1To James Madison from James Lovell, 5 May 1809 (Madison Papers)
As the fiercest Tyrant and the mildest philosopher possess equally the power of self-examination, so the whole human race may be allowed to search after the source of Life & of Morals. Such search, conducted by Reason, and proceeding downwards from the branching-ends of both those Trees, will assuredly find only the single common tap-root to be Self-Love. As no President of these United States...
2To James Madison from James Lovell (Abstract), 29 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
29 March 1805, Boston . “Your prompt communication to me of the 20th. of this month is in strict unison with your former Kindness. “Instantly upon reading it I recollected my rejecting three or four bills of 100 dollars, because they were patched; and inclosing one that was whole, without any more minute scrutiny. I am ashamed of the hasty manner in which I closed my letter that evening for...
3To James Madison from James Lovell, 27 January 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From James Lovell. 27 January 1806, Boston. “I am honoured by your kind Close of the business which regarded my grand children. I will teach the young Things to esteem you and your agent from my own feelings: And I beg you to be assured that your Gravity and his Jocularity in the conveyance of your Sympathies for our disappointments greatly exceed in Value the Defalcation of my Bank-Bill. I...
4To George Washington from James Lovell, 14 Aug. 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from James Lovell, 14 Aug. 1779. On or about 26 Aug., GW wrote Lovell: “I have been favd with yours of the 14 and 25th instants.”
5To George Washington from James Lovell, 28 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
With Views of public Utility I again take the Freedom of covering to you some papers for Majr General Greene and am your Excellency’s Obliged humble Servant PHi : Etting Collection.
6To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Lincoln, James Lovell, and Thomas Melville, 31 January 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, January 31, 1794. On February 20, 1794, Hamilton wrote to Lincoln, Lovell, and Melville : “I am to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st ultimo.” Letter not found. ] Lincoln was the collector, Lovell the naval officer, and Melville the surveyor of the port of Boston.
7To George Washington from James Lovell, August 1782 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed containing an Official Remittance of Money is recommended to you for Conveyance by one of your Expresses, from your most humble Servant DLC : Papers of George Washington.
8To George Washington from James Lovell, 21 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
It is not improbable that the Enemy have a plan of cyphering their Letters which is pretty general among their Chiefs; if so, Your Excellency, will perhaps reap Benefit from making your Secretary take a Copy of the Keys and observations which I send to General Greene, through your Care. With every Wish for your Success and Glory, I am Your Excellencys Obliged & Humble Servant PHi : Gratz...
9To Alexander Hamilton from James Lovell, 22 August 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, August 22, 1793. On November 29, 1793, Hamilton wrote to Lovell : “Various circumstances have prevented an earlier answer to your letter of the 22d of August last.” Letter not found. ] Lovell was the naval officer for the port of Boston.
10To John Adams from James Lovell, 14 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
I inclose to you the decent Fashion in which we it was yesterday opinioned to let the World know Mr. Lee has a Successor. Pray strive by Mr. Issac Smith’s Knowledge of the Sailing of Vessels to let Arthur get the paper before his Foes. The 3 Ministers are to have per An: £2500 sterling. Their Secretaries £1000 in full of Services and Expences. To commence at Outset and finish in 3 months after...
11To George Washington from James Lovell, 26 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered to you by a German Officer who expresses much inclination to enter into the army under your command. The trouble which your Excellency receives from Foreigners commissioned by Congress has made the Committee, appointed to examine their pretensions, averse to offering any resolutions for places above the rank of subalterns. The Bearer speaks english very well, and has an...
12James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 11 August 1779 (Adams Papers)
This Evening I have satisfactory Intelligence of the real Embarkation of your very dear Treasure at Nantes l’Orient the 17th. of June and that he was left well 12 days after, off the western Islands. The Secretary of Arthur Lee arrived at Metompkin, Virginia, Augst. 1st. in a very swift sailing Vessel. Mr. Adams told him at parting that he had good News for Congress and sent his Respects. The...
13To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 20 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) By a most unlucky Mistake I did not forward the Resolve of May 5th. with the Ratifications of the Treaties sent in that Month in the Packets A.B.C.; but I have sent them in D.E. via Martinique; and now forward them in F.G. via Boston, not allowing myself to wait for the Concurrence of the Committee in a...
14To John Jay from James Lovell, 15–16 August 1781 (Jay Papers)
Herewith you will recieve according to the resolution of Congress of the 10 th such information relative to the surrender of Pensacola, and the subsequent arrival of the Garrison, at New York, as I have been able to obtain which you will make use of according to your discretion, and the Spirit of the enclosed resolution. I am Sir your Friend and very H Ser t . PS. 16 Aug It appears to me not...
