1March 5. Thursday. (Adams Papers)
This Morning We have the pleasantest Prospect we have yet seen —a fine easy Breeze, from the Southward, w hich gives us an Opportunity of keeping our true Course—a so ft , clear, warm Air—a fair Sun—no Sea. We have a g reat Number of Sails spread and We go at the Rate of 9 Kno ts. Yet the Ship has no perceptible Motion, and makes no N oise. My little Son is very proud of his Knowledge of all...
2[March 5. Thursday 1778.] (Adams Papers)
March 5. Thursday 1778. This morning We had the pleasantest prospect We had yet seen. An easy breeze from the Southward, gave Us an Opportunity of keeping our true course. With a soft, clear, warm Air, a fair Sun and no Sea, We had a great number of Sails spread, and went at the rate of nine Knots; yet the Ship had no perceptible motion and made no noise. My little Son was very proud of his...
3To John Adams from Patrick Henry, 5 March 1778 (Adams Papers)
Capt. Le Maire the Bearer tells me he saw you in Paris. In Hopes this may find you there, I write, not so much to tell you any thing of public Importance (for we have not much News) as to revive that Correspondence which Time, Distance of Situation and important Avocations have almost worn out. The Marquiss Fayette, Genl. Conway and many other french officers are gone to Canada Report says,...
4To Alexander Hamilton from George Clinton, 5 March 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received your Favour of the 13th Feb’y last. Your other Letter has not reached me. I am so Circumstanced at present so much to do & no Body to assist me that I can hardly steal a Moment to write to my Friends tho their Letters always afford me the greatest Pleasure. May I then hope Sir that you will continue to write me frequently tho I shoud not prove a very punctual Correspondent....
5From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 5 March 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
It gives me pleasure to inform you that Mr Boudinotte has been able to effect your exchange for a Doctor Mentzes. Allow me to congratulate you on the event. We are again on the business of a general cartel with Mr Howe He seems inclined to meet us on fair ground. Commissioners from us meet an equal number from him the 10th instant. One great and preliminary point to be settled is the...
6George Washington to Major Warham Parks, 5 March 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Valley Forge ] March 5, 1778 . Urges Parks to remain in service in spite of temporary disability. Df , in writings of John Laurens and H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Parks was a major of the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment.
7From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 5 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
L : Harvard University Library Dr. Franklin presents his Respects to Mr. A. Lee, is sorry he can not do himself the honour of waiting upon [ him ] on Monday next, being pre-engaged. If Tuesday or Wednesday will suit Mr. Lee’s Convenience, Dr. F. will [ be ] happy to accept his Invitation. Addressed: Honble Arthur Lee Esqr. / Chaillot Notation: March 5th. 1778 In WTF ’s hand. He was perhaps...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 5 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The late Arthur Bloch The interview to which this brief note is a summons was the one that the commissioners had requested the day before, to discuss making the treaty public. Gérard met them on schedule, and opened the conversation by taking Lee to task for misquoting him to Aranda about another matter; Lee put the blame on Deane, who refused to take it. Franklin then recalled them to...
9William Bingham to the American Commissioners, 5 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Not being favor’d with any of your Dispatches since the Arrival of Doctr. Franklin (except a few Lines under Date of the 7 June) I have become very apprehensive of the Fate of the many Letters that I have from Time to Time done myself the honor of writing, and which have generally been addressed under Cover to Messrs. Delaps at Bordeaux. Your not...
10Ralph Izard to the American Commissioners, 5 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I intend to set out, as soon as my Gout and the weather will permit me, for the Court to which I have the honour of being appointed by Congress. It will be proper for me to be acquainted with such parts of your proceedings at the Court of France as will be of any assistance to me in fulfilling the objects of my Commission. You will therefore be pleased to...
11To Benjamin Franklin from La Rochefoucauld, [5 March? 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Le Duc de la Rochefoucauld fait bien des complimens à Monsieur franklyn, en lui envoiant la nouvelle traduction sur laquelle il a bien voulu lui promettre de jetter les yeux; il le prie de vouloir bien la lui renvoier lorsqu’il aura eu la bonté de l’examiner et de la corriger: il le prie aussi de vouloir bien, si par hasard il avoit eu quelques nouvelles,...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Peters, 5 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been honored with several Letters by the Hands of sundry Gentlemen coming here with a View to serve our Cause; but from the Numbers of our own Officers and the foreign Gentlemen not being possessed of our language it was impossible for us to find Places or for them to distinguish themselves in our Service. You are conscious of this and therefore ’tis...
13To Benjamin Franklin from [Benjamin Vaughan], 5 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I beg to recommend the bearer to your best patronage, friendship, and advice. I shall say nothing more of him, than that to warm benevolence and good parts, there have been joined a virtuous education and public principles. In these times and upon the plan on which he goes, his success is fundamentally important to his family. Particulars he will explain;...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Vaughan, 5 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will be delivered to You by my son John, who goes (via Paris) in order to be an inmate in the House of Messrs. Barton & Co. at Bourdoux; to perfect himself in the Language, acquire experience in Business, and form connections, preparatory to his setling in North America, so soon as our unhappy disputes are at an end; as I am more and more determined to...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 5 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have recvd. your obliging Favour of the 28 Inst. and am much rejoiced at Mr. Chaumonts success; I hope he will retain a Dedomagement for his Trouble and Kindness. If this Money is to be paid in America how am I to be reimbursed my Expences and paid Commissions? But I suppose the 50,000 Livres will be paid here; I beg Sir you will obtain this for me, for a...
