1To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 6 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I congratulate you, on the Return of your Health and thank you for the Extract from Dr Styles, which I have communicated to Mr Searle and Mr Dumas as you desired.— Shall be happy to See, the detail of Arnolds Conduct. As long, as Congress and Courts Martial, inflict So gentle Punishments upon flagrant Criminals, and...
2John Adams to Isaac Smith Sr., 6 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
Your Favours of August 21. and Sept. 9. I have received and am much obliged to you for them. I hope you will be so good as to write me, by every Vessell. From the great Number of American Vessells which have arrived, in Europe in the Course of the past summer, I think our Commerce as well as Privateering is on the rising hand, and I hope that next year, it will increase considerably, and that...
3From John Adams to John Bondfield, 6 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of 28 of Octr. and am very glad to hear of your Recovery from Sickness. The Non Arrival of the Cloathing, is a great Disappointment and Misfortune in America. The British Ministry are never at a Loss. You see they were very ready to discover how Mr. Laurens was to be treated. They will easily know how to treat Mr. Trumbull and Mr. Tyler. If Americans had understood...
4From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 6 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of September 10th and am very glad to hear of your Visit to Braintree and Plymouth. I have traced your Path as far as Governor Trumbulls at Lebanon. I hope you found, Things in the Eastern States, as well as all others agreable. Govr. Trumbulls son and Mr. Tyler, are taken up in England and committed for high Treason. This will cure the Silly Itch of running over to...
5From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 6 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I congratulate you, on the Return of your Health and thank you for the Extract from Dr. Styles, which I have communicated to Mr. Searle and Mr. Dumas as you desired. Shall be happy to See, the detail of Arnolds Conduct. As long, as Congress and Courts Martial inflict So gentle Punishments upon flagrant Criminals, and then entrust them with Commands and Employments as if nothing had happened,...
6From John Adams to William Lee, 6 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 29th. Ultimo is before me. Arnold’s Apostacy shews the Necessity of nipping Dishonesty in the Bud. Congress must assume a more decided Authority, and must punish Crimes, and in other Ways do Justice to the Public. If Arnold had been sued at Common Law for the Money or Goods of the Public that he had defrauded the Public of, he would never have had another Command. Juries are the...
7From John Adams to Samuel Cooper, 6 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received your very agreable Letter of the 8th of September. Nothing could give me more Satisfaction than to learn the peaceable Establishment of the New Constitution. I Sincerely wish Mr. Hancock happy in his important office. Much will depend upon the Wisdom and Firmness of the first Governor, and much upon the Impartiality, and Liberality with which he hearkens to the Advice of Such,...
8From John Adams to Arthur Lee, 6 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
Yours from Lebanon 28 Sept. is just come to hand. I wish the Mass. happy in their Governor. It would not have been otherwise, as you Suggest, had an Absent Citizen been at home. Popularity is a Witch. The Gentleman chosen has long been So, to a great degree. The Absent one could Scarcely ever be Said to be so. So it has ever been. Objects must be set up for popular Admiration, Confidence, and...
9From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 6 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I thank you, for yours of 30 Nov. I return the two Letters from Mr. L. I had the Honour of one, from him, by each of those opportunities, nearly to the Same Purpose. Your kind concern for our Health is very obliging. I shall cover me with Flannels and Furs, like a Dutchman. A Mans Feelings, Soon remove all the Ridicule of it. The “Pensees” will Serve to excite a Curiosity after the Memorial....
10From John Adams to Stephen Sayre, 6 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I received the Letter, which you did me the Honour to write me on the 21 of October, but a few days ago. I am much obliged to you, for the Information it contains; altho I have neither Instructions, nor Powers by which I can improve it, in any other Way than in Speculation. I am, however, extreamly pleased with the Idea of opening a Trade between Russia and North America. It may be done,...
11To Thomas Jefferson from the Continental Board of War, 6 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The Board have recieved a Letter from Col. Rawlins Commissary of Prisoners at Fort Frederick in Maryland informing of the Approach of the first Division of the Convention Troops towards that Post. We have given Directions to Major Foresythe to superintend the Supplies of all these Troops as well those at their former Station as those at Fort Frederic. We propose that one half of the Supplies...