15James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 21 March 1780 (Adams Papers)
I most sincerely rejoice with you on the safe Arrival of Mr. Adams in Spain after so short a Passage tho’ attended with some Hardships. In addition to the News in the Prints I venture, upon some confidential assurances from the worthy Genl. Lincoln, to excite your Hopes as to our affairs in that Quarter. It is recommended to redeem the continental Currency at 40 for 1 and to model the Tender...
16James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 28 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
“Mr. Lovell, do let me entreat you, this thirtieth time, to write a few Lines to Mrs. Adams. Are you not clearly convinced that it is in vain for you to determine, as you have done, day after day, that you will go to see her? You are betrayed, by a thousand Interruptions, not merely into Unpoliteness, but really into Ingratitude to that Lady. If you do not feel for yourself, I pray you to...
17To John Adams from James Lovell, 20 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
The receipt of your letters of Decr. 24th variously directed gave equal and uniform satisfaction here yesterday. There was an error in the date of the Commission but it is judged to be of no importance. I send all the dispatches to you open as before that you may be acquainted with the contents, in case you should forward them before you sail yourself. I will endeavour to send your Chest by...
18To George Washington from James Lovell, 26 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
A Gentleman belonging to Boston Capt. Fritz having arrived from France had intended himself the honor of waiting upon your Excellency in person to deliver the inclosed letter and several articles therein referred to. But having had a disagreable, hard journey from North Carolina, and finding that he is to expect worse in his approach to your Camp with his heavy loaded carriage & two or three...
19To John Adams from James Lovell, 19 October 1779 (Adams Papers)
I begin to be very impatient at not hearing from you; and this not barely from the Number of days elapsed since my Information of Sepr. 28 &c. &c. but from the Opinion dropped by Mr. Lowell that we should not be able to obtain your Consent again to trust us here. It is the Desire of many that you should execute an intermediate Negociation with Holland, and you are named but others think it...
20To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 8 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives The Marquis de la Fayette having sailed from Boston the day before the Arrival there of Letters sent from hence for you and him by the President of Congress, I now forward to you duplicates of those Letters with a Course of News Papers Via St Eustatia, having a very fine opportunity to that Island, and hoping they...
21James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 14 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed Papers will show you how the Business of Mr. A’s Accounts has been conducted—with indecent Delay. I presume the Treasury will draw a Bill of Exchange for the Balance.—You had all the News respecting Mr. Adams which has yet come to us. We hear some agreable Things from Mr. Carmichael at Madrid where he was preparing for Mr. Jay’s Reception who remained at Cadiz. It is not necessary...
22To John Adams from James Lovell, 2 January 1781 (Adams Papers)
Your Favor of Sepr. 20th. reached me at Christmas. I inclose you a Resolve but am not able to give you a Copy of what I officially wrote to cover it by Col. Palfrey and by Way of Boston. You will oblige me by returning a Copy of that Letter which ought to appear in the Books of the Committee for foreign Affairs, those Books being soon I hope to be placed in some regularly established Office....
23To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 3 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer Mr. Gibbs full of Respect for your Character has not only the very natural Ambition of being introduced to your venerable Person but cherishes the Hope of obtaining your sage Counsel and your Patronage upon his Arrival in France with an Intention to establish himself there at least for some years. Your Philanthropy alone secures that Patronage to...
24To George Washington from James Lovell, 14 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I gave a Letter for your Excellency this morning to some Gentleman who is connected with the French army. I now understand it will not reach you in Eight Days, but it will reach you doubtless then. It was merely to compleat the Account of the Cyphers used by the Enemy. I found, as I had before supposed, that they sometimes use Entick’s Dictionary marking the Page Column & Word as 115. 1. 4 ....
25James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 27 November 1779 (Adams Papers)
I cannot recollect whether I sent No. 31 before. I promised your Husband to continue to forward the Journals: But my Wish is not to break the Numbers so as to spoil a Set for any body else. If therefore I at any Time repeat a Number you will be so good as to return it; and if I omit one you will demand it. I suppose Mr. A did not leave the 1st. 2d. or 3d. Vol. in his Library. If he did I will...
26To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 12 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives Mr. Gerard having been particularly applied to relative to the Affairs of M. Du Coudray by the Heirs has the original Certificate of which this is the Triple; but Doctr. Franklin will mark out for himself a Line of Conduct referring properly to the Civility due to Mr. Gerard and the Interest of Mr. Du Coudray’s...
