Having been absent from this State, I had not the Honour of your Favour of December 3d. untill the 22d. when it was delivered to me with its Inclosures vizt. a Letter from the President to the Navy Board at Boston, and a private Letter of Decr. 8. from Mr. Lovell. At the Same Time I received a Packett, directed to Benjamin Franklin Arthur Lee and John Adams Esqrs. Commissioners of the United...
2From John Adams to James Lovell, 24 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
I cannot omit this opportunity of acknowledging the Receipt of your kind Favours of 27 or 28 Novr. I Say one or the other of those days, because although the Letter has no date yet it Says it was written on the Day when a certain Commission was voted me, and both the Commissions are dated the 27, altho the Copy of the Resolution of Congress by which I was appointed is dated the 28. I should...
3From John Adams to Daniel Roberdeau, 24 December 1777 (Adams Papers)
Your most friendly and obliging Favour of 28. Novr was never delivered to me, untill the 22d instant, when I returned home from a short Excursion upon private Business, almost the only Sample that has fallen to my share for four Years. Indeed, Sir, I have neglected and abandoned, my own Affairs and the Concerns of my Family So long, to the inexpressible Loss and Injury of both, that I must...
4The American Commissioners to Bérard frères, 24 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Report of the Committee of the House of the 17th February on the Subject of the Claims of the Heirs of Caron de Beaumarchais . . . (20th Congress, 1st session, House of Representatives Report No. 220; [Washington, 1828]), pp. 44–5. Beaumarchais’ letter above to the commissioners of December 6, with a copy to Vergennes, brought to a head the dispute about the cargo of the...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Sr., 24 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from The New-York Mirror , April 13, 1839 The bearer, Mr. Holker, is a gentleman of great worth and excellent character, and a particular friend of mine, who, if he sees encouraging prospects, may possibly make some commercial prospects in America; in which case you may be assured that his engagements will be executed with good faith, and the exactest punctuality. I recommend him...
6——— Boux to the American Commissioners, 24 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library Vous voudrés bien prendre en récommendation que J’ai quité Le service du roy auquel J’etois attaché pour entrer à celui des Etats de l’amerique septentrionale. Je me suis rendu en conséquance à vos ordres, et relativement au grade de lieutenent de Vaisseau dans la marine de Etats unis En Hollande pour y diriger la construction d’un Vaisseau que vous y faisiés...
7John Ross to the American Commissioners, 24 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library Your very respected favour of 18th Inst: I received by Capt: Nicholson. Contents thereof I duly Note. The Safe arrival of the Hamburgh vessel, you may suppose gave me pleasure, and tho at L’orient when I had advice of it, I embrace’d the first post to give you the earliest Notice, recept of which you acknowledge in this now before me. I must take the liberty to...
8To Benjamin Franklin from the Baron de Ballainvilliers, 24 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai l’honneur de vous addresser, Monsieur, une lettre pour Monsieur De La fayette mon ami. Si vous voulez bien la lui faire tenir je vous en aurai, Monsieur, la plus grande obligation. J’ai l’honneur d’etre avec des sentimens d’estime et de respect Monsieur Votre tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur. Endorsed: Ballainvilliers 24 xb. 77 Simon-Charles,...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel Nunez de Tavarez, 24 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society La Gazette de la Haye du 17: de ce mois annonce que vous aves conseillé aux Medecins de Paris les cendres de Tabac comme specifiques contre l’hydropisie. Voudriés-vous bien Monsieur, me marquer la Dose et la methode de les administrer? Je vous en aurai de l’obligation au delà de toute Expression, car je suis a portée de soulager l’humanité gemissante, a...
10General Orders, 24 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Every regiment is to draw provisions, to complete their rations, for to morrow; and the whole army being supplied up to that time, the Issuing Commissaries are then to make return, to the Commissary General of Issues, of all the provisions they have on hand. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
11To George Washington from Colonel John Bailey, 24 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Lieut. Colonel Bedlam of my Regiment, having lost his Cloaths, in the Siege at Fort Stanwix. The officers & Soldiers of the Regiment, being in great want of Cloathing, Myself & the Major being Present Humbly request, that he may have a furlough, for the purpose of Procuring Cloathing for himself & Regiment. From Your Excellencys Most Obedent Humb. Servt ALS , DLC:GW . The cover is docketed in...
