1Abigail Adams to John Thaxter, 5 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have not had the pleasure of a line from you since your arrival in Holland. I fear I have lost Letters by a missing vessel call’d the Fame, if so I regret the loss of much pleasure and entertainment, which your pen always affords me. I flatter myself you will continue to pay a particular regard to my amusement, by a recital of whatever you meet with worthy of communication. Rousseau some...
2From John Adams to Edmund Jenings, 5 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
Yours of 31. Jan. is arrived. A Courier is arrived from Petersburg, who carried the Notice of Sir Yorkes leaving the Hague. All’s well in the north. The Courtiers in England, who indeed compose the nation, flatter themselves they shall raise the Devil in Holland. They may raise a Spirit but it will be a good one. The Symptems are very Strong. If popular Rage gets loose it will not dewitt, John...
3To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 5 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
La Lettre ci-jointe au Congrès répond en grande partie aux honorées votre du 31e. Janv. et 2 fevr. Je pense avec vous que la disette de grains en Europe, et notamment en Angle., fera beaucoup de bien à plusieurs Egards à l’Amérique. J’ai déjà fait, et je ferai encore bon usage, de tout ce que vous me marquez dans ces Lettres. Je n’ai pas encore vu la vie privée de Louis XV. Mais je n’en sens...
4C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 5 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed letter to Congress is mainly a response to your letters of 31 January and 2 February. I agree with you that the grain shortage in Europe, and especially in England, will be advantageous to America in many ways. I have already made good use of the information you gave me in these letters and will continue to do so. I have not yet seen the Vie privée de Louis XV . But I do not...
5To John Adams from Edmund Jenings, 5 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the Honor of receiving this Day your Excellencys Letter of the 31st. Ultimo. The deferring the Acknowledgment of our Independancy to the Turns which a Negociation for a general Peace may take is in my opinion a very weak and perhaps Unfriendly Plan. I am confident this Measure would tend most to bring England to a general Accomodation, for it would take from Her every resource and every...
6To John Adams from William Tudor, 5 February 1781 (Adams Papers)
I had the Honour of your Letter by Monsieur Jean Baptiste Petry about six Weeks since, and should before this Time have acknowleged the Receipt of it, had a favourable Opportunity presented but so many of our merchant Ships are captured that a Letter goes subjected to too much Hazard which is transmitted by a private Vessel; This goes by The Alliance and I hope will arrive safe, for the Loss...
7To Alexander Hamilton from Philip Schuyler, 5 February 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
Your favors of the 21st & 30th ult: I had the pleasure to receive a few days ago. The reward refused by the Pensylvania line evinces a becoming sense of propriety & gallantry. What might not our soldiery be brought to if properly fed, paid and cloathed. Mr De Grandchain delivered me your favor; he and Colo Wadsworth have had beds here and those attentions which your recommendations will always...
8George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 February 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
New Windsor [ New York ] February 5, 1781 . Discusses dispute between Heath and Colonel Moses Hazen. States that this dispute raises question whether the power of granting orders for provisions may not be in the hands of too many persons. Asks Heath to investigate. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
9To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 5 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Algemeen Rijksarchief Je prends la liberté de vous adresser l’incluse pour le Congrès, & de vous demander la permission d’en user de même à l’avenir, non seulement parce que cela m’épargnera la peine de copier tant de fois la même chose: mais aussi parce que dans cette Saison, & dans les présentes circonstances nous n’avons pas tant d’occasions...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Gourlade & Moylan, 5 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Arms which were damaged on board the Ariel and left here by Captain Jones on his last departure, to be repaired, are now nearly finished & ready for shiping. The Marquis of fayette’s arrival here, being hourly expected, we request you will inform us, if it is your intentions, that those arms shou’d be loaded, with the other goods, on said Vessel: a...
11General Orders, 5 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
The commanding officers of corps will furnish the recruiting officers of their respective regiments now out, or who may be sent out, with the following instructions signed by themselves. Sirs You are to repair as soon as possible to the State of —— for the purpose of inlisting and forwarding recruits, as mention’d in the resolution of Congress of the 3d of October last. You will on your...
12From George Washington to Major Epaphras Bull, 5 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
You are to join the 4th Regt of Dragoons vice Maj. Fontleroy, who is directed to join the 1st Regt. I am Sir &c. Df , in David Humphreys’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Both this draft and the draft of GW’s letter of this date to Maj. Moore Fauntleroy (see n.1 below) appear on the same manuscript. On this date, GW wrote Fauntleroy from headquarters at New Windsor: “Having been...
13To George Washington from John Hancock, 5 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Colonel John Ashley and Brigr General Warner a Committee Appointed by the General Court to take charge of a Sum of Money in Specie granted by a Resolve of the 15th Ulto as a Gratuity to the Non Commiss[i]ond Officers and Soldiers belonging to the Massachusetts Line of the Army, will wait upon your Excellency with this Letter and I have it in Charge by a Resolution of the General Court (which...
14To George Washington from Colonel Nicholas Haussegger, 5 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
The principles of the present Contest have been so totally changed, from what they were, when I first accepted a Commission under your command, and myself so much neglected and injuriously treated by those in whose service I was, that I cannot consistent with the honest Man, and in justice to myself hold it any longer. I have therefore taken the Liberty to enclose my Colonels Commission (my...
15From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have attentively considered the matter in discussion between Col. Pickering and yourself —You will find my opinion in the following articles: 1st The Staff departments established at Fishkill have always been considered by me as one of the dependencies of West Point—of course subject to the direction and controul of the Officer Commanding there, in the same Manner as the Heads of Departments...
