1John Adams to Abigail Adams, 18 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have this morning sent Mr. Thaxter, with my two Sons to Leyden, there to take up their Residence for some time, and there to pursue their Studies of Latin and Greek under the excellent Masters, and there to attend Lectures of the celebrated Professors in that University. It is much cheaper there than here: the Air is infinitely purer; and the Company and Conversation is better. It is perhaps...
2To John Adams from the President of Congress, 18 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
You will receive herewith enclosed, a Duplicate of my Letter of the 30th of July, with a List of the original Letters and Duplicates which I have had the Honor to receive from you since that Time. The Pleasure and Satisfaction which I have received from the Perusal of those Letters, especially that of the 26th of June with the Despatches accompanying it, makes me lament the Want of Leisure to...
3To John Adams from Thomas McKean, 18 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
My letter of November 8th. 1779 by John Lowell Esquire in answer to your favor of the 20th. September preceding, did not, I fear, get to hand previous to your departure from Boston. However I hope you have received it. Congress have a few days ago appointed Colo: Palfrey, late Paymaster General, to be Consul for the United States in France, with considerable powers over their commercial...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Chaumont, 18 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Le Contrat pour le fret a été fait, entre vous, Monsieur, et Mr. Williams. Par ce Contrat, c’est lui qui doit tirer les Lettres de Change sur moi, quand le Vaisseau sera prêt a partir de l’Orient; Je n’ai rien a faire dans toute cette Operation que d’accepter ces traittes qui suivant le Contract doivent être tirées à trois usances et de les payer lors qu’elles seront...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Philip, [before 28 December 1780] (Franklin Papers)
D : American Philosophical Society M. MALOUIN, Médecin ordinaire de la Reine, Lecteur & Professeur en Médecine au Collége Royal de France, de l’Académie Royale des Sciences; ayant légué à la Faculté de Médecine, dont il étoit Membre, une somme annuelle, aux conditions qu’elle tiendra chaque année une Séance Publique pour y faire l’exposé de ses Travaux relatifs aux progrès de l’Art, & l’Eloge...
6To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 18 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives I have duly received your Excellencies dispatches of the 4th and 9th Current.— The Wind is Fair, the Pilot on Board, and the Ship will be under Sail at day Break.— Mr. Gourlade nor M. de La Grave have not yet appeared.— I will Steer as directly as possible for our Ports.— Enclosed is a receipt from Messrs. Gourlade and Moylan...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Chaumont, 18 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society M. Grand vient de me dire qu’il falloit que J’escrivis a Bordeaux qu’on envoyat a M. William a Nantes les polices d’assurance Sur mon Vau. [Vaisseau] le Marquis de la fayette, et qu’ensuite M William tirera sur vous a mon ordre Le montant du fret. Touttes ces Longueurs ne peuvent S’arranger avec mes Bezoings d’argeant et Je vous offre Bonne Caution pour ces...
8To Benjamin Franklin from [Ferdinand Grand], [18 December 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr De Chaumont m’apportat hier à 9 heures du soir La reponce qu’il avoit recü de Monsr franklin & me dit que la Caution quil offroit etoit son Gendre. Il me demanda en Consequence si je la trouvois bonne je repondis, oui il me demanda de plus si Je lui donerois de Largent sur les Billets de Monsr franklin, Je lui repondis quil falloit que je vis la situation...
9[From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Harrison, 18? December 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Richmond, 18? Dec. 1780. JHD Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia (cited by session and date of publication) , Oct. 1780, 1827 edn., p. 55 (18 Dec.): “The Speaker laid before the House, a letter from the Governor, enclosing several others from Major General Baron Steuben, containing requisitions for the army, which were read, and ordered to be referred to the...
10From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 18 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 4th. with the Account of the Expenditure of the 100£ in supplying the Wants of the Prisoners, which is very satisfactory. I beg you to accept my thankful Acknowledgements of your kindness to & Care of those unfortunate People, & let my Blessings be mix’d with theirs. By next Post I shall send you 150£ more, requesting you will continue...
War is to a Dutchman the greatest of Evils. Sir Joseph Yorke is so sensible of this, that he keeps alive a continual Fear of it by Memorials after Memorials, each more affronting to any Sovereignty of delicate Notions of Dignity, than the former. By this means he keeps up the Panick and while this Panick continues, I shall certainly have no Success at all. No Man dares engage for me—very few...
Since writing my Letter of the 6 th of October last (a Copy of which is enclosed) I have been honored with yours of July 10 th & September 16 th ; by the latter I am happy to find that we may expect soon to receive further & more particular Intelligence from you Congress, it is probable, will soon establish an Office for foreign Affairs, to be managed by an Officer stiled Secretary for foreign...
