1From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 26–27 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of your letter of the 22d Instant with its several inclosures to-day, at noon. I shall pay a proper regard to the act of Congress respecting Monsr de Vrigny. For information on the second resolve, for obtaining a return of the re-inlistments, I must beg leave to refer Congress to my letter of the 24th. I have complyed with the intention of the 3d, and transmitted the act to Sir...
2Gabriel de Sartine to the Commissioners, 26 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
Je n’ai répondu, Messieurs, qu’à la premiere partie de la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire le 12 de ce mois, et la Seconde partie renferme des objets interessants. Sans doute, il Seroit a desirer que l’on put rendre á leur Patrie les Matelots Americains que l’habitude ou la Violence ont attaché au Service de l’Angleterre, et se procurer le double Avantage d’accroitre les...
I only responded, gentlemen, to the first part of the letter that you did me the honor to write on the 12th of this month, but the second part also contains some interesting points. Without a doubt it would be desirable, if possible, to return to their mother country those American sailors who, through either habit or violence, had been attached to the English service, and thereby achieve the...
4Publius Letter, II, [26 October 1778] (Hamilton Papers)
The honor of being the hero of a public panegeric, is what you could hardly have aspired to, either from your talents, or from your good qualities. The partiality of your friends has never given you credit for more than mediocrity in the former; and experience has proved, that you are indebted for all your consequence, to the reverse of the latter. Had you not struck out a new line of...
5Franklin or Arthur Lee (?) to Genet, [c. 26 October 1778] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Affaires de l’Angleterre et de l’Amérique XII , part II , cahier LVIII , pp. ccxxv–ccxl On October 24 Genet wrote each of the commissioners asking a response to a number of articles in a New York loyalist newspaper. The Affaires in its cahier dated October 26 (but probably published somewhat later) printed three such responses. The third of these (pp. ccxl–ccxlvii) was a translation...
6From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 26 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Library of Congress I received yours without Date, containing an old Scotch Sonnet full of natural Sentiment and beautiful Simplicity, I cannot make an entire application of it to present Circumstances; but taking it in Parts, and changing Persons, some of it is extreamly a propos . First Jenie may be supposed old England and Jamie America. Jenie laments the Loss of Jamie, and...
7Marie-Nicole Grossart de Virly Gérard to the American Commissioners, 26 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Harvard University Library J’avois envoyé a mon Mari, mon portrait et celui de ma fille, sur une Boete que M. Williams de Nantes a fait partir par un vaisseau qui a ete pris et conduit a Grenezay. M. de Chaumont m’a dit Messieurs que vous auriez la bonté pour moi et mon mari d’employer votre Correspondant a Nantes, qui a son gendre fils du Maire de Grenezay pour [racheter?] cette Boete...
8Sartine to the American Commissioners, 26 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives, Library of Congress (two) <Marly, October 26, 1778, in French: The second part of your letter of October 12 deserves a response as well as the first, to which I have already replied. Although it would serve a double purpose if all American sailors remaining in British service by inertia or coercion could be returned to their native...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Madame Brillon, [26 October 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je reprends mes engagements avéc vous mon papa; mon coeur a promis au vostre, c’est le plus sacré de tous les contrats: je vous écrirai, vous dirai que je vous aime, que vous étiés bien désiré ici —en arrivant, maman me dit avant de m’enbrassér ou est il ce bon papa —il ne viendra pas— ma fille voila ou je le logeois pour qu’il fut commodément —il auroit...
10To Benjamin Franklin from the Continental Congress: Instructions, Plan of an Attack upon Quebec and Observations on the … (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : American Philosophical Society, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; draft: National Archives; (II) DS : American Philosophical Society; draft: National Archives; (III) DS : American Philosophical Society, South Carolina Historical Society; draft: National Archives; copy: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères These documents, like Franklin’s letter of credence, were drafted by...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Jean Charles de Zinnern, 26 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society L’atachement que j’ai a vos affaires, est au dessus de mes expressions. Je suis né sujet d’un grand Monarchie sous un gouvernement doux, mais je ne sais pas dans quel transport de joie je deviens, en cas que j’entende, ou que je lise de vos progrès. Monseigneur de vous dire la verité, je vous regarde, et tous les chefs de votre nouvelle Republique comme des...