16To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 5 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I request to be informed if it is your Excellency’s pleasure that the detachment under the command of Major Throop should still be continued at Ringwood, or be called in. In yours of the 14. ulto you was pleased to consent to Major Bauman’s trying some experiments in Gunnery, but advised a delay at that time. Shall they be tried now, when the weather is suitable? Enclosed is a return of...
17From George Washington to Major General Robert Howe, 5 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 2nd with the enclosures have just been received. I would not wish Major Galvan to place any dependance on a Command in the Light Corps the ensuing Campaign—These appointments having commonly been made in some measure by Rotation. With great consideration I am Dear Sir Your Most Obedt Servt. Df , in David Humphreys’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Howe’s letter...
18To George Washington from Brigadier General Henry Knox, 5 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I send your Excellency the volume of pamphlets belonging t[o] Governor Trumbull. I have taken the liberty to retain for two or three days the single pamphlet written by Governor Pownall, and shall be oblig’d by the perusal of the Volume when your Excellen[c]y has done with it. I wish to go to West point to day the weather & sleighing bei[n]g favorable which obliges me to postpone making my...
19From George Washington to Colonel Timothy Pickering, 5 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I enclose you a Copy of the Resolution of Congress of the 23d Janry on the subject of remounting the Regiments of Dragoons. It will be necessary to observe, that the Horses purchased for this service ought to be in size, strength, figure, & fleetness, capable of performing the duties for which they are designed. Otherwise the purchase Money will be thrown away, as has sometimes been the Case....
20From George Washington to Colonel William Shepard, 5 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to Order a General Court Martial to sit at Springfield or such place as will be most centrical & convenient, for the tryal of John Collins late Dep. Com. M. Stores. The Court to be compossed of the Officers of Sheldons Regt, or others in the Vicinity. The charge will be exhibited & testimony adduced by Ezekiel Chevers Esqr. D.C.M.S. Enclosed you will find the Copy of a...
21To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 5 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor ⅌ the Duke Lauzun to acknowlege the Receipt of your Favr of 29th Ulto—& most sincerely congratulate you on the happy Recovery of the Jersey Troops. I have to desire your Excellency will be so good as to Order the Invalids of the Line of Connecticut to be sent to this State to be employed in Service at N. London & at Simsbury —where they may be of Use to the Public & se[r]ve in...
22Committee Report on Tax Status of Friendly Aliens, [5 February] 1781 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 20, I, 9–10). Report entirely in JM’s hand. Docketed “Report of the Committee on Presidt. Ware’s letter of the 20th. of Novr. 1780 part passed Feby 5. 1781.” The Committee to whom was referred the letter of the 20th. day of Novr. 1780 from Presidt. Ware with the papers enclosed having considered the subject to which they relate, and consulted the best sources of information...
23To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 5 February 1781 (Madison Papers)
Tr ( LC : Force Transcripts). I congratulate with you upon the very Agreable Intelligence from the South, of which you will have a full account ere this reaches you. I think Ld Cornwallis’s Army must be broken & can only depend for safety upon that at Cambden under Genl Lesly, & could we immediately fill up our line for the War, I think the termination of that evil would not be far distant. I...
24From Thomas Jefferson to the Auditors, 5 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof Lewis Duval came express from Monongalia on necessary business. RC ( Vi : Contingent Fund Vouchers); endorsed (in part): “£657.” On the face of TJ’s note are the following calculations in another hand: “350 miles coming 700 Do. returning 700 1 Days Attendce 60 1460 @ 14/. 3 £4380 219 657” A separate note accompanies TJ’s note and reads as follows: “Ms. Auditors I am well...
25From Thomas Jefferson to the Auditors, 5 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Be pleased to issue to Colo. George Matthews, a Warrant for three thousand pounds upon account of expences on his way from the northward to this State on business of our prisoners in New York. By Advice of Council. RC ( Vi : Contingent Fund Vouchers); in a clerk’s hand, signed by TJ; endorsed.
26From Thomas Jefferson to the Auditors, 5 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Be pleased to issue to Colonel John Syme a Warrant for one thousand five hundred pounds on account for removing public Stores. By Advice of Council. RC ( Vi : Contingent Fund Vouchers); in a clerk’s hand, signed by TJ; endorsed.
27From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Dinwiddie and Essex, 5 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received particular information that Richard Overby and Richard Wills two of Capt. Hardaway’s company of Militia of your county lately on duty below have deserted and carried off their arms; as they are triable by a Court-Martial of the Officers remaining in the field, I am to desire you to exert every effort to have them taken and when taken to send them under guard to Cabbin point or...
28From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 5 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am anxious to have secured for the detachment which is next to proceed Southwardly as many tents as will suffice for them, and to collect all the residue belonging to the State and send them down for the use of the Militia. Of 230 tents issued during the last invasion, I understand that 75 were sent on with Colo. Green’s detachment, I find that about 28 were returned to this place, the rest...
29From Thomas Jefferson to George Gibson, 5 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Executive are Shortly to proceed to the reformation of the State Forces according to a resolution of Assembly . As your commission is the oldest it is probable the Council will be of opinion that you are entitled to a continuance in command, and I think they will consider it as fortunate that they will be at liberty to continue you; from what passed in conversation when I had the pleasure...
30To Thomas Jefferson from George Gibson, 5 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 28th. ultimo did not come to hand before the 3rd. Inst. From its being folded into a small size or from the carelessness of the Bearer, it was found thrust in a letter from Your Excellency to A Gentleman of Dinwiddie County. I now do myself the Honor to transmit you a Return of the 1st Virginia State Regiment together with the Arms accoutrements Field equipage, Waggons, &c....