16General Orders, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
As Persons, Inhabitants of this State are often brought and lodged in the Provost-Guard upon charge of being disaffected or for other reasons which upon examination before a Court Martial appear groundless and those persons consequently subjected to needless Imprisonment; The Commander in Chief therefore desires that in future the Adjutant General would before commitment refer the Cases of such...
17From George Washington to Colonel Theodorick Bland, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
It being judged advisable to augment the Cavalry by an addition of one Lieutenant, one Serjeant, one Corporal and twenty two privates to each Troop, a great number of Horses will be wanting for such augmentation and to replace those worn down by the last Campaign. It is proposed that six hundred should be purchased if possible in Virginia and North Carolina and that Colo. Baylor and yourself...
18To George Washington from George Clinton, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favour of the 16th Ultimo has been delivered to me—The Distress to which the Army has been reduced by want of Provissions is no less surprizing than alarming—Your Excellency’s Idea of the Condition of this State is very just; No material Supplies can be drawn from it—The Attachment however of the Inhabitants to the American Cause as well as to the Commander in Chief will at...
19To George Washington from Captain Charles Craig, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I beg Leave to inform your Excellency that the situation of my Private Affairs obliges me to request permision to quit the service. That is the Motive, Sir, which is my principal inducement to resigning; but there are several additional reasons that render my continuance in the Army impracticable. The Promotion of Major Washington who was my inferior in point of rank, I cannot view in any...
20From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 20th Feby inclosing a letter from Lieut. Coune of the 62d Regt to Genl Howe. I shall send in the letter and shall have no objection to his Exchange if Genl Howe consents. As Ensign Winslips health does not admit of his remaining in the Service, I would have you accept of his resignation. The wax which you mention to have sent forward is not yet come to hand. Having...
21To George Washington from Patrick Henry, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
By an Express which Colo. Finnie sent to Camp, I inclosed you an Anonymous Letter, which I hope got safe to Hand. I am anxious to hear something that will serve to explain the strange Affair which I am now informed is taken up respecting you. Mr Custis has just paid us a Visit, & by him I learn sundry particulars concerning Genl Mifflin, that much surprize me. ’Tis very hard to trace the...
22From George Washington to Brigadier General Henry Knox, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your favors of the 4th and 16th Feby. I have not yet recd any answer from the Board of War respecting the Artillery at Farmington. I would not have you keep any more of the new Arms in the Magazines to the Eastward than you think will be absolutely necessary for the Recruits coming on to the Army, what number that will probably be you can best judge who are upon the spot. I do not know...
23To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
The present Messenger will deliver to your Excellency with this, a Letter which I had the honour of writing the 1st Inst. & which has been detained by Susquehana. Inclosed herewith Your Excellency will be pleased to receive the following Acts of Congress. 1. 2d March. for appointing a Quarter Master General & two Assistant Quarter Masters general & for other purposes in that department. 2d. ...
24From George Washington to Brigadier General Ebenezer Learned, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
In my orders of the 8th January last I did not mean to comprehend Van Shaiks and Livingstons Regs. I only meant that you should send forward the small detatchments belonging to those Regiments of your Brigade now here. General Heath in his last letter transmitted me Copies of the Certificates which you inclose me respecting your State of Health. He mentioned your desire to resign as you found...
25From George Washington to Major Warham Parks, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Colonel Shepard has communicated to me the contents of your Letter to him of 24th November last; your scruples relative to continuing in the service from the motives you mention, are the suggestions of a generous mind—but from the high Character I have heard of you as an Officer, I should not wish them to have influence enough to deprive the Army of so valuable a member—There can be no...
26From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 18th Feby inclosing your remarks upon Colo. Drakes representation of your Conduct. As I did not chuse to give any determination upon the matter exparte I sent the representation back to Genl putnam that you might see it, and vindicate yourself if any of the charges were not founded in truth. It would appear from your State of the matter, that Colo. Drake and his...
27From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I learn from undoubted authority that General Clinton Quarters in Captn Kenedys House in the city of New York which you know is near Fort George and by the late fire stands in a manner alone. What Guards may be at or near his Quarters I cannot with precission say & therefore shall not add any thing on this score least it should prove a mis-information—but I think it one of the most practicable...
28To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Soon after I wrote your Excellency from Mount Holly —I recd Intelligence that the Enemy had Detatched themselves into small parties and were Collecting forage Cattle &ca in the Vicinity of this place, Coopers and Timbers Creeks & this Induced me (altho my Numbers were few) to make a forced March and Endeavour to drive in or cut off some of these parties, at Nine oClock at Night we arrived at a...