13To Thomas Jefferson from La Luzerne, 18 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Cette lettre vous sera remise par M. le Marquis de Laval Montmorency, Colonel du Régiment du Bourbonnois, actuellemen à Newport. Il a voulu profiter de l’inaction de l’armée pendant l’hyver pour voir plusieurs Etats du Continent. Il se propose de passer quelques jours à Richmont et quoique les circonstances ne lui permettent pas de rendre son sejour aussi long qu’il l’auroit desiré, il a...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Steuben, 18 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 18 Dec. 1780. Encloses “some hints toward a Law to prevent illegal discharges and desertions from the Army.” Has written on the same subject to Congress and the Commander in Chief. RC ( Vi ); 2 p.; in a clerk’s hand, signed by Steuben; addressed; endorsed, by TJ: “Baron Steuben illegal discharges.” Enclosure: Probably Steuben’s plan for preventing desertion, printed below at end of...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Gideon Johnston, 18 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
York, 18 Dec. 1780. Acted as brigade quartermaster to the troops which marched south under Col. Porterfield last May, “and some time after was ordered to Virginia to receive and forward on the necessary Cloathing for the Regiment of State Artillery, in which I have the honour to hold a Captain’s Commission.” Is deeply concerned that he will not be able to serve much longer “except I can be...
16From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 18 December 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Favour of the 11. The Inclosures I have packed with my Dispatches, and the Duplicate of Mr. Amorys, to go by the first opportunity. Sir Joseph will kick, and cuff and pinch this People untill he forces into them a little Spunk. They cry shame upon his last Memorial more than the former. However I believe he knows enough of the nature of them, to answer his End, which I...
17From John Jay to Robert Morris, 18 December 1780 (Jay Papers)
As I have lately written by different vessels to Congress, and my Friends, among whom I always reckon you. My chief Inducement at present is to commit the inclosed to your Care and to request the Favor of you to forward them. No Letters from America of later date than July have reached me, indeed I have had the Pleasure of receiving only one from you since we parted. Some were probably carried...
18From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 18 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai pris les informations nécessaires pour connoitre les rades d’ou les vaisseaux de guerre François qu’on stationneroit cet hiver dans notre Baye pourroient proteger le plus efficacement son commerce, etre le plus en sureté et avoir la meilleure retraite. Celles d’ Hampton et d’ York sont les seules qui commandent l’entrée de la Chesapeak; aucun vaisseau ne peut y pénétrer sans être vu de...
19From Thomas Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 18 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I have made the necessary enquiry as to the place where any armed vessels, which the minister of France shoud think proper to have wintered in our bay, might cover its trade, be safest, and have the most secure retreat. Hampton road and york town are the only ports from which a view of the entrance into the bay is commanded. No vessel can pass up it without being seen from either of these...
20Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Delegates in Congress, 18 December 1780 (Madison Papers)
Translation (Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation). Jefferson’s original letter is probably not extant. This French version, translated and copied by a person or persons unknown, was in all likelihood sent from Philadelphia on 2 January 1781 by the Chevalier de La Luzerne in his letter to Chevalier Charles René D. S. Destouches, who commanded the French fleet at Newport, Rhode Island, after...
21To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 18 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am this evening honored with yours of the 16th. I will direct that Major Reid be brought to tryal on thursday, and if the necessary Evidence for compleating the tryal cannot then be produced, and the Court should think proper to postpone the tryal; I will further direct that more rigid Confinement, than is common shall not be excercised. I shall observe your directions respecting Joshua...
22To George Washington from Major General William Phillips, 18 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour of receiving Your Excellency’s letter of the 9th Instant with the passport for the Flag of truce Vessel inclosed agreeable to the tenor of my request on that subject. When I communicated my wishes to Your Excellency that the Flag might have permission to proceed to James River, my reasons for soliciting of it were obvious, nor did I then know what I have Since been informed of...
23To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 18 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have sent a Detachment under the Command of a capable diligent Field Officer to dismount, launch and bring up the boats from Kings Ferry; which have lately been brought there on Carriages. I wish the Quarter Master General or one of his assistants, may point out the most proper place at murderers Creek for laying them up; that the Officer on his arrival, may meet his directions—It is not...
24Franklin’s Journal, [18 December 1780–29 January 1781] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress Dec. 18. 1780 Gave an Order to Major Broughton of Marblehead, a returning Prisoner, for 5 Louis, to help him down to a Seaport. Certified Capt. Jasme la Clause’s Commssion & other American Papers. Wrote to Mr Hodgson, London, that I had recd. his Acct of the Expenditure of the 100£ on the Prisoners, & promis’d him 150£ more. Gave a Letter of Recommendation of L’Abbé...
25General Orders, 18 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Duty Returns by Brigades to be transmitted to the Orderly Office, next Wednesday, by twelve ô clock—The Inspectors of Divisions and Brigades will be very particular in digesting the places where and kind of duties their Troops are upon also the number at each place—They will likewise at the same time transmit abstracts of the number fit for action. Varick transcript , DLC:GW .