27To John Jay from James Lovell, 9 March 1781 (Jay Papers)
You will herewith receive Gazettes and Journals; also a Resolve respecting the compleat Ratification of the Articles binding these 13 States as a confederated Body. The Delay of that Business appears now like all the other Circumstances of our Rise & Growth. For, the present is really the best of all Times for that particular Event: Our Enemies have been ripening themselves for this capital...
28To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 9 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy and transcript: National Archives I forward Gazettes Journals & some particular Resolves, by Way of Amsterdam. The Arrival of the Ariel has given us Dispatches from you long expected—of June 1st. Aug 9. Decr. 2d & 3d. Congress had, before the Receipt of your Letters Feb. 19th, written to Mr. Adams Jany. 10, and signified their Concurrence in...
29James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 12 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have the Mortification of being obliged to tell the amiable Portia that the Council of Pensylvania will not grant a partial Exportation of Flour from their State while the general Embargo lasts: So that I cannot soon have the Pleasure of executing the Commission which that lovely Woman has entrusted to me. The State of Massachusetts Bay will have the Direction of a Quantity out of which the...
30James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 5 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
Doctr. Winship left this City Today and has been so kind as to take into his Care two small Packages. I could not impose more on his Goodness. I hope they will escape Thieves and all Injury from Wet or Rubbing. I have cautioned and he has promised. You will find at Mrs. Lovell’s or Mr. Smith’s after the Doctr. reaches Boston, a Package in a very coarse Wrapper. It contains your Band Box, your...
31To John Adams from James Lovell, May 1778 (Adams Papers)
In aid to your scrutiny after the real robber of the Commissioners Dispatches, I send what I think a good Confirmation of Folgiers honesty. By comparing the Governor’s letter with Folgier’s Examination you will find the Governor led into a mistake about the number of Seals broken, by Folgiers forgetting that the outside Cover of the whole had anything more than “Dispatches” wrote on it. He...
32Enclosure In: James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 5 June 1779 (Adams Papers)
1 Nankin Jacket 1 Brown Coat 1 Flannel Drawers 1 Shirt 2 Stocks 1 Pr. Thread Stockings 1 Pr. Worstead Stockings 1 Beaver Hatt 1 Straw Hatt 6 Packets of Papers 1 Raisor Case with 2 whole & 1 broken Razor 1 Letter Book, Manuscript 1 Printed Book latin 1 small Pamphlet 1 Shoe Brush As to the Nankin Jacket it happens most accurately to fit me in the Length and Width, and, having two Pair of B——’s...
33To John Adams from James Lovell, 31 August 1779 (Adams Papers)
I yesterday received yours of May 14 from L’Orient and Aug. 13th. from Braintree with several valuable Papers. I hope to be able to write shortly to you on those Topics which are the Subject of your Correspondence with de Vergennes. At present, as I have been for several days past, I am engaged in a severe wrestling Match with a Chap who has laid many on their Backs here lately. He is known in...
34To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 13 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society (three), University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: National Archives By way of Martinique I forward to you Gazettes, Journals and one or two Pamphlets. The Situation of Things in Congress has been such for some time past that the Committee of foreign Affairs has been drawn on to look dayly for some interesting Decisions to communicate to you, which must...
35James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 20 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
I am too ill to write much. Your Ease of Mind is what I wish to promote by confirming what I have before said vizt. That Mr. A dams was greatly esteemed here tho’ we have an odd way of discovering it sometimes. He is sole Minister Plenipo to form a triple Alliance between Holland, France and these United States with Discretion to make it Quadruple by joining Spain—for the Purpose of our...
36To John Adams from James Lovell, 10 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
The week after Mr. C—— was appointed secretary, I saw the P.S. of a letter to Mr. S.A. in which he is said to be a very unworthy person, but he has so good a Character in the estimation of Congress and from Maryland Gentlemen, that I did not think proper to move for a power of Suspension to be given to the Commissioners, as I find it is the opinion of some here that the secretary should be...
37James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 29 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
My Almanac says that I wrote to you on the 9th. of October, but your Favour of Sepr. 26. received the 8th. of Octr. is not endorsed answered. Is this the Reason of your Silence? Or, Heaven forbid it! are you sick? At best, I fear you are in Distress.—Mr. Adams was well late in Augst., but I cannot conceal my anxieties about your second Son, who was to take Passage with Gillon. That Frigate...
38James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 13 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
I will not omit to acknowledge by this Post the Receipt of your Letter of the 24th. Ulto. because I can in some measure afford you Satisfaction in Regard to what Mr. A dams mentioned to both of us. On the 31st. of May Doctr. F ranklin was directed to pay the Draughts of Mr. A and Mr. D ana to the Amount of their respective Salaries. I will on Friday send you an authentic Resolve which you can...