12General Orders, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Captain Thomas Bartholomew Bowen of the 9th Pennsylvania Regiment is appointed Pay-Master to the same vice Ensign Tate resigne’d from the 15th inst. Varick transcript , DLC:GW . John Tate of York County, Pa., who had become paymaster of the 9th Pennsylvania Regiment in April 1777 and had been appointed an ensign in June 1778, had resigned his commission on 15 October.
13To George Washington from John Beatty, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to lay before Your Excellency a Copy of a Letter a few days since received from the Board of War. perhaps Mr Franks late Conduct, and the Resolve of Congress—consequent thereon may in some measure render the application in the first part of the Letter unnecessary. I have shewn it to Mr Loring with whom I conferr’d yesterday and urged his immediate Compliance with it and at his...
14From George Washington to General Henry Clinton, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
By direction of Congress I transmit you the inclosed Copy of their Resolutions on the 21st instant respecting David Franks Esqr., by which you will perceive, he will not be permitted to act as Commissary to the British prisoners after the 10th of next month, and that it is their desire that your Excellency will nominate a proper person, who, having received their approbation, may succeed Mr...
15From George Washington to John Parke Custis, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
If my Brother, to whom the Inclosed is addressed, should not be a Member of Assembly, & in Williamsbg, I should be glad if you would contrive it to him by a safe hand. The Enemy still continue to keep us in suspence, & baffle all conjecture—they have five or Six thousand Men at this time actually on board transports, lying in New York bay; and a fleet of more than a hundred Sail left the Hook...
16To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received at the same time the two letters that Your Excellency did me the honor to write me the 21 & the 22. My thanks are often delayed by the little obstacles that occur in the navigation of boats. The Expressions of what I owe you cannot be as extensive as my gratitude. ’Tis with the greatest sensibility, I experience every instant how useful and easy it is to act in concert with a great...
17To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed is Copy of a Letter which I have just received from Major General Riedesel and Brigadeir General Hamilton with whom I have for some time transacted the public Business of the Troops of Convention, having found it impossible to do business with propriety with Major General Phillips. Your Excellency will observe, what they advance, and that they seem rather to hold up an Idea that...
18From George Washington to John Mitchell, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to John Mitchell, 26 Oct. 1778. Mitchell wrote GW on 3 Nov. : “I have the honor of your Excellency favor of the 26th past.”
19To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your Favor and return you Thanks for it. The Conduct which the Enemy may pursue with Relation to us is not quite decided But I have not a Doubt but their Efforts during the next Campaign will be chiefly towards our Frontiers with a View to weary us into Submission. At the same Time they will perhaps endeavor to keep such Posts in our Country as to render the Communications tedious...
20To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I find Capt. George Starr of this Town is appointed by the Board of War to take Charge of the Leather belonging to the Continent, purchase Shoes, Cartouch Bozes [boxes] & other Military Accoutrements, by the inclosd Order you will find the Board have impowerd him to contract for those Articles in Exchange for raw Hides; I am fully Satisfied he will do all that any Man can do in that...
21To George Washington from Brigadier General Charles Scott, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellencys favour of Yesterdays date Came to Hand Last evening. I observe Your instructions and attention shall be paid to every Particular. we have a good many deserters from Simcoes Corps But as they are prevented from going on York Island they Can know but little about what is doing there. they inform me that there are no troops encamped on this side of Kings Bridg but Simcoes &...
22To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I should before this time have attempted to Answer your Excellency’s letters of the 14th and 15th Inst. but was waiting in hopes of reduceing the Motions of the Enemy to some degree of Certainty; I belive it may be depended on that the present Embarkation will amount to at least 10000 Men, so large a detachment from their Army will render it impossible for them to keep above 5000 Men at New...
23To George Washington from Major General John Sullivan, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since my Last I had the Honor of Receiving your Excellenceys favor of the 22d Instant giving an Account of two Divisions of the Fleet having Sailed I am far from thinking their Design is to operate in this Quarter yet your Excellenceys Instructions (to be prepared) Like all your other orders have with me a weight which I Trust will Ever witness how Little Influence my own Judgment has in the...
24From George Washington to John Augustine Washington, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
In overhauling some old Papers the other day, I came across the Inclosed Letter from Colo. Cresap to me—written, as he says, in answer to one of mine on the information of his having set up a claim to some part of the Land formerly owned by our deceased Brother Lawrence, & given by him to my Brother Austin. It is essential, as I have upon other occasions mentioned to you, that this matter...