12To George Washington from the Board of War, 24 December 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from the Board of War, 24 Dec. 1777. In his letter to Henry Laurens of 1 Jan. 1778, GW refers to receiving a letter from the secretary of the board of the “24th ulto,” and in his letter to the Board of War of 2–3 Jan., GW writes that “Your several Letters of the 23d, 24th & 27th Ulto have been recieved.”
13From George Washington to Major John Jameson, 24 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
You are hereby directed to repair to the East Side of Schuylkill and take the command of the parties of Horse stationed upon the different Roads leading into the City of Philada. You are not only to watch the Motions of the Enemy upon that quarter, but what you are principally to attend to, is to endeavour to cut off the intercourse between the Country and the City of Philada. In order to do...
14To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 24 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour of writing to your Excellency yesterday by General Conway; I now inclose a Resolve of Congress of the 22d Sent in to me last Night, directing, all Gold & Silver which shall be received for provision or other necessaries supplied British Prisoners, to be paid immediately into the Continental Treasury —To this I will take the liberty of adding extract of a Letter dated Nantz the...
15To George Washington from Colonel Daniel Morgan, 24 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I left the lines this evening—Lord starling sint for me to know in what maner the enemy lay, that he might the better dispose of some parties he was going to send out, & intend back in the morning. Lord starling thinks the horses and accutrements ought to be sent to head Quarters that they might be put to immediate service, and the value paid to the men that took them. I spoke to the men about...
16To George Washington from Thomas Nelson, 24 December 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Thomas Nelson, Jr., 24 Dec. 1777. GW wrote Nelson on 8 Feb. 1778 that “I have been favoured with your Letters of the 24th. of Decmr. & 20th ulto.”
17To George Washington from Samuel Allyne Otis, 24 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
With the utmost anxiety I have beheld your army of Patriots opposeing not only the formidable powers of Europe, and you bearing your Gallant breast not only against misfortune, but combating also the attacks of inclement Skies in our unequal Combat. Why application to the Eastern States whose ports are open and whose acquisition of Cloathing is vast, was not sooner made I cant determine, But...
18To George Washington from Brigadier General James Potter, 24 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
yesterday 18 of the enemys light Hors Took one of Capt. Lees horsmen near the whit Hors Tavernn a party of ours Commanded by Col. Butler hard of the horsman been taken, and went and Surrounded the hous and the Eenemy hors were forced to take to the mash, Butler took 13 of the hors and ten of the hors men prisners on seeing of Colo. morgan and his party two of there out picquets Ran in the...
19To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 24 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I gave your Excellency an Account of our Arrival here yesterday Evening. Yesterday Afternoon a party of the Enemy’s light horse (abt 18 of them) took two of Capt. Lee’s light horse, one of whom made his Escape, between Darby & Chester; this one gave Intelligence of this party to Col. Butler who was out with a party in that Quarter, on which he proceeded towards the White Horse on that Road, &...
20To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 24 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote you this Morning Nothing very Material has happened; I found Col: Morgan with His Corps & Six Companies of the 15, detached parties and the Militia have posted themselves in the front and on the left-flank of the Enemy, in Sight of them I therefore sent off Colonel Malcolm with the Lt Cols. Barber & Harmer with 300 Men to the Vicinity of Marshalls Mill, which will Cover our...
21To George Washington from Lund Washington, 24 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 11th Inst. is come to hand —I am Sorry Howe has manag’d so as to escape a Drubg. this Campaign I fully expected he woud get one—Your Army we are told are going into Winter Quarters, but whether that will be a means of giveg us the pleasure of your Company at Mount Vernon or not, this winter, we here cannot tell. I wish it may. It gives me Real concern and uneasiness, that we are...
22Act to Empower the Justices of Cumberland and Fluvanna Counties to Appoint New Places for Holding Their Courts, 24 … (Jefferson Papers)
[ Williamsburg, 24 Dec. 1777 .] Act repeals Act of preceding session directing justices of Cumberland to lay off a town called Effingham where the courthouse was to be located; petitions both from Cumberland and Fluvanna request that Assembly authorize justices to “re-consider their said appointments” of places for the respective courthouses. The Act also repeals that part of the Act of the...