39James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 1 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
In my last I told you that the Case which was brought to my Lodgings for your Benefit did not appear full according to the common Mode of Packing for a Voyage. I ought to have endeavored to give you a Kind of Invoice of its Contents. I had not Time. It will now perhaps enable you to decide whether there have been Filchings if I give you only the following Sketch. 18 Ells of Diaper at 10 some...
40To John Adams from James Lovell, 24 August 1779 (Adams Papers)
I am much chagrined at not having a Line about you by last Post. I did not expect one from you. You are so sick of Party abroad that you would not venture to have any thing to do with Individualities, here. Every Line that I read from France, like as yours have done, confirms me in an Approbation of the part I have taken all along through the contests of many months back relative to our...
41To John Adams from James Lovell, 17 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
Decr. 2d. Resolved that a Commission be made out for Mr. J. Adams similar to that heretofore granted to the Commissioners at the Court of France. The date of the Commissions upon the 27th. was an error of the Secretary. But He as well as the president and others think it of no consequence. In Congress Decr. 17th. 1777 Resolved that Genl. Washington be directed to inform Genl. Burgoyne the...
42James Lovell to the American Commissioners, 12 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: American Philosophical Society; copies: National Archives (two), Library of Congress Congress having foreign Affairs now under Consideration, I shall not write to you on that Subject, more especially as it is quite uncertain how the present Papers will be conveyed to you. Nor shall I pretend to unravel to you the Designs of the Enemy. They are very inscrutable: The Printers know...
43To John Adams from James Lovell, 21 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
That you may excuse my vile manner of doing business, know that I am freezing in my little room this morning so that I can scarcely hold my pen, but, I am, here, in quiet. The sealed packet sent before contained Triplicates of Octr. 31st Novr. 1 and 8 which last were only an Introduction of the Bearer Col: Ewen, and an Annunciation of Mr. Laurens’s Election as President so that his Draughts...
44James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 3 September 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have at length an Opportunity by Mr. Brown to forward Bills of Exchange; and I only add the News Paper of Yesterday. Bell so long expected from France is arrived. He sailed with the Alliance. You know much more of your Mr. Adams than we, as only a Letter of April 10th. is come to hand from him. I assure you we feel very angry with Somebody , as neither Congress or the Minister have yet...
45James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 29 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday’s Post brought me your Letters of the 10th and 14 with a Copy of March 17. on the Subject of which I shall be particular when I have a proper Opportunity. I have a Friend to whom I communicate most unreservedly all the Ocurrences which tend to govern my Pleasures and my Pains; your Letters will of Course be submitted in that mixt View: I have already hinted their Influence in the...
46To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 21 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and transcript: National Archives The bearer William Palfrey Esqre our late paymaster general has been appointed Consul in France, with powers adequate to a general Agency in our Commercial Concerns there. But while I take up my pen to introduce him to your patronage, I ought to use it, rather perhaps, by way of apologizing for myself in the line of Member of the Committee for Foreign...
47To John Adams from James Lovell, 21 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
After the Resolve for stopping Burgoyne had passed, some were of opinion that a State of Facts found by the Committee should have preceeded the reasoning. Perhaps you will judge that it is already too laboured a report. I inclose for your own use the State of Facts alluded to which did not enter into the business of Congress; but was only talked of. We have intelligence now that 2 Hoits...
48James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 17 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
By your Letter of the 3d. received this day I find that I have lost the Pleasure of having what you and Mr. Cranch wrote some Time ago respecting your little Invoices. Tho’ I make little Progress in forwarding your Property yet my past Notifications will show that I am constantly attentive to the Business. I suspect that Mr. Cranch may have mentioned some Waggons which came to this City with...
49James Lovell to Abigail Adams, 21 March 1778 (Adams Papers)
I am to thank you, in my own name, and on the public account, for that exercise of laudable patriotic prudence, which you have modestly termed the “Freedom” of inclosing to me Mr. McCreary’s letter to your worthy Husband. I read it in Congress, and I think it will be useful to the commercial Committee. The same Gentleman wrote to Mr. Adams in Sepr. some interesting history, of which he gave me...
50To George Washington from James Lovell, 30 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
As chairman of the Committee on foreign applications, I inclose herewith to your Excellency the only list which has come to hand from France, tending, in any manner, to discover the arrangement made there of the officers who lately arrived in the Amphitrite. Should it appear hereafter by any vouchers that some of them have a just claim by compact to higher commissions, Congress will attend to...