend it to you to [ask?] Congress immediately, to send a Commissary forward, or the Troops will suffer, perhaps starve, the State having no Means of...
48Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 28 December 1782 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). The first page of the letter is folio 53 of Vol. 3 of this collection. Probably about forty years after the delegates received the letter, JM wrote on the obverse of the page, “Harrison Benjn. Decr. 28. 1822.” Someone unknown, after canceling “1822,” wrote “1782” above it. The second page of the letter, bearing only the last paragraph, the complimentary close, and...
49Benjamin Harrison to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 26 December 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
You have enclosed the copy of an act of the general assembly to authorise the united States in Congress to adopt certain regulations respecting the british trade , also the acts empowering Congress to levy an impost, and empowering the delegates to convey to Congress the claim of this State to the country north westward of the river Ohio, which several acts you will please to lay before...
50Benjamin Harrison to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 5 December 1783 (Jefferson Papers)
The last post brought no letter from you which I am really sorry for as the definitive treaty which we hear is certainly arrived is much wanted by the assembly and would perhaps prevent some steps being taken that may be contrary to it. Do Congress mean to take no measures to counteract the designs of the British respecting our trade ? If they do it must be immediately to have any effect here...