1Extract from Two Purported Letters by Franklin, 27 July [i.e., after 11 August] 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Samuel Hazard, ed., Hazard’s Register of Pennsylvania ... (16 vols., Philadelphia, [1828–35]), VI , 37. We are extremely skeptical about both these extracts. The date of the first is certainly wrong, because Hodge was not arrested until August 11. Although Hayfield Conyngham, Gustavus’ cousin, may have received advice from Franklin, we have no other evidence of contact between...
2John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
I have paid Turner, his Wages up to this day, and settled all Accounts with him. Besides which I have given him £3:2s:od. L.M. towards his Expences home. When he arrives he is to produce his Account to you, of the Expences of his Journey. See that he produces Receipts from the Tavern Keepers. Dont pay a Farthing, but what he produces a Receipt for. I am glad he is going, for between you and me...
3John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
Your kind Favour of July 30. and 31. was handed me, just now from the Post office. I have regularly received a Letter from you every Week excepting one, for a long Time past, and as regularly send a Line to you inclosing Papers.—My Letters are scarcely worth sending. Indeed I dont choose to indulge much Speculation, lest a Letter should miscarry, and free Sentiments upon public Affairs...
4John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
I think I have sometimes observed to you in Conversation, that upon examining the Biography of illustrious Men, you will generally find some Female about them in the Relation of Mother or Wife or Sister, to whose Instigation, a great Part of their Merit is to be ascribed. You will find a curious Example of this, in the Case of Aspasia, the Wife of Pericles. She was a Woman of the greatest...
5John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 11 August 1777 (Adams Papers)
As the War in which your Country is engaged will probably hereafter attract your Attention, more than it does at this Time, and as the future Circumstances of your Country, may require other Wars, as well as Councils and Negotiations, similar to those which are now in Agitation, I wish to turn your Thoughts early to such Studies, as will afford you the most solid Instruction and Improvement...
6From Benjamin Franklin to [Lecoq], 11 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library The Equipping of armed Vessels in the Ports of France to act under Commissions from the Congress of America against the English, being contrary to Treaties, and therefore disagreable to Government here, your Friend’s Request cannot possibly be comply’d with. I have the honour to be Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant In reply to his inquiry above, July 28....
7William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 11 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society; AL : American Philosophical Society By a Sloop of War Sailing this Evening for Brest, I have only Time to communicate to you the important News that has been received to Day by a Vessel which Sailed from Salem the beginning of July and brings a Gazette of the 3d of that Month which mentions, that Gen. Howe after having made a Junction of Some of his Troops...
8Samuel Nicholson to the American Commissioners, 11 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am just Setting off for St. Mallo where Mr. Williams thinks I had better spend about 3 Weeks, in order to be out of the way and give time for our new ship to be built. I Shall have Capt. Tanner here to overlook as much as is needfull, or we dare appear in. He is an Experienced man in Ship building and A Compleat Draughts man. I shall send you the draught...
9Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 11 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In my last I omitted mentioning that the Vessell from North Carolina was from Edington and the Capt. said he saw the account of the affair at Brunswick in a Newspaper which he unfortunately did not bring with him. This news we afterwards began to doubt, because the News from England which confess’d to have recvd. Accounts so late as the 23 June, did not...
10To Benjamin Franklin from James Bedout, 11 August 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Bordeaux, August 11, 1777, in English of sorts: I am a merchant captain, Canadian born, and have sailed in New England ships; my brother is in Washington’s army. I am therefore asking for a commission from Congress to cruise against the English tyrants. In expectation of it I have already bought here a Boston sloop, the Congress ; her mate and some of her...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Louis-Daniel Martin, 11 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Comme Lieutenant du sinquaime Bataillon continental de La Caroline du Sud colonel Isaac huger, sous commandement du B: General Robet howe et en Vertu de sa permitions du 29 maÿ dernier je me suis enbarqué le meme jour sur le navire francois La Junon de la martinique capitaine ch. mare [?] du havre de grasse et mis en mer sullemant le 24 juin aÿant chaque...
12General Orders, 11 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
That few Complaints were made for damage done to fences and other property while the troops lay at or near German Town has given much satisfaction to the well disposed Inhabitant of that neighbourhood and such peculiar pleasure to the Genl that he thinks it an act of Justice to express his approbation of their conduct in G.O. some instances however were not wanting of a contrary behaviour but...
13To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 11 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday removed with the two Regiments to this place for the sake of provisions and beer which I am told may be procur’d much easier at this place than at Peramus. I send the Pay Master to Head Quarters for money as both officers and soldiers are much in want of it. The necessaries of life are so very high in the Country that their pay is scarcely sufficient during the month. Your...
14To George Washington from Major General Philemon Dickinson, 11 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
This morning came to this Place, Mr. Anthony Taylor an Inhabitant of Jersey, & gave me the following account that on Wednesday Eveng last (having the liberty of the City, & by bribing two Sailors) he made his escape from New York, in a Boat; that a Frigate came up to N. York, the day before he left it, the Captain of which said, that he had left the whole Fleet much to the Eastward of N. York,...
15To George Washington from Joseph Jones, 11 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Monroe leaveing Town this evening I cannot avoid informing you by him that as far as his conduct has fallen under my observation and I have not been unattentive to it, he has been diligent in endeavouring to raise men but such is the present disposition of the people in Virginia neither Capt. Monroe or any other Officer preserving the Character a Gent. ought to support can recruit men...
16From George Washington to Brigadier General Silas Newcomb, 11 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Favor of yesterday from Woodbury I have this Moment receiv’d. As you have got so many of these Militia collected, I would think it highly impossible to discharge them untill we can with some degree of precision, explain the late extraordinary Movements of the Enemy, & determine the object of them. In the interim my desire is that you Order your Men to Redbank to assist in compleating the...
17From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 11 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of the 8th instant at this place. I was upon the march with the Army to recross the Delaware upon a supposition that the Fleet had certainly gone to the Eastward, but I was last Night overtaken by an Express from Philada with an account that they had been seen on the 7th instant off Sinepuxent Inlet about 16 Leagues to the Southward of the Capes of Delaware. Upon this I have...
18To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 11 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your favour of the 7th Inst The dark designs of our Enimies evincies the foulness of their cause, & the genus of their Ally, betray Strong marks of timidity by attempting through artifice what they are deffident of effecting by force, but time, I trust, will unravel their misteries, When we Shall Se the Light Shine through both them & their Schemes—Inclosed is a letter from Govr...
19From George Washington to Artemas Ward, 11 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honor of writing to Mr Sever, Yesterday, I received your Favor of the 2d Inst. contradicting the intelligence transmitted thro’ him and which had been done before by a letter from Genl Heath of the same date and purport of yours. Having written to Mr Sever upon the subject of Genl Howes departure from the Capes of Delaware and of the incertainty we are in respecting his designs...