126th. (Adams Papers)
The Count came on board to take us on shore with him so we left our trunks on board and having told the Captain to let us know when the wind became favourable, we return’d on shore.
2John Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
“A Court,” as John Dryden informed me, before Experience, “is a place of forgetfulness for well deservers. It is infectious even to the best Morals to live always in it. It is a dangerous Commerce where an honest Man is sure at the first of being cheated; and he recovers not his losses, but by learning to cheat others. The undermining Smile becomes at length habitual; and the drift of his...
3To John Adams from Antoine Marie Cerisier, 26 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
Toutes les pieces que vous m’avez fait l’amitié de m’envoyer ont paru Successivement dans le politique-Hollandais , ainsi que vous l’aurez vu Si vous perdez quelque moment à la lecture de cette feuille, à paris. J’étais trop charmé de vous montrer combien j’étais Sensible au Souvenir & à la confiance que vous daignez me continuer, pour négliger l’usage de pieces aussi intéressantes. Il m’a été...
4To John Adams from John Howard, 26 February 1783 (Adams Papers)
The subject upon which I am about to address your excellency is so nearly connected with the interest of that country which gave us birth, and which your excellency has the honor to represent, I hope I may not be accused of having acted an unwarrantable part, even if my request should be rejected, on account of some reasons unknown to me— During my few weeks residence in London, I have found a...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Clemens August Haxthausen, 26 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Permettez votre Eccellence qu’un inconnu etrencher [étranger] vous Présenter ses hommages en occasion du glorieux paix que votre Eccellencé avez fait pour gloirs immortell du serenissime Republique des Etats unies en Amerique, et de votre Eccellencé; et quoi jai eu toujour ete un admirateur du heroisme qu’enflame le coeur de votre Eccellence et des touts...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Ingenhousz, 26 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You will have recieved my last, by which I asked you leave to dedicate my work, now, as I hope, under the press, to you— I am rejoiced to be informed by the chancerie of the Court, that, according to an advise of Count de Mercy to Prince Kaunitz, you are certainly to come here. Since that time I am courted by many more Gentlemen and Ladies to present them...
7General Orders, 26 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
For the day tomorrow Major scott. For duty the Maryland Detachment. Captain Bushnell being the senior officer, will have the command of the corps of sappers & Miners untill further orders and Captain Dillezenn of the Corps of Engineers will report to Head Quarters immediately by what authority he came to the Garrison of Westpoint and assumed the Command of the Sappers & Miners. The Brigadiers...
8From George Washington to John Adam, 26 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 10th of Febry & must take the liberty to tell you candidly there would not be a propriety in my writing to the President of Congress respecting your extra-expences while acting as Depy Comy of Prisoners; because it would open a door to innumerable applications, because I do not conceive it is proper for me to interfere in the pecuniary Arrangements of...
9From George Washington to Elias Boudinot, 26 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to have to acquaint your Excellency, for the information of Congress, that a project which I had formed for attacking The Enemys Post at Oswego, so soon as the Sleighing should be good, and the Ice of the Oneida Lake should have acquired sufficient thickness to admit the passage of the Detachment, has miscarried. The report of Colol Willet, to whom I had intrusted the Command of the...
10To George Washington from Elias Boudinot, 26 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your Excellency’s letter of the 30th ult. which I immediately laid before Congress, who, without delay, gave it the full attention it deserved. The result of their deliberations I do myself the pleasure to enclose. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs will make the confidential communication to your Excellency mentioned therein, I hope, by this opportunity. The...
11To George Washington from William Gordon, 26 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of Ocr the 23d I was honored with in due season: but having nothing special about which to write, & being sensible how many & great your engagements were, I delayed till somewhat of importance might offer. Now is the happy moment: for though we have received no official accounts announcing the Peace, yet the information is so particular & hath the appearance of such authenticity,...
12From George Washington to Pelatiah Haws, 26 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letter of the 14th and in consequence of it have issued a General Order, that whenever a Regiment is ordered for duty on the Lines, the Qur Mr or some Officer in his room, will precede the Regiment one day at least, for the purpose of Providing convenient Quarters, on the route, as well as on the Lines, without incommoding the Inhabitants more than is absolutely...
13To George Washington from William Jackson, 26 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to enclose to your Excellency a late resolve of Congress. The Clothier informs me that he has written to you on the subject of the blankets which have lately arrived. I have the honor to be, with the most perfect esteem and respect Your Excellency’s obedient servant DLC : Papers of George Washington.
14From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 26 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
I believe it was mentioned when you was at Head Quarters that Major Villefranche had made application for promotion—I have declined in this and all similar instances to use my influence directly with Congress, to obtain rank for Gentlemen who solicited it out of the common course of promotion; because I wished in the first place that Honble Body might decide according to their own pleasure,...
15To George Washington from Robert R. Livingston, 26 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
In compliance with the directions of Congress contained in the inclosed resolution I have the honor to inform your Excellency that our last dispatches dated in October announce a disposition in the belligerent powers to terminate the war by a general peace the Court of London whose sincerity was most suspected because it was to make the greatest sacrifices appears to have smoothed the way by...
16From George Washington to Comfort Sands, 26 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
In reply to your Letter of the 19th inst. I have to observe, that the description contained therein, of Troops supplied under the Contract for the Moving Army & under the Contract for West Point, is exactly conformable to the idea held up in the Letter I wrote to you in the Month of April last & in the general Order of Aprl 29th 1782—But as there was a wilful infraction of that Order on your...
17To George Washington from William Stephens Smith, 26 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I have the honor of forwarding to your Excellency a Copy of a Letter from Mr Robert Hoakesly accompanied with a memorial and the original Invoice of Merchandize shiped on board the Sloop Convert, with affidavits annexed, tending to prove the propriety of the prayer of his Memorial. I am Your Excellency’s most obedt Servt PHi : Gratz Collection. I flatter my-self your goodness will...
18From George Washington to Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 26 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
I was favored by the last Post, with the Report of the Board of Officers respecting Captn Segond’s claim of admission into the Legion of Armand; as it appears to be founded in justice & reason it has my entire approbation, and I presume must be satisfactory. As the prospect of Peace (the more promising than it has been at any former period) is somewhat equivocal; I have determined to put the...
19From George Washington to Benjamin Tallmadge, 26 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am just favored with your Letter of the 21st of this informing me of the Capture of one of the Enemys Armed Vessells by a party of Continental Troops detach’d by you for that purpose. I shall acquaint Congress of this additional exertion of yours to annoy the Enemy and prevent the illicit Trade they are carrying on with the Country and I beg you to accept my thanks for it and to communicate...
20Motion on Outrages by Enemy, 26 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 36, II, 35). In JM’s hand. Docketed by Benjamin Bankson, Jr., a clerk in the office of the secretary of Congress: “Motion of Mr. Madison Passed Feby 26. 1783.” Resolved That it be recommendd. to the Executives of the several States, whenever any outrages, unauthorised by the laws of war shall be committed on the persons or properties of their respective Citizens by any...
21Notes on Debates, 26 February 1783 (Madison Papers)
MS ( LC : Madison Papers). For a description of the manuscript of Notes on Debates, see Papers of Madison William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al ., eds., The Papers of James Madison (6 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). , V, 231–34 . Mr. Lee observed to Congress that it appeared from the Newspapers of the day that sundry enormities had been committed by the Refugees within the State...