12To Benjamin Franklin from J. M. Couder and Other Offerers of Goods and Schemes, 6 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society During the period of this volume merchants and manufacturers continued to offer their goods for the war in America, while other correspondents proposed a variety of schemes to benefit the cause and the country. On December 6 master tapissier J.M. Couder of Nancy offers a full range of military camp equipment, from tents to folding stools and gun covers, all...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Fleury & Demadières, 6 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Nous avons bien recu celle que vous nous avez fait l’honneur de nous ecrire le 14e. 9bre expiré. Nous avons fait retablir vos 6 Caisses vin de madere et nous vous les avons Chargées le 3e. Courant par la voiture de mouseau d’orleans au prix de 52 s du (?) En droiture a passy cy joint vous en avez la notte de nos frais a £ 6 l.t. 5 s. dont il vous plaîra...
14Robert Forsyth to the Agent Superintending the State Supplies, 6 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Philadelphia, 6 Dec. 1780. Announces that, by the new arrangement of the purchasing department, “there is only a Commissary General and one Deputy Commissary General continued in the service of the United States; the former for the Northern and the latter for the Sothern Army.” The duties hitherto performed by the purchasing commissaries employed by Forsyth in Virginia “are in future to be...
15From Benjamin Franklin to [the Comtesse de Golowkin], [before 1 February 1781?] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Mr. F. prie sa fidelle Interpréte de jetter ses beaux yeux sur ces ecrits allemandes, & de lui dire à la premiere rencontre, leur contenu en peu de mots. We assign this date on the basis of BF ’s Feb. 1 request, below, to return “the German Papers.” He first wrote “afin de lui dire à leur premiere rencontre le pourport” and then interlined his...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Nathanael Greene, 6 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived at this place on the 2d instant, to which place General Gates had advanced with the army some days before I overtook him. I find the troops under his command in a wretched condition, destitute of anything necessary either to the comfort or convenience of soldiers. It is impossible that men can render any service, if they are ever so well disposed, whilst they are starving with cold...
17To George Washington from Samuel Huntington, 6 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will receive enclosed, Copy of several resolves of Congress of the 4th Instant, in which you will observe, the Officers are prohibited from making any Contract or Bargain, or giving Orders for the Purchase of Articles for the Use of the Troops; in the Department of Cloathier General, Quarter Master General, or Commissary General of Purchases, except in Cases of Necessity, as...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Steuben, 6 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the pleasure of inclosing to you an order for the Shoes, Shirts and Cloth you desired. Mr. Armistead the Commissary of Stores to whom it is directed and who now waits on you, sais he has not that number of Shoes, but will call on the Continental Q.M. in hopes he may have some which are of course subject to your order. He has no white cloth but will if it be possible in our circumstances...
19Samuel Nightingale, Jr., to Virginia Delegates in Congress, 6 December 1780 (Madison Papers)
Printed text (Charles Campbell, ed., Bland Papers , II, 39). From the salutation, Nightingale addressed his letter to Bland and JM, the only delegates from Virginia then in Congress, rather than to Bland alone. The editor of the Bland Papers either decided to print only an extract of the letter or could print no more because the rest of it was missing or illegible. I this day received your...
20Samuel Nightingale Jr. to Virginia Delegates, 6 December 1780 (Madison Papers)
I this Day Recd your Favour Dated the 14th Octr, Inclosing a Letter from his Excelency Govr. Jefferson, dated the 28 of the same Month, also a letter to the Honobe. John Foster, which I have deld Him—am sorry to here your State is Invaded by a powerfull Enemy, but hope you will be soon able to dislodge them. Observe you Designe the Goods belonging to the State of Virginia, which came in...
21General Orders, 6 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW .
22To Thomas Jefferson from Meshech Weare, 6 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Hampton Falls [ N.H. ], 6 Dec. 1780 . Acknowledges TJ’s letter of 27 Sep. accompanying “Copies of the Acts of the Virginia Assembly from the beginning of the year 1779‥‥ I have now the Pleasure of transmitting to your Excellency Copies of the Acts passed in New Hampshire Since our first taking up of Government In the year 1776.” Wishes these exchanges to be continued. Dft ( MHi : Misc.); 1 p.;...